Fodor’s Expert Review

Ship Overview

Royal Caribbean International
Cruise StyleMainstream
Ship SizeLarge
Price Range$
Sails To

Ala...anspacific

Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Hawaii, South Pacific Transpacific
Sails From

Sea... Vancouver

Seattle, Brisbane, Oahu and Vancouver
Duration8-19 days

Quantum of the Seas, the first in the Quantum Class, originally sailed a few short cruises in 2014 to the Bahamas and the Caribbean from New York City. She then moved to a new homeport in Shanghai, China. During the pandemic, she sailed safely, with heavy restrictions and protocols in Singapore. She became a model to the cruise industry for her success. In 2022, she moved to Alaska and will sail from Seattle before moving to a new homeport in Brisbane, Australia.Read More

New innovations on the ship made her one of the most technologically advanced. Additional components of the Quantum of the Seas all debuted on this ship. The RipCord by iFly, the North Star, the Bionic Bar, WaveRider and the SeaPlex sports and entertainment complex continue to entertain guests.

A large ship with plenty of open deck space, Quantum of the Seas is ideal for families. Even though the ship is large, the layout helps with navigation. Most of the restaurants and public areas are on Decks 3 and 4. Decks 15 and 16 are home to the more active options—Northstar, Seaplex, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Area, the running track, Ripcord by iFly and WaveRider.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Pros
Cons
The outdoor areas make viewing scenery easy and comfortable
The Solarium is a pleasant area for adults only
Virtual Balconies bring in a real-time view to interior staterooms  
The specialty coffee shop is very popular, but is subject to long and slow-moving lines
The Royal Esplanade, the main thoroughfare, can get congested  
If you miss the exits to the cabin area on Deck 3, it will be necessary to go through the smokey casino to get between the theater and dining area

What to expect on board

Staterooms & Cabins

Editor Rating
Cabins
Accessibility

The mix of cabins on Quantum of the Seas include interior, ocean view, balcony, jr. suites, and 2-bedroom suites. Some cabins are connected making this an ideal ship for families needing multiple cabins together. The interior staterooms with their virtual reality screen bring in real-time views to the occupants.

Suite guests can book in a variety of classes including Sea, Sky, Star and Royal Class. Sea Class is the entry level suite class and includes several perks. Climbing the class ladder adds more perks. The Sky Class includes concierge service and Star Class includes the services of a Royal Genie. At the top of the ladder are Royal Suites, the largest and most luxurious with the most included experiences on the ship.

Quantum of the Seas accommodates passengers with both mobility and dietary needs. Accessible cabins are limited, so booking early is recommended. Guests should contact their travel agent or Royal Caribbean to discuss their needs prior to boarding.

Food & Drink

Editor Rating
Dining
Bars

Complimentary dining includes options at four different dining rooms. The main dining rooms have different décor, but basically share the same menu with the exception of a specialty dish from the particular restaurant. The seating is comfortable and well-spaced. Guests may choose from a fixed dining time at the same table every night or may opt for My Time dining. My Time dining allows for some flexibility in dining time.

Windjammer Marketplace is the large buffet, but there are also several other complimentary spots perfect for grabbing a bite in a casual setting. The Cafe@Two70º, serves deli-style sandwiches and salads, Sorrento’s has pizza and other Italian treats and Cafe Esplanade has pastries. Noodle place. Dog House The Solarium Bistro serves three meals in a buffet setting. Dog House serves only hot dogs and fries. Noodles, tucked into a corner on the pool deck, focuses on Asian dishes, but also has American food.

Specialty restaurants come with a surcharge. The choices include Chef’s Table, Chops Grille, Izumi, Jamie’s Italian and Wonderland.  Most of the specialty restaurants are located on Deck 5. Royal Caribbean offers a few dining packages for specialty restaurants.

Aboard Quantum of the Seas, there are many bars, both indoors and outside. Some of the bars feature entertainment and are quite intimate. Others, like Bolero’s, are large. The themes of the bars vary–for instance, there is an English pub style bar and the robotic Bionic Bar where guests order their own drink that is made by a robotic machine. A wine bar is popular and there are several different types of tasting featured at the bars.

Beverage packages are optional for those wishing to have a more inclusive experience.

Entertainment

Editor Rating

Unlike other Royal Caribbean ships, Quantum of the Seas has no large scale Broadway-style productions. The Theater hosts shows, like Sequins and Feathers and Goddess. Two70º is the venue for more experimental type shows. During the day, this large area functions as a gathering space with large windows across the back of the ship. In the evening, the windows get covered and the area transforms into a performance venue.

Other entertainment is found throughout the ship and at varying times of the day. Movies, trivia, game show events, comedians and musicians fill the days with entertainment.

The Sports Complex has ping pong tables, bumper cars at certain times, pickle ball, and the sky diving and surfing experiences. North Star rises far above the ship for great views of a destination. For a fee, guests may experience an extended North Star event, which consists of the pod going out beyond the ship rather than straight up.

Spa & Fitness

Editor Rating

Vitality Spa and Fitness Center spans two decks with the spa treatment area on the lower deck and the fitness center above. Both complimentary and fee classes are offered in the fitness center. A running track is part of the fitness experience.

The spa offers a variety of treatments including medi-spa treatments. Vitality Cafe refreshes guests with healthful options. Special smoothies and protein shakes come with a surcharge.

Key cruising tips

Health & Safety

Royal Caribbean requires that guests be vaccinated and tested before sailings of six nights or longer; unvaccinated guests will need to test before all sailings.

Specific requirements can be found at the Healthy Sail Center. This is the best place to find current requirements as health protocols are subject to change

Crew are vaccinated and boosted when eligible.

Dress Code

The dress code is casual, but some guests do dress for dinner. There are options to have professional portraits taken and this seems popular on dressier nights. The daily newsletter indicates the suggested dress style for the day.

Junior Cruisers

Quantum of the Seas accommodates children in their Adventure Ocean program. Throughout the ship, there are plenty of fun activities for youngsters including bumper cars, sports courts, a rock climbing wall, arcades and pools.

Teenagers have their own private hangout areas and may come and go as they please. Younger children engage in all sorts of activities like science projects or scavenger hunts. The clubs are so much more than babysitting experiences.

Service

Service on Quantum of the Seas is friendly and professional. Crew members seemed to genuinely care about the guests that they served.

Tipping

Daily gratuities are added to the fare. Some guests give additional tips to those crew members who have gone above and beyond their duties.

QUICK FACTS

SHIP STATS
Entered Service
2014
Number of Cabins
2,094
Passenger Capacity
4,905
Crew Members
1,500
Passengers to Crew Ratio
3.27
Gross Tons
168666
Width
136 feet
Length
1131 feet

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