Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas cruise ship left Singapore today, thus completing a four-year deployment in Asia.

Legend of the Seas had been operating in Asia since December 2008, where it called upon more than 40 ports in 13 countries.  Legend of the Seas also engaged in a $50 million renovation in Singapore recently.

Royal Caribbean managing director for Singapore, Jennifer Yap, commented on Legend's time in Asia, "Our Legend of the Seas has given our guests so many wonderful memories with the Royal Caribbean’s international style of cruising, innovative signature amenities and activities such as the rock-climbing wall and mini-golf, and most of all, her warm and friendly crew. Her presence in Asia over the years has played a significant role in creating greater market awareness for our brand and the attractions of cruising, in changing consumers’ mindset to see cruise ships as true destinations on their own and a top family-friendly vacation option with something onboard for everyone! We will definitely miss our ship here."

Legend of the Seas is currently engaged in a 14-night repositioning cruise to Dubai, where she will stop at ports in Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Oman along the way.  Afterwards, Legend of the Seas will go to Europe to offer Mediterranean cruises before going to the Caribbean next summer.

Replacing Legend of the Seas in Asia is the larger Mariner of the Seas, who will arrive in June for her maiden season.  Mariner of the Seas joins Voyager of the Seas in China this summer before heading back to Singapore at the end of 2013.

Today's photo is from Singapore where Royal Caribbean's two cruise ships in Asia, Voyager of the Seas (left) and Legend of the Seas (right) both arrived at  Marina Bay Cruise Centre.  This is the first time both ships have been next to each other.

Voyager of the Seas, the largest cruise ship based in Asia, was starting on her 8-night cruise to Shanghai while her sister ship Legend of the Seas was leaving for a 2-night Malacca weekend cruise as part of her Singapore season.

Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas arrived in Brunei for the first time in more than 10 years as part of a Borneo explorer cruise.  The cruise started in Singapore and includes stops in Kota Kinabalu and Puerto Princesa.

As part of the stop, officials in Brunei organized an official ceremony to welcome the cruise ship's return.  The ceremony was attended by Pg Haji Mohd Zain bin Pg Hj Abd Razak, acting director of Muara Port, port officers and media.

“We are pleased with the opportunity to call at Bandar Seri Begawan again, bringing our guests the best of Brunei at this interesting destination and giving a boost to the local tourism. Today, the cruising scene in Asia has much evolved and our Asian itineraries of Royal Caribbean International cater to international guests and even more so those from the region. Hence this is also a good chance for us to showcase Royal Caribbean’s renowned international style of cruising here,” said Kelvin Tan, Royal Caribbean’s regional director, Asia.

Brunei is a small nation on the island of Borneo, bordering Malaysia in Southeast Asia. 

Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas docked for the first time at Puerto Princesa in the Philippines today as part of the cruise ship's seven-night "Borneo Explorer Cruise".  The cruise includes stops at Kota Kinabalu and Bandar Seri Begawan.  

The city's mayor, Edward Hagedorn, and local government officials welcomed the cruise ship at the port.

“We are proud to add yet another destination in the Philippines… to Legend of the Seas’ Asian season for her guests to explore and experience. Our successful call at Puerto Princesa today is the result of the strong effort and support of the Philippines government in terms of infrastructure building which marks a positive step in cruise development for the country,” said Marilen Sandejas-Yaptangco, Royal Caribbean’s representative in the Philippines.

“The maiden voyage of Legend of the Seas to Puerto Princesa is historical and we are glad that the visitors can experience the scenic beauty and hospitality of our people which will boost tourism in our country,” added Mayor Hagedorn.

Puerto Princesa is located on the island of Palawan and is best known for its Subterranean River National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas emerged from a month-long $50 million refurbishment in Singapore yesterday and will resume cruises in Asia before returning to Europe.  The upgrades to Legend of the Seas are part of Royal Caribbean's fleet-wide upgrades to bring amenities from their Oasis-class cruise ships to all the ships.

Legend of the Seas refurbishment saw these additions to the ship

• New speciality dining restaurants
  • Park Café
  • Chef’s Table
  • Chops Grille
  • Izumi Asian Cuisine
• New bars
  • R Bar
  • Viking Crown Lounge nightclub
• Outdoor movie screen
• New and updated staterooms
• flat-panel TVs
• digital signage
• bow-to-stern Wi-Fi

For the next few weeks, Legend of the Seas will offer Southeast Asia itineraries out of Singapore.  Beginning in April, the ship will sail a four night Southeast Asia itinerary roundtrip from Singapore and then reposition to Europe for the summer season. It will begin by sailing seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries roundtrip from Rome.

Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas stopped at the port of Boracay in the Phillippines for the first time this past Saturday, which was celebrated with an official ceremony welcoming the ship.  

The Philippine Governor of Aklan, Helen Catalbas met with Legend of the Seas' Captain  Yngvar Knutsen to give Legend of the Seas a traditional plaque and key during a ceremony held on the ship.  

Ms Marilen Sandejas-Yaptangco, Royal Caribbean’s International Representative in the Philippines said, “Boracay is a vibrant island which is rising in popularity amongst tourists in recent years. We are proud to add yet another destination in the Philippines to Legend of the Seas’ Asian itineraries, which will give our international guests more ways to discover this country.”

Legend of the Seas, which is conducting her final Asian season, stopped at Boacay as part of an 8-night Southeast Asia itinerary with calls at Xiamen, Manila and Kota Kinabalu.

Following Boracay, Legend of the Seas also called at Kota Kinabalu for the first time today. After this sailing, Legend of the Seas will be returning to Singapore for her final season, to complete her long-running Asian deployment in next April.

Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein spoke in Milan, Italy yesterday about new investments, ships, airports and important partnerships.

"For years Italy has played a strategic role in the planning of Royal Caribbean International: Since 2005 we have more than doubled the ports of embarkation in the area, adding to Civitavecchia and Venice also Genoa, Messina and Naples. The arrival of a ship like Liberty of the Seas, which next season will embark from the port of Naples, confirms the company's commitment towards the Italian market, " Goldstein said.  " Even in 2013 Royal Caribbean International will pay particular regard to Italian guests with a special offer on board: from excursions, offering food and beverage, staff of dedicated service, all in an international environment that meets the needs of Italian. "

Coinciding with Goldstein was the debut of two new Royal Caribbean ships in Italy.  Liberty of the Seas will go toItaly for the first time and offer 7-night cruises out of Naples to the Western Caribbean while Legend of the Seas will take the place of Mariner of the Seas and offer 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises out of Civitavecchia and from Genoa to France and Spain.

"The ships dedicated to the Italian market in 2013 are the most innovative in the fleet," adds John Rotondo, CEO of Royal Caribbean, Italy "In 2013 there will be 5 ports of embarkation and 13 ports of call in Italy for four ships of the fleet Royal Caribbean International, for a total of 18 ports, 330 airports and more than 850,000 passenger movements, a further indication of the fact that Italy is a very important basin for. "

Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas will return to Singapore for her final season in Asia this October.  Legend of the Seas will offer a mix of popular and new Southeast Asian cruises out of Singapore including stops in Kota Kinabulu, Malaysia and Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

This will be Legend of the Seas' sixth consecutive season in Singapore and will run from October 31, 2012 through April 1, 2013.  Itineraries offered range from two to seven night cruises and include stops in Penang, Phuket, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi.

Included in her last season will be 4 and 5 night itineraries over Christmas, New Years and Chinese New Years.

Before Legend of the Seas arrives in Singapore, she will offer cruises to North Asia with 4 to 9 night itineraries out of Yokohama and Shanghai from September to October.

Royal Caribbean is offering itineraries such as a 9-night Russia & Hokkaido cruise to Russia’s Vladivostok and for the first time, Japan’s Muroran and Kushiro, and the Mid Autumn Cruise which offers moon cakes for guests.

Photo by Aaron Lin from Singapore

Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas made her maiden stop at Yeosu, South Korea yesterday to coincide with the opening week of World Expo 2012 in the city.

Yeosu is the newest South Korean destination for Royal Caribbean International, after Seoul, Busan and Jeju.

Royal Caribbean's regional director of Asia Pacific, Kelvin Tan, commented on the occasion, "Legend of the Seas’ call at Yeosu is the highlight of this cruise. We have been specially planning for this for over a year – for our ship to arrive at the Expo right in the middle of the festivities.”

The stop in Yeosu is part of an 8-night cruise out of Yokohama, Japan to Shanghai, China.  Legend of the Seas is offering a number of cruises ranging from six to ten nights to South Korea, Japan and China.