Debra Li

debra_lidan@163.com

WHILE regular customers choose cruises to bathe in the sun on the deck, have a drink, gamble a bit and relax, the newly launched Spectrum of the Seas gives you many more reasons to book a cruise tour.

Unlike tourists in more mature markets, Chinese consumers want to explore and experience new things, said Bert Hernandez, senior vice president and chief operating officer for Royal Caribbean International’s operations in China.

The Spectrum of the Seas, which the company spent two years and US$1.25 billion building at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, is the perfect answer to that demand. Leaving Barcelona, Spain more than a month ago, the ship arrived in its homeport Shanghai on June 3 after 47 days at sea, ready for its maiden voyage.

Once aboard, the cruise guests are invited to download an app for planning out their vacation on the ship: They can check out show times, reserve seats for various restaurants and fun activities; in the suites, they control their lighting and blinds and open the door with it; they can also check out information on land tours at the destinations.

If you are the sporty type, there are plenty of things to keep you busy. Apart from a morning jog on the deck, swimming in the pools, rock-climbing and a game of table tennis or table football, guests can also practice archery, fencing and surfing, or participate in fun group games like bumper cars and laser tag battles in the 1,578-square-meter SeaPlex.

Another unique activity called Sky Pad on the deck combines the trampoline experience with VR games, where people jump up and down to play the motion-controlled game with a headset on.

Another device, a glass-cylinder wind tunnel, simulates the experience of skydiving. The coach said the mimicked experience feels exactly like parachuting out of a plane, the only difference being the altitude.

Gamers can try out various AR games, particularly one in the Two70 hall, where they are invited to “explore the ocean and find treasures” in the 3-D real-time game.

Targeting families and young couples willing to pay for quality time with their loved ones, the ship offers a 261-square-meter ultimate family suite, complete with three bedrooms, a living room, a video and film room and a slide via which children can go from the second floor to the first floor in a blink of the eye. The big blue tub in the main bedroom allows you to draw a relaxing bath while enjoying the starry night sky through a round window in the ceiling.

There are also 142 suites from decks 13 to 16, served with their exclusive elevators, canteens and cafes.

Apart from two large canteens that offer a free buffet and ordered dishes, the ship provides a variety of other dining choices: Sichuan Red for spicy cuisines, Leaf and Bean for afternoon tea, a Japanese restaurant for sushi and roasted seafood, an Italian restaurant, and a steak house that serves choice beef dishes and mouthwatering desserts. Worth mentioning is a cocktail bar where two robotic arms prepare the cocktails you order from two touch screens in front of the counter.

Guests can sing karaoke or have fun at Groovy Town, a silent disco party; they can also watch three spectacular shows presented by the ship’s entertainment staff. “Showgirl” presents all kinds of dances from Moulin Rouge-style cabaret to Las Vegas-style acrobatics; “The Silk Road” is a Middle East and Oriental-flavored song and dance show; “The Effectors” is full of high-tech glamour, telling a superhero story.

Those with an eye for art will also take joy in hundreds of pieces of artwork onboard. From stunning photographs and digital collages to paper sculptures and kinetic installations, the collection embraces both traditional and modern mediums.

All that said, Hernandez revealed that itineraries weigh 50 percent in the decision making of tourists when it comes down to the moment to swipe their credit card.

“We have to provide them with a rich experience, not only on the ship, but also on the land by developing more interesting destinations,” he said.

During the Christmas vacation, the Spectrum of the Seas will leave from Hong Kong for a voyage to the Philippines, where guests can flee the cold winter to enjoy the sun.

On July 25 and Aug. 2 next year, the ship will leave from Shanghai to visit Tokyo during the Summer Olympics, docking at the city’s new harbor close to the game venues.

Other hot destinations for cruises that leave from China’s east coast include Okinawa, Osaka, Nagoya, Kagoshima and Kyoto in Japan, Vladivostok in Russia and some coastal cities in Southeast Asia.

For green-minded guests, Hernandez assures that the Spectrum of the Seas is “probably the most environmentally friendly ship ever built.” Its purification systems take the exhaust the engines produce and reduce 98 percent of the sulfur dioxide emitted. The ship also has an air lubrication system that creates millions of tiny bubbles on the ocean surface that allow it to glide through the water more easily, reducing friction and fuel consumption.

Like other cruise liners, the Spectrum never throws a thing overboard, but offloads all garbage onto shore, 75 percent of which is recycled and will never see a landfill.

So far, China has become the second-largest market for Royal Caribbean, after the United States. “With the biggest potential, the Chinese market is a core strategic market for us,” Hernandez said. “It’s just a matter of time that China becomes the biggest cruise tour market.”

He foresees an Oasis-class cruise liner, the biggest ship in the world, coming to China in 18 months.