Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas sails into Brisbane with a bionic bar, surfing, skydiving, rock climbing and a rides. that will remind you of the Ekka!
Royal Caribbean has brought two of their boldest and most innovative Quantum Class ships to Australia. Sydney gets Ovation of the Seas from October 29, while Brisbane gets Quantum of the Seas from November 1, sailing to the South Pacific.
Quantum of the Seas in Brisbane
Quantum of the Seas is an action-packed adventure full of activities designed to keep the whole family amused. It’s really a fun palace on the water with a Flow Rider surf simulator, skydiving with Ripcord by iFly, the iconic North Star, which takes you up 91 metres above the sea like an Ekka ride gone wild, and more.
My first experience of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships was on Anthem of the Seas. It was a short taster cruise out of New York when the ship had just finished its maiden cruise from the United Kingdom docks. Sailing from New York with the Statue of Liberty on one side, twinkling city lights on the other, while drinking a cocktail on the top deck and listening to Alicia Keys belt out New York, was a pinch me moment. Frank Sinatra was crooning away later in the evening. I often turn to my partner and say remember when… I Facetimed my kids and made them share the experience, much to their amusement. I wonder what song Quantum of the Seas will play when it leaves Brisbane?
Quantum of the Seas Bionic Bar
A robot arm walks into the bionic bar, and the bartender says, “I’m out of a job”. No joke, on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, the Bionic Bar is a sight to behold. Place your order on the screen and the bartender robots are excellent at muddling, stirring, shaking and straining your creation. Once completed, the drink is ready for you to claim via your wristband. Your perfect cocktail just slides across the bar into your hand. There are 30 different spirits and 20 different mixers, so you are unlikely to be stuck for an option. There’s the occasional breakdown and a bit of human ordering error to contend with, but the ship’s captain says the bionic bartenders are the most reliable staff on board. Of course, there’s no need to tip, either. The Bionic Bar was one of my favourite spots when I travelled on Anthem of the Seas from New York.
Here’s a bad bar joke to make your day – A grasshopper walks into a bar, and the bartender says, “Hey! We have a drink named after you!” The grasshopper replies, “Really? You have a drink named Steve?”
8 Royal Caribbean Bars you’ll need to try
- A ride with a drink – Take a ride on North Star and see the 360º views from 100 metres above sea level with a drink in hand. If there was ever a time for a cocktail, this is it, and their cocktail list is impressive.
- Smoothies or cocktails? – Relax in the Solarium with Sunshine Bar’s healthy fresh juice menu full of antioxidant-rich smoothies, or throw caution to the wind with a creative cocktail.
- Sipping by the Pool – You don’t have to move far from your pool lounger to enjoy a creamy piña colada, a colourful Mai Tai, or their coldie.
- Late night drinks – Latin-themed club Boleros is the after-dinner drink spot where there’s also a salsa-stepping (that’s the dancing kind of salsa, not the sauce!) party. Expect Brazilian caipirinhas, Cuban mojitos and classic cocktails with a six-piece band playing salsa, samba cumbia, and merengue.
- Wine lovers –Love wine? Head to Vintages, where you’ll find everything from Malbec and Merlot to Riesling and Pinot Grigio. Partnerships with top winemakers mean this bar has an enviable line up including exclusive bottles you won’t find anywhere else.
- Bionic Bar – If the bionic bar arm movements look a little like ballet, that’s because they are patterned after Marco Pelle from New York’s theatre ballet. Those artistic robot arms can produce two drinks per minute and up 1000 drinks per day. Making and testing the robotic bartenders took 41,6000 man-hours – that’s a lot of drinks!
- Nightclub at Two70 Bar – Live evening entertainment includes amazing multimedia visuals projected across a floor-to-ceiling wall of windows. As the night progresses, Two70® turns into a nightclub so the party can keep going strong.
- Schooner Bar – Guests can wrap up their night at Schooner Bar, where perfectly mixed cocktails and live entertainment come together in a warmly lit nautical-themed lounge.
Entertaining options
When you board Quantum of the Seas in Brisbane, you’ll discover there are many fun activities. The list includes outdoor rock climbing, indoor sky diving, wave boarding and more. Make sure you book ahead where you can, as the rides can be popular. My favourite when I travelled on Anthem of the Seas was the dodgem cars, although watching people try to surf on the Flow Rider surf simulator was very entertaining, as was the simulated sky diving. The gentle ride of North Star is more my style because you can do this experience with a cocktail in hand. The observation capsule is elevated on this long arm to give amazing views over the ship.
Dining on Quantum of the Seas
There’s also an impressive range of restaurants from top chefs, and you can get a good cappuccino, a hot dog and French pastries. While you can eat for free from the ship’s Windjammer restaurant and the main dining room, there are other places to add variety to your holiday. Chef’s Table is the chance to join up to 14 guests at a private table with a five-course wine pairing dinner hosted nightly by an Executive Chef and Sommelier.
I wanted to try Wonderland on my Anthem of the Seas cruise but missed out! It’s a chef’s surprise menu with what they describe as fantasy gourmet dishes. They had me at molecular dining experience but the Alice in Wonderland theme sealed the deal.
Try Chinese-themed The Hot Pot or answer your sushi craving at Izumi. Lovers of Italian food will find plenty to please them at Jamie’s Italian, which takes its name and inspiration from well-known chef Jamie Oliver. There’s also Chop’s Grille for steak lovers and a New York-style pizza to be found at Sorrento’s. There is really something for everyone.
Night-time entertainment includes a cast of vocalists, dancing and amazing multi-media productions.
Photos below: North Star and the view from inside North Star.
Flowrider on Anthem of the Seas
Quantum of the Seas Brisbane Itineraries
There are 18 Quantum of the Seas Brisbane cruises, ranging from a three-night sampler cruise to a nine-night South Pacific Cruise. Prices start at $487 per person. You can cruise up the Queensland coastline stopping at Airlie Beach, Cairns and Willis Island. Here are some things to do in and around Cairns. There also are cruises to the South Pacific, visiting places including Vila, Vanuatu, and Noumea, New Caledonia.
Dodgem cars on Anthem of the Seas.
Your stateroom
I found the room very comfortable when I travelled on Anthem of the Seas. I had a Seaview Stateroom, which had a balcony and a comfortable queen-sized bed. There was enough room to stow everything away, and you could walk around the room with ease. The balcony was quite spacious and a nice place to sit and relax with a bit of privacy.
The rooms on Quantum of the Seas will be similar, so the images below from Anthem of the Seas will give you an idea of what to expect. Quantum also features family-connected staterooms that are deal for multi-generational families. These staterooms have layouts that provide separate bedrooms and bathrooms to keep everyone in the family happy.
What can you do in Brisbane during your stay?
Brisbane is a great city to explore, and it’s not hard to get around. The city centre is very walkable with entertainment, shopping and park precincts within easy access. The city is linked by the Brisbane River and the ferries are a great way to travel. Here are some budget-friendly ways to explore Brisbane and the latest top things to do in Brisbane.
Where to stay in Brisbane?
Looking for somewhere to stay pre and post your Quantum of the Seas Brisbane cruise? Pick your hotel by your personality and tips on what to do and see around each location. Here’s how to pick your hotel by your personality.
