Image credit: Larry D. Moore via Wikimedia Commons; cropped by Deep Arrival. License: CC BY 4.0.
Royal Caribbean is putting Voyager of the Seas back into Hong Kong for Chinese New Year 2028. In an August 27 announcement, the line said the ship will seasonally homeport there from January to February 2028 and sail beside Spectrum of the Seas for a two-ship Hong Kong season.
Bookings for the China market are open now. That matters if you are shopping Lunar New Year travel from Hong Kong, comparing short Japan getaways against longer Asia loops, or deciding whether Voyager or Spectrum better fits your dates.
- Ship: Voyager of the Seas returns to Hong Kong as a seasonal homeport.
- When: January to February 2028, timed for Chinese New Year and winter school holidays.
- Partner ship: Spectrum of the Seas also homeports in Hong Kong, creating a two-ship deployment.
- Lengths: Voyager sailings are listed from 4 to 10 nights, including 4- or 5-night Chinese New Year getaways.
- Status: Related 2027 to 2028 Voyager and Spectrum sailings are open for booking in China.
What Royal Caribbean announced
According to the Royal Caribbean release carried by PR Newswire, Voyager of the Seas will be seasonally homeported in Hong Kong from January to February 2028. The company framed the move as a follow-on to Navigator of the Seas extending its Singapore season and as part of a broader Asia expansion.
Benjamin Bouldin, President of Greater China and Managing Director Asia for Royal Caribbean, said the line has long viewed Hong Kong as an international cruise hub and that Voyager joining Spectrum gives vacationers a broader range of Hong Kong homeport itineraries. Hong Kong Tourism Board Executive Director Anthony Lau welcomed the added Chinese New Year deployment and linked it to Hong Kong’s push for more ship calls.
Royal Caribbean also reminded travelers that Voyager has China market history. The ship arrived in Shanghai in 2012 and later homeported at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal starting in 2014. The 2028 return is presented as a seasonal comeback after a comprehensive upgrade, not as a brand-new ship introduction.
Where the ship goes from Hong Kong
During the Chinese New Year window, Royal Caribbean says travelers can book 4- or 5-night sailings from Hong Kong to Ishigaki and Okinawa, Japan, with some voyages overnighting in Okinawa. Other Hong Kong departures are listed to Taipei (Keelung) and Hue/Danang, Vietnam, via Chan May. Select voyages stretch to about 10 nights and string multiple Asia ports into one trip.
That mix creates a clear shopping split. Short Japan sailings are the festival-week product. Keelung and Chan May sailings widen the list for travelers who want Taiwan city time or central Vietnam access. Longer Asia loops are for guests who can leave Hong Kong for closer to a week and a half.
Independent coverage of the wider Asia-Pacific season adds context without changing the Hong Kong decision. The Straits Times reports Voyager’s October 2027 to April 2028 rotation also includes Australia and Singapore legs before the Hong Kong festival window, with some fares for the broader season quoted from about $412 per guest. Treat those season-wide prices as directional until you price the exact Hong Kong sailing on Royal Caribbean’s booking channel.
| Your trip goal | Best next move |
|---|---|
| Chinese New Year week away from Hong Kong | Price Voyager’s 4- or 5-night Ishigaki and Okinawa sailings first, and note any Okinawa overnight. |
| More time ashore in one destination | Prefer sailings that advertise an Okinawa overnight rather than a daytime call only. |
| Taiwan or Vietnam focus | Compare Hong Kong departures that list Keelung or Chan May before locking a Japan-only itinerary. |
| Choosing between Voyager and Spectrum | Match dates and nights first, then compare ship product and price on the same week. |
| Flying in from outside Asia | Build Hong Kong arrival buffer before embarkation and confirm passport, visa, and Kai Tak transfer plans separately. |
How Spectrum changes the shopping map
Voyager is not arriving into an empty Hong Kong schedule. Spectrum of the Seas will continue homeporting in Shanghai and Hong Kong for the 2027 to 2028 season, with Royal Caribbean citing 56 curated itineraries from 3 to 11 nights and 22 Asia destinations. The line also highlights Spectrum festive sailings from Hong Kong around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.
For shoppers, that means Hong Kong becomes a two-product decision in winter 2027 to 2028. Spectrum covers a longer season and more holiday windows. Voyager concentrates on the January to February Chinese New Year and school-holiday peak. If your dates fall outside that Voyager window, Spectrum may still be the only Royal Caribbean Hong Kong option.
Royal Caribbean says the two ships complement each other rather than simply duplicate the same weekend product. Still verify that claim against live inventory. Same-week Japan short hops can look similar until you compare overnight calls, dining fees, and cabin categories.
What to know before you book
The announcement opens China-market bookings through Royal Caribbean’s website, WeChat mini program, Fliggy and Douyin flagship stores, authorized agencies, or the China phone line listed in the release. Travelers booking from outside those channels should confirm whether the exact Hong Kong sailing is visible on their local Royal Caribbean site or must be reserved through a partner.
Packing still matters on short Asia festival cruises where laundry windows are tight and formal nights can appear. Deep Arrival’s cruise packing list is a practical checklist before you fill a carry-on for a 4-night Japan run or a longer 10-night Asia loop.
Also keep Royal Caribbean’s wider Asia rebuild in view. The same company push includes Navigator of the Seas going year-round from Singapore and separate Australia moves such as Ovation of the Seas Brisbane bookings. Those stories do not replace the Hong Kong decision, but they show why inventory is moving quickly across the region.
- Festival dates fill early. Chinese New Year Hong Kong departures are short and seasonal. Price cabins before assuming a later discount will appear.
- Overnight calls change the trip. An Okinawa overnight is a different vacation from a same-day port call. Read the itinerary line by line.
- Two ships do not mean identical weeks. Compare Voyager and Spectrum on the same embarkation week before choosing by ship name alone.
- Confirm the booking channel. China-market openings and local-site inventory can differ. Save the confirmation number and embarkation terminal details.
What remains open
Royal Caribbean’s release does not publish a full sailing calendar with every date, fare, and cabin category in the press text. Exact Chinese New Year embarkation dates, taxes, and prepaid packages still have to be checked in the booking engine.
Visa and entry rules for Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam also sit outside the cruise announcement. A Hong Kong embarkation does not automatically clear every port call for every passport. Verify each country’s entry rules for your nationality before you pay the deposit.
Finally, seasonal homeporting means Voyager is not promised as a year-round Hong Kong ship in this announcement. January to February 2028 is the window Royal Caribbean put on the record. Later Asia deployments may follow, but they are not part of this release.
Bottom line for travelers
If you want a Royal Caribbean Hong Kong sailing around Chinese New Year 2028, Voyager of the Seas is now an official option beside Spectrum of the Seas. Start with the short Japan getaways if you need a festival-week escape, then widen to Keelung, Chan May, or longer Asia loops if your calendar allows.
Book only after you confirm the nights, overnight calls, and total price on the live itinerary. The announcement opens the door. The booking page decides whether the sailing fits.
When will Voyager of the Seas homeport in Hong Kong?
Royal Caribbean says Voyager of the Seas will seasonally homeport in Hong Kong from January to February 2028 for Chinese New Year and winter school-holiday sailings.
Which ship sails with Voyager from Hong Kong?
Spectrum of the Seas will also homeport in Hong Kong, creating a two-ship Royal Caribbean deployment from the city.
How long are the Voyager Hong Kong sailings?
Royal Caribbean lists a mix of 4- to 10-night Voyager sailings from Hong Kong, including 4- or 5-night Chinese New Year getaways.
Where can Voyager sail from Hong Kong?
Announced destinations include Ishigaki and Okinawa in Japan, Taipei via Keelung, and Hue/Danang via Chan May in Vietnam, with some longer multi-port Asia sailings.
Are the sailings open for booking?
Yes. Royal Caribbean says related Voyager and Spectrum 2027 to 2028 season sailings are open for bookings in the China market through its listed channels.
