Speaking to TTG, the line’s president and chief executive also hinted the 4,200-passenger ship, due for delivery in October 2020, could sail an ex-UK season.

“The UK is going to see Spectrum 2 – we are going to bring it here. October might be a little cold, but we’re going to bring it,” he said.

Royal’s first Quantum Ultra-class, Spectrum of the Seas, will launch in April and head to Shanghai to begin sailing from June.

Bayley said the line had been “mindful” not to base its sister ship in the same region.

"It’s definitely not going to China," he added.

“If you put every new ship into the one market then, over three years, certainly you’re absent from other markets,” he explained.

“It’s a balancing act and China is a very important market, but so is the UK, US and Europe, so we’re fortunate we get one new ship every year – China is getting Spectrum so they are not getting the next new ship.”

Asked if the ship could stay on UK shores for longer than a one-off call, Bayley teased: “You never know.”