“Sometimes decisions are strategic in nature not immediately revenue driven,” commented Lisa Lutoff Perlo, executive vice president of operations for Royal Caribbean International, on a press call today, in response to questions about deploying the new Quantum of the Seas in an emerging market.

“It is all about a balance,” she said, “how we address global markets strategically.”

Chris Allen, associate vice president of itinerary planning, said that Royal Caribbean is very confident in Asia based on the Voyager and Mariner of the Seas and wants to accelerate demand and that the Quantum is a fantastic opportunity to do just that. He added that specific itineraries will be announced later.

Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade support services, said that the Quantum offers just what the Asian market wants. However, some modifications will be done when the ship transits from Cape Liberty to Shanghai on retail, gaming and galley spaces. While deployed in Asia, she said the ship will be marketed primarily to Asian markets.

Being delivered this fall, the Quantum will spend the winter season sailing from Cape Liberty (New Jersey/New York) before leaving on May 2, 2015. The Liberty of the Seas will start summer service from Cape Liberty on May 6 offering nine-night cruises to the Caribbean and five nights to Bermuda, plus fall cruises to New England and Canada.

On Nov. 12, the Liberty re-deploys to Galveston and the new Anthem of the Seas arrives in Cape Liberty, following her inaugural summer in Europe. The Anthem will be sailing seven-, 10- and 12-day cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, including a new itinerary to the Western Caribbean.