Quantum of the Seas: Sailing into the future

Imagine skydiving in the middle of the ocean without jumping off an aircraft; or standing 300 feet above sea level with nothing around you but the deep blue sea; or somersaulting from trapeze to trapeze with the grace of a trained gymnast. All this and more is now possible on board Royal Caribbean’s latest offering, the majestic Quantum of the Seas, which set off from New York on its maiden voyage in early November. The 168,666-ton ship is 348 metres long, has 18 decks and can accommodate up to 4,905 passengers. But what sets this jumbo ship apart from its contemporaries is the futuristic technology that it has on board — RipCord by iFly, the first ever skydiving simulator at sea; North Star, a jewel-shaped capsule that takes you up to 300 feet high and affords 360-degree views of the surroundings; and Two70, where 18 projectors combine to transform the floor-to-ceiling sea views into scenes from all over the world. Inside is Seaplex, the largest indoor activity space at sea, where you can play games such as basketball, take bumper car rides, and attend circus school. Also expect to see robot bartenders mixing your drinks, and virtual balconies that offer sea views even in staterooms located deep inside the ship. The cruise experience just got a whole lot richer — or should we say took a quantum leap. royalcaribbean.com