As P&O celebrates the completion of its newbuild cruise ship, Royal Caribbean lays the ground work for its third Quantum-class vessel – Ovation of the Seas.
Ovation is the line’s third ‘smart ship’, joining Quantum of the Seas, which made her debut last year and Anthem of the Seas scheduled to set sail in April.
Scheduled for delivery in 2016, the first block of the new vessel was officially lowered and put into place this week.
Ovation of the Seas is currently being built in German shipyard Meyer Werft.
Newly minted coins were placed under the keel, which then stay in place until the end of construction – according to maritime tradition, the coins bring luck to the ship during its construction and then to its Captain and crew when she is at sea.
When she launches Ovation will have similar entertainment and activities onboard as her sister ships such as the RipCord by iFLY – the first skydiving experience at sea; the North Star – a capsule that takes guests 300 feet above the ocean; and The Sea-Plex – the largest indoor sports and entertainment centre that transforms from bumper cars to a basketball court to a roller rink.
First keel laid for the third Quantum-class ship.
The 4,180-passenger vessel will also have Virtual Balcony staterooms – large screens in interior rooms that offer real-time view of the ocean.
Quantum ships span 16 decks and have around 2,090 staterooms.
They’re also the home of Jamie Oliver’s first restaurant at sea – Jamie’s Italian and have the DreamWorks Experience featuring characters from movies like Shrek and Madagascar.
Earlier this month, Anthem of the Seas sailed out of the shipyard.
Earlier this month, the second Quantum-class ship, Anthem of the Seas, sailed out of the shipyard.
Click here to see more images of her first movements.
Ovation isn’t the only newbuild Royal Caribbean has in construction, the company is also building its third Oasis-class ship, which is set to launch in April next year.
Coming to Royal Caribbean next year is Harmony of the Seas – the world’s new largest ship.
Named Harmony of the Seas, she will take the title of the world’s largest ship away from her sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas by being less than 2,000 tonnes bigger.
She will carry 5,479 guests at double capacity in 2,747 staterooms.
Unlike her sisters, she will feature three multi-story waterslides, all of which twist and turn over Central Park 10 decks below.
She will have the first Oasis-class Bionic Bar on the Royal Promenade. The Bionic Bar made its debut on Quantum of the Seas and has robot bartenders serving a selection of cocktails.
Harmony of the Seas will have three multi-story waterslides, all of which twist and turn over Central Park 10 decks below.
While Oasis and Allure offered some of the largest staterooms in the fleet, on Harmony of the Seas the company has made some stateroom categories even larger.
Interior accommodations also will be outfitted with Royal Caribbean’s exclusive Virtual Balconies which offer a view in every stateroom, while single travelers will have studio stateroom choices.
Suite guests also will have exclusive new areas to enjoy, from a well-appointed suite lounge and a private suites-only restaurant called Coastal Kitchen to an exclusive full-service Suite Sun Zone sun deck.