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Royal Caribbean opens new terminal in Bayonne

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Royal Caribbean opens new terminal in Bayonne

By Tom Stieghorst
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. held a dedication ceremony for a new 125,000-square-foot terminal at Cape Liberty in Bayonne, N.J.

The new terminal is located adjacent to the original 2004 terminal and will serve as the passenger processing center for Quantum of the Seas when it arrives on Nov. 10.

The new facility is the first phase of a $55 million expansion and includes a 950-space parking garage. Bayonne already earns an estimated $500,000 a year from a parking tax inaugurated in 2008.

Cape Liberty Cruise Port Opens New Terminal

PHOTO: Cape Liberty Cruise Port has opened a new terminal to house Royal Caribbean’s new Quantum of the Seas. (File photo courtesy of Cape Liberty Cruise Port)

The first phase of the $55 million port expansion includes a state-of-the-art guest terminal, with 125,000 square feet of check-in, customs and immigration, and luggage-processing space, as well as a 950-car parking structure. The new facility is at 4 Port Terminal Boulevard, adjacent to the first terminal that opened in May 2004. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey have dedicated the second cruise terminal at Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, N.J., which will house the new Quantum of the Seas starting Nov. 10.

Cape Liberty is about 15 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport and seven miles south of Manhattan. The port has been the year-round home of Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas and seasonal homeport for Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Summit.

Quantum of the Seas will sail to the Caribbean and Bahamas starting in November, but will move to Shanghai, China, in May. It will be replaced by Liberty of the Seas for the summer and then Quantum’s sister ship, Anthem of the Seas, for winter 2015.

Cape Liberty has the second-largest passenger volume among Northeast and Mid-Atlantic coast ports, according to a study titled “The Contribution of the North American Cruise Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2011.” The facilities generate an estimated $500,000 per year to the City of Bayonne and help generate $390 million annually.

Cruise lines alter itineraries due to Hurricane Gonzalo

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By Tom Stieghorst
Winds and rain from Hurricane Gonzalo have forced cruise ships in the Caribbean east of Puerto Rico to alter their itineraries.

Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International are among the cruise lines that have skipped ports of call because of the storm.

Royal Caribbean said Jewel of the Seas did not call at St. Maarten on Oct. 13. The ship spent Monday at sea before returning to the scheduled itinerary, calling at Antigua on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Explorer of the Seas departed San Juan at 9 p.m. on Oct. 13, instead of staying overnight.

Allure of the Seas is sailing a modified western Caribbean itinerary. The ship will now visit Falmouth, Jamaica on Oct. 15 and Cozumel on Oct. 17.

The storm led to Carnival Liberty staying at sea for a second day rather than calling at St. Thomas on Oct. 14. The cruise will go to Grand Cayman and Cozumel before returning to Port Canaveral. Carnival Breeze will stay at sea rather than call at La Romana, Dominican Republic, on Oct. 14.

Carnival Conquest’s original eastern Caribbean itinerary out of Miami was scrapped in favor of a western Caribbean route that will stop in Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay (Honduras) and Costa Maya (Mexico).

The hurricane is expected to strengthen from its current Category 1 status and move toward Bermuda later this week.

New Show for a New Ship

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With the debut of Quantum of the Seas fast approaching,

the cast of Royal Caribbean’s Sonic Odyssey gets ready for an awe-inspiring

 spectacle showcasing unique sounds on innovative music instruments

created specially for the show.

 

Video: Royals Latest Show for the Quantum of the seas

  • Starwater tells a visual story with groundbreaking technology and live performance artistry.
  • Vistarama transforms the sea view of Two70º into any scene — real or imagined.
  • Royal Caribbean Productions created Sonic Odyssey with the help of musical innovator and performance artist William Close.

Being at the forefront of entertainment comes naturally to Royal Caribbean International®. Through the years, the company has pushed beyond the main stage to introduce new ways for ships to entertain — on the ice, in the water, and in the air. And now with the introduction of Quantum of the SeasSM, Royal Caribbean will transcend the idea of entertainment altogether.

“Royal Caribbean doesn’t see barriers. If we see something on land, we bring it to the sea. But Quantum of the Seas is different — we’re creating things from scratch. It’s completely unique,” said Nick Weir, Vice President of Entertainment.

AN INVENTIVE UNDERTAKING: Two70°SM

Quantum of the Seas’ entertainment lineup introduces a few things the world has never seen before — like dancing robots, new musical instruments, and a space that can change to any scene in the world.

Two70° is considered the “great room” of Quantum Class. By day, it is a bright and welcoming lounge where guests can enjoy the beautiful sea views through oversized windows that span three decks. By night, the space can be transformed in minutes into something completely different.

One of the main attractions in Two70°, Vistarama uses the windows as a digital canvas, creating an entirely new scene — outer space, deep sea, forests and almost anything else you can imagine — through video mapping and powerful projectors. Over 100 feet wide and 20 feet tall, and at a stunning 12K resolution, the picture quality exceeds even the highest resolution movie screens.

The headlining show featuring Vistarama technology is Starwater, the story of a muse, Celestia, who brings together the magic of the stars and the mysteries of the seas. An awe-inspiring visual and theatrical spectacle, Starwater shows the combined emotional power of digital mapping, special effects, and Royal Caribbean’s own talented performers.

Another unique Two70° innovation is the Roboshow, a troupe of six Roboscreens that stage surprise performances throughout the cruise. Each screen measures over seven feet high and is controlled by powerful robotic arms. Though the Roboscreens are huge, the power behind them makes the screens delightfully nimble as they interact in a series of short vignettes.

JOURNEY INTO SOUND

Royal Caribbean also explores new frontiers in global sound with Sonic Odyssey, a show developed by the team in collaboration with innovator and performance artist William Close. The production includes his one-of-a-kind instruments, like his signature Earth Harp whose strings will extend over the audience, all the way to the back of the Royal Theater; a unique Drum Wall consisting of 136 drums; a Violin Dress and more. These weave together with a nine-piece live orchestra and a cast of singers, dancers, aerialists and gymnasts.

LET’S PARTY!

Even the parties on Quantum of the Seas will incorporate technology, themes, and interactivity in a way that’s never been done before. Quantum of the Seas will not only introduce the hit Broadway musical Mamma Mia! at sea, but also the Mamma Mia! After Party where guests can walk a red carpet to meet the show’s stars before dancing and jiving into the late night. Other new parties will use the unique qualities of Quantum’s new space to create an immersive atmosphere — like Gatsby in Two70°, where digital technology will transport guests to the Roaring Twenties. And in the intimate Music Hall, a new late-night party called Wink is infused with class and sass as Royal Caribbean’s performers entertain an adults-only crowd.