Royal Caribbean Cruises signed a contract with the Meyer Werft shipyard to construct a third Quantum-class cruise ship for delivery in mid-2016. The price and terms of the new ship are similar to the price and terms of the first two Quantum-class ships and the contract is subject to financing conditions.
The company recently unveiled details of this new class of ship and was gratified by the public response to the design innovations. It also said that the new design included an advantageous configuration which includes a greater proportion of higher priced staterooms and that it achieves some of the greatest energy efficiencies at sea.
The yet-unnamed Quantum-class vessel will join the Royal Caribbean International fleet, alongside Quantum of the Seas, which will make its maiden voyage in 2014, and Anthem of the Seas, scheduled to debut in 2015.
Quantum ships span 16 decks, encompass 167,800 gross registered tons, carry 4,180 guests at double occupancy and have 2,090 staterooms. Including today's contract and existing ship orders, projected capital expenditures for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 are $700 million, $1.2 billion, $1.2 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively. Including Quantum III, the company's capacity growth rate from 2012 to 2017 will be approximately 4 percent per annum.
For more information, visit www.royalcaribbean.com.