[ 02-05-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Royal Caribbean has just announced its new class of ships that has been referred to internally as Project Sunshine, will officially be called Quantum Class. Additionally, the first two ships will be named Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.

Start of Steel-Cutting for First Project Sunshine Ship

Next Generation of Ships for Royal Caribbean International begins construction

Papenburg, - The first steel-cutting taking place in MEYER WERFT's laser centre marks the start of construction of the new Project Sunshine ships for Royal Caribbean International. The first ship of this class will be completed in October 2014. It took the plasma torch in the yard's state-of-the-art laser centre merely a couple of minutes to cut a silhouette of the new ship from the steel plate.

The first steel-cutting marks the start of construction of the first ship of the new series. The first of these newbuildings will be named “Quantum of the Seas”. The second ship, the "Anthem of the Seas”, will be delivered in spring 2015.

"Our next class of ships will fascinate our guests," says Harri Kulovaara, Royal Caribbean's Excecutive Vice President, Maritime. “We are very happy about the progress we have made in the planning of this wonderful ship." According to Kulovaara, "now the teams from MEYER WERFT, their partners and the teams from Royal Caribbean International are faced with the task of making the ship come to life."

Having a tonnage of 167,000 grt, the Quantum class ships will offer capacities for approx. 4,100 passengers.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL MARKS FIRST MAJOR MILESTONE OF PROJECT SUNSHINE CONSTRUCTION

World's Most Innovative Cruise Line Celebrates Steel Cutting and Reveals Names of Newest Ships

MIAMI, February 5, 2013 – Royal Caribbean International took a major step this week in the development of the cruise line’s next generation of cruise ships when the first piece of steel was cut for the first of two Project Sunshine ships. The steel cutting took place at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, where the two ships will be built.

To celebrate the milestone, Royal Caribbean announced the names of the two new ships – Quantum of the Seas, set to debut in fall 2014, and Anthem of the Seas, which will follow in spring 2015. They will be part of the Quantum class of ships and will build upon Royal Caribbean’s legacy of revolutionary ship design and bold innovation.

“We are extremely excited to celebrate this important milestone for our first Project Sunshine ship. After three years of design and advance planning this is the first step of the construction of the ship and I look forward to seeing it all come together in the coming months,” said Adam Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “The new ship will be such a leap forward in terms of vessel design and guest experiences that we thought the name Quantum of the Seas was perfectly appropriate.”

Royal Caribbean International’s legacy is built on introducing ‘at sea firsts’ such as rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, surf simulators, zip lines and even a tropical park with over 12,000 live plants. The Quantum class of ships will continue to build on this legacy with unprecedented experiences and amenities. They will once again deliver on Royal Caribbean’s tradition of designing for ‘WOW’.

“Throughout our history we have made huge strides in cruise ship design and innovation and the Quantum class will be no exception,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. “We look forward to introducing consumers to Quantum cruising."

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

I wonder if this is an accurate silhouette?

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Originally posted by Mattsudds:
The more interesting shapes a aft of the funnel and at the stern. I look forward to details of what those relate to.

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If it's genuine, this 'leaked' image seems to approximately match the building-block silhouette. Once again there is a fancy bit at the stern?

Matt, did you see the leaked models:HERE

No room for 'Central Parks on this ship!

[ 02-05-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by JPW:
A new publication by Meyer Werft has some clues to the design of the Quantum Class. If you scroll down there is a still picture probably taken from a mock video and there is also a model in a testing facility. I do not know if this has been posted before.

Here is the link to the publication: http://www.meyerwerft.de/en/meyerwerft_de/service/publikationen/publikatione n_detailseite_2753.jsp

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Haven't seen that posted anywhere before. That's the first non profile image I've seen (with the exception of those room models that were leaked). I find it funny that they would blur the image and write "Top Secret" on it which shows they know RCCL doesn't want it out but still posted something instead of just the names. It also includes the max capacity, not sure we've seen that before. In comparison to a freedom and oasis class she is (GT/passenger ratio):

Freedom:
Double: 3,634 (42.49)
Max: 4,375 (35.29)
GT: 154,407

Quantum:
Double: 4,100 (40.61)
Max: 4,905 (33.95)
GT: 166,500

[ 02-19-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Haven't seen that posted anywhere before. That's the first non profile image I've seen (with the exception of those room models that were leaked). I find it funny that they would blur the image and write "Top Secret" on it which shows they know RCCL doesn't want it out but still posted something instead of just the names. It also includes the max capacity, not sure we've seen that before. In comparison to a freedom and oasis class she is (GT/passenger ratio):

Freedom:
Double: 3,634 (42.49)
Max: 4,375 (35.29)
GT: 154,407

Quantum:
Double: 4,100 (40.61)
Max: 4,905 (33.95)
GT: 166,500

Oasis:
Double: 5,400 (41.72)
Max: 6,296 (35.78)
GT: 225,282

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These ratios are interesting. Not a lot of difference with double occupancy. I have cruised on the Navigator and Oasis but not the Freedom. The only time the Navigator seemed crowded was on the pool deck. Oasis did not seem crowded at all except during the emergency drill which they did in entertainment venues. I think having the Royal Promenades makes a lot of difference with these large ships. The height of these areas makes you feel like it is not so crowded and their length disperses the passengers.

[IMG]http://www.cruisecurrents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/1360074542_S697-Quantum-Steelcutting-DSC7392-.jpg/IMG]

If it is accurate, I believe the more rounded version of the Solarium is the one they selected from the models we have seen. I think the Viking Crown Lounge may be above the Solarium. The stern area may have glass like the Solstice but a double deck height. You can clearly make out the lifeboat deck and the area behind the funnel may have loft suites.

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Originally posted by JPW:
Sorry, this image may be too big. If you you use the address you will see the enlarged image.

Can someone advise me if I should have attempted to link this image differently.

Thanks, again I am new to this.

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Hi JPW,

It is actually a good thing that picture didn't display because it's HUGE!!!

Here is the detail of the block arrangements from that picture:

[ 02-20-2013: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

I can't imagine what could really be ground-breaking about this design. With all those passengers and a modest tonnage (compared to Oasis) there cannot be too much room for real innovative public spaces. There is unlikely to be a Park, Board-walk or Aqua-Theatre.

In fact after Oasis, it is difficult to see what more could be achieved on a smaller ship. Maybe we have come to expect too much form RCI? Maybe they will surprise me?

The windows and structure at the stern (leaked rendering and block plan) are the main focus of interest for me.

Below: Tank testing model?

[ 02-20-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
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In fact after Oasis, it is difficult to see what more could be achieved on a smaller ship.

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Why on earth shouldn't it be possible to have innovative features aboard a small ship? What has size to do with that?

Many of the distinguishing features of the Oasis class could be realized aboard smaller vessels and actually, some of these features were introduced aboard much smaller ships - the split superstructure of Silja Serenade and Silja Symphony comes to my mind.

And since I mentioned ferries: One of the most innovative ships built during the past decade - Viking Grace - is MUCH smaller than the ship presently under construction at Meyer Werft.

Of the cruise ships presently under construction the concert hall aboard the new TUI ship comes to my mind and there is an interesting glass enclosed public room at her stern - both not at all related to the size of the ship.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
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Below: Tank testing model?

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You said: "Why on earth shouldn't it be possible to have innovative features aboard a small ship?"

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Agreed!

I was trying to say that I find it hard to imagine what innovations this ship could have to impress. After all they set the bar so very high with Oasis.

RCI may well prove me wrong and the design is not just another mega-ship, but has some personality of its own. Clearly, this ship will not be all about 'scale'.

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"Yes, that is of course a towing tank model. What else do you expect it to be?"

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Yes I know it's a tank model. The question mark was questioning if it was actually a model of 'Quantum'. It looks like it to me.

[ 02-20-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

[ 02-21-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

There's a big glass enclosed solarium space on the top but clearly no parks and outdoor gardens because she is so much smaller.

There's also no viking crown in the traditional sense. Its clearly missing from all the outlines.

Expect loft suites again because they are super popular on the Oasis and Allure.

And I would not be surprised to see one or two new things emerge because they need to build some excitement in the general public on why to travel this ship versus the others.

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Do you think they will just clone the first two or do you think the French will come up with some news ideas plus Royal Caribbean will evolve those ships even further?[/QB]

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In short, I don't know!

I guess it saves a lot of money just to hand over the plans to STX and build a 'clone'.

However after 4+plus years of operation, they must have identified some flaws in the original layout/flow/public rooms etc, so maybe they will tweak the design.

Let's hope they do not inter-breed pedigrees and cross the ‘Oasis’ design with the 'Epic' design.:wink: Any passenger that stared at it for too long, would turn to stone!

[ 02-20-2013: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:
...or do you think the French will come up with some news ideas ...

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Perhaps a few fires on board the ship?

[ 02-21-2013: Message edited by: FuzzyFish ]

Re the third Oasis Class:

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However after 4+plus years of operation, they must have identified some flaws in the original layout/flow/public rooms etc, so maybe they will tweak the design.

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