MS Quantum of the Seas

Quantum of the Seas on the Elbe River near Wedel in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
History
Name: Quantum of the Seas
Owner: Royal Caribbean International
Operator: Royal Caribbean International
Port of registry: Nassau,  Bahamas
Ordered: February 11, 2011[1]
Builder: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany[1]
Cost: US$935 million[2]
Yard number: S. 697[3]
Laid down: August 2, 2013[3]
Launched: August 9, 2014 (float-out)[4]
Christened: October 30th, 2014
Completed: October 28, 2014
Maiden voyage: November 2, 2014
In service: October 31, 2014
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Quantum-class cruise ship
Tonnage: 168,666 GT[5]
Length: 347.08 m (1,139 ft)[5]
Beam:
  • 49.47 m (162 ft) (max)[5]
  • 41.4 m (136 ft) (waterline)[5]
Draught: 8.8 m (29 ft)[5]
Decks: 18[6] (16 passenger-accessible)[7]
Installed power:
  • 2 ×  Wärtsilä 12V46F (2 × 14,400 kW)[5]
  • 2 ×  Wärtsilä 16V46F (2 × 19,200 kW)[5]
  • 2 ×  Cat 3516C HD (2 × 2,500 kW)[5]
Propulsion:
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)[9]
Capacity:
  • 4,180 passengers (double occupancy)[7]
  • 4,905 passengers (maximum occupancy)[7]

MS Quantum of the Seas is a cruise ship for Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the lead ship of the Quantum class of cruise ships. The Quantum class surpasses RCI's earlier Freedom-class ships by over 14,000 GT, becoming the second largest class of passenger ships behind RCI's Oasis class ships on a gross tonnage basis.[1] Quantum of the Seas was delivered to RCI on October 28, 2014[10] and is sailing from Shanghai, China.[11]

Concept and construction

On February 11, 2011, RCI announced that it had ordered the first of a new class of ships from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, scheduled to be delivered by Fall 2014. At the time, the project was code-named "Project Sunshine".[12] Later that year, two 20.5-megawatt ABB Azipod XO propulsion units were ordered for that ship.[8] On February 29, 2012 the company announced that a second "Project Sunshine" ship had been ordered and would be delivered by Spring 2015,[13] and ordered identical Azipod propulsion units shortly thereafter.[8] Just under a year later, on January 31, 2013, steel cutting for the first ship began with a silhouette of the ship being cut by the lasers. The same day, RCI announced the official name of the new class of ships, Quantum Class, as well as the names of the first two ships in the class, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.[1][14] Details on the major features of Quantum of the Seas were announced on April 16, 2013.[15]

Service history

Quantum of the Seas spent its inaugural 2014–2015 season sailing from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, United States, before repositioning to China in May 2015. Beginning late June 2015, the ship began to sail three- to eight-night itineraries year-round from Shanghai to Japan and Korea.[16] On June 20, 2015, the ship visited Hong Kong.

During the ship's relocation cruises from New Jersey to Shanghai, several venues on the ship were reworked for the Asian market. Changes included increasing the size of the casino, incorporating a "high-rollers" room in a section of the Music Hall, and modifying menus to include more Asian food. A "Kung Fu Panda"-themed noodle bar was added on the pool deck.[17]

Architecture and equipment

Staterooms

Quantum of the Seas has 16 passenger-accessible decks, 8 of which feature balcony staterooms overlooking the ocean. Like the Celebrity Solstice class, those staterooms above the life boats are recessed into the superstructure and do not look down directly at the ocean. There are a total of 2,090 staterooms: 1,570 balcony staterooms, 147 ocean-view staterooms, and 373 inside staterooms. Of those staterooms, 34 are wheelchair accessible and 28 are studio staterooms for single travelers (including 12 studio staterooms with balconies). All aft-facing staterooms are 2-story "loft" suites. Expanding on the "Virtual Porthole" concept introduced by Disney Cruise Line on the Disney Dream, all the interior staterooms feature a floor-to-ceiling 80-inch high-definition TV screen showing live views from the outside of the ship, which Royal Caribbean calls a "Virtual Balcony". On average, staterooms on the Quantum class are 9 percent larger than those on the preceding Oasis class.[7][18][19][20]

Activities and entertainment

The Quantum of the Seas with crane and hinged glass capsule

As on the earlier Freedom and Oasis-class ships, the "Sports Court" on deck 15 aft features a Wave Loch Flowrider surf simulator and a rock-climbing wall.[21] A new feature on the Quantum of the Seas is "RipCord by iFLY", a skydiving simulator set in a recirculating indoor recreational vertical wind tunnel.[22] Reservations for RipCord are able to be made online in advance of the cruise. All the features of the Sports deck are complimentary, although Royal Caribbean charges for pictures and videos taken of RipCord participants.[20]

The "NorthStar" observation tower, located at the forward end of the top deck, uses a 7.1-tonne (7.8-short-ton) glass-walled capsule on the end of a 41-meter-long (135 ft) crane arm to lift groups of up to 14 guests up and over the edge of the ship, reaching heights of up to 300 feet above sea level. Rides on the NorthStar are complimentary, with the exception of sunrise, sunset, and private trips which have a charge, and can be reserved online in advance.[20][23][24]

Deck 14 features an outdoor pool with a large video screen, an indoor pool with a retractable roof, an indoor "Solarium" with an adults-only pool, the "H2O Zone" kids' water park featuring the first wave pool on a cruise ship,[25] and at least 4 whirlpools.[6][19] Other included features that have become standard on recent Royal Caribbean ships include a Spa and Fitness Center on decks 15 and 16, the "Adventure Ocean" kids club on decks 11 and 12, a Broadway-style "The Royal Theater" on decks 3–5, and a Casino on deck 3. Unlike the earlier Voyager, Freedom, and Oasis class, Quantum of the Seas does not feature a Viking Crown Lounge or ice skating rink, and the Royal Promenade mall down the center of the ship is replaced with the two-story "Royal Esplanade".[19][20][26]

The ship also features a number of multi-purpose venues:[6]

The Royal Theater

The Royal Theater is a Broadway-style theater on decks 3–5.[19] It is home to the ship's fully licensed production of the Broadway musical Mamma Mia!,[27] the original stage production Sonic Odyssey,[28] headliner acts, 3D movies, and other entertainment.[19]

Two70°

Two70° is a lounge on decks 5–7 at the stern of the ship, which features three-story-high 270-degree panoramic ocean views, a café, and an ice bar. Automatic window shades can cover the windows to limit the amount of sunlight entering, and a 13-projector projection mapping system can project live views from outside the ship and other imagery onto those screens.[29] At night, movable furniture and retractable dividers and chandeliers allow the space to be reconfigured to be used as a performance venue for a nouveau-cirque-style show or as a disco.[30] Both nighttime uses will take advantage of the projection system and 6 robotically controlled 100-inch LCD television screens to provide digital backdrops.[19][31]

SeaPlex

Located at the middle of deck 15, the SeaPlex is a large indoor gym with a full-size basketball court that can be converted into a dance floor, a flying trapeze school, a roller-skating arena, or a bumper cars ride.[21] The "SeaPlex" also features the SeaPlex Dog House food truck and table tennis, air hockey and foosball tables on a second-level mezzanine.[20]

The Music Hall

The Music Hall is a 2-story lounge on decks 3 and 4 that also serves as a nightclub and small music performance venue.[6] The Music Hall features the self-leveling pool tables first seen on the Radiance-class ships.[32]

Dining

Unlike previous Royal Caribbean ships, Quantum of the Seas does not have a main dining room, nor does it have an option for traditional cruise dinners where passengers have the same table and servers each night.[33] Instead, the ship uses a Dynamic Dining concept similar to the Freestyle concept used on Norwegian Cruise Line, with guests being required to make reservations for their choice of restaurant for each night in advance.[34] Each venue will maintain the same menu and staff throughout the cruise.[35]

Complimentary

There are five complimentary main restaurants (four of which are available to all passengers):[33]

Other smaller complimentary dining venues include:[33]

Additional fee

There are several smaller dining concepts debuting on Quantum of the Seas that are available to passengers for an additional fee:[33]

Other additional-fee restaurants available on Quantum of the Seas that are also offered on previous Royal Caribbean ships are:[33]

Bars and lounges

Quantum of the Seas includes numerous bars and lounges, including the Royal Caribbean signature Schooner Bar, the Ice Bar located in Two70°, Michael's Genuine Pub, and the Bionic Bar which features robotic bartenders from Makr Shakr.[55][56]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Start of Steel-Cutting for First Project Sunshine Ship". Meyer Wert. February 5, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  2. ↑ Chan, Kelvin (11 September 2014). "Global cruise lines set sail on high seas for China". The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Keel-laying of Quantum of the Seas". Meyer Werft. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "Quantum of the Seas to leave building dock II". Meyer Werft. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Quantum of the Seas (32027)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Royal Caribbean International Reveals Groundbreaking Quantum-class Ships". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Quantum of the Seas Fact Sheet". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "Azipods ordered for two RCL cruise ships". The Motorship. April 17, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  9. ↑ Innovation & Technology: Shipbuilding in Papenburg (PDF). Papenburg, Germany: Meyer Werft. 2013. p. 26. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Quantum Delivered to Royal Caribbean". Cruise Industry News. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  11. ↑ Monk, Dave (August 28, 2014). "A guided tour of Quantum of the Seas by Royal Caribbean boss Richard Fain". ShipMonk. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "Royal Caribbean Signs Letter of Intent to Build New Generation of Ships". Investor Relations. February 11, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Exercises Option to Build Second "Project Sunshine" Ship". Investor Relations. February 29, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  14. ↑ Tribou, Richard (February 5, 2013). "Royal Caribbean announces names for new cruise ships". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Prepare to be WOWED". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  16. ↑ Miss, Cruise. "Quantum of the Seas to Homeport in China".
  17. ↑ Royal Caribbean Line email to passengers – 8 April 2015
  18. ↑ "Royal Caribbean Introduces Unrivaled Accommodation Options On Quantum-Class Ships". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Deck Plans | Quantum of the Seas". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Dunham-Potter, Anita. "Quantum Of The Seas' New Thrills At Sea". HuffPost Travel. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  21. 1 2 "Largest Sports And Entertainment Complex At Sea Introduced On Quantum Class". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Royal Caribbean International Introduces Skydiving Experiences At Sea". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  23. ↑ "A View From Above: North Star". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  24. ↑ "MacGregor to deliver Quantum Class North Star system". MarineLog. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "WOW Experiences Never Before Seen at Sea – Quantum of the Seas". Royal Caribbean International.
  26. ↑ "Royal Esplanade". royalcaribbean.com. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  27. ↑ "Royal Caribbean International to Feature Mamma Mia! on Quantum of the Seas". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
  28. ↑ "The Reviews Are In: Groundbreaking Entertainment Headlines Royal Caribbean International's Newest Ship". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
  29. ↑ Immen, Wallace. "Royal Caribbean's Quantum Leap: Its New Ship Becomes a Transformer". Avid Cruiser. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  30. ↑ "Quantum of the Seas". 5+design. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  31. ↑ "Two70° Revolutionizes Onboard Entertainment". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  32. ↑ "Music Hall: The Hottest Live Entertainment Venue At Sea". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 "Royal Caribbean International Debuts New Era of Dining at Sea on Quantum-Class". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  34. ↑ "Dynamic Dining Hits the High Seas". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  35. ↑ "The Quanum Class Culinary Q & A's" (PDF). Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  36. ↑ "American Icon Grill". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  37. ↑ "Chic". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  38. ↑ "Coastal Kitchen". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  39. ↑ "The Grande Restaurant". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  40. ↑ "Silk". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  41. ↑ "The Café @ Two70°". Royal Caribbean International.
  42. ↑ "Café Promenade". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  43. ↑ "SeaPlex Dog House". Royal Caribbean International.
  44. ↑ "Devinly Decadence at Solarium Bistro". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  45. ↑ "Royal Caribbean Drops Cover Charge for New Celebrity Chef Restaurant – Royal Caribbean International". Cruise Critic. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  46. ↑ "Sorrentos". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  47. ↑ "Windjammer Marketplace". Royal Caribbean International.
  48. ↑ "Jamie's Italian". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  49. ↑ "Michael's Genuine Pub". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  50. ↑ "Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  51. ↑ "Chef's Table". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  52. ↑ "Chops Grille". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  53. ↑ "Izumi Japanese Cuisine". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  54. ↑ "Kung Fu Panda Noodle Shop". World of Cruising Magazine. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  55. ↑ Gene Sloan, USA Today (5 November 2014). "Love craft beers? This new cruise ship is for you". USA Today.
  56. ↑ "Bionic Bartenders With a Human Touch". Royal Caribbean Connect. 23 October 2014.

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