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 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.

In light of the ongoing Coronavirus issues in China, Royal Caribbean has announced it will move Spectrum of the Seas to Australia as a gesture to thank the humanitarian efforts put forth to combat the wildfires.

Spectrum of the Seas will travel to Australia and be deployed on complimentary cruises sailing from Sydney in support of Australia's first responder community, who worked tirelessly over many weeks of the bush fire crisis.

"We are in a fortunate position to offer these brave and selfless members of the Australian community the opportunity to join us for a few days and let them relax and unwind in the company of other volunteers and first responders," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. "By welcoming and accommodating them aboard Spectrum of the Seas, we hope to recognize their contribution and offer them our hospitality."

Bayley made it clear Spectrum of the Seas has not been in China for more than two weeks, which makes the ship safe from possibly transporting Coronavirus.

Royal Caribbean intends to also thank those that are currently combating the spread of Coronavirus. When the situation in China improves, as it relates to Coronavirus, 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.

Further details of the cruises will be shared as final itineraries are developed.

Royal Caribbean released a new statement on the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and announced a third Spectrum of the Seas sailing cancellation.

In addition to the two cancelled sailings previously announced, the cruise line has cancelled an additional sailing of Spectrum of the Seas through February 8th.

"As has been widely reported, China has moved aggressively to contain the spread of the virus.  As a result of these measures, and after consultation with national and local health authorities, the company has cancelled three sailings through Feb 8th, on the high yielding Spectrum of the Seas, currently its only ship homeported in China."

Royal Caribbean only has Spectrum of the Seas based in China during the winter sailing season, with two additional ships are scheduled to join in May and July 2020, respectively.  For all of 2020, China represents about 6% of the company's capacity.

The company estimates that this (which included the Chinese new year's cruises) will impact 2020 financial results by approximately $0.10 per share.  If the travel restrictions in China continue until the end of February, the company estimates that this would further impact its results by an additional $0.10 per share.

The company also commented on the long-term impact of the virus on the cruise business:

"There are still too many variables and uncertainties regarding this outbreak to calculate the overall impact on the business.  For example, we expect an erosion of consumer confidence in China could have an additional impact on load factor and rate in the region until the market normalizes.  If these travel restrictions continue for an extended period of time, they could have a material impact on the overall financial performance of the company."

Multiple media outlets are reporting Royal Caribbean has canceled at least the next two Spectrum of the Seas sailings out of concern over the spread of Coronavirus.

The Spectrum of the Seas sailings from Shanghai scheduled for January 27 and January 31 have been canceled.

So far, we've canceled two sailings, Spectrum that was set to sail today and the sailing that was set to sail on 1/31/20.

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) January 27, 2020

A cruise line spokesperson said: "In light of the latest developments with the coronavirus outbreak in China, we are suspending the January 27 and January 31 sailings of Spectrum of the Seas, currently our only ship homeported in China. We are working with our guests to provide full refunds for the cancellation. The health and safety of our guests and crew is our primary concern, and we continue to work with the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, and government health authorities to monitor the situation."

Royal Caribbean is also assuring its guests it is taking other proactive steps to ensure guest safety, such as special sanitizing of high traffic areas, adding additional medical staff onboard, and providing consultations with medical experts.

Hi there. At this time, that sailing will continue as planned. We continue to closely monitor any developments related to the coronavirus and new government-mandated travel bans. We'll notify impacted travel partners and guests immediately if any changes are made. -Yami

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) January 27, 2020

As of January 27, 81 people have been killed from the virus, along with another 3,000 infected. Forty-four cases have been confirmed outside of China. 

Royal Caribbean revealed the 2021 sailings for Spectrum of the Seas from China and are available to book.

In 2021, Spectrum of the Seas will sail from Shanghai, China and offer a variety of sailings to destinations around the Far East.  Spectrum will also offer culturally-immersive sailings with stops at some of Japan’s most incredible destinations.

You can view all of Spectrum of the Seas 2021 sailings.

Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society members can begin booking sailings on December 12, 2019, with the general public available to begin booking on December 13, 2019.

Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas is now the biggest cruise ship to ever visit a Russian port. 

On September 9, 2019, Spectrum visited the port of Vladivostok, Russia after passing under the famous ‘Russky’ bridge.

During the ship’s visit to Vladivostok more than 200 Russian guests joined the ship as the first Russian’s to sail onboard Spectrum from a Russian port. The guests will visit cities in Japan and China during a 7-night cruise aboard the innovative ship.

“This is a very big achievement for us in the Russian market. Together with our partners, Inflot, we are excited to see our guests enjoying Spectrum of the Seas. These types of opportunities help us continue to grow our business in the Far East as we have more Russian guests explore our Asian itienraries,” said Natalia Bentas, Sales Manager Europe/ Middle East /Africa IRs, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Julia Dmitrieva, product director at Inflot, the official representative of the cruise company in Russia, shared: “We have been preparing for this event for over year. The first visit to a Russian was a complete success due to the coordinated efforts of the team, our company’s specialists, port agents and customs services of the port of Vladivostok.”

Guests sailing on Royal Caribbean roundtrip sailings from Singapore beginning November 16, 2019 will find fees for some signature attractions onboard. Nine-night or longer and repositioning sailings are excluded.

Royal Caribbean will begin charging for North Star and Ripcode by iFly features as a mean of improving, "the guest experience by minimizing wait times and no show reservations".

Guests will be able to purchase tickets for these activities on Cruise Planner. The costs for these features onboard Quantum of the Seas’ Singapore departures will be:

• Ripcord by iFly: $29 pp USD
• North Star: $12 adults pp USD / $8 child pp USD (up to 11 years)
• Bumper Cars: Complimentary (with option to upgrade to Express Lane for $5 pp USD)
  • Please Note: Express Lane option is to be paid onboard at the Seaplex/Bumper Car area

Royal Caribbean has been charging for North Star and Ripcord by iFly on Quantum of the Seas in China since 2015.

Royal Caribbean will offer overnight stays in Tokyo, Japan during the summer 2020.

In summer 2020, Spectrum of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas will each sail two special cruises into Tokyo’s brand-new cruise terminal, Shinkyaku Pier. Spectrum will depart on July 25 and August 2 from Shanghai, China to Tokyo, and Voyager will offer itineraries beginning July 26 out of Hong Kong and August 2 from Tokyo, each staying overnight. Adding to the excitement, Quantum of the Seas will begin sailing from Singapore in 2019, and with both Spectrum and Quantum sailing from Singapore this year, this marks the start of Royal Caribbean’s Double Quantum Year in the region.

“Our ships are designed and created to deliver unforgettable vacation experiences to our guests, and we are proud to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience in Tokyo next summer,” said Bert Hernandez, President, Royal Caribbean China. 

Spectrum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's first Quantum Ultra Class ship, officially debuted in China as she sailed into Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal in Shanghai after completing a 46-night Global Odyssey cruise.

To celebrate Spectrum's arrival, the cruise line held a grand naming ceremony with Chinese celebrities and Royal Caribbean brand ambassadors, Xiaoming Huang and Angelababy, in attendance. Honored with the lifetime role of Godparents, the popular couple were on hand to name the ship and bestow a blessing of safekeeping over all those who sail on her.

Spectrum of the Seas was custom built for the Chinese market, and offers new experiences, such as Royal Caribbean's first enclave for suite guests, new stateroom categories, innovative dining concepts, and stunning features and experiences – many of which have never before been seen at sea. 

"Royal Caribbean has always been known for innovating and pushing the boundaries, and Spectrum of the Seas is a great example of this," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Spectrum brings to life the best of Royal Caribbean along with curated experiences for our Chinese consumers."

Spectrum of the Seas innovative features include: 

•  A two-level, 2,809-square-foot Ultimate Family Suite, accommodating up to 11 guests. The three-bedroom suite features a master bedroom and a bathroom that extends over the side of the ship for unparalleled ocean views, along with two additional suites for grandparents and other family members. Kids have their own kid-friendly space on the upper level, complete with an in-suite slide that will transport them to the living area below. Everyone in the family can enjoy time together in the recreation room, featuring surround-sound equipment for a night of karaoke, movies or video games.
• Sky Pad, a virtual reality (VR), bungee trampoline experience, where guests can strap in, don a VR headset and be transported to another time and planet with three new games: Jump Rally, Sugar Leap and Bass Bouncer. 
• The Suite Club on decks 13 through 16 offers Royal Caribbean’s first exclusive suites-only area, which features 36 Golden Suites and 106 Silver Suites. The Golden Suites and Silver Suites have exclusive access, elevator, as well as a private restaurant and lounge. In addition to a range of amenities, Gold Suite guests may access The Balcony, a private outdoor space with the best views of the sea; and The Boutique, which can be reserved for private shopping, intimate parties and wine tastings. Travelers in suites are also provided with a dedicated team of Royal Concierges who provide excellent value-added services, including concierge services, Royal embarkation, enhanced food and beverage experiences, and exclusive room service.

Dining Options

• Sichuan Red, a brand-new restaurant debuting on Spectrum that features authentic cuisine from the Sichuan province of China.
• A traditional tea room and café parlor known as Leaf and Bean, where guests can enjoy a range of authentic Chinese teas, classic coffee drinks as well .as freshly baked Chinese and Western desserts and pastries.
• Teppanyaki, offering authentic oriental flavors cooked in Japan’s traditional teppanyaki style.
• Splashaway Café, near the kids’ pool area; and the Noodle Bar, which serves up freshly made noodles and live chef demonstrations.
• The main dining room has been combined into one awe-inspiring, three-level dining room with 1,844 seats. The complimentary venue also serves a variety of Chinese and Western a la carte options that rotate every day of an itinerary.
• The Windjammer Marketplace on Spectrum has been designed to be 20% larger than those on Quantum Class ships. The laidback option offers a wide selection of Chinese and Western dishes.

Entertainment

• Three new production shows developed in-house by Royal Caribbean – The Silk Road, The Effectors, and Showgirl! Past. Present. Future. are taking the stage.
  • Each full-scale production features unrivaled talent, immersive technology and unparalleled special effects to create spectacular entertainment experiences.  
• Battle for Planet Z, an epic glow-in-the-dark laser tag adventure for the whole family.
• Star Moment, a lively and energetic karaoke venue where family and friends can sing like stars.
• Expedition Two70, where guests can test their adventuring skills in four fully immersive augmented reality (AR) games.
• SeaPlex, the multipurpose indoor sports and entertainment complex that offers activities from various parts of the world including various indoor ball games as well as fencing and archery – activities never before seen at sea in the Asia market.

Technology

Spectrum of the Seas features a bold lineup of new digital experiences, from digital room keys and automated stateroom controls, to immersive AR games. The Royal Caribbean mobile app is also available for the first time for guests in China and supports both Mandarin and English language. Designed to seamlessly deliver unprecedented vacation experiences at sea, technology is prevalent throughout the ship, substantially increasing guest convenience and efficiency while offering new experiences that entertain and amaze.