Royal Caribbean International will sail from Shanghai with the 2019-built Spectrum of the Seas in April 2024, marking the brand’s return to China.
The Anthem of the Seas will reposition to Singapore for the 2024-25 cruise season, starting homeporting operations in October 2024.
Singapore was the first homeport in Asia to allow ships to restart cruises in late 2020.
Since then, the Spectrum of the Seas has been sailing cruises primarily from Singapore ranging from three to four nights.
The Spectrum of the Seas will reposition to China and will start offering sailings from Shanghai in April 2024. The ship will visit ports in Japan including Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagasaki.
From Hong Kong, the Spectrum of the Seas will offer eight sailings with visits to Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Currently, on its way to Marseille, the Spirit-class vessel also visited two Italian ports in March: Augusta and Naples.
Three years after its last drydock, the 2000-built cruise ship is expected to undergo scheduled maintenance at a local shipyard once it arrives at the French port.
The Atlantica originally debuted in 2000, becoming the first vessel in Carnival Corporation’s Spirit Class.
In addition to the Costa Mediterranea, the series of ships also include four ships operated by Carnival Cruise Line: the Carnival Spirit, the Carnival Miracle, the Carnival Legend and the Carnival Pride.
Built for Costa Cruises, the 2,100-guest ship served the company’s traditional markets in Europe for nearly 15 years before being repositioned to Asia in mid-2013.
Sailing year-round in the region through 2020, the Atlantica served different countries and markets, including Singapore, Taiwan, China and more.
In 2015, the ship also became the first to offer a world cruise from China. Sailing roundtrip from Shanghai, the 86-day itinerary included visits to 28 destinations in 18 different countries.
The former Viking Sun will become the first cruise ship to dock in Xiamen in 2023 when it arrives at the Chinese port on March 22.
Now named Zhao Shang Yi Dun, the vessel currently offers domestic cruising in China for China Merchants Viking Cruises, a joint-venture between China Merchants Shekou and Viking Cruises.
According to the local media, the visit to Xiamen is part of a new cruise in Southern China named “Southeast Coast Cultural Journey.”
Linking Shenzhen to Shanghai, the one-way itinerary includes three days docked at the port, as well as a visit to Zhoushan and three days at sea.
Also operating on the opposite way, the eight-day cruise is said to offer guests the opportunity to discover the art, culture and scenery of the region.
In Xiamen, passengers can participate on an included excursion that visits the Huihe Stone Cultural Park, where a stone sculpture museum is located. Guests are also able to use a free shuttle bus service offered by China Merchants Viking Cruises, linking the ship to the city’s main attractions.
Designed to offer luxury cruising, the Zhao Shang Yi Dun was formerly operated by Viking Ocean Cruises and originally entered service in 2017.
According to the company, the entertainment and enrichment content, as well as food and beverage experiences onboard were customized to cater to the local public.
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