Australia farewells Rhapsody, a ship that 'raised the bar'

She was RCI’s first ship to be deployed in Australia when she arrived in October 2007 and has been based in Sydney for extended southern summer seasons for the past eight years.   In that time the 78,491gt ship has carried more than 290,000 passengers.

In the coming 2015/16 season she will be replaced by the 3,114-passenger Explorer of the Seas.

Explorer will be joined by Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas, while Legend of the Seas will be based in Brisbane from December 2015 for five months.

The four superliners will increase RCI’s capacity in Australia by almost 50%.

Rhapsody of the Seas lifted the bar when she arrived in Australia, offering a ‘truly international style of cruise ship,’ said Sean Treacy, commercial director Australia and Southeast Asia.

‘She was the largest cruise ship of her time based locally with incredible features never imagined by local cruisers, including a rock climbing wall,’ Treacy said. 

‘We are proud of the contribution Rhapsody has made in the Australian market and for Royal Caribbean globally.'