Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean cancelled Spectrum of the Seas’ July 11, 2026, sailing from Shanghai.
- The cancellation follows the city’s port closure as Typhoon Bavi barrels down the region.
- Guests will receive full refunds and reimbursement for eligible non-refundable travel expenses.
Another cruise itinerary has fallen victim to severe weather, this time in China.
Royal Caribbean cancelled Spectrum of the Seas’ July 11, 2026, sailing from Shanghai after Typhoon Bavi prompted local authorities to close the city’s Wusongkou Cruise Port through embarkation day.
The cruise line said it had been monitoring the storm with meteorological experts, local port authorities, and government agencies while evaluating operations at the Port of Shanghai. Forecasts called for high winds and severe weather in Shanghai and the surrounding area, making it impossible for the ship to begin its scheduled voyage.
The 169,379-gross-ton Spectrum of the Seas was scheduled to depart Shanghai on a 4-night cruise on July 11. Accommodating up to 4,246 guests at double occupancy, the ship was scheduled to sail roundtrip from Shanghai with a single port call in Incheon (Seoul), South Korea, before returning to China on July 15.
Guests booked on the cancelled sailing will receive a full refund of all payments made toward the voyage. Guests who used a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) to pay for part or all of their reservation will receive a refund of any additional cash payments, while the original FCC will be reissued.
In addition to the refund, the cruise line is issuing new FCCs to passengers who paid the cruise fare. The credits may be used toward any Royal Caribbean sailing booked by July 11, 2027, and are expected to be distributed electronically within four weeks.
Credit amounts vary by stateroom category, with guests booked in suites receiving RMB 3,400 per stateroom. Balcony cabins will receive RMB 1,700, ocean view staterooms qualify for RMB 1,300, and interior cabins will receive RMB 1,000.
Third and fourth guests in each cabin will each receive RMB 340.
Royal Caribbean is also offering reimbursement for certain non-refundable travel expenses. Guests who booked non-refundable or non-changeable transportation, hotels, or other travel services specifically for the sailing may apply based on documented losses.
Passengers traveling to or from Shanghai on domestic transportation, including flights, trains, and buses, may qualify for reimbursement of up to RMB 200 per person. Those traveling on international flights may receive up to RMB 400 per person.
Reimbursement requests must be submitted by September 10, 2026. The cruise line said approved claims will be processed after review with payments issued in US dollars.
China Braces for Typhoon Bavi
Spectrum of the Seas’ cancellation comes as Typhoon Bavi bears down on China’s east coast after crossing the western Pacific as one of the strongest storms of the year.
Earlier in the week, the storm reached super typhoon strength with sustained winds estimated at about 180 miles per hour before gradually weakening as it tracked toward Taiwan and mainland China.
Although weaker than its peak intensity, Bavi remained a powerful typhoon on July 10, 2026, packing sustained winds near 125 miles per hour as it moved across the East China Sea northwest of Taiwan.
Read Also: Cruising During Hurricane Season: What You Must Know!
Forecasters expect Bavi to pass north of Taiwan before making landfall along China’s east coast. Authorities across eastern China spent Friday preparing for the storm as flights and ferry service were cancelled and marinas and ports closed.
