Royal Caribbean reveals Ovation of the Seas’ panda sculpture

Royal Caribbean has released details of the art collection on board its newest ship, Ovation of the Seas, with “Mama and Baby” – a 33-feet high commission that depicts a mother panda and her cub reaching out to one another.

The pandas are also a nod to the cruise line’s newly announced partnership with World Wildlife Fund, which focuses on ensuring the long-term health of the oceans.

The ship’s crew will have the honour of naming the pandas when the ship sets sail, a custom for Royal Caribbean crew members as done for its sister ships’ installations – Quantum of the Seas’ Felicia the Bear and Anthem of the Seas’ Gigi the Giraffe.

Guests on board Ovation of the Seas can enjoy an 11,000-piece, $4.5m (£3.1m) art collection that was assembled to represent the ship’s destinations and its guests.

Other pieces include: “Sky Wave”, the first ever kinetic moving sculpture at sea, commissioned specifically for Ovation of the Seas; elevator art “The World of the Senses,” a collection of 10 pieces sure to surprise guests each time they ride from deck to deck; and an adaptation of Chinese artist Bieli Liu’s “Lure” series of installations, an energetic piece that responds to subtle air currents and movement.

Ovation of the Seas will sail three European itineraries before embarking on her 52-day Global Odyssey on 3 May.

Ovation of the Seas joins Royal Caribbean's fleet following delivery ceremony

Ovation of the Seas joins Royal Caribbean's fleet following delivery ceremony

Richard Fain and Bernard Meyer

There is a new Royal Caribbean ship officially in the fleet, as of today.

Royal Caribbean took delivery of its 24th cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas, in a ceremony held today in Bremerhaven, Germany.  Ovation of the Seas is the third Quantum-class ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain took delivery of Ovation of the Seas from Meyer Werft Yard’s Managing Partner Bernard Meyer at the official handover ceremony.

“Ovation of the Seas is magnificent,” said Richard. “Our thanks to the Meyer Werft team for their ongoing partnership in designing and building awe-inspiring ships with us.”

“It’s wonderful to welcome Ovation of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family of ships,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “We have once again introduced yet another one of the most technologically advanced cruise ships and the very first that has been built for the China market – a market we continue to demonstrate our commitment to expanding. Quantum Class has redefined the status quo, and we are excited for our guests in China and Australia to enjoy their extraordinary vacations onboard this stunner.”

Ovation of the Seas will now sail to Southampton, U.K., where the ship will offer a series of short getaways before she sets sail on her 52-night “Global Odyssey” culminating in the arrival to her homeport in Tianjin, China.

She will begin her first homeport sailing season in China from Tianjin in June 2016. Ovation, together with Quantum of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, will make up the largest fleet of any cruise line sailing in China.

VIDEO: Ovation of the Seas Unveiled

Click the photo above to start Video

The third Quantum class cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas, was floated out of the Meyer Werft’s covered building dock yesterday.

Built for the US cruise operator Royal Caribbean Cruises, the 168,666-gross ton vessel was constructed in 18 months, and is expected to join the owner’s fleet in spring this year.

After it completed initial trials, Ovation of the Seas will now undergo a number of tests in the harbor.

Meyer Werft said that, following this testing period, the 4,200-passenger ship will berth alongside the yard’s outfitting pier.

With the delivery of the new vessel, Royal Caribbean Cruises will own three Quantum-class ships, while two more are under construction at Meyer Werft.

Click the photo above to start Video

Royal Caribbean and STB in Marketing Deal to Promote Singapore

Royal Caribbean and STB in Marketing Deal to Promote Singapore

Royal Caribbean International has signed a first-ever multi-million  dollar  marketing  collaboration  with the  Singapore  Tourism  Board  (STB)  and Changi Airport Group (CAG) to promote cruising out of Singapore and, in turn, attract the cruise line's largest number of overseas fly-cruise guests here.

The tripartite collaboration – which runs between 2015 and 2018 – is estimated to pull in over
170,000 overseas visitors to Singapore to sail on Royal Caribbean’s cruises over that period, resulting in a projected growth of over 50 percent.

This will be done via a series of marketing campaigns, research studies and channel development activities, such as partnerships with the media and trade, in markets not only within Asia such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, but also beyond the region in Australia, Europe and North America.

Royal Caribbean also plans to increase its number of sailings from Singapore during this period to over 40 a year. Currently, the cruise line’s 3,840-guest Mariner of the Seas makes around 30 voyages annually. Her next Singapore season which will be the largest ever starting from this

October will feature more long cruises of seven to 15 nights, aimed at attracting more overseas fly-cruise guests.

Sean Treacy, Managing Director, Singapore and Southeast Asia of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said: “Having deployed ships here regularly for the last seven years, Royal Caribbean now looks
forward to its next phase of significant growth in Singapore. Our three-year deployment plan is our strongest commitment ever to this market and we see great potential in Singapore as a
source market and regional cruise hub. We highly appreciate this collaboration which will be a tremendous support for our business goals in Singapore and Southeast Asia, as well as the strong efforts of the Singapore Government for being so proactive in driving the cruise business in the country.”

Said  Neeta  Lachmandas,  Assistant  Chief  Executive  (Business  Development  Group),
Singapore Tourism Board: “The tripartite collaboration is a significant development not just for Singapore but also for Southeast Asia. We hope Royal Caribbean’s commitment will inspire new cruise itineraries around the region to offer more reasons for travellers to take to cruising, and also motivate our neighbouring ports and destinations to invest and realise fully the tremendous potential of the Asian cruise industry.”

Providing a link between Royal Caribbean International, Singapore and its regional neighbours is Changi Airport’s strong connectivity to 320 cities worldwide, along with some 6,700 weekly flights, giving Singapore a strategic advantage to effectively tap fly-cruise traffic from across the globe and serve as a cruise hub for Asia.

CAG’s Senior Vice President for Market Development, Mr Lim Ching Kiat, said: “This collaboration represents the synergistic efforts by CAG, Royal Caribbean and STB to effectively tap fly-cruise traffic from across the globe and serve as a cruise hub for Asia. Changi Airport will continue to  leverage  on  its  network and  work with airlines  and  travel  agents to  promote fly-cruise packages through Singapore.”

Royal won't retrofit ships for Dynamic Dining

Royal Caribbean International has decided not to install its Dynamic Dining concept on the Oasis, Allure and Harmony of the Seas, as it once planned to do.

The concept, which splits the main dining room into four smaller themed restaurants, will be limited to ships that have been designed from the beginning to accommodate it, Royal said in a statement.

Currently, the Quantum class ships, including the Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, are the only ones pre designed for Dynamic Dining.

Dynamic Dining originally also meant elimination of fixed dining times, but Royal later added a "classic" option with early and late seatings.

Royal had already converted the main three-deck dining area on Oasis of the Seas into single restaurant spaces on each floor.

Guests on the Oasis, Allure or Harmony who have already preselected the classic option for their upcoming cruise will be assigned to either early or late seating to match their original choice of time. Guests who have selected the "choice" option will be assigned to the My Time Dining program, Royal said.

Quads for Quantum: Royal Caribbean orders fourth ship in the class

Royal Caribbean ordered a fourth Quantum-class vessel from the Meyer Werft shipyard for delivery in 2019. 

The cruise line recently announced that a third Quantum ship, Ovation of the Seas, would debut in China in 2017.

Royal have not yet released the name of the build, but they still have two registered names, Passion of the Seas and Pulse of the Seas, which one do you think?  

The 4,180-passenger ships have a sky-diving simulator, bumper cars and a crane-powered observation gondola. 

Royal Caribbean did not disclose the cost but said that based on current ship orders, its projected capital spending for 2019 would be $1.3 billion.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said its projected capacity increase in 2019 would be 6.5% across all of its brands.

Next Quantum class ship to sail from Australia

By Phil Davies 

Royal Caribbean International is to deploy its next Quantum-class ship in Australia for the 2016-17 southern hemisphere summer season.

The $1 billion Ovation of the Seas, currently being built in Germany, will be the largest cruise ship to be based in the country.

The vessel is due to arrive in Sydney for the peak summer season from December 2016.

The announcement came as the line prepares for Monday’s naming of sister ship Anthem of the Seas in Southampton ahead of a summer season sailing from the UK.

Ovation of the Seas, the third ship in the Quantum class, will be the fifth vessel to be positioned by Royal Caribbean in Australia for summer 2016-17, joining Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas in Sydney and Legend of the Seas in Brisbane.

The disclosure coincided with rival Carnival Corporation brand Princess Cruises confirming that it is to home port five ships in Australia for the 2016-17 season.

The 3,082-passenger Emerald Princess will join Golden Princess, Sun Princess, Sea Princess and Dawn Princess with departures from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Emerald Princess run 42-day re-positioning voyage from the UK to Australia on September 28, 2016.

Royal Caribbean takes delivery of Anthem of the Seas

A signing ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany, made the Anthem delivery official.

Meyer Werft shipyard formally turned over Anthem of the Seas to Royal Caribbean International on Friday, 10 days ahead of the ship's naming ceremony in Southampton, England.

The 4,200-passenger Anthem, the second ship in Royal’s Quantum class, will sail from the U.K. on various European itineraries this summer and fall. In November, it will arrive in New York Harbor to dock at its permanent home port of Cape Liberty, N.J.

Unique features of the Quantum-class ships include the North Star aerial observatory, the SeaPlex bumper car arena and the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator.

Passed Anthem of the Seas to Royal Caribbean International: Meyer Werft

Passed Anthem of the Seas to Royal Caribbean International: Meyer Werft

by ship journal

Passed second ship of the Quantum class for Royal Caribbean

Today the Meyer Werft the 168,600 GT cruise ship Anthem of the Seas in Bremerhaven delivered five days before the original date agreed at the American Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (Miami) from.

Photo: Meyer Werft

In the Anthem of the Seas is the second ship of the so-called quantum-class. With the Anthem of the Seas have the Meyer Werft and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. rebuilt a particularly environmentally friendly cruise ship. The ships of the Quantum-class are equipped with the most advanced emission control systems called Hybrid Scrubber. 

Very energy efficient technical systems, optimized hydrodynamics, heat recovery, as well as an extremely effective underwater paint, or eg an extremely energy-efficient lighting system with LED illumination lead to considerable energy savings. 

A diesel-electric pod propulsion system, complex alarm and security systems, interactive communication systems and the latest stage technology to guarantee security and entertainment on board according to the latest technical standards.

The ships of the Quantum class perform another ground-breaking innovations one at sea. Below are the skydiving simulator "Ripcord by iFly" up to 90 meters high glass view gondola "North Star" and the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea "SeaPlex" with bumper cars and roller skating. In "Two70 °" Guests will experience the Anthem of the Seas during the day a fascinating 270 degree panoramic views and breathtaking shows at night.

The cruise ship, has a total of 18 decks and a survey of 168 600 GT. With 2,090 cabins, which are the biggest and most versatile cabins on the ships owned, it can accommodate 4,180 guests at double occupancy.

After delivery to the shipping company, the Anthem of the Seas leaving presumably on 13/14. April 2015 Bremerhaven towards Southampton. The 27-year-old Emma Wilby from the UK is the godmother of the Anthem of the Seas. 

The employee of a Scottish travel agents is the newest and most modern ship cruise brand baptized on 20 April 2015, Southampton before 1,500 invited guests. Emma Wilby was chosen from numerous applicants from across the UK. The Anthem of the Seas will be on the road in their inaugural season from / to Southampton in the western Mediterranean, before transitioning to New York on October 27, 2015.

Anthem of the Seas gets giant giraffe art piece

Anthem of the Seas, the sister ship to Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, will apparently have a giant giraffe in the spot occupied by a pink bear sculpture on Quantum.

Photos of the enormous giraffe being hoisted aboard Anthem emerged on Twitter, and Royal Caribbean retweeted the photo under the heading “It’s a bird… it’s a plane… no, it’s a Giraffe. Anthem of the Seas’ larger than life art piece."

The giraffe appears to be wearing a bright yellow swimming singlet and has a pink inner tube float around its midsection.

Other than the Quantum series, Royal Caribbean ships do not have large sculptures on the upper deck. The 30-foot-tall magenta bear, which Royal named Felicia, was fashioned by Denver-based artist Lawrence Argent out of 1,340 stainless steel triangles that weigh eight tons. 

Argent called his composition "From Afar."

British travel agent to be Anthem godmother

Emma Wilby will christen the Royal Caribbean ship and sing for an audience of about 1,300.

Royal Caribbean International picked a 27-year-old travel agent to dedicate Anthem of the Seas in Southampton, England, later this month, underscoring the cruise line's connections to the trade and to young travel agents in particular.

Emma Wilby, an agent at Thomson Holidays, is from Sunderland, near Newcastle in the North East of England. She will christen the ship and sing for an audience of about 1,300 invited to the April 20 event.

Royal Caribbean said Wilby is a military wife and budding singer who performs in the Military Wives Choir in Kinloss, Scotland, where she is based with her husband, a Royal Engineer for the British Army.

She was picked from a large group of agents who applied for the honor, Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain said.

"We thank all travel agents, who we value and are honoring by naming a fellow travel agent as the godmother of our newest ship,” Fain said.

Anthem will sail in Europe from April through the fall before moving to its permanent home port at New Jersey’s Cape Liberty.

Royal Caribbean to deploy Ovation of the Seas in China

Anthem of the seas shown above

Royal Caribbean International said it will deploy Ovation of the Seas to China in 2016. The ship is the second newbuild that will be devoted to the Chinese market.

The 4,000-passenger Ovation will be homeported in Tianjin, near Beijing, adding a fourth port in China to Royal Caribbean’s lineup.

In May, Royal Caribbean will redeploy its Quantum of the Seas to Shanghai from its current homeport in Bayonne, New Jersey. Ovation is also a Quantum-class ship, meaning two of the three Quantum ships will be sailing from China year-round.

No other cruise line has put a newbuild in China, much less two.

 “We are furthering our commitment [to China] by bringing two of the world’s newest and most advanced Quantum-class cruise ships to the region,” Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley said at a news conference in Beijing.

Ovation of the Seas, the third Quantum-class vessel, is scheduled to enter service in spring 2016. The second Quantum ship, Anthem of the Seas, will make its debut in Southampton, England, on April 22 and will sail from New Jersey after a summer season in Europe.

Bayley said that Royal Caribbean is taking other steps to strengthen its cruise operation in China. It has created a curriculum with Tianjin Maritime College to train culinary and restaurant service employees and hired more than 3,000 students since the academy opened in August 2014, Bayley said.

Also, Royal Caribbean is investigating potential Chinese drydock facilities to revitalize Legend of the Seas as early as 2018 and potential logistics centers in China to supply its ships deployed in the region.

It is also looking at an inbound-tourism business model that would bring thousands of North Americans to visit China.

The addition of Ovation will bring to five the number of Royal Caribbean ships sailing in China by 2016. In addition to Quantum and Ovation, the cruise line has positioned Mariner of the Seas in Shanghai and Voyager of the Seas in Hong Kong. Legend of the Seas will sail from Tianjin in 2016 until Ovation’s arrival, and then reposition to Xiamen.

A 52-day cruise from Southampton to Tianjin on Ovation opens for sale on March 26.

Multimillion-dollar makeover for Voyager of the Seas

After undergoing an extensive makeover, Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas has returned to Sydney.

For the first time since its $80 million (£51 million) renovation, the vessel embarked on a 14-day journey from Singapore and arrived in Australia on Monday morning.

Deemed the country’s biggest passenger ship, the Voyager weighs in at around 138,000 tonnes and is over 300 m in length, with 15 levels.

With the capacity to accommodate up to 4,000 passengers, the Voyager of the Seas more than matches the Sydney Opera House in bulk.

Captain Charles Teige, Voyager of the Seas’ Norwegian skipper, first started working in the cruise industry more than 20 years ago, where the main attractions for passengers simply involved a Broadway-style show, sunbathing on the deck and dining.

Now, Royal Caribbean has pulled out all the stops to produce a luxurious, entertainment-filled sailing experience to be enjoyed by all.

Although the Voyager travels to many exciting destinations around the world, Captain Teige explains that it is in fact the ship itself that passengers look forward to experiencing most.

He said: “Now the ship has become the destination. In Brisbane [which Voyager of the Seas visited during its journey to Sydney] we had 1,100 people who decided not to go ashore.”

One of the vessel’s attractions is the FlowRider a modern surf machine, which comes as part of Royal Caribbean’s plan to appeal to younger passengers and extended family groups. but the ship also includes a 3D cinema, rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, mini shopping centre and a full-size basketball court.

And Captain Teige ensured a piece of his heritage was incorporated into the design, with a collage of landscapes that capture Norway’s natural beauty hung just outside the bridge room.

Last month, the cruise line also launched its first Quantum class ship, Quantum of the Seas. The New York-based vessel is the third largest ship ever built and boasts a range of innovative features, such as simulated sky diving and robotic bartenders.

Oasis of the Seas vs. Quantum of the Seas: a Cruise Ship Comparison

Oasis of the Seas vs. Quantum of the Seas: a Cruise Ship Comparison

Since its debut in 2009, Oasis of the Seas has continued to turn the cruise world upside down. With first-in-cruising innovations like a zip line, a carousel, a levitating bar and real, live trees, it commands respect -- even from those who argue its massive size doesn't appeal. In addition to being the largest ship at sea, it's arguably the most well-known. So where does that leave Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Quantum of the Seas, and how can it possibly step out of the shadow of its behemoth fleetmate? Below we've compiled a list of offerings on both ships to show you exactly what you'll find onboard. Although these two vessels share some of the same venues and amenities, there's a lot that sets them apart, and each provides an experience all its own. Read on to figure out which of these ground breaking ships is the right fit for you. To the right: Quantum of the Seas (top) and Oasis of the Seas. Photo appears courtesy of RCI. Oasis of the Seas Quantum of the Seas Both Photos American Icon will be featured on both ships Size Tonnage: 225,282 Passengers: 5,400 Decks: 18 Tonnage: 167,800 Passengers: 4,180 Decks: 16 N/A Cabins If you'd rather wake up to trees than ocean views, try a balcony cabin that overlooks Oasis' Central Park or Boardwalk "neighborhood." Quantum's cabins are, on average, nine percent larger than those on Oasis. Solo cruisers don't have to worry about dreaded single supplements, either. Twenty-eight studio cabins(12 with balconies) are available for anyone cruising alone. Meanwhile, "virtual balcony"interior cabins offer real-time ocean views via floor-to-ceiling LED screens, and family connected suites combine three cabin types to accommodate larger groups. Royal Caribbean ships offer several similar stateroom categories across the fleet, but Oasis and Quantum have a couple notable stateroom standouts. Restaurants Following its recent dry dock, Oasis received Mexican restaurant Sabor, as well as the Boardwalk Dog House, which originally debuted on sister ship Allure of the Seas. Oasis also offers for-fee options at Giovanni's Table, featuring Italian fare, and upscale 150 Central Park, which boasts a rotating six-course menu. If you're looking for a quick bite, the Cafe @ Two70 offers gratis picnic-type fare with 270-degree views. Another quick option is the SeaPlex Dog House, the first food truck at sea, featuring free gourmet hotdogs and sausages. An interesting extra-charge offering includes Devinly Decadence, where all meals are fewer than 500 calories. Both ships will offer Royal Caribbean's new"Dynamic Dining" concept, which does away with traditional dining and, instead, allows passengers to choose from a number of eateries at their leisure, some of which are free and some of which incur extra charges. Dynamic Dining will roll out on Oasis in spring 2015. You'll also find Sorrento's Pizzeria on both ships, as well as the Windjammer Cafe buffet; Izumi, which offers Japanese cuisine; Johnny Rockets for burgers and shakes; Wonderland, molecular gastronomy featuring dishes like disappearing noodles, and wasabi and apple crisps prepared with liquid nitrogen; American Icon Grill for comfort food; Coastal Kitchen, which showcases California-Mediterranean fare for suite passengers only; The Grande, a fancy affair, which focuses on dishes served aboard the ocean liners of yore; Silk, Royal Caribbean's pan-Asian restaurant; and Chops Grille, the line's steakhouse. Bars The Rising Tide Bar, which debuted on Oasis of the Seas, is set on hydraulics and travels between the Royal Promenade and Central Park. In its Bionic Bar, Quantum will feature robotic bartenders. Passengers order drinks via tablets and can then watch as the robots (more like mechanical arms, really) prepare them. Vintages, a swanky wine bar where passengers can try new or favorite beverages, is featured on both ships. Activities & Entertainment For breathtaking entertainment that combines aerial and aquatic feats with the ship's wake as the backdrop, you won't want to miss performances at the AquaTheatre on the ship's Boardwalk, where you'll also find a carousel. Look up in the sky, and you'll see fellow passengers whizzing by on the sports deck's zip Try any number of at-sea firsts on Quantum, including a visit to North Star. Best for those without a fear of heights, the glass pod, positioned on a mechanical arm, will raise passengers 300 feet above sea level for 360-degree views. Meanwhile, SeaPlex ttriples as a venue for basketball, roller skating and bumper cars. Adrenaline junkies will appreciate trapeze classes and a RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator. A handful of RCI ships offer Broadway productions as part of their theatre entertainment. Oasis, where cruisers can catch performances of CATS, and Quantum, featuring Mamma Mia!, are no exception. Both ships also feature rock climbing walls and the line's signature FlowRider surf simulators. Itineraries Based in Fort Lauderdale at Port Everglades, Oasis sails Western Caribbean itineraries. Homeporting in Bayonne's Cape Liberty through spring 2015, Quantum sails Southern Caribbean voyages. It will then permanently relocate to Shanghai for Asia sailings. Until Quantum relocates to Asia, both ships sail a mix of Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean and Europe itineraries from the U.S. East Coast. Family Oasis' Adventure Ocean is housed in one giant expanse on the same deck. In addition to exclusive areas separated by age group, there's a science lab, a workshop and even a theater, where participants rehearse before performing for their parents at the end of each sailing. Quantum's Adventure Ocean spans two decks, and it features a science lab as well as a cool teen space will provide a similar experience to that found on Oasis. Both ships showcase Royal Caribbean's stellar kids offerings, each boasting extensive Adventure Ocean facilities. The line also has a partnership with DreamWorks, and cruisers can enjoy parades and meet-and-greets that feature Shrek, Fiona and other characters. These two vessels also include the H2O Zone, where young cruisers will find splash pools and colourful sculptures that spray water.