A Cruisecation to remember aboard Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas

by Stacey Marcelo 
 
After being grounded for the past 23 months, a cruise-to-nowhere was starting to look like an appealing option for travel-deprived Hong Kongers like myself, and when Royal Caribbean relaunched their ‘Cruisecation’ packages I was ready to sign up! 
 
As one of Asia’s newest, biggest and most innovative ship, Spectrum of the Seas is truly a resort at sea. I had the opportunity to visit the ship when they first launched in 2019 and had seen first-hand how impressive this ship was from their world-class facilities, entertainment, as well as accommodation and dining options. There is so much to do, see and experience that you really have to carve out some quiet time to just sit and relax which is why I recommend opting for the three or four-night cruises. Two nights is simply not enough.   

Spectrum of the Seas

This first Quantum Ultra Class Cruise by Royal Caribbean comprises 16 decks, 2,137 beautifully appointed rooms, and a whole gamut of entertainment and leisure facilities. The 5,622-passenger ship is currently running at 50% capacity and on our cruise, there were only 1200 passenger so now is definitely a great time to go. The level of service was beyond what I expected and the seasoned crew, comprising of 60+ nationalities, were friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome. 

Incredible Attractions

Don’t miss the Sky Pad - a one-of-a-kind experience that pairs bouncing on a bungee trampoline with virtual reality. We also got to try the North Star aerial observatory where you gently ascend over 300 feet above sea level and take in breathtaking views of the ocean. Adrenaline junkies can enjoy the sky diving at sea feeling without having to jump out of a plane with skydiving simulator, Ripcord by iFly, and if you’re a surfing buff, book a session at FlowRider surfing simulation. These activities come at an additional cost ranging from USD $10-$40 per activity, money well spent if you ask me. 

Family Fun

The weather was spectacular during our sailing, and we spent a lot of time at Splashaway Bay. Kitted out with colourful waterslides, pools, fountains and lively water cannons, it’ll keep the kids entertained for hours.
We also frequented their multi-purpose sports center, Seaplex, where you can ride bumper cars, play ball games or enjoy archery, fencing and laser tag. The AR Wall was a huge hit with kids of all ages. 
Another godsend was Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean’s kids club. It's a fun place where junior cruisers can meet children their age and pass the time onboard with games, themed parties, crafts, and other age-appropriate activities under the supervision of energetic staff members.
 
The Shows

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from the shows but was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed Silk Road and Showgirl. Book these early via the app! 

Dining

Spectrum of the Seas offers as many as 19 dining options, ranging from Sichuan cuisine at Sichuan Red, Japanese Teppanyaki, Chops Grille for steak lovers, Jamie's Italian is a family-friendly option (the entrees and mains hit the spot while the pasta dishes were unfortunately underwhelming). I have to say that restaurants such as Main Dining and Windjammer, which are inclusive of the price, were more than good enough and offered a great variety and generous portions. We were not disappointed.

For a bit of fun, drop by the Bionic Bar where mixology meets technology with robot bartenders serving cocktails engineered to perfection.

The Accommodation

We stayed in a Balcony Room which was clean, comfortable, and perfectly adequate. The highlight was waking up in the morning, drawing back the curtains and gazing out to the sea. 
 
If you’re after more premium digs, opt for one of their luxurious suites. Royal Caribbean’s first exclusive suites-only area, will feature the Golden and Silver suite accommodations in a private enclave, with special keycard access, a private elevator and a dedicated restaurant and lounge. Guests booked in the luxury suites will have access to a range of exclusive amenities and The Balcony – a private outdoor space for sunbathing and relaxing that offers the best views on board. The Ultimate Family Suite is a two-level suite that has an indoor slide, an entertainment room (think movies, karaoke and video games) and three bedrooms that can accommodate 11 people. 

1. Download the Royal Caribbean mobile app ahead of the trip. Just like with flights, getting on a ship requires a boarding pass/ticket — the SetSail Pass. To save time and avoid the hassle of filling out forms upon check-in, you may do it online at least three days ahead of your sailing date. You can also use the app’s mobile SetSail Pass to board the ship.
2. Have all your vaccination records and negative PCR tests ready on your phone to expediate the check in process. 
3. Read up on all the activities and dining venues before your trip and create a mini-itinerary for yourself. As soon as you board and settle into your cabin, use the app to make reservations for onboard activities, shows, and specialty dining/restaurants. We missed out on the Teppanyaki restaurant as we weren’t fast enough. 
4. Bring your sneakers – the ship is huge and comfortable shoes are a must. Not to mention you’ll probably be eating more than usual and will want to hit the running track to clock up your step count. Lastly, you won’t be able to ride the bumper cars unless you wear closed shoes.
5. Go as a group! We saw multi-generational families and groups of friends on our cruise. It’s a wonderful experience to share with friends and family.  
6. Adventure Ocean (kids club) – If you fancy a quiet dinner one evening ‘sans enfants’ do what we did and bring the kids for an early dinner then check them into the kids club. They’ll be plenty occupied and it’s free of charge (for kids aged 3 to 11) until 10pm. Everyone wins! 
7. Shopping – now I never thought of shopping on a cruise but there are currently some major bargains to be had with up to 70% off as they try and clear the old stock from their 18-month hiatus. I bought a bag and hubby bought booze. Happy shopping!