Royal Caribbean International took delivery of the newest and most anticipated addition to the cruise line’s fleet, Quantum of the Seas, from Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard on Tuesday.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain and Meyer Werft’s Managing Partner Bernard Meyer attended the official signing ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany.
Quantum of the Seas will now sail from New York harbor to the Bahamas and the Caribbean for her inaugural season before departing for her new homeport of Shanghai (Baoshan), China, in May 2015. Sister-ship, Anthem of the Seas, will debut in Southampton in April 2015 and sail Mediterranean itineraries.
Quantum-class ships are advertised as the world’s most technologically advanced, “smartest” ships in the world offering unprecedented internet connectivity at sea, easy-to-use systems that expand guest services and scheduling, and RFID technology that promises a 10 minute “sidewalk-to-ship” boarding process and allows guest to track their luggage every step of the way.
New guest features include the “RipCord by iFLY”, the first skydiving experience at sea; the “North Star”, a gondola that takes guests out hundreds of feet from the deck and water below; “SeaPlex”, the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea; as well as the “Bionic Bar” powered by Makr Shakr featuring the world’s first robotic bartenders. The ships also feature the cruise line’s largest and most advanced staterooms ever, including industry first “Virtual Balconies”, an 80-inch LED displaying real-time views of the ocean for every interior stateroom.
Quantum-class is also known for its energy efficiency, with optimized hydrodynamics, heat recovery, an effective hull coating, a state-of-the-art exhaust gas treatment plant (aka hybrid scrubber), as well as LED lighting systems. The ships are also built with the latest technology in alarm systems, safety and communication systems, and propulsion and navigation.
The 167,800 Quantum of the Seas spans 16 guest decks (18 total) and can carry 4,180 guests at double occupancy in 2,090 staterooms, with approximately 1,550 crew.
Quantum of the Seas was built at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg and is the largest ship ever constructed in Germany. Her delivery comes just under 20 months after the first steel was cut.
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