If there's one feature of Royal Caribbean's next-generation cruise ship that is just starting construction, Quantum of the Seas, that is capturing people's imagination the most, it's likely the virtual balconies.  These 80-inch LED screens attached to a wall are promising to deliver an innovative take on the inside cabin.  

Understandably, there's a lot of intrigue regarding this new kind of cabin and people want to know what it is exactly and what to expect.  We don't know everything quite yet, but here's a listing of all the information on virtual balconies that we do know in one place.

What is a virtual balcony?

The virtual balconies will be 80-inch LED projection screen that stretches from floor to ceiling.  They will offer digital real-time views of the ocean and destinations visible from the ship’s exterior.  

It will be displayed in high-resolution color on a giant 80-inch LED screen on the wall of an otherwise windowless stateroom.  It will work at sea and in port.

Will virtual balconies cost extra?

When they were announced, Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein said there will not be a specific surcharge for interior cabins with virtual balconies, but added that he hopes they will bring higher yields.

How many inside cabins on Quantum of the Seas will have virtual balconies?

There will be 373 inside cabins on Quantum of the Seas that will offer the virtual balcony feature.

Will any ships other than Quantum of the Seas have virtual balconies?

It's a safe bet sister ship Anthem of the Seas will have virtual balconies along with the unnamed third Quantum-class cruise ship Royal Caribbean has on order.  

In addition to those ships, Navigator of the Seas will receive virtual balconies as part of a previously planned refurbishment.  Navigator of the Seas will go for its refurbishment in December 2013. It is scheduled to sail from Galveston when the upgrades are complete.  Royal Caribbean will use Navigator of the Seas as the "testing ground" for this brand new innovation.

In addition to Navigator of the Seas, virtual balconies will be included as part of scheduled refurbishments for Voyager, Adventure and Explorer of the Seas.  Those ships are set to undergo the revitalization process in 2014-15.

Will the virtual balcony projection be on all the time?

No, you may turn the virtual balcony feature on or off at your convenience.

Where did Royal Caribbean come up with the idea for the virtual balconies?

According to Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain, they got the idea from Disney Cruise Line's virtual portholes that debuted on their ships a few years ago.

"We actually had looked at the idea, and we didn't think that the technology and the receptivity from the public was there," he says. Disney "proved that the public does value something like this."

It's August and Royal Caribbean news this week really heated up with lots of news and changes.  It's hard to pinpoint the biggest but if I had to pick one, it would be centered around Royal Caribbean's two newest ships.

On Friday, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas moved one step closer to being built...at the same time! Quantum of the Seas kicked things off with its official keel-laying, which officially begins formal construction of the ship.  

Right after that, Anthem of the Seas had her steel-cutting ceremony.  We're still about 18-24 months away from both ships taking passengers but it's starting to get exciting!

Royal Caribbean News

• What are Royal Caribbean's dress codes? We explored what to wear on your Royal Caribbean cruise.
• Have you ever tried this Royal Caribbean classic food, the honey stung chicken?
• Two new Royal Caribbean sales this week, starting with free drinks for kids and adults on cruises out of the UK.
• The other new sale is for North and South American cruisers who can get a balcony for the price of an oceanview cabin.
• We got a new glimpse at Quantum of the Seas' North Star mockup.
• Royal Caribbean is ending cruises that leave from France next year.
• Want to stay fit on your Royal Caribbean cruise? Check out our guide to the gym and exercise programs.
• Royal Caribbean followed through with their promise to release cruise crime data.

Join us for the first ever Royal Caribbean Blog Cruise!

We're so excited to announce the first ever group cruise for readers and staff of RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com aboard Quantum of the Seas!  This is an exclusive group where we are inviting you, our readers, to join us on one of the first Quantum of the Seas sailings on an 8-night cruise to the Caribbean.

This Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise is all about enjoying this brand new ship with other fans who are big fans of Royal Caribbean.  Don't miss this opportunity to check out the brand new cruise ship as well as be a part of exclusive events for those that book with our group!

For more details on booking the cruise, the itinerary and prices, check out the Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise page and if you have any questions, email me!

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

The Miami Herald's readers helped another reader who wanted the recipe for a salad dressing that was offered on Royal Caribbean cruises back in the 1980s.

Cruising with Kids? Fox News has a list of what the cruise lines do to accommodate children.

Speaking of kids, Royal Caribbean thinks cruising is a family affair and all generations can enjoy it together.

Just before Royal Caribbean celebrated the keel-laying of Quantum of the Seas today, another milestone was reached for another brand new cruise ship.  Sister ship Anthem of the Seas had her first steel-cutting at Meyer Werft shipyard's laser centre.

The steel-cutting for Quantum of the Seas took place in February 2013 and today's event is the next step for Anthem of the Seas, which has been relatively quiet in terms of news about her.  

Delivery of Anthem of the Seas is scheduled in the spring 2015.

UPDATE 11:09AM: Royal Caribbean President and CEO Adam Goldstein commented on the ceremonies for both Anthem of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas today, "Today is a very special day in the development of our new Quantum class, as we are now two steps closer to delighting guests around the world with Quantum cruising.  It’s incredibly rewarding to see Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas coming together so well, and today we not only honor these two very important milestones, but also recognize the years of hard work and dedication from the team developing these ships."

Today at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, Royal Caribbean held its keel-laying for Quantum of the Seas and put down a 430-ts block in place in the yard's covered building dock.

Royal Caribbean Executive Vice President Maritime, Harri Kulovaara, put down the lucky penny before the ship's block was lowered by the 800-ts crane.

The first of a total of 74 blocks of Quantum of the Seas weighs 430 tons. This keel-laying marks the official start of construction of the Quantum of the Seas. For the time being the 167,800-gt Quantum of the Seas is the biggest ship the shipyard has built so far.

Quantum of the Seas will be able to accommodate 4,180 passengers with 2,090 staterooms.  She will enter service in November 2014.

UPDATE: 11:11AM: Newly minted coins were placed under the keel which then stays in place until the end of construction. Once the ship is nearing completion the coins are retrieved and presented to the ship’s Captain and crew to be placed onboard the ship. According to maritime tradition, the coins are said to bring luck to the ship during its construction and then to its Captain and crew when she is at sea.

We've gotten word that later today construction will begin on Royal Caribbean's two newest cruise ships, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.

These two Quantum-class cruise ships will take steps forward in becoming a reality when at 1:00pm, Anthem of the Seas will have her steel cutting ceremony.  This will be followed by the official keel-laying for Quantum of the Seas at 2:00pm.  (We aren't sure if these times are local or eastern)

Both events will take place at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

Quantum of the Seas' keel-laying has been expected for some time now, as photos of what appears to be her keel popped up online.  Meanwhile, Anthem of the Seas' steel cutting will be the first substantial news we've heard regarding her since her name was announced.

Quantum of the Seas is scheduled for her first cruise in November 2014, with Anthem of the Seas offering her inaugural cruise sometime in Spring 2015.

As part of Royal Caribbean's agreement with a congressional hearing last week, crime data aboard its cruise ships, broken down by quarter, has been posted to the official Royal Caribbean website.

The data, which goes back to October 2010, is posted following a promise by Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein that he and his colleagues at Carnival Corp and Norwegian Cruise Line, will post their crime data voluntarily.

Royal Caribbean is posted the total number of incidents that were reported by passengers or crew in each category that is specified in the 2010 Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act. Those include sexual assault, theft greater than $10,000, tampering with the vessel, assault with serious injuries, kidnapping, missing U.S. nationals, suspicious death or homicide. The cruise lines are reporting rapes and other sexual assaults in two separate categories, though the government uses only a single category.

As an example, between April 1 and June 30, 2013, there 6 total crimes reported on Royal Caribbean ships.

• Theft of more than $10,000 (3 by crew, 1 unidentified)
• Rape (1 by crew, 1 by passenger)

“With the growing criticism about how effectively the government website is communicating our onboard rates, it just made good sense to try and take the argument out of the realm of ‘Gee, we wish we knew’ and really share very openly what the incident rates are,” said Gary Bald, a senior vice president at Royal Caribbean Cruises who oversees safety and security.

It is important to note that the statistics provided by Royal Caribbean are only allegations, not proven crimes.  Allegations alone are not proof that the incident actually occurred.

Royal Caribbean is offering those that book a cruise in the month of August a balcony upgrade for the price of an oceanview cabin.  A balcony stateroom will be available for the price of an ocean-view room on most ships, and an ocean-view category for the price of an inside stateroom.

Royal Caribbean is calling the deal, "Upgrade Your View" and applies to new, individual bookings on three- to 10-night Bahamas, Caribbean and Bermuda cruises departing September 1, 2013 November 1, 2013 through April 30, 2014.  The deal is open to residents of North America and South America.

The free upgrade deal is available on Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas.

Free upgrades to ocean-view rooms from inside cabins are available on Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas.

UPDATE 8/1: Sale is for cruises departing November 1, 2013 through April 30, 2014.  As for price program UPG at time of booking.  

More than ever, Royal Caribbean passengers are looking to stay active while on their cruise vacation and Royal Caribbean's fitness centers are more than just an after thought.  These gyms feature the latest equipment and programs to keep you lean and fit while at sea.  

Let's take a closer look at what Royal Caribbean offers and how you can take advantage of what's available.

Gym

The heart of Royal Caribbean's fitness offerings are the gyms found onboard their cruise ships.  Each gym offers passengers cardio and weight machines to get your heart pumping and muscles moving.  These self-paced machines are what you will typically find at your gym back home.  

The machines in the gym include treadmills, ellipticals, bench presses, free weights and more.  The amount and variety of machines vary from ship to ship, with the Freedom and Oasis class gyms offering the biggest gyms in terms of square footage and machines. On Oasis of the Seas, there's over 150 cardio machines.

Some ships also include other fitness options, such as a boxing ring on Freedom class ships.  There is also areas in the fitness center to stretch or do yoga on your own.  Other machines like spin bikes are available to use provided they are not needed for a scheduled class.

The machines and free weights at the fitness center are free and open to all passengers.  There is a posted age restriction requiring everyone in the gym be at least 16 years old.

Classes

Royal Caribbean offers on each of its cruise ships different exercise classes that you may join for a small fee.  These classes vary from ship to ship and sailing to sailing, but generally you can expect to find spin, yoga, and Pilates classes, as well as the services of a personal trainer.

Generally speaking, many of the exercise classes offered are usually held in the early morning hours but you can get a good idea of what will be offered and sign up for classes on the first day of your cruise.  A visit to the gym can get you a free tour as well as access to the schedule of classes.  You can sign up for classes a la carte or sometimes opt into a package deal to save a few dollars by booking multiple classes at once.

The classes offered unless otherwise indicated, are geared to passengers of all levels. 

Some of the classes offered

• Pathway to Yoga

  • 45 minutes
  • Prices starting at $12 per class
  • Must be 18 years or older
• Body Composition Analysis (BCA)
  • 30 minutes
  • Prices starting at $35 per class
  • Must be 18 years or older
• Body Sculpt Boot Camp
  • Prices starting from $120
  • Guests with heart or other health conditions should check with their physician first. You must be at least 18 years of age.
• Pathway to Pilates
  • 45 minutes
  • Prices start at $12 per class
  • Must be 18 years or older
• Individualized Personal Training
  • 60 minutes
  • Prices start at $85
  • Must be 18 years old
• Group Cycling
  • 45 minutes
  • Prices start at $12 per class
  • Must be 18 years old

Sports Deck

Staying fit on your Royal Caribbean cruise is not limited to being indoors.  Each cruise ship also has a sports deck to allow for outdoor exercise as well.

The jogging track is often a favorite for runners to get a few laps of running in and has a path for joggers and walkers. There's also an indication on the track how many laps equals one mile.  Use of the track is free and open at all times.  Oasis class ships feature the the largest jogging track at sea that is partly covered to protect from the elements.

Each Royal Caribbean ship also has a number of outdoor activities to enjoy, including rock climbing, basketball, volleyball,  and more.  Much of the activities on the sports deck are free if you do it on your own and organized games can be found throughout the cruise for team-based fun.

5k Races

Royal Caribbean has been offering a 5k race twice, with the next Royal 5k being offered on Allure of the Seas when the ship is docked in St. Maarten. 

For $25, passengers can take part in the race along with private meet-and-greet sessions with high-profile racing athletes, seminars and lectures with high-profile athletes, personal training tips from experts, and speed tests onboard the track on your ship.

Speaking of running, Royal Caribbean has even started its own running team called "Royal Caribbean Runners" and is mostly geared towards residents of the United Kingdom who want to combine their passion for running with cruising on Royal Caribbean.

Last week officials from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey approved a $70 million plan to expand the port to accommodate Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas and this new deal has some thinking that this could be the catalyst for the area becoming a tourist hub.

With the Royal Caribbean deal in place, the city of Bayonne may be on the verge of inking an agreement for the development of a new hotel and possible complex to accommodate incoming and outgoing passengers.

Bayonne officials say they have been working towards getting a hotel development near the cruise port for months, but negotiations hinged on moves by the Port Authority.

“The new Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal will provide the people of New Jersey and New York with the world-class travel experience they deserve,” said Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni. “We welcome the significant investment Royal Caribbean is making in our region and look forward to welcoming the Quantum of the Seas to her new home in our port.”

Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and be completed by October 2014. 

Citing a price war it cannot win, a new report points to Royal Caribbean opting to end cruises that start and end in Marseilles, France in the coming years and instead, let its Western Mediterranean cruises sail from Barcelona.

Mer & Marine is reporting that Royal Caribbean will end cruises that leave from France next year, after attempting to restart cruises from France in 2011.  

Royal Caribbean had opened an office in Paris back in 2011 but then laid off half the office in October 2012.  Indications are that cruises leaving from Spain were performing better than cruises departing France.

Liberty of the Seas will finish out the scheduled cruises she has remaining in Marseilles.