(Singapore, May 21, 2019) While the era of cruise ships being the exclusive domain of the wealthy, the elderly and the meagrely mobile have been over for some time, the arrival of Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas has put a colourful exclamation point on the end of an era. The newest and the largest ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet in Asia, it is also the most expensive. You could pick it up for a mere US$1.25billion.
Royal Caribbean’s Senior Vice President International, Gavin Smith, (pictured right) said that the commitment to bring in two of Royal Caribbean’s largest and most innovative ships in 2019 alone, along with the decision to sustain the presence of a Quantum Class ship in the region till 2021, underscores Royal Caribbean’s confidence in the region’s thriving cruise industry, with Singapore playing a major role as a cruise hub.
“Royal Caribbean has big ambitions for Asia – and Singapore sits at the heart of our growth in this region. The additional homeporting of Quantum of the Seas in the 2020/21 season announced today will add some 180,000 guests to the Singapore cruising scene, and we are excited for them to experience our world-class, innovative ships.
Robot Bar Tenders
“2019 also marks a new era for cruising for both Royal Caribbean and the region. We celebrate our 50th anniversary as a global brand, and ships like Spectrum of the Seas and our additional capacity with Quantum of the Seas here shows that we are poised to ride on Asia’s astounding growth. Singapore plays an important role as one of the region’s most significant cruise destinations, and we look forward to growing the cruise industry here and in the region.”
“We are pleased to welcome Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas and look forward to Quantum of the Seas’ new homeport season in Singapore, both of which add to the diverse cruise offerings in the region. The latest deployments are also a testament to years of strong partnership with Royal Caribbean, and its confidence in the region’s growing demand for cruising as a holiday option,” said Ms Jeannie Lim, Assistant Chief Executive, Policy and Planning Group, Singapore Tourism Board.
Spectrum of the Seas’ Highlights
One only needs to look at Spectrum of the Seas Ultimate Family Suite to see how much cruising has changed. The largest suites on board the 2-Bedroom Loft Suites are 1640 square feet (152 m2) with 610sqft (57 m2) balcony. While a 3D cinema is a highlight, the indoor slide, from the second floor to the first, is what catches most people’s attention – as do the steps between floors that sound like a piano when you walk on them.
The main pool is not your grandma’s pool where people once sat sedately reading novels or magazines, sipping cocktails, glistening like a well-oiled morsel before going on the spit, and bathers slowly lowered themselves into the water. The upper deck pool is a colourful playground where quiet will not be found. It not only has slides and water features, spinning splashing water, it has a large outdoor screen. It does have the bar and sunbeds too.
What is not pool area on the upper deck is activity space for those who like a little zip during their time on board. The most sedate, and very popular activity on the Spectrum of the Seas, is the North Star, an observation capsule that rises 100 metres over the ocean. People wait in line for hours for the brief ride above the sea. A wedding has even been performed there.
Adrenaline junkies will be found at the iFly by RipCord, Royal Caribbean's skydiving simulator. You'll need a reservation for the popular iFly, but there is no fee for guests. The ship comes with a first-at-sea feature, the Sky Pad, a virtual reality, bungee trampoline experience while nearby is the surf simulator, FlowRider. SeaPlex, the largest indoor activity space at sea, has a basketball court, roller-skating, and bumper cars. All this high-tech, including cocktails served by robots at the Bionic Bar, is why this Spectrum is such an expensive ship.
To celebrate the maiden call, plaque exchanges were conducted between Spectrum of the Seas’ Captain Charles Teige and Chairman of Singapore Tourism Board, Mr Chaly Mah, as well as Mr Lionel Wong, CEO of SATS-Creuers Cruise Services Pte. Ltd.
However, it was Zemily, a little lady with a lot of zeal, who stole the show, telling the audience of government officials, those in the travel industry, tour operators and media, how excited she was to be on board.
Quantum of the Seas’ Homeporting Seasons in Singapore
Scheduled to return in November 2019, Quantum of the Seas will first see 34 sailings during the six months from November 2019 to April 2020. The ship will then return for a longer season in October 2020, with a total of 40 sailings over seven months till April 2021– the cruise line’s longest ever Singapore deployment for a Quantum Class ship.
Spectrum of the Seas kicks off her inaugural Singapore season in May 2019, with three sailings of 3 to 9 nights to destinations such as Penang, Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Hong Kong. She will be based in Shanghai from this June.
High energy and colourful The Silk Road is one of the shows performed on Spectrum of the Seas.
-