Royal Caribbean is doubling down on Asia, and it has a specific traveller in mind: the Australian fly-cruiser. Ben Bouldin, the line's President of Greater China and Managing Director of Asia, told Cruise Passenger that Australia is a key market for the region's growing sailings, thanks to short flight times, easy connections and manageable time zones from hubs like Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
The commitment is substantial. Navigator of the Seas, originally slated for a six-month Singapore season, will now be based there year-round through October 2027. Voyager of the Seas joins the Asian lineup, sailing from Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo from early 2028 as part of the newly announced 2027-28 season.
For Australians, the pitch is simple: Asia is emerging as a genuine alternative to the long-haul European fly-cruise. And because many Aussies already know the brand from ships like Anthem and Quantum of the Seas, which return to local waters for the 2026-27 season, the line is banking on that familiarity carrying over to Asian itineraries.
The options are flexible, too. You could tack a few days in Singapore onto a four-night run to Penang and Thailand, or book a one-way "open jaw" sailing that starts in one iconic city and ends in another — say, Tokyo to Hong Kong — pairing the cruise with a longer land-based stay. It's a format aimed at travellers who don't want a conventional round-trip loop.
Growth won't stop at the current port network of Singapore, Phuket, Penang and Port Klang. Bouldin says the line is working with governments and tourism authorities to develop new ports of call, weighing infrastructure, accessibility and onshore experiences. On the private-destination front, Royal Beach Club Lelepa in the South Pacific opens in October 2027, which he describes as a step toward extending that model into Asia-Pacific.
Why it matters: if you've been eyeing a cruise holiday but baulked at the flight to Europe, Asian departures from Singapore, Hong Kong or Tokyo now run all year, with the big-ship Royal Caribbean experience attached. The window to book the 2027-28 season is open, and year-round availability means you can pick shoulder-season dates when fares and weather are friendlier.
