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Quantum-class cruise ship

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The Quantum class is a class of cruise ships from Royal Caribbean International, previously known by the code name Project Sunshine.[9]

Quantum of the Seas, the lead vessel of the Quantum class
Class overview
BuildersMeyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany[1]
OperatorsRoyal Caribbean International
Preceded byOasis class
Succeeded byIcon class
SubclassesQuantum-Ultra Class
In service2014-present
Planned5
Completed5
Active5
General characteristics
TypeCruise ship
Tonnage168,666 GT[2][3][4]
Length348 m (1,141 ft 9 in)[2][3][4]
Beam
  • 48.9–49.47 m (160 ft 5 in – 162 ft 4 in) (max)[2][3][4]
  • 41.2–41.4 m (135 ft 2 in – 135 ft 10 in) (waterline)[2][3][4]
Draught8.5–8.8 m (27 ft 11 in – 28 ft 10 in)[2][3][4]
Decks18[5] (16 passenger-accessible)[6]
Installed power
  • 2 × Wärtsilä 12V46F (2 × 14,400 kW)[2]
  • 2 × Wärtsilä 16V46F (2 × 19,200 kW)[2]
  • 2 × Cat 3516C HD (2 × 2,500 kW)[2]
Propulsion
Speed22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)[8]
Capacity
  • 4,180 passengers (double occupancy)[6]
  • 4,905 passengers (maximum occupancy)[6]

History

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Quantum class

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On 11 February 2011, Royal Caribbean announced that they had ordered the first of a new class of ships from Meyer Werft, scheduled to be delivered by Fall 2014. At the time, the project was code-named "Project Sunshine".[10][11] Later that year, two 20.5-megawatt ABB Azipod XO propulsion units were ordered for that ship.[7] On 29 February 2012, the company announced that a second "Project Sunshine" ship had been ordered and would be delivered by Spring 2015,[12] and ordered identical Azipod propulsion units shortly thereafter.[7] Just under a year later, on 31 January 2013, steel cutting was performed for the first ship. The same day, Royal Caribbean 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][13]

Quantum of the Seas was delivered on 28 October 2014.[14] Quantum of the Seas spent its inaugural 2014–2015 season sailing from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey.[15] Beginning late June 2015, the ship began sailing three- to eight-night itineraries year-round from Shanghai to Japan and South Korea.

Anthem of the Seas was delivered to Royal Caribbean on 10 April 2015.[16] The ship spent its inaugural 2015 season sailing from Southampton, Hampshire, UK.[17]

On 30 May 2013, Royal Caribbean announced that they had signed a contract with Meyer Werft for a third Quantum-class ship for delivery in mid-2016.[18] On 18 September 2014, the name of the third Quantum-class ship was announced to be Ovation of the Seas.[19] Ovation of the Seas was delivered to Royal Caribbean on 8 April 2016.[20] The ship was originally planned to homeport in Tianjin to sail in Asia,[20] but moved to Sydney in June 2016 to begin cruising in Oceania seasonally.[21][22] She debuted in Alaska in the summer of 2019.[23]

Quantum Ultra class

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On 7 May 2015, Royal Caribbean entered into an agreement with Meyer Werft for a fourth Quantum-class ship for delivery in 2019, subject to financing and other conditions.[24] Royal Caribbean announced on 26 April 2017, that the fourth Quantum-class ship would not only be designed and based in the Asia-Pacific region; but will also be based on a new Quantum Ultra-class design.[25] In June 2018, it was revealed that the fourth ship would be Spectrum of the Seas. It can accommodate 4,246 guests at double occupancy and 1,551 international crew members.[26]

On 3 November 2015, Royal Caribbean entered into an agreement with Meyer Werft for a fifth Quantum-class ship,[27] also a Quantum Ultra-class ship and the sister ship to the first Quantum Ultra-class ship.[28] Scheduled to be delivered in April 2021,[29][30] it was given the name, Odyssey of the Seas, on 1 February 2019.[31] She is the first Quantum-class ship to be homeported in South Florida, at Port Everglades.[32]

Design

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The Quantum class represented a different direction for Royal Caribbean. The Voyager and Freedom-class designs evolved into the Oasis class, which was considered the pinnacle in terms of scale and facilities. By contrast, the Quantum-class lineage is closer to that of the Radiance class, which was designed for cruising in cooler climates. The Quantum class is smaller than the preceding Oasis class, just as the Radiance class is smaller than the preceding Voyager class. Nonetheless, despite not being Royal Caribbean's largest class of ship, the Quantum class has pioneered several new innovations to the cruise line.

Staterooms

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Quantum-class ships have 16 passenger-accessible decks, 8 of which feature balcony staterooms overlooking the ocean. All balcony staterooms above the lifeboats 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. All 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.[6]

Features

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Ovation of the Seas with "North Star" observation tower raised, Fremantle Harbour, 2016

A new feature on the Quantum class is "RipCord by iFLY", a skydiving simulator set in a recirculating indoor recreational vertical wind tunnel. Another innovation on the Quantum class is the "North Star" observation tower, located at the forward end of the top deck. It 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 91 metres (300 ft) above sea level.[33]

Royal Caribbean introduced the first escape room experience on a cruise ship on the Anthem of the Seas in partnership with Puzzle Break, billed the "Escape from the Future."[34] Spectrum of the Seas was the first Quantum-class ship to install Sky Pad, a virtual reality experience with a trampoline and bungee ropes for guests to undergo different simulations and play interactive games.[35]

Like the earlier Freedom and Oasis-class ships, the "Sports Court" on the aft of deck 15 features a complimentary Wave Loch Flowrider surf simulator and a rock-climbing wall.[36] Other complimentary outdoor features are located on deck 14, including an outdoor pool with a large video screen, an indoor pool with a retractable roof, an indoor "Solarium" with an adults-only pool, and the "H2O Zone" kids' water park, featuring the first wave pool on a cruise ship,[37] and at least four whirlpools.[5] Throughout the ship, staples included on recent Royal Caribbean ships that are also in Quantum-class 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 classes, Quantum-class ships do 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".[38][39]

Engineering

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Quantum-class ships are powered by two Azipod XO thrusters that have a capacity of 20.5 MW (27,500 hp) and four bow thrusters with a power output of 3,500 kW (4,700 hp) each.[40] The diesel-electric propulsion system powers the ships for a cruising speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph).[40] Wärtsilä provides the two scrubbers on each ship that enable a reduced sulfur emission output and a cleaner exhaust.[40] Quantum-class ships use an air lubrication system (ALS) to reduce the friction in the water in order to improve the performance of the vessel during cruising.[41]

Ships

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Name Status Entered service with Royal Caribbean Gross tonnage Notes Image
Quantum class
Quantum of the Seas In Service 31 October 2014 168,666[6] As of 2022, serves Australia and Alaska seasonally
 
Anthem of the Seas In Service 20 April 2015 168,666[6] As of 2020, serves US/Caribbean and UK/Europe seasonally
 
Ovation of the Seas In Service 8 April 2016 168,666[6] As of 2019, serves Australia and Alaska seasonally
 
Quantum Ultra class
Spectrum of the Seas In Service 11 April 2019 169,379[42] Largest ship in Quantum-class, sail in Asian route

As of 2022, serves Singapore and Tokyo seasonally

 
Odyssey of the Seas In Service April 2021 [30]
originally planned for 2020[43] 		167,704[44] Keel laid on 3 May 2019.[45]
First section launched on 15 November 2019[46]
The ship was damaged by a fire in May 2020,[47] and by a second fire on 24 June 2020[48]
The ship was to homeport in Fort Lauderdale in November 2020,[49] but debuted in April 2021 in the Mediterranean after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Named at Port Everglades on 13 November 2021[50]
 

References

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  1. ^ a b "Start of Steel-Cutting for First Project Sunshine Ship". Meyer Wert. February 5, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Quantum of the Seas (32027)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Anthem of the Seas (32028)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Ovation of the Seas (34050)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Royal Caribbean International Reveals Groundbreaking Quantum-class Ships". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Quantum of the Seas Fact Sheet". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Azipods ordered for two RCL cruise ships". The Motorship. April 17, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  8. ^ Innovation & Technology: Shipbuilding in Papenburg (PDF). Papenburg, Germany: Meyer Werft. 2013. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  9. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (February 5, 2013). "Project Sunshine Ships Named Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  10. ^ "Royal Caribbean Signs Letter of Intent to Build New Generation... – Miami and Papenburg, Germany, Feb. 11, 2011". Florida, Germany: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  11. ^ "Royal Caribbean Signs Letter of Intent to Build New Generation of Ships". Investor Relations. February 11, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Exercises Option to Build Second "Project Sunshine" Ship". Investor Relations. February 29, 2012. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  13. ^ Tribou, Richard (February 5, 2013). "Royal Caribbean announces names for new cruise ships". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  14. ^ Leppert, Jason (October 30, 2014). "Royal Caribbean International Takes Delivery of New Quantum of the Seas". Popular Cruising.
  15. ^ Satchell, Arlene (April 16, 2014). "Royal Caribbean to base Quantum of the Seas in China in May 2015; Anthem now heading to N.J." Sun-Sentinel.com.
  16. ^ Satchell, Arlene (April 10, 2015). "Royal Caribbean takes delivery of Anthem of the Seas". sun-sentinel.com.
  17. ^ "Anthem of the Seas Delivered". The Maritime Executive. April 11, 2015.
  18. ^ Bailey, Ian (May 30, 2013). "Royal Caribbean Signs Contract For Third Quantum-Class Cruise Ship". Meyer Werft. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  19. ^ "Ovation of the Seas to be Third Quantum-Class Ship". Cruise Industry News. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Ovation of the Seas Delivered". The Maritime Executive. April 8, 2016.
  21. ^ "Ovation of the Seas arrives in Australia". NewsComAu. December 4, 2016.
  22. ^ Gibson, Rebecca (April 15, 2015). "Ovation of the Seas to homeport in Australia in winter 2016-2017". CruiseandFerry.net.
  23. ^ Sloan, Gene (November 7, 2017). "Giant Royal Caribbean ship, Ovation of the Seas, to move to Alaska". USA TODAY.
  24. ^ Reiser, Emon (May 7, 2015). "Royal Caribbean orders fourth Quantum-class cruise ship". South Florida Business Journal. bizjournals.com. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  25. ^ Staff, CIN (April 27, 2017). "Royal Caribbean to Base New Quantum Ultra-class Ship in Asia-Pacific". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  26. ^ "The All-New Spectrum of the Seas". Spectrum. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  27. ^ Staff, CIN (November 3, 2015). "Royal Caribbean Orders Fifth Quantum-Class Vessel". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  28. ^ Satchell, Arlene (November 3, 2015). "Royal Caribbean orders fifth Quantum-class cruise ship". sun-sentinel.com.
  29. ^ "Royal Caribbean Orders 5th Quantum-Class Ship | World Maritime News". worldmaritimenews.com.
  30. ^ a b Manfredi, Lucas (June 30, 2020). "Coronavirus causes Royal Caribbean to push back new ship Odyssey of the Seas until April 2021". FOXBusiness. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  31. ^ Satchell, Arlene (February 1, 2019). "New Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship to Be Named Odyssey of the Seas, Sail From the U.S." www.cruisecritic.com.
  32. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (September 13, 2019). "Odyssey of the Seas to Sail from Port Everglades Before Summer 2021 in Europe". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
  33. ^ "MacGregor Supplies Cruise Ship with Observation Gondola". The Maritime Executive. March 16, 2015.
  34. ^ Leppert, Jason (May 24, 2017). "Will the Escape Room Trend Continue at Sea?". TravelPulse.
  35. ^ McCarthy, Daniel (June 13, 2018). "First Look: Royal Caribbean's New Spectrum of the Seas". www.travelmarketreport.com.
  36. ^ "Largest Sports And Entertainment Complex At Sea Introduced On Quantum Class". Royal Caribbean Press Center. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  37. ^ "WOW Experiences Never Before Seen at Sea – Quantum of the Seas". royalcaribbean.com. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  38. ^ Dunham-Potter, Anita. "Quantum Of The Seas' New Thrills At Sea". HuffPost Travel. The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  39. ^ "Royal Esplanade". royalcaribbean.com. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  40. ^ a b c "Quantum of the Seas Cruise Ship". Ship Technology.
  41. ^ Kalosh, Anne (August 28, 2014). "Micro-bubble system helps Quantum to whopping 20% efficiency gain on Oasis". Seatrade Cruise News.
  42. ^ Dori Saltzman (November 8, 2017). "Keel Laid for Royal Caribbean's First Quantum Ultra Class Cruise Ship". CruiseCritic. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  43. ^ Mathisen, Monty (August 10, 2020). "Royal Caribbean Newbuilds Will Be Delayed". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
  44. ^ "DNV Vessel Register". vesselregister.dnvgl.com.
  45. ^ "Keel laying ceremony for Odyssey of the Seas". May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  46. ^ "Zeitraffer Ausdocken Mega-Block für ODYSSEY OF THE SEAS Meyerwerft Papenburg" – via www.youtube.com.
  47. ^ "Kabinenbrand auf Meyer-Neubau" (in German). May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  48. ^ "Papenburg: Feuer auf der Meyer Werft gelöscht". www.ndr.de.
  49. ^ "Odyssey of the Seas will homeport from Fort Lauderdale beginning November 2020". September 12, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  50. ^ "Odyssey of the Seas, symbol of perseverance, named at Port Everglades". November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
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