Royal Caribbean Cancels Shanghai Cruise as Typhoon Closes Port

Royal Caribbean cancelled Spectrum of the Seas’ July 11, 2026 Far East cruise from Shanghai after Typhoon Bavi led to a government closure of the Port of Shanghai Baoshan and delayed the ship’s previous return to port. The four-night roundtrip sailing was scheduled to call at Incheon, South Korea, before returning to China on July 15.

Royal Caribbean told booked guests it will issue full refunds, reimburse certain non-refundable travel-change costs and provide Future Cruise Credits.

Port closure stops Shanghai departure

“We have been monitoring the progression of Typhoon Bavi as it slowly moves toward Shanghai,” Royal Caribbean told guests in a cancellation letter. The company said the storm’s development and “the government closure of the Port of Shanghai Baoshan” had delayed the prior Spectrum of the Seas sailing.

Royal Caribbean also said it had been working with meteorological experts, local port authorities and government agencies while reviewing conditions at the Port of Shanghai. Forecasts called for high winds and severe weather in Shanghai and the surrounding area. The ship could not begin the scheduled voyage.

Bavi had reached super typhoon strength earlier in the week, with sustained winds estimated near 180 miles per hour, before weakening as it moved toward Taiwan and mainland China. By July 10, the storm remained a powerful typhoon over the East China Sea, with sustained winds near 125 miles per hour.

Refunds and guest compensation

Royal Caribbean said all cruise fare payments will be returned to the original form of payment, including pre-paid amenities and airfare booked through the cruise line. Guests who used a Future Cruise Credit toward the cancelled voyage will have that credit reissued, while any additional cash payment will be refunded.

The line is also offering a goodwill Future Cruise Credit that varies by cabin category and can be used on Royal Caribbean sailings departing through July 11, 2027. Details provided to guests listed credits of RMB 3,400 per suite stateroom, RMB 1,700 for balcony staterooms, RMB 1,300 for ocean view accommodations and RMB 1,000 for interiors, with third and fourth guests receiving RMB 340 each.

Royal Caribbean said it will reimburse eligible non-refundable travel costs tied to the cancelled sailing, including fees for changing hotel, flight, train ticket or rental car reservations. The company listed reimbursement caps for domestic and international travel, with higher reimbursement available for passengers traveling internationally.

Reimbursement requests for documented losses must be submitted by September 10, 2026. Royal Caribbean said approved claims will be reviewed and paid in U.S. dollars, while the new Future Cruise Credits are expected to be distributed electronically within four weeks.

Spectrum’s Shanghai operation

Spectrum of the Seas is a 169,379-gross-ton ship built by Meyer Werft in Germany in 2019, with capacity for 4,246 passengers at double occupancy and about 1,551 crew members. The ship operates from Shanghai’s Wusongkou cruise facilities in Baoshan, where expanded terminal capacity can handle about 6 million passengers annually and berth four cruise ships at the same time.

See current Spectrum of the Seas fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.