Royal Caribbean christened their third Quantum class cruise ship, Ovation of the Seas, to huge fanfare in a ceremony in Tianjin, China.
Ovation of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s first cruise ship christened in China and is also the first ship with a Chinese Godmother, world famous actress Fan Bingbing. Fan Bingbing presided over the celebrations and joined in the maritime tradition of breaking a champagne bottle against the hull of Ovation of the Seas wishing good fortune on the ship and all passengers who sail on her.
Designed and built to deliver an unforgettable vacation experience for guests of all ages, Ovation of the Seas is the first world-class ship to make China its homeport immediately after its delivery. As one of the largest cruise ships ever built, accommodating 4,180 guests at double occupancy and 1,500 international crew members, Ovation of the Seas boasts an array of stunning features and experiences many of which have never before been seen at sea.
There are 18 restaurants onboard Ovation with a variety of international cuisines to choose from. Well-appointed accommodations include the unique Loft Suites which offer the most luxurious accommodations at sea, and Virtual Balcony staterooms, interior accommodations with large digital screens displaying real-time views of the destinations the ship visits.
Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, said “We are excited to bring our newest and most technologically advanced ship to China. The unprecedented first-at-sea experiences will provide an incredible vacation adventure to our guests in the region. Chinese consumers have grown to expect the best the world has to offer, and this ship meets that standard like no other – this is a cruise from the future.”
Royal Caribbean’s unmatched innovations in onboard attractions include the North Star, a glass capsule that takes guests more than 300 feet above the ocean for incomparable panoramic views. For guests seeking an adrenaline-fueled experience there is the thrilling RipCord by iFly skydiving experience, and the FlowRider surfing simulators where guests have the opportunity to surf on the high seas. TWO70, a daily social space with incredible 270 degree views of the ocean at the aft of the ship transforms into a multifunctional entertainment place at night. The young at heart will be kept busy at SeaPlex, the largest indoor activity space at sea, that features basketball, roller skating, bumper cars and more.
With the debut of Ovation of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International has once again set a new standard for vacations and adventures.
Unprecedented innovations in ship design, thrilling activities, game-changing technology, multidimensional entertainment, and robust dining opportunities, come together to create the ultimate, contemporary cruising experience – only found on Royal Caribbean.
As further testament of its commitment to China, Royal Caribbean continues to invest in people though its strategic collaboration with the Tianjin Marine Talent Institute. Royal Caribbean has built a training facility site for onboard crew training and development in hotel operations and over 100,000 jobs have been created in the past four years for major ports cities in China. Royal Caribbean is committed to cultivate talent for the cruising industry in China.
China is the cruise industry’s fastest-growing market in the world and the demand has increased by double digits since 2013. China alone accounted for 1 million cruise passengers last year, up from about 700,000 in 2014, and the Chinese Ministry of Tourism has forecasted 4.5 million passengers by 2020.
