Royal Caribbean gave 15 top trade partners a sneak preview of its new ship Quantum of the Seas at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. LUCY HUXLEY donned her hard hat to join them
Royal Caribbean International claims Quantum of the Seas will “change everything” we have previously thought about cruising when it unveils its new-build ship next month. Following launch celebrations in Southampton on October 31, the ship will cross the Atlantic to operate Caribbean sailings from New York, before heading to Shanghai next June to serve the line’s growing Asian market. Meanwhile, an identical ship,
Anthem of the Seas, will be floated down the river from the German shipyard and across the Channel to Southampton where it will be based from April to serve the UK market. Last week’s trade preview was the first time Royal Caribbean had showcased new ships ahead of their completion. But it believes it was crucial to get agents on board as soon as possible so they could fully appreciate just how game- changing the new vessels are. Dominic Paul, vice-president of
international markets, said: “I’m passionate about supporting the trade because they are critical in explaining to customers just how different this product is. These ships are so special but the only way to convince agents is to get them on
board to see for themselves.” Between the preview shipyard trips and the launch activities, Paul says thousands of UK agents will get a chance to experience Quantum and Anthem.
On-board features Exterior
The hulls of the ships are painted a light blue, but it is a stronger colour than the pale blue hulls of Oasis and Allure because bosses felt it wouldn’t show up in the bright sunlight of the Caribbean. Quantum has an enormous red bear ‘hanging on to’ the top deck, which Royal believes will become an iconic feature of the ship. Anthem will have a different animal, yet to be revealed.
Activities Ripcord by iFly: The skydiving glass chamber sits on the top deck at the back of the ship and features ‘efficient’ technology, so there is no big noisy fan and the speeded-up air keeps getting recycled rather than having to
12 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 4 September 2014 “Royal
felt it was crucial to get agents on
board so they could fully appreciate how game-changing the ship is”
be speeded up from nothing each time. Guests can book one complimentary two-minute flight before they travel, and more free ones once on board if slots are available. Guests can also book and pay for a private session with a dedicated instructor. North Star: Described as one of the most-anticipated features, the North Star is a small pod or gondola that can carry up to 15 people on a complimentary 15-minute ‘flight’ 300ft above the ocean, rotating over the sides of the ship. Longer flights
are available for a fee. North Star can
operate day and night, in port or at sea, except in some conditions, but Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean Cruises’ chairman and chief executive, said these would amount to no more than 10%-20% of the time. Guests can get married in the pod, but a pilot will always be present so they won’t get total privacy. Activities in the pod can be filmed, enabling passengers to capture a marriage proposal, for example. SeaPlex: This is a covered games
Clockwise from above: Quantum of the Seas; Lucy Huxley and Royal Caribbean chairman Richard Fain; the Ripcord by iFly skydiving chamber; Fain drives a dodgem; a virtual-balcony cabin; and the two70 entertainment space
room on the top deck offering a multitude of activities, including dodgems (18 cars), roller disco, circus school skills, basketball, Xbox, table tennis, air hockey and a ‘DogHouse’ hotdog cart – all complimentary, although there is an option to pay for a circus skills lesson. The space can change to meet demand and is described as “chameleon cool”.
Entertainment Queen’s We Will Rock You musical from the West End will be the main show on Anthem in the 1,300-seat Royal Theatre, while Quantum will have the show Mamma Mia! For Anthem, Royal has also booked Rolling Stones and Beatles tribute acts for the shoulder seasons, when it expects slightly older guests on board, and Police and Led Zeppelin tribute acts for the peak season. Two70 – the “living room with surprises” venue at the back of the ship featuring glass windows two- and-a-half decks high – has been dubbed “the coolest room on the seas”. The glass can be covered by screens for film projections. The ceiling is also equipped with hidden-away aerial acrobatics equipment, and Two70 will be the venue for ‘virtual concerts’ where gigs are replayed to the guests.
SPECIAL REPORT
Agents impressed by Quantum leap
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