Asia's Largest Cruise Ship Ever – Explorer of the Seas Sets Sail from Keelung on August 31

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, compiled and reported by Chen Guanxin

As cruise tourism continues to grow in the Asian market, Royal Caribbean International has brought its "Explorer of the Seas" to Asia, choosing Taiwan for its ideal geographic position connecting travelers across Asia. The ship will operate three sailings from Taiwan. Compared to the Titanic’s approximately 53,000-ton displacement, the Explorer of the Seas – built at a cost of NT$16.8 billion – boasts a massive 140,000-ton displacement and measures an impressive 311 meters in length. With its four-deck-high Royal Promenade shopping and entertainment center, a lavish three-story main dining room that can accommodate over a thousand guests, and a rock climbing wall 320 meters above sea level, the Explorer of the Seas is like a floating castle at sea. The ship will depart from Keelung Port on August 31, with tickets starting at NT$33,900. Travelers can experience a top-tier cruise without spending over NT$100,000 to fly to the other side of the world.

Royal Caribbean International’s Taiwan-based Regional Chairman Lin Kaidi noted that the Bahamas-registered Explorer of the Seas can carry up to 3,840 passengers, making it the largest and most luxurious cruise ship in Asia’s history. The ship features a total of 1,557 cabins, including 26 accessible rooms. Among its 48 entertainment facilities are three outdoor pools, a basketball court, a real ice-skating rink, a sea climbing wall, and Asia’s only ocean-going chapel. In addition, six restaurants and cafes – including the main dining room – offer dishes such as barbecue, American, and Italian cuisine. This time, special emphasis is placed on providing Asian meals and Chinese-language menu services to make dining more convenient for visitors from Greater China.

The Explorer of the Seas will make three sailings to Taiwan, with itineraries covering Shanghai, Keelung, Fukuoka, Jeju, and Tianjin. The “Shanghai–Keelung 3-Day Free & Easy (Flights + Cruise Tickets)” tour departing on August 29 starts at NT$33,900; the “Keelung–Fukuoka–Jeju Three Kingdoms 6-Day” tour departing on August 31 starts at NT$49,900; and the “Keelung–Jeju–Tianjin 5-Day Free & Easy (Flights + Cruise Tickets)” tour departing on September 5 starts at NT$46,900. Related tours on the Explorer of the Seas are being sold by Phoenix Travel Service, Shanz Fu Travel Service, and Southeast Travel Service.