'We see opportunity': Bayley on Genting Hong Kong's demise

China is one of the key global markets that remains closed to cruising, apart from Hong Kong. 

News after Olympics? 

'We're waiting,' Bayley said about a window for China reopening. 'There's a belief that after the Olympics are behind us, there will be more positive news coming out of China,' he added.

The CEO described China as a 'long journey' for Royal Caribbean, with ups and downs. 'Our appetite for the opportunity has not shifted,' he said. 'We think China is always going to be an important part of our strategic portfolio.'

Ships redeployed

For now, Royal Caribbean ships are out of China, apart from Spectrum of the Seas in Hong Kong. Recently Spectrum's planned redeployment to Singapore was moved forward by six months and it will start sailing there in April.

Last year Royal Caribbean decided not to introduce its new Oasis-class ship, Wonder of the Seas, in China. Instead the newly delivered ship is going to debut shortly in the US, then Europe. 'And the response is incredibly strong ... so there's been a silver lining to redeploying out of China,' Bayley said.

Asia teams already planning for post-Genting opportunities

Long-term: 'We're in China and we're going to make China work, and we see a huge amount of upside and opportunity,' he added. 'Genting exiting the stage is an opportunity for us, and our teams in Asia are already planning and leveraging what we think could be those opportunities.'

For another company's recent thoughts on China, see 'Princess committed to Asia but Japan restart is delayed'