Royal Caribbean International will return to Asia in December 2007 with its Vision-class ship, Rhapsody of the Seas.
It will offer a series of cruises out of Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai, visiting ports of call in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
The ship features the line’s signature rock-climbing wall and indoor glass walls providing views of Asian landscapes.
“We are confident that the Asian market and the Pan Asia regions, in general, have tremendous growth potential, and view this as a first step in a long-term plan that will define cruising in the region,” said Adam Goldstein, president of Royal Caribbean International.
“In addition, there has been an increased level of awareness and interest in travel to Asia from India, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East which we predict will become strong secondary source markets,”
Rhapsody of the Seas’ first sailing will be on December 10 2007 from Singapore with a series of sailings that will call on Malaysia and Thailand.
The ship’s Asia tour continues on from Hong Kong, where she will arrive in time for the Chinese New Year holiday season, offering a series of itineraries calling at ports in Taiwan, Japan, and Sanya, Hainan Island.
Then moving to Shanghai, China, Rhapsody will call at ports in Japan and Korea.
Additional details of Rhapsody’s itineraries will be available by mid-October 2006.
By Bev Fearis
