Port St. Maarten management and invited guests on Friday welcomed Royal Caribbean International’s new Quantum of the Seas, the third largest cruise ship in the world, to the destination for the first time on Friday, December 5th. The vessel has been debuted as the world’s first smart ship.
Royal Caribbean International took delivery of the newest addition to the cruise line’s fleet from Meyer Werft Yard, Germany on October 28, 2014.
Port St. Maarten Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo on Friday morning welcomed Captain of Quantum of the Seas Srecko Ban to St. Maarten along with his guests and crew. Mingo during the plaque exchange highlighted the importance of security and safety for cruise passengers and the industry which Port St. Maarten has heavily invested and promoted over the years. Cruise passengers present were happy to hear this and applauded.
CEO Mingo thanked Captain Ban for visiting the destination and added that the port has a 20-year strategic agreement with Royal Caribbean International.
Captain Ban thanked the St. Maarten delegation for their hospitality adding that the destination is one of the highlights in the Caribbean where cruise passengers just love the island. He pointed out the great cooperation that Royal Caribbean International has enjoyed with the port and looked forward to a continued great working relationship.
Representing the Minister of Tourism Hon. Ted Richardson was Chef de Cabinet Ludwig Ouenniche. Quenniche apologized for the minister not being able to attend the ceremony due to being away on business. He added that Government works very closely with Port St. Maarten in partnership for the positive development of the cruise sector on the island.
Perla Rombley, Executive Secretary of the Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association (DSTA) also presented Captain Ban with a token of appreciation after welcoming him and his guests and crew to the country, adding that DSTA will continue to offer the best service to its customers as they continue to call at Port St. Maarten.
Present for the welcome ceremony onboard Quantum of the Seas were stakeholders from the Tourist Bureau, DSTA, Water Taxi, Supervisory Board, Port St. Maarten officials, and representatives from the Police Force.
Quantum of the Seas welcomed her first guests on November 2nd in Southampton, United Kingdom and then took a trans-Atlantic voyage to her home port of Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne, New Jersey.
The new smart ship left New York harbour on her inaugural season cruise last month and will ply the Caribbean until May 2015 when the vessel moves to its home port of Shanghai (Baoshan), China.
“We were honored to welcome what has been classified as the smartest cruise ship afloat. Royal Caribbean International is one of our key stakeholders and partner cruise lines, and I congratulate them for their innovativeness and always keeping ahead to offer cruise passengers the best cruise experience that technology can offer. We are also proud to be on the itinerary of Quantum of the Seas for this season,” CEO Mark Mingo said on Friday.
Quantum-class ships are the world’s most technologically advanced in the world with a lot of bandwidth which allows the cruise line to offer unprecedented connectivity – 500 times more than any other cruise ship afloat. The systems are easy to use and it expands guest choices.
Quantum-class ships span 16 guest decks; weighs in at 167,800 gross registered tons; carries 4,180 guests at double occupancy; and features 2,090 staterooms.