After her debut in Barcelona last month, Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship Spectrum of the Seas has finally arrived in Asia, with her second call at Kochi port recently after Mumbai. She is on a 14-night cruise from Dubai to Singapore.
The 16-deck, 168,666 gross registered ton ship is the largest ever to call in India. The first of the Quantum Ultra Class, Spectrum of the Seas has a total capacity of 5,622 guests and is 1,139 feet long, which overtakes sister ships Quantum and Ovation of the Seas, both currently Asia’s largest. To celebrate the maiden call, plaque exchanges were conducted between Spectrum of the Seas’ Captain Charles Teige and port officials.
Varun Chadha, COO, Tirun said, “We are very excited that Spectrum of the Seas will be calling on India. She will be the largest and most innovative yet to touch Indian shores, and give some of our guests a sampler of the Royal Caribbean experience. Her Deployment in Singapore in May and then in Shanghai June onwards will give Indians access to the best of cruising while visiting exciting destinations in Thailand, Malaysia and Japan.”
This is the second time the global cruise line is deploying a brand new ship to Asia for homeporting, which underscores its ever growing confidence in the region. The first ship in the fleet custom built for the Asian market, she features bold and unexpected experiences including the iconic Sky Pad, a virtual reality bungee trampoline. This is for guests of all ages and can also be enjoyed without virtual reality headsets, for those who prefer to look out over the expansive ocean as they leap toward the sky.
Debuting on the forward end of the ship is the cruise line’s first private enclave for suite guests. Guests booked in the suites will have exclusive card key access, a private elevator and outdoor space for relaxing and a dedicated restaurant and lounge. Spectrum of the Seas also introduces to Asia the two-level, 2,809-square-foot Ultimate Family Suite that accommodates up to 11 guests. The three-bedroom suite’s highlight is the in-room slide, plus the recreation room complete with surround sound equipment for everyone in the family to enjoy karaoke and movie or game nights.
Guests onboard Spectrum of the Seas will enjoy multiple restaurant venues with cuisines from around the globe, including the two-tier Main Dining Room serving a variety of international and Asian options, imaginative cuisine at Wonderland Da Dong, Jamie’s Italian by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, Izumi Japanese cuisine, the new specialty restaurant Sichuan Red which serves authentic Sichuan cuisine, and Leaf and Bean, a traditional tea room and café parlour.
New to the fleet is Star Moment a lively and energetic karaoke venue. Making a return are signature features such as the North Star elevated glass capsule, the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, FlowRider surfing simulator, Bionic Bar, transformative venues such as Seaplex, the largest indoor activity space at sea with new augmented reality walls and floors providing guests with thrilling high-tech interactive experiences, and Two70 – a high-tech entertainment venue offering 270 degree panoramic views out of the back of the ship.
