Imagine a huge hotel, shopping mall and entertainment city all
rolled into one. Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas is the world's smart ship with an under-stated opulent interior. At 1,141 feet long with 16 decks and an international crew of 1,500, it can accommodate 4,905 guests.
Being the cruise newbies we are, the sleek, refined interior adorned with modern accents: glass
artworks, arty installations and ambient lighting left an indelible impression.
Designer boutiques
and epicurean dining venues like Jamie’s Italian restaurant amplify the sense of sophistication. We proceeded to Two70, a theatre-style entertainment and activity space for the welcome address by Royal Caribbean’s Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Angie Stephen.
In her opening
remarks, Stephen said Royal Caribbean International will be celebrating its 50th global anniversary by rolling out a
5-year deployment in Southeast Asia, from November 2019 up to 2024.
“The deployment
starts with Quantum of the Seas, one of Asia’s largest and most revolutionary
cruise ships after her multi-million dollar refurbishment. The ship is slated
to make a record-breaking 55 calls to Malaysia during its upcoming 2020-2021
season, starting October next year.”
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| L to R: Elya Marini Darmin, Deputy President of the Klang Municipal Council; Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, Selangor State Exco, Tourism Selangor; Angie Stephen, Managing Director, APAC, Royal Caribbean; Syed Jaaffar Syed Mohamed, General Manager, Boustead Cruise Center and Captain Sindre Borsheim, Master of Quantum of the Seas |
Lauding the
cruise-friendly infrastructure of Malaysia and the pertinent roles played by the
government including local municipal councils, port authorities and tourism
stakeholders, Stephen said, “Royal Caribbean will bring 430,000 tourists to
Malaysia in the next two years. Quantum of the Seas will be Asia’s largest
cruise ship to call in at Port Klang since Kuala Lumpur and Penang’s vast array
of gastronomic, cultural and shopping options remain popular with our guests on
board.”
She continued, “Cruising
holiday is fast gaining popularity amongst Malaysians and the numbers have
grown significantly from the time Royal Caribbean started some 11 years ago. Malaysia
is one of our fastest-growing markets and Royal Caribbean cruises have
everything that appeals to different generations. For the MICE business, we
offer customised cruising experiences.”
Stephen said while Royal
Caribbean incorporates cutting-edge technology to streamline some of its services
and facilities on-board, she emphasised it won’t replace their battalion of
personnel as the human touch is the key factor in ensuring Royal Caribbean guests
enjoy their cruise experience.
After savouring a simple,
delicious lunch at the American Icon Grill restaurant, we
toured the new facilities: FlowRider, RipCord by iFly, Bionic
Bar, an escape room and glow-in-the-dark laser tag on board the Quantum of the
Seas.
We also took turns
to be whisked up high, to admire the surrounding panoramic views from the ‘North
Star’ observation capsule. Raised up to 300 ft above sea level, the breathtaking scenery glimpsed from high above was unforgettable.
The hi-tech entertainment facilities inside the ‘Two70’
venue also set the stage for live performances and whimsical large-screen projections.
Different sized
pools, rock climbing wall, various shopping and entertainment options, in
addition to themed dining outlets will keep the ship’s multi-generational cruise
passengers fully occupied. Tour itineraries for whistle-stop ports of call can
also be booked on board.
