Royal Caribbean to launch year-round deployment in Singapore in 2015

Royal Caribbean International has announced its year-round deployment in Singapore for the first time from 2015, starting with its ship, Legend of the Seas, in the summer season and followed by Mariner of the Seas in the year-end.

Ratna Chadha, Chief Executive, TIRUN Travel Marketing—India Representative of Royal Caribbean International, said “A year-round Royal Caribbean cruise ship out of Singapore is a major development for the cruise industry in India and will allow more Indians to experience one of the world’s great vacation brands.�

The Vision-Class Legend of the Seas, which homeported in Singapore from 2008 to 2013, will return next year via the north coast of Australia. She will sail a variety of three-to-ten-night roundtrip itineraries to destinations throughout Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam through mid-November.

Vacationers can choose among two consecutive 14-night itineraries in September, a south-bound sailing from Singapore to Perth (Fremantle), Australia, followed by a north-bound return, both to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Western Australia, as per a release.

With her Voyager-Class sister ship, Mariner of the Seas, also sailing from Singapore in the winter season of 2015-16, Legend of the Seas’ new summer season will mark the first time that the cruise line will offer year-round sailings from Singapore.

“This year-round deployment is a milestone for Royal Caribbean International, which underscores our stronger presence and commitment in Singapore and Southeast Asia,� said Jennifer Yap, Managing Director, Singapore and Southeast Asia, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “We are especially pleased to have Legend of the Seas, one of Asia’s most favourite ships back in this region next year, and I am sure that all Royal Caribbean fans will want to take the opportunity to rediscover what they love so much about this ship, with all her signature and revitalised features,� she said.

Having undergone an extensive USD 50-million revitalisation in Singapore last year, Legend of the Seas now offers guests seven dining options, including the cruise line’s signature Chops Grille steakhouse, Izumi Asian Cuisine, Park Café gourmet deli and the exclusive Chef’s Table, a multi-course dining and wine-pairing experience hosted by the executive chef and sommelier.

The Centrum aerial-acrobatic extravaganza is an addition, making the ship’s central five-deck atrium an entertainment venue. Every stateroom has also been renewed and new ship-wide technology enhancements such as the oversized LED movie screen poolside, digital signages, flat-panel televisions in staterooms and ship-wide Wi-Fi service.

Departing in late November 2015, Legend of the Seas will move from Singapore to its new homeport of Brisbane on an 18-night itinerary. During the cruise line’s first season sailing from the Australian city, vacationers can choose among 8-to-11-night, round-trip itineraries that will take them to Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands and Fiji in the South Pacific.

The ship will also offer seven-night Queensland sailings, which feature an overnight at Cairns. Additionally, a 14-night New Zealand itinerary will take guests to Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Akaroa, and Dunedin, as well as cruise Dusky, Doubtful, and Milford sounds. Legend of the Seas will join Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas to total a record deployment of four Royal Caribbean ships in Australia. Her 2015-16 Southeast Asia, Australia and South Pacific cruises will open for sale on May 21, 2014.