8/10/2019 Next Wave of Cruising

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QUANTUM OF THE SEAS[22 knots cruising speed[348 metres, (1,141 feet) long[41 metres (136 feet) wide[4,694 horsepower[4,905 guests[18 decks

BRIAN HUGHES/TORONTO STAR

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Kristin Kent is aToronto-based journalist.Follow her:Twitter @kent_kristin //Instagram @kent_kristin

The Bionic BarNothing says hi-tech. like arobot mixing your drink. Youorder your drink via a tablet,and a robotic arm prepares it.

A room with a virtual viewFor the inside cabins, Quantum iscreating virtual balconies. The ship isequipped with cameras on either side,capturing every moment of its journey.The view is then streamed into therooms on an 80-inch screen.

The foodThere are 18 restaurants to choose from on board,including Wonderland. Here, guests will enjoy thevery best in experimental dining . . . the kind wherethe chef turns your dish into a spectacle usingliquid nitrogen. You can also choose traditionalfare at Jamie Kennedys restaurant.

Adventure on deckTheres a rock-climbing wall, an ice-skating rink,a surfing simulator, a zip line, and, here, askydiving simulator, ripcord by iFly. Hop in thisglass tube and let the pounding wind take youup, up and up.

Crows nest

This jewel-shaped, glasscapsule takes you 300feet above the ocean for360-degree views.

A show at the sternLocated above the ships stern, the Two70 room is named for its 270-degree,floor-to- ceiling windows. Thesetransform into sprawling video

projections and multimediashows. Vistarama, as they callit, uses 18 projectors to createthe pixel-perfect displays.

The entertainmentRobotic Arts, a U.S.-based company, created a troop ofsix roboscreens that twist, turn and dance to the music.Moment Factory, a Montreal-based multimediacompany, which has produced over-the-top

spectacles for the likes of Madonna, createdbeautiful digital scenes and choreographyto accompany the robotic display.

The artworkThis ship is not just about technology. What MakesLife Worth Living is the name of a 2,980-piece,multi-million-dollar art collection. Paul Villinski hascreated a huge installation of 210 butterflies thatstretches high through the decks. Here, the shipsmost beloved occupant, a polar bear by LawrenceArgent, rises 30 feet from the deck.

The bandwidthA boatload of bandwidth separates this ship from others.O3b, a company that brings Internet access to rural regions,built a satellite for th is ship. The low, mid-earth craft beamsdown connectivity 24-hours per day, wherever the ship is.Facebook, Netflix, Skype, Xbox Live . . . you can do it all.

On this futuristic liner, technology goes to sea. Welcome aboard.Star contributor Kristin Kentreports from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany