(Yicai Global) July 6 -- Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises will resume operations of Asia’s largest cruise ship tailored for the Chinese market after halting trips for more than 1.5 years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Spectrum of the Seas is expected to end its Covid-19 epidemic pause and begin the first cruise from Hong Kong in September or October, the Paper reported yesterday. The specific routes for the two to four-day itineraries without stops have not yet been determined.

Royal Caribbean will tighten health monitoring before and during the trips with Covid-19 testing. Spectrum of the Seas is not going to have cruises that depart from Shanghai, the earlier home port, this year, according to the tourism company.

The 168,000-ton ship was first launched in April 2019, costing the US company USD1.3 billion. But as the pandemic hit the tourism sector, bookings were canceled in January 2020.

Royal Caribbean is hoping to have a roadmap to resume international cruises so it can plan future routes while adhering to its commitment to China, said Liu Zinan, chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises Asia. The company has always followed the Chinese government's guidelines in determining its schedules amid epidemic prevention efforts, Liu added.

Last April, the firm said it is communicating with Chinese authorities to plan 2022 routes for the world’s largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi