Travellers who decided to gamble by waiting to see if any special offers for Ovation of the Seas‘ Australian voyages hit the market have hit the jackpot, with the ship’s first foray into Australian waters now offering a promotion of 50% off the second passenger on its chartered sailing from Singapore to Sydney, which departs from the Lion City on 30 November 2016.

This inaugural sailing is not available directly from Royal Caribbean and has been chartered in full by leading Australian cruise wholesaler Cruiseco. Interior cabins for the entire sailing are priced from $2,959 per person twin share for the first passenger and $1,480 for the second. The voyage is also available in shorter pieces, from Singapore to Fremantle, Adelaide, Hobart or Melbourne (guests disembark in Hobart and fly to Melbourne). All ocean view staterooms are sold out, however balcony rooms are also still available.

As such, cabins on this sailing can only be booked via a Cruiseco-affiliated travel agent. To find your nearest eligible agent, visit Cruiseco’s website.

Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas is set to be the centre of Australia’s cruising universe during the coming 2016/17 season as the largest and by far the newest ship to venture into local waters. By the time it reaches Sydney on 15 December, the ship will barely be six months old having spent its first months in China before heading here.

Ovation of the Seas will be formally handed over to Royal Caribbean by its builders in May and is the third in the Quantum class of vessel which also includes Quantum of the Seas (based year-round in Shanghai) and Anthem of the Seas (which sails from New York City). It will be the first of this class to visit Australia.

Like its sisters, the ship will boast a world of imagination designed to take cruise holidays into and beyond the 21st century. Not all of this will be within the confines of the ship itself. Sitting right at the top of the ship is The North Star – a London Eye-style capsule attached to a giant robotic arm which extends over 90 metres above and over the side of the ship and providing a brand new view of the ship below.

The North Star will transport guests high above and over the side of the ship to provide an entirely new view.

Another outdoor innovation resides at the rear of the ship and is sure to give passengers that falling feeling. The iFly by RipCord is an indoor skydiving capsule where guests will be able to experience the sensation of freefall while admiring the ocean view. Not as new but just as exciting will be the Flowrider surfing simulator nearby, which is a popular attraction on a number of other Royal Caribbean ships including Explorer of the Seas & Voyager of the Seas.

Moving inside the ship, guests will also have new toys to watch or play with including the SeaPlex Entertainment Complex which at different times will facilitate a circus school including a trapeze, dodgem cars, basketball court and roller skating rink. The next innovation is Two70 – a panoramic theatre spanning almost three decks in height which uses glass windows to deliver an immersive light and music entertainment concept in the evening and provides a comfortable living room space for guests to enjoy during the day.

Food & Beverage has also seen the rulebook thrown out the window, led by the Dynamic Dining concept exclusive to the three Quantum class ships. Effectively, guests prepaying their crew gratuities have the freedom to dine in any of the ship’s fare-inclusive venues anytime within their opening hours, sit where they like and with whom they like. Those who prefer to dine at the same time each night can do so on a first-come-first-served basis.

The Bionic Bartenders will be something which can only be accurately described if seen. Using a tablet, guests order their drink before setting back to watch a robotic arm pour and mix their concoction before their eyes, all put together with laser precision.