Quantum class of ships | Wetravel2u's Weblog

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.

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 includesDevinly 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.