Royal Caribbean's public relations team is at the Meyer Werft ship yard this week to take a peek at the progress being made on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas.  Royal Caribbean Senior Account Executive Lyan Sierra-Caro posted a photo of the steel laser cutting process, which will likely be part of an upcoming preview for the new ship.

@ Meyer Werft ship yard ready to take a peek at #QuantumoftheSeas @RoyalCaribPR #buildingacruiseship pic.twitter.com/Keu3ZuUDEw

— Lyan Sierra-Caro (@lyan10) September 17, 2013

Quantum of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's next cruise ship that will be built and will have her first official cruise in November 2014.

Earlier today Royal Caribbean announced interior designer and HGTV Star Genevieve Gorder as the first Quantum Experience Advisor for Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.  This is the first in a series of videos documenting the process by which these advisors will help shape the Quantum class ships.

Royal Caribbean announced today that interior designer and HGTV star Genevieve Gorder is the first advisor for the design of Quantum of the Seas.  Gorder is the first member of the Quantum Experience Advisors program, that features a group of celebrity experts in fields such as design, sports & fitness, entertainment and others who will work hand-in-hand with Royal Caribbean’s internal teams to provide their expertise to help shape interior design, key amenities and activities on the Quantum-class.

The Quantum Experience Advisors is bringing these industry professionals in to help ensure every aspect of the guest experience has been maximized to the fullest extent.

Gorder will be tasked with being the Quantum Experience Advisor for Design.  Gorder is collaborating with Royal Caribbean’s newbuild and design team to offer insights and opinions and influence the décor and furnishings of the loft and suite accommodations onboard Quantum of the Seas.

Working in secret since May 2013, Gorder has reviewed plans, fabrics, carpets and furnishings for the ship’s luxurious accommodations.  Gorder and her team have helped to provide a more cohesive look and feel to the onboard suites and lofts.

Royal Caribbean Executive Vice President of Operations, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, commented on the announcement, "Our teams at Royal Caribbean are always leading the charge in terms of delivering innovative and industry-leading ships and programming and now, by teaming up with some of the brightest and most talented professionals in their respective fields, we are sure to make the Quantum-class some of the most amazing ships to ever set sail.  Guest experience is our number one priority and ourQuantum Experience Advisors are bringing fresh insights, opinions and perspectives to help us deliver the kinds of WOW moments that can only be found on Royal Caribbean."

Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas are set to debut in November 2014 and April 2015 respectively.

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas is blending robotics and entertainers to create thrilling shows in Two70. Robot arms move visuals as seamlessly as performers glide through the space giving guests an extraordinary experience.

Royal Caribbean's next three cruise ships, Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and a yet-to-be-named third Oasis class ship, will utilize processing technology supplier Metso DNA for its integrated alarm, monitoring and control systems.

Metso is being contracted by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, where the ships are being constructed.  Each ship will recieve integrated alarm, monitoring and control systems that are capable of producing 18,000 input/outputs in the machinery, air conditioning and emergency shutdown systems. The diesel electric power plant will also be managed by the system.

Previously Metso had provided the automation system components for Royal Caribbean's Radiance class of ships.

Photos of Quantum of the Seas' engines being delivered have surfaced on a photographer's web site, who appears to be working for the Meyer Werft shipyard.

Photo courtesy of Ingrid Fiebak Photography

Photo courtesy of Ingrid Fiebak Photography

Photo courtesy of Ingrid Fiebak Photography

The photos are dated for August 23, 2013 and look like the engines are now in place on Quantum of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean fans excitement for Quantum of the Seas has been pretty high since the first details of the ship were announced earlier this year and today we know one more detail about the ship.  Specifically, we know one feature that will not be on the brand new ship that is under construction.

In his monthy questions and answers, Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein confirmed there are no plans by Royal Caribbean to add a water slide to Quantum of the Seas.

When asked if Royal Caribbean has any plans to add water slides to any of its ships, Golsteing replied, "At this time we don’t have plans to build water slides; however, we will send this suggestion along to our New Build team."

Quantum of the Seas will begin sailing from the New York area in November 2014. Her sister ship, Anthem of the Seas, and a third Oasis Class ship will begin sailing in 2015 and we have a third Quantum Class ship on order.

We geeks are a passionate bunch, and one geek in particular decided to combine his passion for Royal Caribbean with his passion for the video game Minecraft.

Essentially, Minecraft is a building game similar to Legos, where people construct anything they can dream of with bricks.  Just like Legos, you have to do it one piece at a time.  A user named "Dasbouwer" built a 1:1 scale replica of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas in the game.

A thumbs up for the geeky cool factor!

The Bayonne City Council unanimously approved a loan to Royal Caribbean  to provide "non-recourse financing" for Royal Caribbean's plan to expand at Bayonne's Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor. 

Joe Ryan, Bayonne spokesman, indicated the city would act as "conduit" for the project funds, allowing Royal Caribbean to take advantage of the city's favorable financing rates for the $50 million project that includes a new terminal and parking facility.  The city council approved the request Wednesday night.

"(This deal) means we're not responsible for the debt," Ryan said. "So in this case the city is assisting with the application on behalf of Royal Caribbean, but we would not be responsible for handling the debt. Royal Caribbean is." 

In addition, Royal Caribbean will pay Bayonne a $250,000 application fee and $50,000 annually to monitor the financing. 

City officials estimate the new port facility will be finished just in time for the launch of Quantum of the Seas in November 2014.

Royal Caribbean will resume cruises to Barbados after removing all of its ships from the Southern Caribbean route last year.  

Barbados Tourism Minister Richard Sealy made the announcement after negotiations with Royal Caribbean that he characterized as "intensive".

Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas has been offering cruises back in May, will offer year-round service to the Southern Caribbean island.  In addition, Royal Caribbean's brand new Quantum of the Seas cruise ship that is under construction, will have incremental service starting in November 2014.

Sealy was excited about the news of Royal Caribbean's return, "I would like to think that the leadership of Barbados had something to do with that.  Certainly, the relationship with the port project would be part of it. But we have done our part."

Royal Caribbean had announced in March 2011 that it was leaving the island but then joined into a joint venture with Barbados to build a brand new state-of-the-art cruise terminal in Barbados that will cost over $300 million.