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Royal Caribbean redeploys Spectrum of the Seas to Singapore for April 2022

In:
27 Jan 2022

Spectrum of the Seas will shift to offer cruises from Singapore in Spring 2022.

Royal Caribbean will move Spectrum of the Seas to offer complimentary cruises to Australia's first responders | Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean announced Spectrum of the Seas will sail from Singapore beginning April 11, 2022.

This move means Spectrum will begin sailings six months earlier than originally scheduled.

The ship will offer 3- and 4-night "cruises to nowhere". Bookings are now open for reservations.

Spectrum of the Seas offers overnight sailings in Tokyo in 2020 | Royal Caribbean Blog

"We know that vacation time is precious and choosing how to spend it is more important than ever, which is why we are thrilled to welcome Spectrum of the Seas – one of the most advanced ships in the world, to Singapore in April – making Singapore the cruising destination of choice," said Angie Stephen, vice president and managing director, Asia-Pacific, Royal Caribbean International.

"We have seen incredible demand for Royal Caribbean cruise holidays in Singapore. Having hosted more than 178,000 Singapore residents since we restarted cruising, bringing Spectrum six months early is truly exciting. The combination of experiences specially designed for the Asian market, together with signature Royal Caribbean favourites on board, will make Spectrum a huge hit."

Spectrum changed homeports because Hong Kong began forcing Royal Caribbean to cancel sailings. Instead, she will shift to Singapore.

The arrival of Spectrum of the Seas will also mean a Royal Caribbean ship will remain in Singapore when Quantum of the Seas moves to Alaska for the summer 2022 cruise season.

Best features of Spectrum of the Seas

Spectrum is the first Quantum Ultra Class ship in the fleet, and has a few special offerings.

Sky Pad – Asia’s first, this virtual reality, bungee trampoline adventure is where guests can strap in, don a headset and transport themselves to another time and planet.

Suite Enclave – Royal Caribbean’s first and exclusive space for the exquisite Royal Suite Class Star, Sky and Sea accommodations in a private area, featuring exclusive floor access, an elevator, private restaurants and a dedicated lounge area.

Two70 – Boasting stunning 270-degree ocean views by day and transforming into a multidimensional theatre by night, this transformative space flaunts six agile Roboscreens, breathtaking live performers and mind-bending aerialists to create unimaginable visuals.

SeaPlex – The largest indoor active space at sea, featuring bumper cars, laser tag, fencing, archery and more.

Star Moment – A lively and energetic karaoke venue where family and friends come together to belt out and sing like stars.

Family Friendly Accommodations – From exterior balcony staterooms to interconnected rooms, to the signature two-level Ultimate Family Suite, an expansive, multiroom retreat complete with its own slide and cinema that also doubles as a karaoke stage, there’s an array of staterooms designed for the whole family.

Signature Experiences – A bold lineup of guest favourites are on deck, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the North Star, an all-glass observation capsule which ascends 300 feet above the ocean to deliver incomparable 360-degree views; and RipCord by iFly, the first sky diving experience at sea.

A World of Flavours – There are 19 dining options that serve up a variety of cuisines, including Hot Pot, an authentic Chinese dining experience; Teppanyaki, a celebration of Far East flavours cooked in Japan’s traditional teppanyaki style; and Sichuan Red, a new specialty dining experience tailored just for Spectrum, where diners can savour a bold tapestry of spices and Sichuan flavours. Signature classics include imaginative cuisine at Wonderland, American steakhouse Chops Grille and authentic rustic fare and handmade pasta at Jamie’s Italian.

Royal Caribbean updates: Cruise planner update, Spectrum of the Seas cancellations & more!

In:
20 Jan 2022

Another week of Royal Caribbean news is here to share, with a look at some recent changes worth noting.

Since there's so much happening these days, sometimes it's easier to provide a more concise update from across the fleet of changes, interesting options and more good to know information.

If you ever have a news tip, feel free to email it to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future update!

Royal Caribbean will cruise from Cyprus again in 2022 and 2023

Rhapsody of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Blog

Cyprus welcomed cruise ships in summer 2021, and Royal Caribbean will homeport a ship there again for the next two summer seasons.

Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Limassol, Cyprus, in 2022 and 2023, where she will offer itineraries that visit ports in the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Jewel of the Seas will sail from Cyprus in July | Royal Caribbean Blog

There are 7-night Greek Isles cruises that sail roundtrip from Limassol in August and September 2022.

In May-August 2023, Rhapsody will return to the city to set sail on new 7-night Israel and Egypt cruises as well as Greece and Turkey itineraries. Afterwards, Rhapsody moves to Haifa as a homeport in early November 2023 to offer a mix of 2- to 7-night itineraries to Greece, the Greek Isles and Cyprus.

Hong Kong forces Royal Caribbean to cancel Spectrum of the Seas sailings

Spectrum of the Seas will restart cruises from Hong Kong on July 30 | Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean was forced to cancel all of its January 2022 cruises from Hong Kong on Spectrum of the Seas due to a short-term government ban on cruises.

The Spectrum of the Seas sailings scheduled for January 21, 23, 26, 28, and January 31, 2022 are now cancelled.

In a statement, the sailings were cancelled in an effort by Hong Kong officials to contain Covid-19, "The sailings were canceled following an update to local COVID-19 prevention policies by local authorities on January 14, which requires a 14-day suspension of all cruise operations; details can be found on the official government website."

"Royal Caribbean will continue to monitor the evolving situation and work closely with relevant local authorities on our return to service. We fully expect to welcome back our guests onboard Spectrum’s February 4 cruise."

More ships upgraded to new Cruise Planner

Royal Caribbean begins to roll out My Royal Cruise cruise planner upgrade | Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean is slowly phasing in a new look to its Cruise Planner website, which allows guests to pre-book packages, dining, entertainment and more before the sailing.

Here is the dates when the new look will appear for each ship:

  • Symphony of the Seas departing January 22,2022
  • Odyssey of the Seas departing January 15, 2022
  • Oasis of the Seas departing February 13, 2022
  • Harmony of the Seas departing February 27, 2022
  • Navigator of the Seas departing March 7, 2022
  • Anthem of the Seas departing March 27, 2022
  • Freedom of the Seas departing April 4, 2022
  • Adventure of the Seas departing April 11, 2022
  • Independence of the Seas departing April 15, 2022
  • Liberty of the Seas departing April 17, 2022
  • Allure of the Seas departing April 30, 2022
  • Ovation of the Seas departing May 5, 2022
  • Quantum of the Seas® departing May 16, 2022

If you're booked before these dates, you will continue to see the old Cruise Planner interface.

Royal Caribbean says it plans to steadily expand My Royal Cruise to additional ships and sailing windows at a later date. 

Royal Caribbean updates: Spectrum of the Seas cancellation, CDC plans and more!

In:
05 Jan 2022

This week has barely started and already there's lots of cruise news happening.  Since so much of it overlaps, I wanted to provide a round-up of what's changed recently.

Spectrum of the Seas will restart cruises from Hong Kong on July 30 | Royal Caribbean Blog

There are smaller updates from across the fleet that I think are kind of interesting, neat, or otherwise good to know.

If you ever have a news tip, feel free to email it to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future update!

Spectrum of the Seas sailings in Hong Kong cancelled

Spectrum of the Seas will restart cruises from Hong Kong on July 30 | Royal Caribbean Blog

If you read a headline about Royal Caribbean cancelling cruises today, don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds.

Royal Caribbean cancelled the January 6 sailing of Spectrum of the Seas from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong | Royal Caribbean Blog

There weren't any actual Covid cases onboard. Rather, nine passengers on the previous sailing that departed on January 2 were identified as close contacts to someone that tested positive on land in Hong Kong.

The contacts have tested negative but the cruise ship will return to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong on January 5 to test all guests and crew who must take a second test on January 8th.

CDC still plans to make Conditional Sail Order voluntary

Cruise industry calls on CDC to let cruise ships sail again | Royal Caribbean Blog

Despite the Omicron variant, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the plan is still for the Conditional Sail Order (CSO) to become a voluntary program next week.

As you may recall, the CDC temporarily extended the CSO for an additional two and a half months back in October.

According to Cruise Critic, the plan is still for the CSO to expire on January 15, per the federal agency.

There actually is an update to the CSO - Royal Caribbean News and Rumors - Royal Caribbean Blog

"After the expiration of the Temporary Extension & Modification of the CSO on January 15, 2022, CDC intends to transition to a voluntary program, in coordination with cruise ship operators and other stakeholders, to assist the cruise ship industry to detect, mitigate, and control the spread of COVID-19 onboard cruise ships," a CDC spokesperson told Cruise Critic via email.

Once the Temporary Extension & Modification of the CSO expires on January 15, the CSO will shift to a voluntary basis, where cruise lines and other stakeholders will work together without a federal mandate to do so to ensure proper protocols are followed.

NCL cancels cruises on sailings on 8 ships

Norwegian Cruise Line | Royal Caribbean Blog

 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd announced a change to scheduled sailings on 8 ships due to the impact of the Omicron variant.

The reason for the cancellation has to do with crew staffing related to Covid cases onboard.

The Norwegian cancellations announced Wednesday include:

  • Norwegian Pearl departures through January 14, 2022
  • Norwegian Sky departures through February 25, 2022
  • Pride of America departures through February 26, 2022
  • Norwegian Jade departures through March 3, 2022
  • Norwegian Star departures through March 19, 2022
  • Norwegian Sun departures through April 19, 2022
  • Norwegian Spirit departures through April 23, 2022

Royal Caribbean trademarks Royal Beach Club name

Royal Caribbean snuck in one more trademark filing before the end of 2021.

The cruise line registered a trademark for the phrase, "Royal Beach Club", which is the name of its private beach club experience it is developing in Nassau, Bahamas.

The first Royal Beach Club is set to open in Nassau, Bahamas, perhaps as early as 2023.

Read moreRoyal Caribbean looks forward to big plans in 2022 and 2023

This new project is not intended to be for all guests on a ship to do. Rather, it will supplement the Nassau offerings. The beach club will be built on 7 acres on the western end of Paradise Island.

The Royal Beach Club will be able to accommodate about 3,500 together with 250 workers. 

Royal Caribbean announces new Singapore sailings on two cruise ships

In:
28 Sep 2021

Royal Caribbean announced a new ship will sail from Singapore, as well as an extension of other cruises.

Singapore was the first place that Royal Caribbean International restarted sailing during the global cruise shutdown, and it remains a focus for the Asian cruise market as the rest of the region struggles to reopen.

Spectrum of the Seas will move to Singapore, beginning October 21, 2022.

She will sail 3- to 9-night sailings from Singapore, and her new sailings are available to book immediately.

Spectrum of the Seas joins Royal Caribbean's fleet following delivery ceremony | Royal Caribbean Blog

Spectrum of the Seas was designed for the Asian cruise market, and has been not offered any cruises since early 2020.

In addition, Royal Caribbean has extended Quantum of the Seas sailings yet again, this time offering more sailings from Singapore on Quantum through April 7, 2022.

Royal Caribbean to homeport Quantum of the Seas in Singapore in 2019-2020 | Royal Caribbean Blog

"We are thrilled to introduce a whole spectrum of new adventures with Spectrum of the Seas, which features groundbreaking escapades exclusively designed for the Asian market, a testament to Royal Caribbean’s confidence in the potential of the cruising industry in the region. We have seen a surge in repeat cruisers, as well as a significant number of new to cruise guests, and look forward to bringing the best of the Royal Caribbean experience to our guests," said Angie Stephen, vice president, Singapore, Royal Caribbean International.

"At the same time, we are excited to extend Quantum’s ultimate ocean getaways once again through early next year to continue catering to the strong demand for sailings from Singapore."

American biotech coronavirus vaccine shows positive results in early human trials | Royal Caribbean Blog

Another change for Singapore sailings is the requirement for passengers to be fully vaccinated.

In addition to robust onboard ventilation systems, enhanced cleaning and sanitization as well as having its crew vaccinated, the cruise line will also require all guests to be fully vaccinated for all new bookings made from October 1, 2021, and onwards.

What makes Spectrum of the Seas different

Spectrum of the Seas arrives in first Asian port | Royal Caribbean Blog

Spectrum of the Seas is not only a new ship to Singapore, she is one of the newest ships in the fleet.

Royal Caribbean designed the ship to be an innovator, that offers plenty of innovations and touches of eastern culture infused with the ship.

Here are some of the major things to do on Spectrum of the Seas:

Top 14 best free things to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise | Royal Caribbean Blog

  • Asia’s first Sky Pad, a virtual reality, bungee trampoline adventure
  • Royal Caribbean’s first and exclusive Suite Enclave, which features the exquisite Royal Suite Class Star, Sky and Sea accommodations in a private area supremely positioned at the forward end of the ship. Guests booked in these luxury suites have exclusive floor access, an elevator, private restaurants, and a dedicated lounge area.
  • Cutting-edge and transformative venues such as Two70. Boasting stunning 270-degree ocean views by day and transforming into a multidimensional theater by night, this transformative space flaunts six agile Roboscreens, breathtaking live performers and mind-bending aerialists to create unimaginable visuals. 
  • Star Moment, a lively and energetic karaoke venue where family and friends can belt out and sing like stars.
  • The signature two-level Ultimate Family Suite, an expansive, multiroom retreat complete with its own ensuite slide and cinema, which also doubles as a karaoke stage.
  • A bold lineup of signature activities, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the North Star, an all-glass capsule that ascends 300 feet above the ocean to deliver incomparable 360-degree views; and RipCord by iFly, the first sky diving experience at sea.
  • Nineteen distinct dining options serve up flavors from around the world, including Hot Pot, an authentic Chinese dining experience; Teppanyaki, a celebration of authentic oriental flavors cooked in Japan’s traditional teppanyaki style; and Sichuan Red, a new specialty dining experience tailored just for Spectrum, where diners can savour a bold tapestry of authentic spices and Sichuan flavours. Signature classics include imaginative cuisine at Wonderland, top-notch, aged beef at Chops Grille, and authentic rustic fare and handmade pasta at Jamie’s Italian.

Spectrum of the Seas will restart cruises from Hong Kong on July 30

In:
26 May 2021

Another Royal Caribbean cruise ship will be returning to service this summer.

Hong Kong has given Royal Caribbean approval to restart cruises aboard Spectrum of the Seas with short sailings with no port stops.

Spectrum of the Seas would be the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to resume sailings in China, and there will be a series of cruises between July and November.

Similar to Quantum of the Seas in Singapore, Hong Kong has approved limited sailings with strict protocols onboard.

According to the Hong Kong Cruise Society, here are the sailing dates and itineraries:

  • 2-night cruises: July 30 / Sep 05,17
  • 3-night cruises: Aug 05,12,19,26 / Sep 02,07,10,23,30 / Oct 07,14,21,28 / Nov 04,11,18,25
  • 4-night cruises: Aug 01,08,15,22,29 / Sep 13,19,26 / Oct 03,10,17,24,31 / Nov 07,14,21,28

The new sailings have not yet been released by Royal Caribbean.

Guests looking to book a sailing can only book oceanview or higher categories (no interior rooms). 

In addition, guests 16 years or older must be fully vaccinated and have received their second dose at least 14 days ago prior to boarding. 

Passengers must also provide a negative PCR test within 48 hours of boarding the ship.

Many of these protocols come from Hong Kong's government, which just approved "cruises to nowhere" on Wednesday.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah confirmed Royal Caribbean was one of the lines with permission to sail from Hong Kong.

Spectrum of the Seas was one of the first cruise ships to have her cruises cancelled due to the global health crisis, with her season cut short in China and moved to Australia for a short period of time before the cruise industry shutdown completely in March.

With Spectrum of the Seas restarting cruises in July, this adds another ship to the list of Royal Caribbean ships that will be able to resume operations, including Adventure of the Seas from the Bahamas, Anthem of the Seas from Southampton, and Jewel of the Seas from Cyprus.

Royal Caribbean also received permission to start test cruises on Freedom of the Seas in June.

Royal Caribbean releases Hawaii and China 2022 cruises

In:
29 Jan 2021

Two new 2022 itineraries have been quietly released by Royal Caribbean.

The itineraries revealed are on Spectrum of the Seas in Asia and Quantum of the Seas repositioning cruises to/from Hawaii.

Spectrum of the Seas will sail 4-8 night itineraries in 2022 from Shanghai (Baoshan) and for the first time ever, Beijing (Tianjin).

Sailings on Spectrum will visit Japanese ports such as Nagasaki, Fukuoka and Sasebo.

These new Spectrum of the Seas sailings begin in January 2022 and run through October 2022.

In addition, two long sailings on Quantum of the Seas to and from Hawaii have been added.

Quantum will depart Honolulu in April 2022 to head to Vancouver, and then will stop back in Hawaii in October 2022.

Read moreHawaii cruise on Royal Caribbean: Everything you need to know

Royal Caribbean does not offer regular cruises to Hawaii, but does stop there as part of repositioning cruises between Australia and North America.

Royal Caribbean has not announced any deployment schedule yet for the remainder of 2022-2023 cruises.  These new sailings appeared without warning.

Royal Caribbean amends loans on Anthem and Spectrum of the Seas due to coronavirus pandemic

In:
10 Apr 2020

In light of the global health crisis, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has altered the loans it took out to finance Anthem of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas in order to take advantage of a 12-month debt holiday.

The deal was made between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Euler Hermes Aktiengesellschaft on April 8, and it essentially means Royal Caribbean to skip a few payments without accruing additional interest. Moreover, it provides the cruise line with $200 million of incremental liquidity through April 2021.

The deferral period is between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. The deferred money will be repayable in eight equal semi-annual installments between April 2021 and October 2024.

In addition, Royal Caribbean amended the export-credit backed loan facility incurred to finance Celebrity Reflection in order to incorporate the benefits of the Debt Holiday. Across these three facilities, the Debt Holiday initiative will generate $200 million of incremental liquidity through April 2021.

Royal Caribbean is also looking into taking advantage of the debt holiday initiative across the remainder of their Hermes-backed facilities.

The loan amendment has a few stipulations, including Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. may not take certain actions including:

  • Payment of dividends
  • Repurchase of stock
  • Issuance of debt or equity other than for liquidity

Video: Spectrum of the Seas Humanitarian Cruise for Australian Bushfire First Responders

In:
11 Mar 2020

When Royal Caribbean decided to move Spectrum of the Seas out of Asia due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the cruise line took this opportunity to give back to the first responders of Australia.

A number of complimentary humanitarian sailings were offered in support of Australia's volunteer first responder community, who worked tirelessly during the recent bushfire crisis. 

Volunteers and their families were invited from all over Australia to sail on Spectrum of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean worked with state-based volunteer agencies directly to notify and encourage eligible volunteers to register for their complimentary cruise. The company partnered with Lifeline to provide individual support sessions for any guests who have been impacted by the bushfires and need to talk through calling the Bushfire Recovery line 13HELP on 13 43 57.

Photos: Spectrum of the Seas arrives in Sydney, Australia

In:
27 Feb 2020

Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas arrived in Sydney, Australia this week after the impact of Coronavirus in Asia forced Royal Caribbean to redeploy her away from the region.

Royal Caribbean announced two weeks ago it would reposition Spectrum of the Seas to Australia as a gesture to thank the humanitarian efforts put forth to combat the wildfires.

Aaron Armitage took photos of Spectrum of the Seas in Sydney Harbour, marking her arrival.

When circumstances improve in China, Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Michael Bayley said, Royal Caribbean International will dedicate a ship in China to a series of complimentary sailings to thank first responders and medical personnel for their heroic efforts to defeat the virus.

Royal Caribbean opens up bookings for complimentary sailings to first responders on Spectrum of the Seas

In:
24 Feb 2020

Royal Caribbean recently announced it would reposition Spectrum of the Seas to Australia as a gesture to thank the humanitarian efforts put forth to combat the wildfires. The cruise line has now opened bookings for two complimentary sailings.

Royal Caribbean announced the two sailings will take place on Spectrum of the Seas:

  • Saturday February 29th to Wednesday 4th March
  • Saturday March 7th to Wednesday 11th March

If you have been a Volunteer First Responder, head to www.ARoyalThankYou.com for your chance to get a free sailing.

To be eligible to enter for the chance to win a prize, Volunteer First Responders must visit www.aroyalthankyou.com, follow the prompts to the promotion entry page, input the requested details (including full name, date of birth, address, email, contact number and proof of government emergency service ID), answer the following promotional question “What do you believe is the most important characteristics of a Volunteer First Responder?” (150 words or less) and submit the fully completed entry form during the Promotional Period.

The complimentary cruises include:

  • Cruise fare
  • All taxes and fees
  • All meals in the main dining rooms, excluding specialty restaurants
    • Including Beer and Wine service at Dinner meals (Guests 18+ only)
  • All tea, coffee, soft drink and bottled water
  • Voom WIFI – discounted price of $5 per day per device (surf & stream)
  • Shows and entertainment
  • Activities including:
    • iFly
    • Flowrider
    • SeaPlex, including games arcade and bumper cars
    • North Star
    • Sky Pad
    • Adventure Ocean Youth Program
    • Fitness Centre, excluding specialty classes

Entries close AEDT Tuesday 25 February 10am. Winners will be notified by end of the business day on Tuesday 25 th February 2020.

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