by Ana Figueroa
Last updated: 4:15 PM ET, Tue April 10, 2018
Royal Caribbean International is making changes to its Asia deployments. Quantum of the Seas will return to Singapore in 2019 to homeport there for six months. That's the longest deployment in Singapore for a Quantum-class vessel. The 4,905-passenger vessel ship last called there in 2015, on her first visit to Asia.
Quantum will operate out of Marina Bay from Nov. 2019 to April 2020. She'll sail 34 cruises and carry some 150,000 passengers. The move will increase the line's capacity in Singapore by 30 percent.
In announcing the new deployment, Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive officer Michael Bayley expressed confidence in the Asia cruise market.
"In response to the strong demand from Singapore and the region, we have decided to bring in longer cruises for Quantum of the Seas' return. The season will feature cruises starting from four nights and the first-ever seven-night round-trip cruises on a Quantum Class ship here," said Bayley.
Quantum's itineraries will include four-night cruises to Penang or Phuket. A five-night cruise adds Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) to Penang and Phuket, with a seven-night version that includes an overnight stay. Also available is a seven-night cruise to Bangkok with an overnight in Laem Chabang, plus a call in Ho Chi Minh City.
Before arriving in Singapore, Quantum of the Seas will undergo a multi-million-dollar refurbishment project. Upgrades and improvements include the addition of eight tender boats.
"Currently, the ship must be next to a wharf, so she can't go to Phuket, for instance. But after the project, passengers can get to islands like Phuket on tender boats. This gives us more itinerary variety as we can access more ports," said Gavin Smith, Royal Caribbean International's senior vice-president of international.
Quantum of the Seas is operating year-round from Shanghai this year.
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