Just Cruises Plus

North Star – Enjoy the Views!

The staff of Just Cruises Plus was invited to experience the Quantum of the Seas, which sailed from Cape Liberty on a two night cruise to “nowhere”.  Very few of us understand the real meaning of “quantum”. However, all of us recognize the term “quantum leap” and this ship is most certainly a quantum leap in cruise ship construction, function, and passenger experience. You see the change even before you board the ship. The terminal is brand new (no more buses) and there are no desks for check-in (WOW!).

Check-in staff members are standing in the terminal with tablets. Show them your passport and give them your set sail pass and they click a few buttons and send you to the escalator and the gangway and you’re ready to cruise (took about 5 minutes from the time we entered the terminal). You can cut a minute off if you upload a photo of yourself(s) when you do your on-line check-in.

When we boarded the ship, we headed for our beautifully appointed oceanview room and turned on the light switch.  Nothing happened.  We discovered that we needed to put our key card in a slot by the door to turn on the electricity to the room. When you leave the room and take your key card with you, the lights automatically turn off in a few minutes. This is a small part of what makes this ship the most energy efficient in the world.

There are no desks (in guest relations and excursions, for example), just computer tablet stations with staff on hand to assist. When you get to your room, you’ll look for the slot to put your key card in and find there is none. Instead you tap your card on the spot on the door and the door unlocks. Once inside, you’ll find wrist bands (WOW bands) which serve the same function as the key card. Both the wristbands and the cards have imbedded RFID (radio frequency ID) chips and from this point on, they can be used interchangeably, with one exception. Only the key card will work to turn your lights on when you enter the room.

The rooms on the Quantum of the Seas are larger than on previous Royal Caribbean ships and have lots of closet and drawer space although stateroom safes are on the small side. We were especially impressed with the family suites that can accommodate up to eight people.

Silk Restaurant – One of the Complimentary Options

You’ll find that there are no “early” or “late” seatings for dinner. In fact, there is no “my time” dining. Instead, there is “Dynamic Dining”. With Dynamic Dining, you can (and should) make reservations at any of 12 restaurants before you cruise (four are complimentary and eight have an additional charge). Every restaurant has the same menu each night. For example, if you choose to dine in the American Icon Grill every night, you’ll see the same choices each night.

Complimentary evening dining options that do not require reservations include the Dog House and the Windjammer Café.

Thirsty? How about a drink made by a robot in the ultra cool Bionic Bar. WOW! These “guys” are good. Beer aficionados will appreciate Michael’s Pub where they have a very nice list of craft beers.

The Bionic Bar is just one example of the use of technology on the ship. Smart phone users can upload an app, referred to as “Royal IQ”, which allows you to view your schedule and change dinner and entertainment reservations while on board. Don’t have a smart phone or didn’t bring yours with you, IQ tablets are located all around the ship. Also, the passenger photos are no longer on display in hardcopy. You retrieve your photos online.

Bionic Bartenders

The Quantum brought the most popular features from other ships including rock climbing and the FlowRider. However, the real WOW comes from the spectacular new venues and activities. Seaplex is a fantastically innovative space that morphs from a basketball court to a roller skating rink to a trapeze school to a bumper car amusement ride. It can even become a dance floor. For those who want to feel as if they never left home, Xbox stations are available.

Two70, named for its 270 degree view of the sea, is the most startlingly unique space where we saw a most unusual and entertaining show called Starwater. This multimedia show was a total WOW and will be aboard Quantum during all voyages from Bayonne. Like Seaplex, Two70 can be reconfigured by the touch of some buttons. This one-of-a-kind space features 6 robotically controlled LED screens that become actors in the shows.

The best place to relax is the glass-canopied Solarium. Whirlpools, waterfalls and a pool add to the peaceful atmosphere of this adults-only space. The Solarium features the Devinly Decadence Bistro where you can enjoy light snacks.

Indoor Pool – Next Door to Solarium

Here are some other cruise ship “firsts”. Kids will have the first wave pool on a ship in the water park. Take flight, as in skydiving with RipCord by IFly. Perhaps the signature feature of the Quantum of the Seas is “North Star”. Here you will rise to 300 feet above the ocean and out over the ocean. WOW!

The entertainment is of the highest quality and is continuous throughout the day and evening. Especially notable is Music Hall where we were treated to several fantastic tribute bands. The space is on two levels. On the lower level is a dance floor and bar and on the upper level, chairs and pool tables.

Mama Mia (the full Broadway version) is every bit a good as the Broadway version and will be the featured show while the ship is homeported in Bayonne. WOW!

Was everything a WOW on the new ship? Of course not. We’re reserving judgment on “Dynamic Dining”. The reservation software has been “buggy”. It should be noted that, in each of the complimentary restaurants, the menu is the same every night so most people would want to change restaurants each night. On a 12 night cruise, if you did not eat in an extra cost venue, you would have the same menu at least 3 times. While we were blown away (WOW) with the modern décor in the public areas, there was one minor exception. The hallways were a bit drab and lacked artwork. Perhaps this will change (who hangs out in the hallways anyway).

Example of the Amazing Artistic Touches in the Public Spaces

Finally, there is no promenade deck where you can read a book in the shade while watching and listening to the ocean. Since 90% of the rooms have a balcony, and the indoor staterooms have a “virtual balcony”, Royal Caribbean probably decided that there was less need for open deck space.

This is an amazing ship, way ahead of any other ship in the world. I guarantee that you will say WOW frequently as you experience all of the new and unique features.

The Quantum of the Seas will sail from Bayonne through April 2015. After that it will be repositioned to China where it will do shorter sailings from Shanghai. The Quantum’s sister ship, Anthem, is scheduled to take its place in Bayonne in November of 2016. Be among the first to experience this magnificent new ship.

Crown and Anchor members may book cruises on the new Quantum of the Seas beginning on Tuesday May 28th.

– Diamond Members and above may book on Tuesday*

– All other Crown and Anchor members may book on Wednesday*

– Non Members may book beginning  Monday, June 3rd

Call us with your Crown and Anchor number and Credit Card.  Deposit is required at time of booking during the first week.  If you don’t know your Crown and Anchor number, call us and we will get it for you.

The Quantum will offer 4 different itineraries from its homeport, Cape Liberty (Bayonne), NJ.  It’s  first cruise from  will be on November 23rd 2014.

The schedule is not yet official.  Itineraries that we are aware of so far:

12 Night:  Labadee (Private Island); St Marten, St. Kitts, Martinique and Barbados – January 11th, March 1st and April 12th

11 Night:  Labadee, San Juan, St Thomas, St Kitts annd St Marten – December 1st and February 2nd

8 Nights: Labadee, San Juan, Samana (Dominican Republic) – January 3rd and March 21st

7 or 8 Nights:  Labadee, Nassau and Coco Cay – November 23rd, December 12th, December 20th, December 27th, February 13th, March 13th and 29th and April 24th

*Note:  Due to the reciprocity of benefits between Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, if you are a Celebrity Captain’s Club member with Elite status, you are automatically considered to be a Diamond member on Royal Caribbean.  If you are a Captain’s Club member with Select status, you are considered to be a Platinum member on Royal Caribbean.