In a special duel ceremony event held recently in Germany, Royal Caribbean marked two important development milestones in the history of its Quantum Class vessels.
Set to debut in autumn 2014, the first vessel of the class, Quantum of the Seas, received her first block as her keel was officially put into place. Getting in on the occasion, her sister vessel Anthem of the Seas had her first piece of steel cut, marking the initial stage of her construction.
Adam Goldstein, Royal Caribbean’s Chief Executive Officer, explained what the occasion meant for the line: “Today is a very special day in the development of our new Quantum class, as we are now two steps closer to delighting guests around the world with Quantum cruising. It’s incredibly rewarding to see Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas coming together so well, and today we not only honour these two very important milestones, but also recognize the years of hard work and dedication from the team developing these ships.”
Taking place in the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the keel-laying ceremony was a key stage in the history of Quantum of the Seas, as it marked the beginning of the ship’s construction. The block in question weighed staggering 430 tons, measured 59ft by 75ft and was lowered into place by an 800-ton crane. In keeping with a long-established maritime tradition said to bring a vessel good luck, two coins were placed under the keel, to be retrieved after the ship’s construction and presented to the captain and placed on-board.
The Anthem of the Seas is set to join her sister vessel on the ocean waves in spring 2015 and both vessels will offer 16 decks and 2,090 staterooms and cater for 4,180 passengers each.
By Simon Brotherton
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