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May 7, 2015 – The “remarkable” success of Royal Caribbean’s new generation of smartships led to the announcement this week that a fourth Quantum-class vessel has been ordered from their German shipbuilder.
When it’s delivered in 2019, the new, still unnamed vessel will join sister ships Anthem of the Seas, launched last month and now sailing Mediterranean itineraries; Quantum of the Seas, which debuted in October 2014 and is headed this month for its home port of Shanghai, China; and Ovation of the Seas, now under construction and scheduled to begin sailing in winter 2016-17.
Two-hundred-year-old Meyer Werft of Papenburg, Germany is the builder of all four Quantum-class ships.
“Today’s announcement is a reflection of the success of the first two Quantum-class ships,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “We have received a remarkable response from travel agent partners and travelers, and are thrilled that we’ll be able to deliver another revolutionary ship with our partners at Meyer Werft.”
Today’s Quantum-class ships are a quantum leap from the small wooden vessels built by Meyer Werft when it opened shop in 1795.
Environmentally conscientious and featuring entertainment innovations equaled nowhere else in the cruise industry, they rise over their moorages with 16 passenger decks and more than 2,000 staterooms, including two-story aft-facing “loft suites.” Interior staterooms offer live ocean views on floor-to-ceiling HDTVs dubbed “virtual balconies.”
The fourth Quantum-class ship will blaze its own watery trails, said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, adding that “the icons and amenities on this ship will continue to challenge and expand guests’ expectations of the cruise experience.”
These include a multi-use sports court featuring surfing and skydiving simulators, a rock-climbing wall and onboard waterpark activities. The North Star observation capsule, a jewel-like pod that lifts guests 300 feet above sea level at the end of an articulated arm, is already a signature of the RCL smart-ship experience.
“We are very thankful to continue our long-lasting relationship with Royal Caribbean by building another ship of the Quantum-class,” said Meyer Werft Managing Partner Bernard Meyer. “Guests and travel agents are obviously impressed with the innovative cruise ships we have developed together with Royal Caribbean’s newbuild team.”
The newly announced agreement is subject to financing and the final signing of a contract.
Based upon current ship orders, RCL’s projected capital expenditures for full year 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are $1.6 billion, $2.3 billion, $0.4 billion, $2.4 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively.
Capacity increases for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are expected to be 5.5 percent, 6.3 percent, 3.1 percent, 3.9 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. These figures do not include potential ship sales or additions that the company may elect to make in the future.