SYDNEY, Oct. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For Australian travellers, Indonesia can offer more than a familiar holiday. From wellness and culture to marine exploration and heritage, the journey can become an opportunity to experience destinations they may already know in new and more meaningful ways.
Indonesia is strengthening its commitment to quality tourism by placing the quality of the travel experience, the country's natural and cultural heritage, and the value created for destinations and local communities at the heart of tourism development. For many Australian travellers, Indonesia is already a familiar destination. The opportunity now is to experience it differently, through journeys that are more personal, diverse and connected to the places, cultures and communities that shape each destination.
The Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia is approaching this potential from a new perspective. Through its Quality Tourism strategy, Indonesia is advancing a tourism model that places quality alongside quantity. The strategy prioritises niche experiences, including marine tourism, gastronomy, wellness, luxury and the arts, with the aim of attracting affluent travellers, encouraging longer stays and generating greater economic value for destinations and local communities.
This approach is brought to life through "Go Beyond Ordinary," inviting Australian travellers to experience Indonesia beyond the destinations they may already know. Bali, Lombok,
Labuan Bajo and Borobudur offer complementary experiences, ranging from culture and wellness to nature and marine adventures, as well as history and heritage. These destinations illustrate different ways to experience Indonesia more deeply, rather than as separate stops on an itinerary.
Bali remains a destination with a strong connection to Australian travellers, yet the island offers much more than its beaches and popular tourism areas. Rice terraces, traditional villages, local rituals, gastronomy and wellness experiences provide different ways to discover Bali.
In Lombok, nature and Sasak culture come together to shape a distinct experience. The Gili Islands offer marine experiences, while Mount Rinjani provides opportunities for nature-based adventure.
Further east, the journey turns towards the sea, Labuan Bajo offers a marine experience shaped by the extraordinary underwater ecosystems of Komodo National Park. Diving and snorkelling allow travellers to encounter diverse coral reefs and marine life.
Borobudur brings a different dimension to the journey, rooted in history, culture and spirituality. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ninth-century Buddhist temple features thousands of relief panels and hundreds of stupas.
Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, said, "Quality Tourism is about creating a stronger connection between travellers, destinations and the communities that shape them. It means encouraging journeys that go beyond seeing a place, towards understanding its character, experiencing it more deeply and creating lasting value for the destinations visited. In that spirit, we invite Australian travellers to explore further and discover more meaningful experiences across Indonesia."
To support more personalised journeys, the Ministry of Tourism has also introduced MaiA (Meticulous Artificial Intelligence of Indonesia), an AI-powered travel assistant under the Tourism 5.0 programme accessible at indonesia.travel.
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Wellness, Culture and Island Adventures: Experiencing Indonesia Through a Different Lens
Inspired by the hit Broadway musical and Nickelodeon animated series, the all-new production will bring the world of Bikini Bottom to life on the new Icon Class family vacation debuting August 2027
MIAMI, Oct. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean is introducing "The SpongeBob Musical,*" the first-ever at-sea production inspired by the Tony award-winning Broadway show on Hero of the Seas when the fourth Icon Class vacation sets sail from Miami in August 2027. As part of the bold entertainment lineup on the newest family vacation, the adventure-packed show will bring the vibrant world of Bikini Bottom to life in the Royal Theater. "The SpongeBob Musical" joins Royal Caribbean's award-winning entertainment portfolio, which continues to push the boundaries for experiences across stage, air, water and ice for vacationers of all ages.
"At Royal Caribbean, we're focused on creating incredible experiences that bring families of all ages together in meaningful, memorable ways," said Christi Coachman, vice president, entertainment, Royal Caribbean. "Our entertainment lineup on Hero of the Seas is designed with something for everyone. 'The SpongeBob Musical' delivers on that by bringing generations together through a story families know and love, while showcasing the creativity, cutting-edge technology and world-class production that can only be experienced on a Royal Caribbean vacation."
From under the sea to at sea, "The SpongeBob Musical" on Hero will transform the beloved Nickelodeon animated series and 12-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway show into a reimagined production for the whole family that can be experienced only on Royal Caribbean. Filled with unexpected twists, larger-than-life characters, hit songs and above all – friendship, the adventure will show audiences that heroes can come from even the most unlikely places as SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends race against time to save their town from total destruction.
Beyond groundbreaking entertainment for all ages, vacationers can go all in on adventure across eight neighborhoods with experiences including:
- Crown's Edge, part skywalk, part zip line experience suspended 154 feet above the ocean
- Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea
- Nine pools, including the new Coconut Cove pool and the adults-only The Hideaway, featuring two pools and the largest swim-up bar at sea
- 28 dining venues, including the multi-course Orleans Parrish Supper Club; an immersive train car dining experience at Royal Railway – Hero Station; hands-on cooking classes in a new venue to be revealed and more
- Brand-new family accommodations, including the three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse featuring a rooftop terrace, whirlpool and two-deck teen space
Hero will take vacationers on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean adventures from Miami, with every adventure visiting Royal Caribbean's top-rated Perfect Day CocoCay in The Bahamas. Adventurers can choose to explore Western Caribbean spots like Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatan, Honduras, or head to tropical Eastern Caribbean destinations such as Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
For more information on Hero, vacationers can visit Royal Caribbean's website.
About Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean, part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years. The cruise line's game-changing ships and signature destinations revolutionize vacations with industry-leading innovations and an all-encompassing combination of experiences, from thrills and ways to chill, to dining and entertainment, for every type of family and vacationer. Voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 23 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, Royal Caribbean makes memories with adventurers across more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents, including Perfect Day CocoCay in The Bahamas and Royal Beach Clubs in Paradise Island and Santorini, plus Royal Beach Club Lelepa coming soon.
Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on X and visit www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to book, vacationers can visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com, call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN or contact their travel advisor.
About The SpongeBob Musical
The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and tells the story of the optimistic SpongeBob and his irresistible friends coming together to save their undersea world from volcanic destruction. The musical features a book by Tony Award-nominated, Obie Award-winning writer and musician Kyle Jarrow, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T's, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, with additional music by Tom Kitt. The musical production was conceived by renowned writer, director and Drama Desk Award-winning Tina Landau.
About Paramount Products & Experiences
Paramount Products & Experiences oversees all licensing, merchandising, and location-based experiences for Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY), a leading next generation global media and entertainment company. The division brings to life iconic franchises and beloved characters through innovative products and immersive experiences across categories including toys, apparel, publishing, food and beverage, theme parks, hotels, cruises, attractions, and live entertainment. Its global portfolio is powered by content from brands such as Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount+, and fan-favorite franchises like PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek and Yellowstone. To explore our range of consumer products and Paramount-branded merchandise, visit ParamountShop.com.
* Nickelodeon's THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg with a book by Kyle Jarrow, is presented in arrangement with Concord Theatricals. ©2026 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants and all related titles, logos, and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com.
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"THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL" HEADS TO SEA FOR THE FIRST TIME ON ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S HERO OF THE SEAS
