One cruise ship is stuck at sea due to a major storm — but it has nothing to do with the Atlantic hurricane season.
Spectrum of the Seas was scheduled to return to Shanghai, China, on July 11, but her arrival has been delayed due to Super Typhoon Bavi.
"We have been monitoring the progression of Typhoon Bavi as it slowly moves toward Shanghai. Due to the development of the storm and its impact, and the government closure of the Port of Shanghai (Baoshan), the previous Spectrum of the Seas sailing has been delayed returning to port," reads an email sent to guests.
The email continued, "[A]s a result, our 4-Night, 11 July 2026, sailing has unfortunately been cancelled. We're truly sorry for the impact that this has on your vacation plans."
(Credit: Deena Patel / Facebook)
Those on the cancelled voyage will receive a full refund of the paid portion of the cruise fare, including non-refundable deposits. The cruise line will also automatically refund guests who booked airfare through Royal Caribbean.
"You'll also be reimbursed for non-refundable, pre-purchased transportation change fees incurred," the letter states. However, guests must be able to provide documentation by September 10, 2026.
In addition to the refund, Royal Caribbean is also handing out Future Cruise Credits (FCC) that can be used on any Royal Caribbean sailing through July 11, 2027.
Credit amounts vary depending on stateroom category. Passengers booked in suites, for example, will receive RMB 3,400 (~$500 USD) per stateroom. Balcony cabins will receive RMB 1,700 (~$250 USD), while those in ocean view staterooms will get RMB 1,300 (~$190 USD).
Finally, passengers in inside cabins will receive RMB 1,000 (~$147 USD), and third and fourth guests in each stateroom will get an additional RMB 340 (~$50 USD).
According to passenger reports, Spectrum of the Seas cannot return to Shanghai until July 13, around 6:00 p.m., due to the port closure. Additionally, the ship is being rerouted to Jeju, South Korea, to avoid being impacted by the storm.
The July 7 cruise's only scheduled port of call was Busan, South Korea, so this extended delay means passengers will get to visit another destination, as well as spend more time aboard the 169,379 gross-ton ship.
Typhoon Bavi takes aim at China
Typhoon Bavi, which extends 620 miles at its widest point (roughly the width of France), is heading across the Pacific toward China. The storm is expected to make landfall in southeastern China on Saturday, after dumping rain on Taiwan and a chain of remote Japanese islands, the BBC reported.
Reuters added that Typhoon Bavi has the potential to be the most powerful storm the country has seen in years, with authorities in Beijing issuing the highest-level heavy rain alerts for six districts, forecasting the possibility of around six inches of rain within six hours in some areas.
Beijing's municipal government has also shut down parks, public events, some construction projects, and train services, and residents living in high-risk areas in the suburbs were evacuated on Thursday.
According to a live Typhoon Bavi tracker, the storm had sustained winds of around 178mph as of July 10 at 4:10 p.m. EST. Additionally, the storm was moving northwest at 13mph.
Spectrum of the Seas fast facts
Spectrum of the Seas, which launched in 2019, is a Quantum-Ultra Class ship that was designed specifically for the Asian market. As such, she's different from other ships in the fleet, with unique dining options, entertainment, and design features.
According to the cruise line, she measures 169,379 gross tons, has a passenger capacity of 4,246 at double occupancy, and comes in at 1,139 feet long.
Spectrum will offer three- to eight-night cruises from Shanghai through November 2026. Then, she will relocate to Hong Kong, China, for three months before returning to Shanghai in late January.
