Royal Caribbean International's luxury cruise ship Spectrum of the Seas docked at Phu My port, Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

The welcome event on Spectrum of the Seas was honored with the presence of Ms. Angie Stephen, Vice President and Managing Director of Royal Caribbean International Asia Pacific; Mr. Wu Huimin, Captain of the mega-cruise Spectrum of the Seas; Mr. Nguyen Van Tho, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province; Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director General of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration; and Ms. Anne Benjaminson, Deputy Consul General of the United States in Ho Chi Minh City. The distinguished guests exchanged commemorative gifts and enjoyed exclusive tours on the mega-cruise ship.

Ms. Angie Stephen, Vice President and Managing Director of Royal Caribbean International Asia Pacific, shared: “Vietnam is a popular tourist destination for Singaporeans as well as travelers from around the world. Therefore, we are delighted to celebrate our arrival at Phu My Port today aboard our cruise ship with our government and tourism industry partners. This event also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, which we deeply value. Our cruise ship passengers will disembark today to explore and experience nearby attractions such as visiting Buddhist temples, touring the bay, and enjoying guided tours in Ho Chi Minh City. These activities will provide economic benefits to Vietnam’s already thriving tourism industry.”

Mr. Nguyen Van Tho, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, said: “Every year, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province welcomes a large number of international tourists, including cruise tourists. After the pandemic, the tourism industry has been implementing many solutions to restore and develop tourism, maintaining a good growth rate and making a positive contribution to the overall growth of the province. Today's event provides an opportunity to promote and affirm Ba Ria - Vung Tau as a safe, friendly, and attractive destination for international tourists from the coastal tourism market.”

Discussing the increase in the number of tourists visiting Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director General of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, stated: “We are very pleased that Royal Caribbean International has included Vietnam in their 2023 cruise itinerary. The Vietnam National Tourism Administration highly appreciates Royal Caribbean's efforts in quickly restoring international cruise tourism and choosing Vietnam as the venue for the ceremony celebrating the industry's recovery.”

Ms. Anne Benjaminson, Deputy Consul General of the United States in Ho Chi Minh City, shared: “We are delighted to see the rejuvenation of the tourism and cruise industry in Southeast Asia, and particularly in Vietnam, an attractive destination for U.S. tourists and investors. Tourism and trade are an important part of our bilateral partnership, and 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of this comprehensive partnership.”

Throughout the 12-day and 12-night cruise, passengers explored top Asian destinations including Tokyo, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima in Japan, Hong Kong, and Nha Trang in Vietnam. After Phu My, the cruise ship will depart for Singapore.

About Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International, part of the Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has been delivering innovations at sea for over 50 years. Each ship is a masterpiece of modern architecture, featuring technology and experiences designed for today's adventurous travelers. This cruise line continues to revolutionize holidays with itineraries to 240 destinations in 61 countries across six continents, including Royal Caribbean's own island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has been named "Best Cruise Line" for 19 consecutive years at the Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards.