Royal Caribbean cuts steel on Ovation of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International has cut the steel on its third Quantum-class ship, Ovation of the Seas, which will launch in Autumn 2016.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines chairman and CEO Richard Fain (pictured) was present at the ceremony, which marked the beginning of construction.

The 4,180-passenger vessel is now being built alongside sister ships Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

The three ships will include features including robotic bartenders, RipCord by iFly and ‘dancing’ Roboscreens in the Two70 entertainment venue.

Quantum of the Seas, which will operate out of New York for its inaugural season, is due to launch later this year. It will homeport in Shanghai, China, following that. This will be followed by Anthem of the Seas, which will launch in Spring 2015 and operate out of Southampton.

It has not yet been revealed where Ovation of the Seas will be homeported.

To watch the construction of Royal Caribbean’s first ‘smartship’, Quantum of the Seas, see below: