Another megaship on the way for Royal Caribbean
Make that four Quantum class ships for cruise giant Royal Caribbean.
The line today announced it had entered into an agreement with Germany's Meyer Werft shipyard for a fourth vessel in the much-ballyhooed series that began debuting late last year.
"Today's announcement is a reflection of the success of the first two Quantum class ships," Royal Caribbean Cruises CEO and chairman Richard Fain said in a statement accompanying the announcement.
Royal Caribbean Cruises is the parent company of Royal Caribbean as well as Celebrity Cruises and several other lines.
The as-yet-unnamed new Quantum class ship will join the Royal Caribbean fleet in 2019, the company says. The first two vessels in the series, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, debuted in November and April, respectively. A third ship in the series, Ovation of the Seas, is under construction for delivery in 2016.
At 168,666 tons, Anthem and Quantum are tied as the third largest cruise vessels ever built, smaller in size only to two other Royal Caribbean ships: Four-year-old Allure of the Seas and five-year-old Oasis of the Seas.
Carrying 4,180 passengers each at double occupancy, the new Quantum class vessels boast a number of first-for-the-industry features including deck-top rides into the sky and bars with robot bartenders. Other gee-whiz features include the first skydiving simulators at sea and the first bumper cars at sea.
The ships also are being billed as the most technologically advanced cruise vessels ever. They boast super speedy Internet (a first for the cruise industry) and an all-digital check-in process that is cutting sidewalk-to-ship boarding times to under 10 minutes.
The new order is contingent upon financing, Royal Caribbean says.
USA TODAY Cruise last month was among a handful of U.S. media outlets to get early access to the new Anthem of the Seas, which was christened in Southampton, England on April 20. For our 'first look' tour of the ship, click through the carousel at the top of this story. For more of our coverage, including nearly a dozen videos, follow the links below or head to USA TODAY's Cruise Hub.
