Spectrum of the Seas

Spectrum of the Seas is a ship with a sole focus on China and Asia in general. This might sound like a weird way to start a review, but I’m just giving you a heads-up. Spectrum of the Seas is all about Hong Kong, Japan, pandas, and sweet and sour pork. 

I’m pointing this out because there are several other Quantum Class ships focused on North America, Europe, and the Caribbean, but Spectrum of the Seas? Nope! This ship mixes the elegance of the Radiance Class with the craziness of the Oasis Class, and even includes things like a skydiving simulator, archery classes, and bumper cars. It’s an excellent choice if you are visiting China and want to give a new spin to your vacation.

What we like about Spectrum of the Seas

It’s awesome that Royal Caribbean decided to send a Quantum-Class ship to Asia, with a huge focus on China and Japan. They already have tons of ships in North America and Europe, and there are some pretty recent ships in Australia now, so it only made sense to focus on a market that is getting bigger with each passing year. 

Spectrum of the Seas has 32 itineraries in total, and all of them are exclusive to Asia. You can try anything from a short 2-day weekend getaway cruise for $250, to a 4-night roundtrip cruise from Shanghai that visits Okinawa for $500, or an 8-night Best of Japan cruise for $1,050. The range of itineraries for all budgets is impressive, and I don’t even consider the prices that high, considering that you are sailing in Asia.

It’s also cool that Spectrum of the Seas is a mix of a mega-resort at sea with some really fun places to sit down and relax. As far as activities go, this ship has a rock climbing wall, an observation capsule that takes you 300 feet above sea level for some awesome views, the SeaPlex sports complex, FlowRider, a small waterpark for children, a laser tag arena, and bumper cars. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have any major waterslides, but there is still plenty for families to do. We’re not done yet, as Spectrum is crazy when it comes to, well, craziness. It also has an indoor skydiving simulator and includes fencing and archery classes. Yes, you can sword fight on this cruise ship and fire arrows at targets… which I honestly don’t know what they are. Saying this might make the cruise sound more like the backstage of an episode of Squid Game, and you know what…? This is awesome. Now I want to hold a sword and try some techniques there as well.

The Asian touch and aesthetic are also pretty well done overall around the ship, as restaurants and shows align more with the Far East. You can find the Silk Road stage production, with dancing and singing that transport you to Rome, Persia, India, and China, and even a superhero show for children that seems to be taken straight out of an anime. 

Restaurants are another example of that. You get not only the traditional Izumi serving sushi, but also Izumi Teppanyaki, which is all about Asian dishes prepared right in front of you. Other than that, restaurants include the Chops Grille steakhouse, Wonderland (inspired by Alice in Wonderland and worth a visit for the presentation alone), Jamie’s Italian, Chef’s Table, and Sichuan Red, a Chinese restaurant designed just for Spectrum of the Seas. That’s in addition to noodle bars and other small places designed for the Chinese audience.

What we don’t like about Spectrum of the Seas

One of the main problems with Spectrum of the Seas isn’t related to the ship itself, but to excursions, which sometimes feel chaotic, especially since some staff members might not speak perfect English. Going through customs in Japan can also be chaotic, particularly when Royal Caribbean releases thousands of passengers at the same time in a port like Kobe, where immigration just can’t keep up with the volume of arrivals. This is an issue because it takes away from the time you have for shore excursions and exploring the cities, and it’s also a problem often mentioned in Reddit and forum posts.

Also remember, this is a ship designed with the Chinese market in mind. You might find it weird that the pool is empty much of the time, but at the same time, the ship doesn’t have many bars onboard, and you might not find an omelet station for breakfast… which is a bummer for our omelet-loving friends. While the pool area and bars might be really chill, the shops, casino, and Windjammer are often very crowded.

Conclusion

Spectrum of the Seas is a great way to explore Asia, as long as you’re willing to adjust your mindset a little. It’s designed with the Chinese market in mind, offering plenty of activities for both adults and children, along with a few quirks that might seem unusual at first. Give it some time, and there’s a good chance you’ll end up loving Spectrum of the Seas.