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With Royal Caribbean ramping up ex-Singapore sailings, insights on the local source market

PHOTO: Jacintha Stephens
Party time on Mariner of the Seas on its fourth consecutive Singapore homeporting season
Looks like more Singaporeans are opting to leave their stressful urban lives ashore, head out to sea and enjoy a full array of what an international cruise line has to offer.

Citizens of the island-state, who are better known for discipline and hardwork, constituted more than half of Mariner of the Seas’ passengers on board a recent four-night sailing to Phuket also experienced by Seatrade Cruise News.  

A Singaporean couple who had left their two teenage daughters home to do their school exams said they had heard about the vessel from colleagues, who had in turn heard of the fun on board from their friends. Some of these friends had sailed repeatedly, bringing along more family members for subsequent cruises.

This is a distinctly different scenario from when Singaporeans’ mainstay were cruises to nowhere, in search of gaming tables.
 
This is Mariner of the Seas’ fourth consecutive Singapore homeporting season since 2013 and it has come to earn the reputation of being a 'party ship'. For Ricky and Velene Chua, who had cruised before, it was their first on a Royal Caribbean vessel.

They told SCN that they particularly appreciated the service, a contrast to the somewhat perfunctory service onshore back home. The Chuas were delighted that staff were relaxed and joked with them, and even threw a surprise on the last evening by singing and dancing for them.

The sheer size of the 138,000gt, 15-deck ship impressed the couple and the fact Mariner’s team of chefs and cooks churn out some 33,000 timely meals, daily.

They said they look forward to cruising again on the vessel - and want to bring their daughters next time. There are usually some 10% repeat Singapore passengers on such RCI sailings.

Chin Ying Duan, corporate communications manager, Singapore & SE Asia told SCN, 'With each season in Singapore we have more and more locally sourced passengers.'

Royal Caribbean International has been offering Singapore seasons since 2007 and will mark its 10th anniversary in Asia next year.

Mariner of the Seas returned to Singapore in mid-October, launching Royal Caribbean International’s longest-ever Singapore season. 

The mid-November sailing was one of its 41 sailings of three to 10 nights to popular destinations in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and China till March 2017.

Of the 3,520 guests on the sailing, the majority or 1,786 were Singaporeans, the next majority were Indians at 405 and there were  220 Indonesians onboard. Other Asians included Filipinos, Koreans and Japanese. The variety added to the fun.

It was Canadian national N. Peter’s fifth cruise on Royal Caribbean in Asia. The 40-something Canadian restaurateur had flown in from Vietnam where he works and lives. Describing himself as a 'Loyal Royal', he was onboard with a party of six, which included some of his restaurant staff members, for whom the cruise is a reward for good work and loyalty. He and his wife were looking forward to seafood and a massage at Phuket while one of his waitresses was keen on an elephant ride. 'The lamb shanks they serve here are incredible!' he exclaimed, having savoured them on previous cruises.

Singaporeans, who are generally self-professed foodies, took all food recommendations to heart.

Given the palpable enthusiasm, the market may indeed be ripe for RCI to bring an Oasis-class vessel to Asia, which according to an industry observer could be next on the cards.

Ovation of the Seas will be back in Singapore in March to April 2017 with a total of 10 new sailings, comprising three to five nights to Penang, Phuket, Bangkok (Laem Chabang) and a 12-night one-way cruise to Tianjin, China via Vietnam, Hong Kong and Korea.

Voyager of the Seas returns from May to June 2017 to offer 13 sailings of three to five night Southeast Asian itineraries and an eight-night one-way cruise to Hong Kong.

Earlier this month  S Iswaran, Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry reiterated that Asia is set to become the world’s second largest cruising region within the next five years. 'By 2020, 3.8m passengers annually are expected to cruise in Asia. This is a remarkable growth rate of 14.3% annually since 2012.'