Hot on the heels of the recent Oasis of the Seas announcement, Royal Caribbean International has announced that Quantum of the Seas will be making its inaugural 8-night westbound transatlantic voyage from Southampton on 2 November 2014, arriving in the New York area at Cape Liberty Port, New Jersey, on 10 November 2014.  Bookings for Quantum of the Seas opened to loyalty programme members on 28 May 2013 and opened to the general public on 4 June.

This is another exciting first for the port of Southampton, which will also play host in 2014 to the world’s largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, on its first ever European season and transatlantic sailing out of a UK port of call, generating the highest ever volume of pre-booking registrations ever seen by Royal Caribbean International.

Quantum of the Seas will offer even more game-changing “firsts at sea” and holidaymakers will be thrilled by the unprecedented “WOWs” on-board, including a skydiving experience, a thrilling adventure that transports guests more than 300 feet in the air; cutting-edge venues such as the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with bumper cars and roller skating and the cruise line’s largest and most advanced staterooms ever. For an overview webisode about new innovative at-sea “firsts” that will be aboard Quantum of the Seas, please see http://tinyurl.com/avdzrws.

Building on a legacy of more than 40 years of innovation and creative design, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class of ships will introduce more innovative on-board features, such as RipCord by iFLY, the first skydiving experience at sea, which allows everyone from first-time flyers to seasoned skydivers to enjoy the sheer thrill and exhilaration of skydiving in a safe, controlled and simulated environment. North Star, an engineering marvel, will take guests to new heights – literally – with a jewel-shaped, glass capsule, transporting them on a spectacular journey more than 300 feet above the ocean and over the sides of the ship to deliver awe-inspiring 360-degree views.

The new Quantum class ships will also introduce new venues, including Two70°, a multi-level great room named for its incredible 270-degree sea views through three-deck high, floor-to-ceiling glass walls at the stern of the ship; SeaPlex, the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with bumper cars, roller skating and a circus school with trapeze; and Music Hall, a two-story live music venue.

Quantum class ships also will offer Royal Caribbean International’s largest and most advanced staterooms ever, including the industry’s first interior staterooms with Virtual Balconies, ensuring every stateroom on Quantum of the Seas will have a view. For multi-generational families, Family-Connected staterooms deliver more flexibility, using three different stateroom categories that connect to form a layout that provides separate bedrooms and bathrooms for all. Royal Caribbean International will introduce new Studio staterooms – some featuring balconies – for single travellers, three new Junior Suite categories, and larger Loft Suites. For an overview of Quantum of the Seas’ new stateroom concepts, please see http://tinyurl.com/a2obdob.

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.