Ovation of the Seas
Weighing in at just over 166000 tonnes the Ovation of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s 3rd largest cruise ship and the 4th largest ship in the world. It belongs to the new Quantum class of ships, launched in April 2016, packed with new features such
as Ripcord by I-Fly, North Star and Flow rider the ship is an amazing feat of engineering.
On January 28, 2017 I boarded the vessel for a 12night cruise of the Sth Pacific taking in New Caledonia, Vanuatu and New Zealand. To say the ship was impressive would be an understatement, boasting state-of-the art technology, a level of cleanliness that would leave some people feeling embarrassed and a very happy and diverse crew the Ovation of the Seas is an amazing ship.
With over 12 restaurants on board providing an endless array of variety of food options, my favourite was the Windjammer Cafe. located on deck 14 which offered buffet style dining with flavours from all over the world. On the 2nd last day of the cruise the Chefs prepared over 30 cakes and a chocolate tiara which
satisfied even the most demanding of food critics.
The entertainment on board was 1st class with headliner shows featuring a variety performers, comedians, dancers and singers all taking turns to entertain the passengers. Three production shows captivated the audience through dazzling light shows, amazing choreography and epic story tales. In between shows the activity team kept people entertained with progressive trivia, sports games and two Q&A sessions with the Ship’s captain that gave passengers an insight into how such a mammoth ship operates.
The ship has many areas where people can sit back and relax, with the adults only Solarium proving to be very popular at all times. Enclosed within glass at the front of the ship passengers can enjoy great views whilst relaxing in one of the whirlpools. The waiters where always on hand to ensure hydration levels were maintained with the only main hassle being trying to find a deck chair at certain times.
Another area is at the rear of the ship, aptly named 270 the room provides 270 degree views through huge glass windows. Packed with sofas, chairs and lounges the area has a huge
stage, together with a Cafe and Bar area. Upstairs there is a library and computer room where people can chill out without too much ambient noise.
At night a massive LED screens drop down over the windows turning the 270 into a huge theatre providing incredible viewing of anything that is projected onto the screen. The production show Pixels was held in this room and featured 4 large screens mounted on robotic arms that twisted and turned in all directions whilst dancers and singers strutted their stuff on the dance floor below.
Located on deck 14 the ship has 4 swimming areas including a splash zone which proved very popular with the kids on board. All pools have whirlpools that are surrounded by bars serving a variety of cocktails and international beers. The Flow rider wave simulator is located at the rear of the ship on deck 15 and provided many thrills and spills for the young thrill seeker. I wasn’t game enough to tackle the high-pressure flow of water but enjoyed watching the punters who tried to conquer the Flow rider.
Inside deck 15 there is a full sized basketball court which turns into a bumper car arena at 6pm. On the upper level there is an Xbox play station area, table tennis and pool tables, along with an amusement arcade that should keep the kids entertained for long periods.
Another ride that I wasn’t willing to try but looked fun was the Rip Cord by I-fly which provided ride goers with an airborne experience within an enclosed cylindrical sphere. Riders where assisted by an instructor at all times and a professional photographer is on hand to capture the moment.
However, arguably the most impressive feature of the Ovation was the North Star located on deck 15. The North Star is a gondola shaped glass structure attached to a hydraulic arm that rises 70m above the ship and then twists to both sides providing incredible views of the surrounding area. Bookings are essential on sea days as it is very popular although I found the best time to experience this amazing ride is on shore days where bookings are not necessary.
Other areas of the Ship include a Gym, which boasts state of the art equipment and a Royal Theatre that can accommodate up to 1300 people over two levels. The Royal Promenade is located on deck 4 and is surrounded by many shops selling designer jewellery, watches, cosmetics, clothing, liquor and handbags.
Michaels authentic pub rounded out this area nicely for those wanting to taste an authentic brew, although the La Patisserie was equally as enticing with its wonderful array of cupcakes and chocolate specialties.
The Music Hall was located a short walk from the Promenade and hosted many bands and activities over the 12 nights during the voyage. The Royal Casino is located on deck 3 for those wishing to make a donation.
The cost of an imported beer is $7.75USD and $8.50 for a Jacks and Coke, whereas a cocktail made by the robotic bartender will set you back $12USD. Although impressive to watch the robotic bartender did break down for a few nights, but after a quick phone conference with a technician in Sydney it was back up and running.
The only negatives on board where the waiting times for the lifts, but for those that are fit and able I found using the stairs was an easier and quicker way to get around. The Whirlpools where a bit cool on some days but a quick word to the concierge soon rectified this issue. Being an American ship gratuities are included in the cost of the tour, with the only exception being the Spa and Salon who automatically add an 18% gratuity to your bill.
Overall the Ovation of the Seas is an impressive ship powered by two main engines mounted on azipods producing 103000hp and four bow thrusters producing 19000hp, which means it doesn’t need tugboats for assistance when in harbour. I found the ship was very clean and with hand spray stations almost everywhere the threat of a Gastro outbreak was well mitigated. The crew where very friendly and hailed from almost every country on earth providing a diverse and authentic cruising experience for a first-time cruiser.
With an endless array of food on offer, amazing entertainment coupled with some amazing destinations, Royal Caribbean deserves a Standing Ovation for creating this Amazing ship.
The Last Dance
In September 2023 I ventured to Melbourne to watch one of the greatest sporting spectacles in the world the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final. Commonly referred to as the Last Dance, the Grand Final had always been on my bucket list, so it was inevitable that I would get there one day.
Tickets can be hard to get, so I booked a package deal earlier in the year through the AFL. I booked my airfares and accommodation at the same time, to miss out on the price hikes later in the year. My package featured two games the preliminary and the grandy.
The preliminary was held at the MCG commonly known as the home of football on a Friday night. Collingwood the hometown team were playing Greater Western Sydney (GWS) in what turned out to be a classic game. GWS had their chances but poor kicking cost them the game in the end. Collingwood prevailed by a solitary point setting up a classic Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions.
Both teams had been the most consistent all year and deserved to make the final. The week leading up to the final was intense, with plenty of commentary on who would win the epic encounter. I spent the week in the lead up to the game exploring the City. Melbourne has some of the best markets in the world, with the Queen Victoria Markets the pick of the bunch. The fresh seafood, deli meats, fruit n veg and poultry is second to none. However, my favourite food at the markets is the famous Burek. You can pick up a slice for $4 and knock it down with a flat white for a quick breakfast.
The other markets were the South Melbourne Markets which were smaller than the QVM but focused more on food offerings from a variety of stalls. The markets on a Saturday morning were very busy so I simply headed to the local massage shop for a 45min neck and back massage.
Melbourne is also famous for its shopping, there are more shops here than you can physically visit in one day and that’s just in the CBD. I managed to buy some new shorts and two t-shirts from Myers. As the day of the big game drew closer, you could feel the City was coming alive. People were starting to wear the colours of their time in preparation for the big game, Lions supporters were flying in from Brisbane and proudly showing off their colours.
I had previously lived in Melbourne in 2009, so I had seen many of the sites, but one thing I had never done was a river cruise up the Yarra. So on Friday afternoon I jumped on board one of the ferries and made my way up the river towards the famous MCG. The MCG is a massive stadium built in 1853 as a cricket oval. Since then it has had numerous expansions over the years culminating in its current capacity of 100,000.
On Saturday September 30, it was Grand Final day. A day when, 100,000 people would flock to the ground by bus, tram, walk, Uber and taxi to fill the stands and the rest of Australia would be watching from home or in the local pubs. The temperature was 34 degrees, the hottest day of the year in Melbourne so a hat and sunscreen were mandatory.
The pre-match entertainment is always a bone of contention amongst Melburnians. Since the horror show of Meatloaf many years ago the pre-match entertainment is always a talking point. This year they had 70s super band ‘KISS’ who were on their farewell tour perform some of their classic hits such as ‘I was made for loving you’ and ‘Shout it out Loud’ which had the crowd rockin and rollin in the stands. The stage was set for an epic Grand Final.
Collingwood took the lead early on with Nick Diacos kicking the opening goal, but Brisbane weren’t to be outdone with Brownlow Medalist – Lachie Neal and Charlie Cameron combining to bring the Lions back into the game. The game ended up being a see-sawing affair and it looked like Brisbane might breakaway in the third quarter, but Collingwood came back to even the scores at the 3rd quarter break. The final quarter was going to be epic with both teams giving it everything. The Lions fans spurred their team on by singing their favourite song ‘Take me Home, Country Roads’ by John Denver even when the music had stopped. They were convinced they would be taking the trophy home, but in the end it wasn’t to be’, Collingwood hung on for a 4-point win, in one of the great Grand Finals.
Collingwood had won their last Grand Final in 2010, so their fans were going to party hard well into the night. On the walk back to the City the lines for the Premiership posters being sold from pop-up stalls was about 100m long. I flew out of Melbourne the next day having ticked the Last Dance off my bucket list.
