Asia’s largest cruise ship ready to dock in S’pore

ASIA’S largest cruise vessel, Quantum of the Seas, will call Singapore home for six months next year to tap the growing cruise market here.

It will be Royal Caribbean International’s longest deployment to Singapore for a quantum class liner.

To be based in the citystate from November next year until April 2020, the liner will undertake 34 sailings – to and from Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh – carrying up to 150,000 passengers into or out of Singapore.

The 170,000-tonne, 18deck-high ship can carry up to 4,905 passengers, a 30 percent increase in capacity for Singapore sailings. Basing it here will enable Royal Carribean to tap into the growing cruise market.

“We see Singapore as key in our strategy on two fronts. One, as a vibrant economy and two, as the destination of choice for international markets as well,” said President and Chief Executive Michael Bayley.

Quantum-class vessels feature skydiving simulators, bumper-car rides and even robot waiters at a “Bionic Bar”.

Mr Yap Chin Siang, assistant chief executive in the policy and planning group at the Singapore Tourism Board, said: “The Quantum’s upcoming deployment is a strong endorsement of Singapore’s status as Southeast Asia’s home port of choice.”

The partnership between Royal Caribbean, the STB and Changi Airport announced last year involves placing Singapore at the forefront of the rapidly expanding regional cruise market.