RCCL Signs Contract for Third Quantum-Class Cruise Ship

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has ordered a third 4,180-passenger Quantum-class cruise ship for delivery in mid-2016 for its Royal Caribbean International brand. The 167,800-ton vessel will be built at Meyer Werft in Germany. The first two ships in the class, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, will make their debuts in 2014 and 2015.

“We are encouraged by the very positive response we received from travel agents and consumers when we first announced some of the unprecedented offerings on Quantum Class last month,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “The Quantum class will offer vacationers more unexpected activities in the most extraordinary spaces, and a third ship will offer even more opportunities for vacationers to experience Quantum cruising.”

Among the eye-popping features of the new Quantum class are bumper cars and roller skating in a sports and entertainment complex, a sky-diving simulator, and North Star, a 14-passenger, glass-enclosed cabin that extends above the ship and the sea on a cherry-picker at heights up to 300 feet.

“This order follows our stated goals of moderate growth, driving improved returns and leading to an investment grade rating,” said RCCL Vice Chairman Brian J. Rice. Including the third Quantum ship, the company’s capacity growth rate from 2012 to 2017 will be approximately 4 percent per year. Including today’s contract and existing ship orders, projected capital expenditures each year for 2013 through 2016 are $700 million, $1.2 billion, $1.2 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively.

The Quantum-class ships have more higher-priced staterooms. Interior staterooms will have Virtual Balconies that show a video on the wall of the view outside.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/rccl-signs-contract-for-third-quantumclass-cruise-ship.html