By The Voyager 
If you’re booked or planning to book a cruise on Spectrum of the Seas departing from Shanghai on November 19, 2025, there’s an important update you need to know about. Due to some scheduling adjustments, Royal Caribbean has made changes to this sailing’s itinerary. The original stop in Fukuoka, Japan has now been replaced with Ishigaki Island, Japan, and the ship will no longer return to Shanghai, but instead will disembark in Hong Kong.
Here’s a quick rundown of the changes:
Original Itinerary:
- November 19, 2025 (Wednesday): Depart from Shanghai, China at 16:30
- November 20, 2025 (Thursday): Sea Day
- November 21, 2025 (Friday): Stop in Fukuoka, Japan (Arrive 7:00, Depart 18:45)
- November 22, 2025 (Saturday): Sea Day
- November 23, 2025 (Sunday): Arrive back in Shanghai, China at 7:00
Updated Itinerary:
- November 19, 2025 (Wednesday): Depart from Shanghai, China at 16:30
- November 20, 2025 (Thursday): Sea Day
- November 21, 2025 (Friday): Stop in Ishigaki Island, Japan (Arrive 7:00, Depart 17:00)
- November 22, 2025 (Saturday): Sea Day
- November 23, 2025 (Sunday): Arrive in Hong Kong at 7:00
These changes mean you’ll get to experience the stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters of Ishigaki Island, a popular destination in Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture. And instead of returning to Shanghai, you’ll end your trip in vibrant Hong Kong—offering plenty of opportunities to extend your holiday with a post-cruise stay!
What Are Your Options If You’re Affected?
Royal Caribbean understands that changes can be inconvenient, so they’ve set up a few options for guests on this sailing:
Reschedule to Another Cruise on Spectrum of the Seas
You can move your booking to one of these sailings at no extra cost
- November 2, 2025 (Okinawa, Japan)
- November 11, 2025 (Fukuoka, Japan)
- November 15, 2024 (Fukuoka, Japan)
And as a bonus, you’ll get onboard credit to spend during your cruise:
- $100 for inside and ocean-view staterooms
- $200 for balcony staterooms and above
- Families will also get an extra $50 per person for the third and fourth guests in the same cabin.
If you’ve already booked non-refundable transport (like flights or trains), Royal Caribbean will cover part of your costs, with up to 1,400 CNY per person for domestic travel or 2,800 CNY per person for international flights.
Switch to Any Other Royal Caribbean Cruise
Not interested in these dates? No problem. You can switch your booking to any other Royal Caribbean cruise, and they’ll waive the change fees. However, the price will be based on the current rates at the time of rebooking.
Cancel Your Cruise
If none of these options work for you and you’d rather cancel your booking, you can do so, although there won’t be any extra compensation for cancellations.
Royal Caribbean has asked that all affected guests get in touch by November 14, 2024, to confirm their choice.
Featured Image: by cruisevoyager.net; Image 1 from Wikimedia Commons.
