Cruise lines unveil more South-east Asian offerings

Royal Caribbean International and Princess Cruises have announced itineraries for their ships' upcoming Singapore homeport seasons.

Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas will return for a new Singapore season between June and November 2015 to sail a variety of three- to 10-night itineraries across the Asia-Pacific.

Itineraries on offer include:

-       A three-night night voyage to Penang and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) in June

-       A three- or five-night cruise to Penang, Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Bangkok (Laem Chabang), and Koh Samui during the September school holidays

-       Two 10-night cruises Koh Samui, Bangkok (Laem Chabang) (overnight), Sihanoukville, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My)

-       Three 10-night one-way cruises to Koh Samui, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Sihanoukville, Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Nha Trang, Hue/Danang (Chan May), and Hong Kong

-       Two 10-night one-way cruises from Hong Kong to Taipei (Keelung), Manila, Boracay, Puerto Princesa, Kota Kinabalu, Bandar Seri Begawan (Muara), and Singapore

Legend of the Seas will also sail two consecutive 14-night itineraries in September, one south-bound voyage from Singapore to Perth (Fremantle), stopping at Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Langkawi, Phuket, Bali (Benoa), Lombok, Broome and Geraldton on the way, and the return north-bound journey to Singapore.

The ship underwent a US$50 million refurbishment in Singapore last year, and sister ship Mariner of the Seas will also sail from Singapore in the winter season of 2015/16, marking the first time Royal Caribbean offers year-round sailings from Singapore. 

Princess Cruises is placing a greater emphasis on the Indonesian market for its upcoming season beginning November 2014.

The cruise line is extending the season to end in March 2015 instead of February 2015. Sapphire Princess will add a 17-day Grand Asia tour featuring calls at Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nagasaki, Busan and Beijing in March.

New cruise itineraries have also been segmented from the current planned sailings in December in order to target Indonesian families for the school holiday period.

These itineraries include a six-night cruise from Singapore to Bali and Kuala Lumpur, and a four-night cruise from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, Phuket and Singapore.

“We are witnessing tremendous growth and demand in the market for our homeporting seasons in the region," said Farriek Tawfik, director for South-east Asia, Princess Cruises. “We are very excited about bringing Sapphire Princess to Indonesia where it will visit Bali, Lombok and Komodo Island”. 

Furthermore, Sapphire Princess is also offering newly launched chocolate-themed products on board, such as chocolate spa treatments and desserts, in addition to new luxury boutiques and brands.

-TTG Asia.