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Royal Caribbean reveals new Quantum Class of ships expected to sail in 2014

Cruise News Weekly / Flickr

The Royal Caribbean logo on an Oasis of the Seas cruise ship. Cruise News Weekly / Flickr

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Cruise bookings may have continued to stay lower than the industry hoped, but overall numbers should be on their way to recovery before Quantum ships splash into the market in 2014.

-Samantha Shankman

by Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel
Feb 06, 2013 12:29 am

Max Planck, Niels Bohr and Erwin Schridinger walk into a bar…on a cruise ship…built by Royal Caribbean. And its name is obviously what?

Quantum of the Seas.

OK, so for those not familiar with the fathers of quantum physics, how about this:

James Bond might find some solace on the high seas come fall 2014 as Royal Caribbean will put the new Quantum of the Seas into service.

The name of the new ship plus a sister ship due in spring 2015 were revealed at a steel-cutting ceremony for the Quantum on Jan. 31 at the Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg, Germany.

The sister ship will be named the Anthem of the Seas. Up until now, the two ships have been part of Project Sunshine, but will now be known as the Quantum Class of ships for Royal Caribbean International. The 158,000-ton ships will have a 4,100-passenger capacity, which is smaller than the 5,400-passenger Oasis-class ships that debuted in 2009 and 2010.

I personally hope that they have Scott Bakula on hand as the ship’s godfather. Can they do that?

All humor aside, they Royal Caribbean brass are pretty proud of their ship’s new name.

Adam Goldstein, CEO and president of Royal Caribbean International said, “The Quantum Class as it will now be known is saying that the innovative spirit of Royal Caribbean is alive and well, that we have once again pushed the envelope substantially in terms of what a cruise ship can offer.”

And “Quantum is a pretty powerful word in our judgment. It clearly conveys a leap forward.”

As far as what will actually be offered on the ship, those details are sketchy other than expecting some of the Royal Advantage enhancements that have been rolled out across the fleet recently.

Previously, Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD, has said, “There will be amenities for everyone: from large, spectacular areas to smaller places offering peace and relaxation; from thrilling activities to more personal experience areas; from a wide range of restaurant options to various facilities for families.”

Meyer Werft is promising delivery of the ship in October 2014.

Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner for Meyer Werft was on hand for the ceremony in which a silhouette of the new ship was cut into the first steel plate of what will be the second-largest class of ships at sea.

“It’s the start of the production. That means now it’s getting serious. Now we are not discussing any more drawings, designs, ideas. We are starting with effects.

“We are very happy to build these innovative ships for Royal Caribbean International, and to continue our long-standing relationship,” said Meyer. “We guarantee to deliver a cruise ship featuring an exceptional interior design, which meets the highest technical standards, is extremely energy efficient, and complies with the latest environmental technologies.”

(c)2013 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.). Distributed by MCT Information Services.

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