Spectrum of the Seas Embarks On Inaugural Penang Departure Cruise

Royal Caribbean taps into a new market with their first cruise from Malaysia.

*Spectrum of the Seas* arriving in Penang, Malaysia. **PHOTO: @JACKNG_1118, INSTAGRAM**

Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas embarked on a special one-off sailing from Penang, Malaysia on January 4, 2023, as guests from Malaysia joined the 4,900-guest ship in Penang, Malaysia.

No Longer Just “Cruising Back To Malaysia”

With Spectrum of the Seas homeported in Singapore, guests from Malaysia would normally have to travel down to Singapore in order to take a Royal Caribbean cruise. With this Penang departure cruise however, Malaysian guests now have an option to start their cruise in Malaysia, and not have to take a cruise from Singapore that ultimately returns to Malaysia. This arrangement is similar to Resorts World Cruises’ dual-homeport operation in Singapore and Port Klang, Malaysia.

Guests booked on this special voyage joined the Spectrum mid-way, on day 3 of a 8-day-7-night cruise. The ship had arrived a day earlier and stayed in port overnight. After Penang, Spectrum of the Seas will bring her guests to the popular tourist destination of Phuket, Thailand. The ship will also stay overnight in Phuket, giving all guests a chance to experience Phuket’s renowned nightlife scene - something that cruise guests often cannot do, with all-aboard timings usually set at around early evening.

Embarkation Rundown

Guests were welcome to check in from 10:30 AM, though we noted that a small group of guests were already queuing in anticipation as early as 8:45 AM.

Guests boarding in Penang arriving at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal. **PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY**

Guests being briefed on Check-In processes before entering the terminal. **PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY**

Guests checking in at the Check-in counters in the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal. **PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY**

Check-In continued until the early afternoon, before the gangway went up at 5:30 PM for a 7:00 PM departure from Penang’s Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT). Check-In staff from Intercruises, as well as representatives from Hwajing Travel Agency (the travel agency selling this special cruise) were also present to assist guests during the Check-In process in Penang.

*Spectrum of the Seas* crew collecting passports from guests at embarkation. **PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY**

The ship’s crew were also in the terminal to collect guests’ passports for immigration clearance throughout the cruise, similar to guests who embarked in Singapore.