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Monday, August 05, 2013

Keel Laying and Steel Cutting Ceremonies Held for New Quantum Class

Excitement was in the air at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, as Royal Caribbean International marked two important milestones in the development of its Quantum class of ships. Quantum of the Seas, scheduled to be delivered in the autumn of 2014, received its first block as the keel was officially lowered and put into place. In conjunction, Anthem of the Seas, Quantum’s sister-ship, had its first piece of steel cut, signaling the first step in the ship’s construction.

The keel laying marks an important milestone in the development of Quantum of the Seas as it signifies the beginning of the ship’s physical construction. During the ceremony, a 430-ton block measuring 59-ft by 75-ft (18 x 23 meters) was lifted into the building dock with an 800-ton crane. Newly minted coins were placed under the keel which then stays in place until the end of construction. Once the ship is nearing completion the coins are retrieved and presented to the ship’s Captain and crew to be placed onboard the ship. According to maritime tradition, the coins are said to bring luck to the ship during its construction and then to its Captain and crew when she is at sea.

The Quantum class will debut in autumn 2014 with Quantum of the Seas, followed by her sister-ship Anthem of the Seas in spring 2015.  Quantum ships span 16 decks, encompass 167,800 gross registered tons, carry 4,180 guests at double occupancy and feature 2,090 staterooms.

Royal Caribbean Offering Upgrades on Select Sailings

Royal Caribbean International is offering adventurous families and vacationers the opportunity to ‘upgrade their view’ when making a new booking in August 2013. From August 1-31, 2013, vacationers can enjoy a Balcony stateroom for the price of an Ocean View on most ships, and an Ocean View category stateroom for the price of an Inside stateroom on all of these sailings.

The Upgrade Your View offer applies for all new, individual bookings on three- to 10-night Bahamas, Caribbean and Bermuda cruises departing September 1, 2013, through April 30, 2014.

Vacationers can upgrade their view with a Balcony stateroom at the price of an Ocean View or an Ocean View for the price of an Inside stateroom when booking a Royal Caribbean vacation aboard Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.

Guests also can enjoy an upgraded view when booking an Ocean View stateroom at the price of an Inside aboard Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas. The Upgrade Your View offer is applicable for all new, individual North and South American bookings.

Cruise Ship Becomes Rescue Vessel

Vacationers on Holland America Line's ms Statendam in Alaska got more adventure than they expected on Friday, when their cruise turned into a rescue operation for 103 tourists on a disabled sightseeing boat.

Statendam responded to a call for aid to assist the 79-foot sightseeing vessel Baranof Wind, which had lost power in the ice near John Hopkins Glacier after a mechanical problem.

The ship lowered two tenders and picked up 102 tourists and one Glacier Bay National Park ranger.

After dropping off the sightseers in Bartlett Cove, where the Baranof Wind's excursion originated, it sailed on to Seward, Alaska, where it arrived on schedule.