We're counting down the days until Royal Caribbean's next cruise ship debuts, Quantum of the Seas, with our 99 days of Quantum countdown.  Each day we will post something about this amazing new ship.

Music Hall

An under-appreciated new feature coming to Quantum of the Seas has to be the Music Hall.  It's a dedicated venue for passengers to enjoy intimate and exclusive access to live performances.

Royal Caribbean describes the design as "rebellious and edgy" and when there isn't a live act performing, there will be dance classes and improv workshops.  

At night, the Music Hall will live up to its name with bands, musicians and DJs playing music for all to enjoy.

Music Hall will span two decks (decks 3 and 4) and was inspired by "the spirit of rock and roll". There's rich tones and lots of leather and mirrors.

Music Hall is purposely designed for unobstructed views of a raised main stage, creating optimal views from any area, including the balconies on a mezzanine level.

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The second level will feature a Royal Caribbean signature, multiple self-leveling billiard tables.

Music Hall feels like the evolution of the live music venues we've come to enjoy on many Royal Caribbean ships and bring the best elements of each to create a really fun dedicated venue for those that want to enjoy great live music.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Quantum!

Royal Caribbean is teasing a new Quantum of the Seas event that will reveal the technological advances of this cruise ship next week.

The event will take place on Monday, August 25, 2014 at 10am Eastern time.

No other information about this has been released or announced yet but it will be another big event following the entertainment and dining reveals earlier this year.

James Beard award-winning Chef and Royal Caribbean Quantum Experience Advisor Michael Schwartz is not only serving up good food but authentic local brews. Chef Schwartz travels to Alabama where his signature Michael Genuine Home Brew is crafted that will be served up onboard Quantum of the Seas.

In the past few days, Royal Caribbean released an updated Quantum of the Seas cutaway and also announced its art collection for the ship.  Putting both together, we can now get a better idea of what to expect on the ship.

Blog reader Victor Sacal analyzed the new cutaway to look for what's new and the art work featured in the cutaway stood out.

In total, there are 10 art pieces you can now spot in the Quantum of the Seas cutaway.

1. Head (Via corridor)
2. "Waves of Light" (Via Rotunda)
3. Crossing (Aft elevator lobby wall)
4. Photography (American Icon Grill)
5. Photography (American Icon Grill)
6. Photography (American Icon Grill)
7. Andy Warhol Self Portrait (Aft stairs)
8. Diver (Aft Stairs)
9. From Afar (Outside SeaPlex)
10. Painting on oil (Vintages)

The Via Corridor, and The Via Rotunda is the space between the Aft elevators and two70.

Royal Caribbean has updated its Quantum of the Seas ship cutaway, which shows off many venues on the ship and gives a good indication of where everything is relative to ship.

Thanks to Victor Sacal for sending us a copy of this.  Among other new things the giant magenta bear has been added so this cutaway is as up-to-date as we have.

The full cutout is 8 megabytes (!) in size so you can download it here if you wish to see it in all its glory.

We're counting down the days until Quantum of the Seas debuts later this year with our 99 days of Quantum blog series. Each day we will post something about Quantum of the Seas to share with all of you!

Sonic Odyssey

Royal Caribbean's onboard entertainment has always been a strength and on Quantum of the Seas we will get a brand new show called Sonic Odyssey that will be unlike anything else we've ever seen at sea.

Set in the Royal Theater, the show is inspired by William Close, an amazing musician and innovator who is best known for his many one-of-a-kind instruments.  There's the Drum Cloud, Violin Dress and Royal Gong just to name a few of these new creations.

READ YESTERDAY'S POST ALL ABOUT WONDERLAND

Sonic Odyssey is centered around an Earth Harp, which is the largest stringed instrument on the planet.  The body of the instrument rests on the stage and the strings travel out over the audience attaching to the back of the theater, turning the theater into the instrument.

The show itself will include a nine-piece orchestra, singers, dancers, aerialists and gymnasts to perform in and around the audience. Royal Caribbean designed Sonic Odyssey to not be conventional but instead be something special guests have likely never experienced before.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Quantum!

To countdown the launch of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, we're blogging about one aspect of the ship each day for 99 days. Check back each day for something exciting to read about this new ship.

Wonderland specialty restaurant

Most people were expecting some new restaurants for Quantum of the Seas but I'm not sure anyone was fully prepared for Wonderland.

Royal Caribbean describes Wonderland as, "an elaborate feast for the senses in a setting where Royal Caribbean chefs twist their culinary kaleidoscopes to invent a dreamscape of never-before-seen fare".  When I try to describe Wonderland to someone, I basically say take everything you know about a restaurant and turn it upside down because Wonderland bends the realities of what a restaurant is.

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Wonderland is named after the place Alice visits from the tale of Alice in Wonderland.  Just like in the book, guests enter a place where nothing is what it seems and the chefs have taken time to create a gastronomic experience that is inventive and elaborate.

The creativity with Wonderland is what caught my eye during a Quantum of the Seas dining event in New York City earlier this year.  Royal Caribbean has really tried to create something completely unique and the result was a restaurant I cannot wait to visit over and over again.

Before you even sample a morsel of food, you will be dazzled by the room itself.  It's odd in an eccentric kind of way but the experience of eating here is an adventure in itself.  Royal Caribbean is using color, sclae and reflection to really create something original.

In terms of food, it's bleeding-edge modern cooking that is categorized by theme rather than course.  Wonderland features a variety of flavors, textures, temperatures and portion sizes, each presented in a non-traditional, progressive and creative fashion.  Did I mention this place is different?

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Quantum!

Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, succesfully floated out of Meyer Werft shipyard building after a few weather delays.

Check out our photo gallery below of the float out.  Images are provided by and copyright Alamy Live News.

Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas will be floated out this morning at around midnight eastern.

Watch the live stream right here when it begins

Royal Caribbean announced today that its newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, will include a multi-million dollar art collection themed “What Makes Life Worth Living”.

It's hard to miss the 30-foot-tall magenta polar bear situated prominently on the exterior deck of the ship. The bear isa sculpture created by Denver-based artist Lawrence Argent.  It's titled "From Afar" and is comprised of 1,340 stainless steel triangles, weighs approximately eight-tons and is intended to incite wonder among guests, encouraging them to admire the bear from afar, as well as interact with it on a more intimate, yet whimsical level. 

Other works of art including a monumental installation called “Crossing” which encompasses a wall of 210 butterflies representing 30 species, each made of aluminum, stainless steel, acrylic and enamel by Paul Villinski.  There's also a sprawling, undulating structure titled “Waves of Light,” which explores the light’s potential as a structural element by Soo Sunny Park.

Sister cruise ship Anthem of the Seas artwork will uncover the tangible aspects of the theme such as adventure, entertainment and nature.

Pieces by these artists and others span size, art forms and mediums, and can be enjoyed both inside and outside the ship.