TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Thursday, 29th January 2026
Page 772

Quantum of the Seas’ third season sails into the holidays

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Brought to you by Royal Caribbean International

Quantum of the Seas will sail on through April 2022 (photo taken pre-Covid-19)

Following two successful seasons for Quantum of the Seas, which returned to safe cruising in Singapore in December 2020, Royal Caribbean International has heeded the call of popular demand to bring on an extension through April 2022.

Till date, over 100,000 guests have safely sailed on 90-plus ocean getaways. Royal Caribbean International’s comprehensive and multilayered set of health and safety measures have ensured zero occurrences of Covid-19 on board.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to extend Quantum’s ultimate ocean getaway through early next year, providing Singapore residents with more time to relax and unwind. Despite the constantly evolving circumstances, Royal Caribbean remains consistent in delivering a wonderful holiday experience. We know that with her remarkable breadth of activities, delicious meals and unparalleled views, Quantum has many fans in Singapore, and there continues to be an overwhelming demand for sailings,” said Angie Stephen, vice president, Asia-Pacific, Royal Caribbean Group.

Leap into next-level experiences
The first of its class, Quantum of the Seas is filled with revolutionary experiences from bow to stern. There is never a dull moment on board, thanks to show-stopping entertainment that blends art and music with cutting-edge technology; thrilling activities for the whole family in any weather; and impressive feasts at 18 different restaurants that take guests on a culinary journey around the world.

Endless thrills are lined up for the whole family, such as the RipCord by iFly sky diving adventure (photo taken pre-Covid-19)

Star highlights include the RipCord by iFly sky diving adventure and the signature FlowRider surf simulator.

Unforgettable moments continue within every room, which offers spectacular views and deluxe amenities. Even in Interior staterooms, guests can scope out the sights in real-time from a Virtual Balcony.

Guests have the option of enjoying the best of Quantum of the Seas through three- and four-night ocean getaways.

Play and relax with confidence
Holidaymakers can cruise with peace of mind, as every effort has been made to keep guests and crew aboard Quantum of the Seas safe. Health and safety measures include pre-departure wellness screenings using gold-standard PCR tests, contactless embarkation and debarkation, and enhanced HVAC filtration systems and sanitisation to bring in 100 per cent fresh, filtered air.

Royal Caribbean International’s comprehensive and multilayered set of health and safety measures have ensured zero occurrences of Covid-19 on board

Rooms are sanitised every day while guest are out making memories. All high-touch surfaces are cleaned with alcohol-based, scentless cleaning agents that are safe for the general public. New contactless delivery protocols are enforced to facilitate safe room service.

“The health and safety of our guests remain our utmost priority, and we are continuing to be nimble as we follow the science and work closely with the Singapore government and health authorities to evaluate, update and adhere to prevailing measures,” added Stephen.

Bookings are open.

Gear up for even more adventures
The fun never ends with Royal Caribbean International. Spectrum of the Seas will return to Singapore in October 2022, offering three- to nine-night sailings to Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Spectrum of the Seas is recognised as Asia’s largest and most innovative ship, built to deliver great vacation experiences. The finest cruise holiday can be had within a suites-only enclave, which features the exquisite Royal Suite Class Star, Sky and Sea accommodations as well as a dedicated restaurant and lounge – all exclusively accessible via private elevator.

Spectrum of the Seas is recognised as Asia’s largest and most innovative ship

The Ultimate Family Suite is the largest suite onboard, with capacity for up to 10 guests across two floors. An in-suite slide makes getting from second floor to the first a breeze and is bound to delight all young-at-hearts, while a private cinema doubles up as the family’s very own karaoke stage.

Spectrum of the Seas brings with her stunning, never-before-seen features on the sea, such as Asia’s first Sky Pad, a virtual reality, bungee trampoline adventure; Two70, which boasts stunning 270-degree ocean views by day and transforms into a multidimensional theatre by night; and SeaPlex, the largest indoor active space at sea, featuring bumper cars, roller skating, laser tag, fencing, archery, and more.

The adventure continues – this time of the gastronomic kind – at Spectrum of the Seas’ collection of 19 distinct dining venues, all serving up flavours from around the world.

To learn more about Royal Caribbean adventures, visit Royal Caribbean International.

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Sabre strengthens partnership with Shiji Distribution Solutions

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Sabre Corporation has established an enhanced partnership with Shiji Distribution Solutions to better connect hoteliers to the lucrative, yet complex, Chinese travel ecosystem.

While the Chinese travel market is one of the biggest in the world, Chinese travellers have traditionally been hard to reach for many hoteliers. This expanded relationship between Sabre and Shiji will open up further access for hoteliers, through the Sabre SynXis hospitality platform, to the channels Chinese travellers typically use to search and book their trips across corporate and leisure segments.

Sabre partners with Shiji Distribution Solutions to enable hoteliers to access the Chinese travel market

Sabre has previously worked with Shiji to connect hoteliers to selected channels within China including the popular WeChat Booking Engine, as well as Fliggy and Meituan’s travel platforms.

Both companies have now reached a much broader agreement to enable Sabre hotel partners to connect to a wider range of travel agents, OTAs, TMCs and wholesalers across the Chinese marketplace.

Sabre’s hospitality partners will have the power to connect to these channels through Sabre Channel Connect, which simplifies and automates distribution of a hotel’s offers, rates and availability, and is designed to reach hotel guests where they shop.

Anson Lau, managing director, Shiji, said the partnership will “support hoteliers to capture recovery and grow their brand by making the most of the significant opportunities presented by the Chinese marketplace”.

He added: “The additional connections available to Sabre through Shiji will, on one hand, help Sabre’s hotel partners build brand awareness in Greater China, driving bookings from Chinese travellers and, on the other hand, help Shiji’s robust network of travel agent partners gain instant access to Sabre’s hotel customers.”

HKTB taps K-drama fever for destination promotion

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The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has signed a three-year MoU with South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM to promote Hong Kong as a travel destination through Korean dramas and variety TV shows.

This marks the first-of-its-kind partnership between an NTO and CJ ENM, which will see locations in Hong Kong featured in a variety of shows made by CJ ENM from 2022 until 2024. CJ ENM’s original content is currently available across more than 200 countries.

HKTB’s YK Pang (right) witnessed the virtual signing of the MoU between HKTB’s Dane Cheng and CJ ENM’s Lee Sang Moo (not pictured)

When travel restrictions ease, Hong Kong scenes will be filmed as backdrops for a range of drama and variety programmes made by CJ ENM, which is behind popular K-dramas and variety shows like Crash Landing On You, Goblin: The Lonely and Great God, Hospital Playlist, and New Journey to the West.

Under the tie-up, the two partners will work closely to create synergy, including providing advice on locations and the aspects of Hong Kong culture to be featured in each programme.

HKTB chairman YK Pang witnessed the virtual signing of the MoU between HKTB executive director Dane Cheng and CJ ENM Entertainment Division executive vice president for ad sales and partnerships Lee Sang Moo.

Pang said that the partnership “will help reinforce Hong Kong’s status as one of the world’s most exciting and interesting destinations when international travel resumes”.

He added: “We anticipate competition for tourists will be intense once the pandemic is over, and the HKTB is therefore getting a head start to secure influential media partners for maintaining Hong Kong’s visibility.”

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A challenged recovery: Too many differences in Asia spoil the broth

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The month of September has brought Asia’s travel and tourism industry some improved developments – mostly stemming from governments deciding to take a positive step towards reopening their borders for tourism.

Singapore’s all-purpose Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) with Germany and Brunei kicked off on September 8. The first day of applications on September 1 attracted 735 applications from Germany and 20 from Brunei – a mix of short- and long-term pass holders. More encouragingly, the VTL announcement spurred a lively revival of outbound travel plans, with leisure travel and incentive programme specialists welcoming a spike in enquiries for travel as early as 4Q2021.

Malaysia finally gets the green light for domestic tourism resumption, with Langkawi leading the way. Some 2,500 fully vaccinated tourists from Kuala Lumpur arrived on the island when it reopened on September 16.

Thailand already has Phuket and Khao Lak reopened to fully vaccinated international travellers, with Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya lined up and ready to do the same.

Indonesia and Cambodia have plans to reopen some regions to fully vaccinated international travellers before the year is over – Bali and Bintan are on the cards for Indonesia while Cambodia has yet to unveil official plans. Still, hopes are up because Cambodia will host the ASEAN Tourism Forum in January 2022, with an in-person show component, which means tourism reopening will have to begin somehow and soon.

Vietnam will pilot a vaccine passport programme for international visitors to Phu Quoc island towards the end of 2021.

As Asia inches towards tourism resumption, destination promotions are picking up. The Philippine Tourism Promotions Board, Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Japan National Tourism Organization are among the most active in the region, driving renewed communications aimed at the travelling public as well as trade buyers.

However, it is clear that the region is reopening far slower compared to other major tourism regions such as Europe and the US. This is despite Asia being the first region in the world to take Covid-19 seriously and to respond with practical and strict containment measures.

Many obstacles remain: differing pace of national vaccination, which impacts the extent of activity resumption; differing list of recognised vaccines; differing travel restrictions that continue to change with every new wave of infection and add to travellers’ confusion; and differing political stance on pandemic management, which has ruined potential travel green lanes.

Asia is one region but every nation is different in many ways, which makes a mutually agreed upon travel restart strategy challenging to achieve. In November 2020, South-east Asian leaders said they would establish an ASEAN travel corridor to facilitate essential travel within the region. Months on, that bubble is still in discussion.

While intra-Asia travel was once a critical economic driver, Asia’s slow reopening may force tourism recovery to lean towards intra-region travel instead, changing how destinations determine their post-lockdown source markets and impacting the success of many trade events here that rely heavily on the presence of Asian buyers.

Karen Yue is group editor of TTG Asia Media. She sets the editorial direction for the company’s stable of travel trade titles and platforms, and produces content for them as well.

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