RCI-Royal Caribbean International has cancelled the scheduled July 11th, 2026 departure of Spectrum of the Seas from Shanghai after Super Typhoon Bavi disrupted operations along China's eastern coast and prompted the temporary closure of Shanghai's Baoshan (Wusongkou) Cruise Port. The cancellation followed delays to the vessel's previous voyage, which was unable to return to its homeport as originally planned because of the severe weather and port restrictions.
In a notification issued to booked passengers, the cruise line explained that it had been closely monitoring the progress of Typhoon Bavi and that the combination of the storm's development and the government-ordered closure of the port prevented the ship from returning on schedule. As a result, the 4-night cruise departing on July 11th was cancelled. The company expressed regret for the disruption caused to guests' travel plans.
Royal Caribbean confirmed that affected passengers would receive full refunds, including reimbursement for prepaid onboard amenities purchased before the cruise. Air travel booked through Royal Caribbean International will also be refunded automatically. In addition, the cruise line announced compensation measures for guests affected by the cancellation.
Unable to return immediately to Shanghai, Spectrum of the Seas diverted to Jeju, South Korea, while awaiting improved weather conditions and the reopening of the Chinese port. The vessel is expected to return to Shanghai at ~06:00 p.m. local time on July 13th, allowing operations to resume once port authorities declare conditions safe.
The cancellation reflects the wider impact of Typhoon Bavi across East Asia, where the storm disrupted cruise operations, commercial aviation and ferry services, while prompting large-scale evacuations and transport restrictions in eastern China.
For more Spectrum of the Seas incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page