Earlier in January, I boarded Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas together with a group of a few hundred cosplayers and cosplay enthusiasts from the region to attend the Asia Cosplay Meet 2016.
Named as “COSFEST SEA: The Rising Tide”, the event is organised by The Singapore Cosplay Club. The January 8 to 11 three-night theme cruise featured exciting cosplay entertainment and activities.
This is the first time such a large-scale rgional cosplay event is being held on board a luxurious cruise ship.
The Asia Cosplay Meet Championship featured three contestants from eight countries and territories namely China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand vying for the top spot. Guests onboard could also mingle with them as well as celebrity cosplayers Neneko and Shimo from Taiwan and Xiaoxiaobai and Xiaorou from China at the cosplay café session for instance.
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas The celebrity cosplayers](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-139.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Neneko](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-134.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Xiaorou from China](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-135.jpg)
After three days of colourful competition among Asia’s top cosplayers, the Thai team emerged as champions with their enactment of popular manga and anime series like “One Punch Man” and “Detroit Metal City”.
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas The winners](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-041.jpg)
I think pictures are more exciting than words when it comes to cosplay. Hence here are some of the photo highlights I took on board the cruise:
Team Thailand:
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group picture](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-223.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-232.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-231.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Singles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-1021.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group category performance - One Punch Man](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-071.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Welcome costumes](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-133.jpg)
Team Indonesia:
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group picture](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-226.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Singles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-108.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-239.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-102.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas The full team](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-111.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Welcome costumes](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-144.jpg)
Team China:
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group picture](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-225.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Singles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-107.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-236.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-091.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Welcome costumes](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-china.jpg)
Team Taiwan:
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group picture](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-228.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Singles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-114.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-242.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-243.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-141.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Welcome costumes](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-1411.jpg)
Team Philippines:
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group picture](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-227.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Singles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-110.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-240.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-131.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Welcome costumes](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-138.jpg)
Team Singapore:
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group picture](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-229.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Singles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-116.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-246.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-151.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Welcome costumes](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-145.jpg)
Team Japan:
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group picture](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-224.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Singles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-105.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-235.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-233.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-081.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Welcome costumes](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-143.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Welcome costume](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-142.jpg)
Team Korea:
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group picture](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-230.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Doubles category](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-248.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Single category performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-119.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Group performance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-161.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Welcome costumes](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-136.jpg)
The cosplayers and the cosplay enthusiasts were not the only one who enjoyed themselves with the cosplay related activities onboard Mariner of the Seas; the other regular guests joined in the fun too, taking photos with the cosplayers and participating in some of the themed activities.
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Cosplayers performing at the Savor Theatre onboard Mariner of the Seas to entertain guests](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-222.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Lots of cosplayers onboard](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-221.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Mingling with the public](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-220.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Mingling with the public](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-219.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Taking wefies](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-217.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Dance night!](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-212.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Spider-Man leading a dance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-206.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Stephanie, one of the Singapore Cosplay Club founder, dressed as Elsa from Frozen](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-203.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Cosplayers dancing the night away](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-209.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas This is the way the Thais groove](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-208.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Neneko leading a dance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-205.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Team Japan leading a dance](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-210.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas End of a fun night](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-201.jpg)
One thing I learned was that cosplaying universally popular characters like Spider-Man and Captain Jack Sparrow are surefire ways to get lots of attention and adoration:
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Everyone wants to take photos with Spidey](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-126.jpg)
![Asia Cosplay Meet 2016 onboard Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas And of course, the swimsuit cosplayers](http://media.alvinology.com/uploads/2016/02/cosfest-sea-17.jpg)
The organisers for the Singapore Cosplay Club hope to hold the Asia Cosplay Meet with Royal Caribbean again next year and make it an annual affair. If you missed the event this year, do look out for it in future!