Spectrum of the Seas SHAKEDOWN PREVIEW Cruise! - Preamble

UPDATE (FEBRUARY 2023): With the lowering of Singapore’s Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) to GREEN LEVEL as of February 2023, the preventive measures and/or testing requirements mentioned within this article are no longer in effect. Guests are advised to enquire with the respective cruise lines for updated Testing, Vaccination Requirements and Preventive Measures.

We will be boarding Spectrum of the Seas later this week for an exclusive preview of what she will have to offer during her time in SINGAPORE!

We are almost two weeks away from the Spectrum of the Seas’ inaugural cruise from Singapore, isn’t that exciting? But, we have something even more exciting planned for you.

As with most restarts, Royal Caribbean will plan for a “Shakedown” cruise before revenue sailing starts, with the purpose of getting the ship up to speed, fully ready for guests. Along with fellow media groups, we have been invited by Royal Caribbean to take a first look at Spectrum of the Seas during the shakedown cruise.

About Spectrum of the Seas

The Spectrum of the Seas is the first Quantum-Ultra Class ship, a step-up from her sister Quantum of the Seas. She was designed-built for the Asian market, with fusion offerings catered to both local and international guests. Built back in 2019 in Papenburg, Germany, she is still very new - filled with familiar yet exciting activities.

Designed with 2,137 staterooms with the capability to carry up to 5,622 guests at full capacity, Spectrum is the largest cruise ship to homeport in Singapore yet. She made her inaugural call in Singapore back in 2019 on her way to China, but she only offered few short voyages from Singapore. Now, she is back here for an entire season, tentatively up till April 2023, with both Ocean Getaway (cruise to nowhere) and destination cruises for both local and international guests.

Spectrum is ALL about Food.

As we shared in our Wonder of the Seas preamble, food is (again) at the heart of almost everything we do here. Spectrum features Royal Caribbean's first venture into Asian Specialty Dining, the highlight being Sichuan Red - is marketed as a restaurant with “bold tapestry of authentic spices and wow-worthy Asian inspired flavours”, we certainly won’t miss that. Sichuan Red also used to feature an “Alaskan King Crab” on the menu, so let’s see if that’s still being offered.

Teppanyaki, a slightly different option from the Hibachi other Royal ships offer, is also available onboard Spectrum. There is also a dedicated Hotpot restaurant, a step-up from the impromptu Windjammer hotpot sessions other ships in Asia offer.

Leaf and Bean (located at where you would normally find the pub on Deck 4), is Royal Caribbean’s take at what is a traditional tea room and cafe parlour, being marketed as a cafe offering a range of authentic Chinese teas, classic coffee drinks, as well as freshly baked Chinese and Western desserts and pastries. Quick research online did not return with much more information than this, hence we are keen to try it out for you guys.

There were also many discussions on whether Dadong Wonderland, an imaginative cuisine crossover with Dadong roast duck (extremely famous in China), made the trip down to Singapore. As of now, it seems like the restaurant no longer exists on any PR kit we have received, but we shall confirm it again onboard.

Generally, it’s going to be a guide on the best way to whack the Unlimited Dining Package (UDP)!

Entertainment

Spectrum and Odyssey (her fleetmate) share a few entertainment options. During our time on Wonder of the Seas, we had a quick chat with Royal Caribbean VP for Entertainment, Nick Weir. He raved about the exciting, and technologically filled production show, The Effectors. We have not heard whether it will be available during her time in Singapore, but we certainly hope to enjoy it.

Showgirls, found on Spectrum and Odyssey, will also be available during her season in Singapore. Spectrum offers “The Silk Road” in the Two70 lounge, showcasing the colourful and exotic cultures Asia has. Paired with the robot screens and Vistarama, we can’t wait to enjoy the full show onboard.

The Suite Life

Spectrum of the Seas is the first ship in the entire Royal Caribbean fleet to introduce a “Suite Enclave”. Featuring keycard access to a section of the ship exclusive to suite guests, the enclave comprises lounges and restaurants for everyone residing in a Junior Suite, and beyond.

We hope to check out what is on offer at both the Silver and Gold Dining & Lounge, as well as the mysterious boutique shop in the enclave. We also understand that the Solarium is limited (or partially limited) to suite guests only during her time in China and Hong Kong, so we wonder if it will be open for all in Singapore.

Updated Singapore Health Protocols

If you are residing in Singapore, you will be familiar that we recently had a relaxing of health protocols, and this will definitely be reflected onboard Spectrum of the Seas. Gone are the days when you had to surrender your shots and wine glasses at 10.30 pm or had to wear a mask when you were sunbathing. We will be checking out what the cruising experience with the relaxed restrictions is like on Spectrum of the Seas during our preview cruise.

Royal Caribbean also changed up their pre-cruise testing protocols, suggesting three different methods, self-paid by guests with effect from Spectrum of the Seas’ first cruise on 11 April 2022. We will also test out all three methods personally and provide a review on which fits who.

Q&A with Hong Kong Cruise Society

With Spectrum of the Seas spending quite a fair bit of time in Hong Kong, we thought the best person to partner with would be our friends at the Hong Kong Cruise Society! We will be collaborating with HKCS on a Q&A, so send in your questions and we shall answer them after our preview cruise