Ovation of the Seas float out; 10 months before arrival in Sydney

Tugboats maneuvered her to the shipyard’s outdoor berth where she will undergo further construction.

It has taken just 18 months to reach this point, with less than two months to go and only ten months before the $1bn ship arrives in Australia.

When she debuts in April, Ovation of the Seas, the company’s third ground-breaking Quantum Class ship, will sail from Southampton to Beijing (Tianjin) via Dubai and Singapore for her inaugural China season which commences June 24.

On November 30, she sails from Singapore to Sydney via Fremantle where she will home port.

She will operate three Australia and New Zealand cruises before departing Sydney on January 23, 2017 on a return repositioning voyage to Singapore.

‘Today marks a truly momentous milestone in the Australian cruise industry,’ said Australasia and South East Asia commercial director Adam Armstrong.

‘In just 10 months she will call Sydney home and proudly claim the title of the newest, largest and most technologically advanced cruise ship to ever sail in our waters.

‘We’re extremely excited that she is now in the water and look forward to welcoming her to Sydney Harbour.’