8 Cultural Reasons To Cruise With Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Of The Seas

Lucy Freeland

Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, Quantum of the Seas, the latest and most magnificent addition to the Royal Caribbean fleet, is a smart ship in every sense of the word. Offering unrivalled technological features, including a bionic bar and virtual stateroom balconies, Quantum is cruising like you’ve never experienced it before. Whether enjoying dinner in one of the 18 restaurants or sampling on-board skydiving, we explore eight cultural reasons to take the journey of a lifetime.

Quantum of the Seas
‘Waves of Light’ by Soo Sunny Park

Stunning Contemporary Art | From Butterflies to Bears

The contemporary art collection on board Quantum of the Seas is both impressive and innovative, incorporating painting and sculpture with new media and light installations. The collection is comprise of almost 3,000 pieces, most of them are openly displayed while some are charmingly concealed in the manner of an artistic treasure hunt. Based around the question of ‘What Makes Life Worth Living?,’ the artistry is uplifting, aspirational and expertly curated. The first example that greets the cruiser is Lawrence Argent’s ‘From Afar’, the 30 foot tall, pink stainless steel polar bear leaning on the ship, geometrically angled to give the structure its own sense of animation. Another stunning piece is the beautiful ‘Waves of Light’ by Soo Sunny Park, a perfect addition to deck five, complementing the preceding wall of colored steel butterflies that sweep their way up the lift shaft.

Seaplex is a large, central sports and recreation venue that boasts the title of the largest indoor active space at sea. The space is surrounded by four intimate booths, each with a panoramic view and dedicated to a different activity – whether you’re in the mood for ping pong, foosball or relaxing in an Xbox chill-out zone, there is something for everyone. By night, the central space plays host to a fleet of neon cordless bumper cars, threading flashing paths up and down the court. If bumper cars are not for you, take the opportunity to show off your skills in the roller disco. The electronic DJ arm swings across the space overhead, providing tunes mixed by award-winning DJ’s. By day, watch Seaplex transform at the touch of a button into a state-of-the-art basketball court, with the chance to play full or half court depending on the size of your party.

Bumper Cars on Seaplex

Two70 | Next-Level Entertainment

Two70 creates unprecedented fusion between entertainment and technology. By day, the space acts as the communal living room of the ship, complete with bespoke chairs and beautiful artwork, with the 270 degree wall of windows displaying the perfect ocean view. By night, the view is transformed by Vistarama – the high-definition video projection program– into something truly extraordinary, displaying any scene, real or imaginary. Vistarama is a magnificent collection of 18 projectors spanning the width of 100 feet and rising 20 feet tall, surrounding guests with stunning visuals. This is combined with Roboshow® — six incredibly nimble robotic screens – and a fleet of talented performers to create a truly special evening.

Two70
The view from North Star, 303ft above Sea Level

North Star | Cruising in the Clouds

Ascend 303 feet above sea level in the jewel-like North Star pod, offering breathtaking views across the length of the ship and out to sea. With its 360 degree panoramas, North Star offers the chance to view the iconic skyline of New York, the sights of Europe and the blue waters of the Caribbean from an entirely unique perspective.

For days spent traveling at sea, enjoy the stunning sunsets and sunrises whilst gazing out towards the unbroken horizon.

Indulge in an exclusive package that ensures you get the most from the North Star experience, enjoying champagne toasts on board and exclusive flights that promise marked beauty and multiple ‘wow’ moments.

Bionic Bar | New-Age Nightlife

A world first, the Bionic Bar on board Quantum of the Seas is, as the name suggests, operated entirely by robots. The robotic arms powered by Makr Shakr work in perfect synchronization and with laser precision, promising perfectly mixed cocktails in a space-age environment. With your order appearing on the large mirrored screens either side of the bar, together with the dazzling light show behind the industrious robots, you would be forgiven for thinking that you’ve been transported into the future.

The Solarium

Superlative Leisure | RipCord by iFly® and Flowrider

Enjoy the adrenaline rush of skydiving without ever having to leave the comfort of the ship with RipCord by Ifly®, the first on-board skydiving simulator. For thrill seekers of all ages, the iFly provides a safe environment in which to test-drive your adventurous side. For those looking for something a little less extreme, opt for the surfing simulator, Flowrider®. Ride the waves and hone your technique as you experience exactly how it feels to catch the perfect break. These two innovative pieces of technology are encased by a running path that is 133 meters longer than an Olympic athletics track. Also up on the top deck are two swimming pools, a spa and a comprehensive gym.

Head to the adult-only solarium – complete with palm trees and beautiful views out to sea – and enjoy sipping on daiquiris whilst soaking away your troubles in one of the ten 24hour hot tubs.

Ripcord by iFly and Flowrider

18 Restaurants | Dynamic Dining

Moving away from the idea of cruise dining as dictated by set dinner times and a formal dress code, Quantum aims to bring individuality and flexibility back to mealtimes at sea. With 18 different restaurants, ranging from Gastropubs and hot dog carts to elaborate French fare, cruisers are at liberty to fine-tune everything from the type of cuisine they enjoy to the level of formality. Enjoy a delicious craft beer and melt-in-the-mouth pork sliders at Michael Schwartz’s Genuine Pub, try an antipasti plank loaded with the highest-quality cured meats and pickles at Jamie Oliver’s Italian or enjoy a sumptuous steak smothered in garlic butter at Chops Grille. For a taste of the high life, don your smartest attire for a night at The Grande, a flavor of luxury from a bygone era. Under the magnificent chandeliers, enjoy traditional lobster bisque with a swirl of tarragon cream, followed by Grecian grilled salmon with toasted orzo and finish with the molten chocolate lava cake.

Owner’s Suite with Balcony

Stunning Staterooms | Architecture at Sea

Every stateroom on-board Quantum of the Seas brings a new level of convenience and sophistication. With emphasis on family interaction whilst ensuring privacy, the Quantum staterooms function as ideal spaces for relaxation whilst also being beautiful examples of architectural prowess and interior design. The layouts are customisable – with desks and surfaces that can be moved and rearranged to suit your particular needs – and there are sockets and USB ports in plentiful supply, allowing you to stay connected whilst at sea.
The Suites

If looking to find the perfect spot for a particularly special occasion, plump for the two-story Royal Loft Suite. As the most premium accommodation on-board, the magnificent Royal Loft comprises of a cinema room; a tiled full bathroom with bathtub; a lounge space with corner sofa; a dedicated concierge and two private hot tubs – one secluded on the intimate balcony behind the bedroom and one situated on the large front balcony space. The Royal king-size bed sits on the mezzanine level, allowing guests to wake up to the view out of the floor to ceiling windows. There are a range of suites available, all offering dual aspect windows with unparalleled views and copious space to sit and relax amidst the architecturally designed interiors and muted color schemes.

Suite Stateroom

Family Connected Stateroom

Enjoy the benefits of holidaying with your whole family in the Family Connected Staterooms. Simultaneously offering the chance for community and ample opportunity for privacy, the connected staterooms are ideally designed to give each member of the family adequate space – including easy access to personal bathrooms – whilst nurturing the integrity of the family unit.
Balcony Staterooms

The balcony staterooms offer beautiful views from the intimate private balconies. With two twin beds that convert to a Royal King – as well as boasting the signature smart design and innovative storage space – the balcony staterooms are a perfect place to retreat from the bustle of the ship or the hubbub of your destination and simply relax into the holiday vibe.
Interior stateroom with virtual balconies

The interior staterooms with virtual balconies demonstrate the level of consideration and attention to detail that can be expected by every guest traveling with Royal Caribbean. Enjoy a live, real-time image of what the exact view from your stateroom would be, streamed onto an incredibly high-resolution, HD floor to ceiling video screen that really and truly brings the journey to life. Sunrises and sunsets can now be enjoyed without having to go up on deck, which coupled with authentic aural accompaniment, make for a stunning and technologically groundbreaking experience.

Quantum of the Seas sails on a two-night ‘sampler’ cruise from New York on 21st November 2014 and will relocate permanently to Asia in 2015.

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