Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has announced that Quantum of the Seas will be back in Singapore for a six-month-long homeporting season from November 2019 to April 2020.
This will be the cruise line’s longest-ever Singapore deployment for a Quantum Class Ship. With this 18-deck high, 168,666 GRT ship which can carry 4,905 guests in total, Royal Caribbean will increase its passenger capacity in Singapore by 30 per cent.
A total of 34 sailings will be offered during the six-month homeporting season, with cruises starting from four nights. Itineraries include four-night cruises to Penang or Phuket; five-night cruises to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Penang and Phuket; a seven-night cruise to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Penang and Phuket (with an overnight); and a seven-night cruise to Bangkok (Laem Chabang) (with an overnight) and Ho Chi Minh City.
The announcement was made by Michael Bayley, RCI’s president and CEO, at a media event held onboard Ovation of the Seas yesterday. “The Asian cruise market has seen tremendous growth over the last few years, and Singapore has been leading growth as one of the most significant cruise destinations and cruise source markets in the region,” he said.
Sean Treacy, managing director Asia-Pacific of Royal Caribbean Cruises, told TTG Asia: “We’ve been growing at a rate of 40 per cent over the last couple of years (in Asia) and I think that we’re just scratching the surface in terms of potential (the demand for cruising in the region). If you look at markets like China, Indonesia and India, less than one per cent of the population is cruising. (For) mature markets like Singapore and the US it’s like 3.5 per cent.”
Treacy added that while Asia has plenty of potential to grow its cruising market, one constraint is the lack of infrastructure.
“When you bring a large cruise ship like Quantum into Asia, there’s only a few ports we can go to. We need to create more infrastructure, perhaps through more joint ventures such as the extension of Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal in Penang, for us to continue to grow and meet demand,” he elaborated.
When asked what he thinks the Asian cruise market will look in 2020, Treacy opined: “I think it’s difficult to predict, but with Spectrum of the Seas coming next year, and with Ovation currently here (in the region), I can see us growing by another 40 per cent.”
Prior to Quantum of the Seas’ arrival in Singapore, she will undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment to offer a refreshed look and enhanced amenities for guests. Current features onboard include the North Star, an observation capsule that rises 92 metres over the ocean; 18 restaurants; a skydiving simulator; and robot bartenders.
