A look at the brand-new Quantum of the Seas cruise ship from Royal Caribbean International

1. NOW OPEN
NEW CRUISE SHIP Sail the high-tech seas on Royal Caribbean International’s
new Quantum of the Seas, which is seriously raising the bar for cruise
ships—and meetings. Dubbed the world’s first “smartship,” it has futuristic
elements like robotic bartenders, RFID wristbands and virtual balconies.
In December, the 2,090-stateroom vessel set out from Cape Liberty,
New Jersey, operating on a seasonal schedule, and is slated to dock in its
year-round homeport of Shanghai in spring 2016.
The Quantum has been enhanced in almost every respect, from aesthetics
to onboard entertainment (it has bumper cars and the first-ever skydiving
simulator at sea), but unprecedented bandwidth is its most impressive
attribute. Meeting attendees will have no problem staying connected to
those back on land, thanks to satellites by Internet provider O3b Networks.
Another perk? RFID technology speeds up the boarding process and tracks
luggage from drop-off at the port to arrival in the stateroom. That, and an
intuitive custom app allows crew members to keep track of guests’ tastes
and preferences—everything from food intolerances to favorite spa services.
Wristbands are used to make onboard purchases and enter staterooms, and
the technologically advanced Two70 room makes for a shipshape meeting
space with 270-degree views of the sea.
Quantum of the Seas
> 2,090 staterooms > 300-ft. observation pod
> Theater and music hall onboard > royalcaribbean.com
MICHELVERDURE;SBW
62 CONNECT JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015