HKTB Welcomes Return of Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas as Cruise Ship makes Hong Kong its Homeport Again Nearly 190 Ship Calls to Hong Kong in 2025, a Year-on-Year Increase of Over 25%

Homeporting in Hong Kong again, Spectrums of the Seas embarks on a new tour today.

Royal Caribbean International cruise ship Spectrum of the Seas arrived in Hong Kong today (23 November) and is set to embark on voyages around the region with the city as its homeport again. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) welcomed the cruise ship’s return and announced Hong Kong is on course to receive almost 190 ship calls in 2025, a year-on-year increase of more than 25%. 

HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam said, “From January to September 2025, the total cruise passenger throughput reached approximately 270,000, a 22% increase compared with the same period last year. I am delighted that Spectrum of the Seas of Royal Caribbean International has once again chosen Hong Kong as its homeport. It is also encouraging to see numerous international cruise brands choosing Hong Kong as homeport or turnaround port this year, or visiting Hong Kong as port of call, attracting more international visitors to our city. For the full year, Hong Kong is projected to record close to 190 cruise ship calls, which is equivalent to a 26% year-on-year increase. This involved 22 different international cruise brands, reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s Cruise Hub.” 

10 ships from Nine Different International Cruise Brands visit in November 

As Hong Kong enters the peak season for cruise tourism, the city attracted 10 vessels from nine different international cruise brands in November alone, offering a total of 19 calls. Of these, five made Hong Kong their homeport or turnaround port – Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Solstice, Costa Cruises’ Costa Serena, Astro Ocean Cruise’s Piano Land, and StarCruises’ Star Voyager, in addition to Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas. 

Below are some other international cruise ships visiting Hong Kong in November: 

• Celebrity Millennium (Celebrity Cruises)
• Westerdam (Holland America Line)
• Norwegian Spirit (Norwegian Cruise Line) 
• Seven Seas Explorer (Regent Seven Seas Cruises)
• Seabourn Quest (Seabourn) 

Celebrity Solstice (database photo)	Costa Serena (database photo)	Piano Land (database photo)	Star Voyager (database photo)

Cruise visits now added to “Hong Kong Incentive Playbook”  

Cruise travel is not only a popular choice for leisure travellers but also offers an exciting new experience for corporate meetings and incentive travel groups. In October, HKTB added a new theme dedicated to cruise to its thematic experience guide, the Hong Kong Incentive Playbook, further diversifying options for corporate meetings and incentive travellers.

The Playbook section highlights how cruise tourism injects new elements to meetings and incentive travel, such as on-board meetings, teambuilding, fine dining, entertainment, and on-shore excursions. These elements offer a one-stop sea-and-land itinerary and enrich visitors’ business travel experience, strengthening Hong Kong’s reputation as Asia’s Cruise and MICE hub.  

Hong Kong Incentive Playbook website: https://www.mehongkong.com/hkincentiveplaybook/eng/index.htm

HKTB will continue to promote Hong Kong’s strengths as an ideal cruise destination to attract more international ships, and will work with trade partners to drive the city’s cruise tourism development with more diverse cruise tourism itineraries.