Royal Caribbean has been working hard, along with the rest of the cruise industry, to prepare its cruise ships for new air pollution rules set to go into effect in 2015.  The fear is these new laws will make North American cruises more expensive and so Royal Caribbean has been slowly rolling out a solution to its cruise ships that will aim to be compliant without being too expensive.

The new rules are part of the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA), which surrounds the United States and Canada and extends up to 200 miles offshore.

Royal Caribbean's plan is to add "scrubbers" to their ships.  Scrubbers remove pollutants from engine exhaust as a kind of filter.  The downside to scrubbers is the technology is still a work in progress and requires a variance permit from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Royal Caribbean is planning on installing scrubbers on Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas when they are built.  They've already been testing scrubbers on Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas and the EPA has granted trial exemptions for six Royal Caribbean ships.   In addition, it has authorized an “emissions averaging” solution in certain subregions of the ECA in which Royal can use fuels with differing sulfur levels, as long as the average equivalent sulfur emissions meet the ECA limits.

Royal Caribbean has been working hard, along with the rest of the cruise industry, to prepare its cruise ships for new air pollution rules set to go into effect in 2015.  The fear is these new laws will make North American cruises more expensive and so Royal Caribbean has been slowly rolling out a solution to its cruise ships that will aim to be compliant without being too expensive.

The new rules are part of the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA), which surrounds the United States and Canada and extends up to 200 miles offshore.

Royal Caribbean's plan is to add "scrubbers" to their ships.  Scrubbers remove pollutants from engine exhaust as a kind of filter.  The downside to scrubbers is the technology is still a work in progress and requires a variance permit from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Royal Caribbean is planning on installing scrubbers on Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas when they are built.  They've already been testing scrubbers on Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas and the EPA has granted trial exemptions for six Royal Caribbean ships.   In addition, it has authorized an “emissions averaging” solution in certain subregions of the ECA in which Royal can use fuels with differing sulfur levels, as long as the average equivalent sulfur emissions meet the ECA limits.

Royal Caribbean has reached an agreement with Steiner Leisure Limited to be the exclusive provider of spas, salons and fitness centers and related beauty, wellness and medi-spa services and products on Royal Caribbean vessels currently sailing, as well as the Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, scheduled to enter service in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Steiner Leisure President and Chief Executive Officer Leonard Fluxman spoke about some of the new innovations that will debut on Quantum of the Seas that will be "environment of firsts". Among these firsts is Vitality Powered by Technogym®, the first fitness center on board Royal Caribbean to feature the modern professional equipment from this industry leader.

Quantum of the Seas will feature a two-level, state-of-the-art Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center that offers two private fitness consultation rooms and a dedicated Flywheel™ indoor cycling studio, as well as our Smile Spa, barber shop, Thermal Suite, and relaxation lounge. Passengers will have the opportunity to choose from a comprehensive array of Elemis® face and body therapies, Bliss® treatments, and medi-spa services, performed in one of our 19 serene treatment rooms.

Fluxman commented on the new agreement, "For many years, we have enjoyed offering Royal Caribbean's guests our growing variety of healthful options for decompressing, revitalizing and luxuriating.  We look forward to being a memorable part of the vacation experience of Royal Caribbean travellers, and continuing our collaboration with this conceptually and stylistically innovative brand."

In addition to Quantum and Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean extended their original agreement with Steiner for all of its cruise ships through 2017. 

Royal Caribbean has reached an agreement with Steiner Leisure Limited to be the exclusive provider of spas, salons and fitness centers and related beauty, wellness and medi-spa services and products on Royal Caribbean vessels currently sailing, as well as the Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, scheduled to enter service in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Steiner Leisure President and Chief Executive Officer Leonard Fluxman spoke about some of the new innovations that will debut on Quantum of the Seas that will be "environment of firsts". Among these firsts is Vitality Powered by Technogym®, the first fitness center on board Royal Caribbean to feature the modern professional equipment from this industry leader.

Quantum of the Seas will feature a two-level, state-of-the-art Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center that offers two private fitness consultation rooms and a dedicated Flywheel™ indoor cycling studio, as well as our Smile Spa, barber shop, Thermal Suite, and relaxation lounge. Passengers will have the opportunity to choose from a comprehensive array of Elemis® face and body therapies, Bliss® treatments, and medi-spa services, performed in one of our 19 serene treatment rooms.

Fluxman commented on the new agreement, "For many years, we have enjoyed offering Royal Caribbean's guests our growing variety of healthful options for decompressing, revitalizing and luxuriating.  We look forward to being a memorable part of the vacation experience of Royal Caribbean travellers, and continuing our collaboration with this conceptually and stylistically innovative brand."

In addition to Quantum and Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean extended their original agreement with Steiner for all of its cruise ships through 2017. 

Royal Caribbean has reached an agreement with Steiner Leisure Limited to be the exclusive provider of spas, salons and fitness centers and related beauty, wellness and medi-spa services and products on Royal Caribbean vessels currently sailing, as well as the Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, scheduled to enter service in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Steiner Leisure President and Chief Executive Officer Leonard Fluxman spoke about some of the new innovations that will debut on Quantum of the Seas that will be "environment of firsts". Among these firsts is Vitality Powered by Technogym®, the first fitness center on board Royal Caribbean to feature the modern professional equipment from this industry leader.

Quantum of the Seas will feature a two-level, state-of-the-art Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center that offers two private fitness consultation rooms and a dedicated Flywheel™ indoor cycling studio, as well as our Smile Spa, barber shop, Thermal Suite, and relaxation lounge. Passengers will have the opportunity to choose from a comprehensive array of Elemis® face and body therapies, Bliss® treatments, and medi-spa services, performed in one of our 19 serene treatment rooms.

Fluxman commented on the new agreement, "For many years, we have enjoyed offering Royal Caribbean's guests our growing variety of healthful options for decompressing, revitalizing and luxuriating.  We look forward to being a memorable part of the vacation experience of Royal Caribbean travellers, and continuing our collaboration with this conceptually and stylistically innovative brand."

In addition to Quantum and Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean extended their original agreement with Steiner for all of its cruise ships through 2017. 

Royal Caribbean has reached an agreement with Steiner Leisure Limited to be the exclusive provider of spas, salons and fitness centers and related beauty, wellness and medi-spa services and products on Royal Caribbean vessels currently sailing, as well as the Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, scheduled to enter service in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Steiner Leisure President and Chief Executive Officer Leonard Fluxman spoke about some of the new innovations that will debut on Quantum of the Seas that will be "environment of firsts". Among these firsts is Vitality Powered by Technogym®, the first fitness center on board Royal Caribbean to feature the modern professional equipment from this industry leader.

Quantum of the Seas will feature a two-level, state-of-the-art Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center that offers two private fitness consultation rooms and a dedicated Flywheel™ indoor cycling studio, as well as our Smile Spa, barber shop, Thermal Suite, and relaxation lounge. Passengers will have the opportunity to choose from a comprehensive array of Elemis® face and body therapies, Bliss® treatments, and medi-spa services, performed in one of our 19 serene treatment rooms.

Fluxman commented on the new agreement, "For many years, we have enjoyed offering Royal Caribbean's guests our growing variety of healthful options for decompressing, revitalizing and luxuriating.  We look forward to being a memorable part of the vacation experience of Royal Caribbean travellers, and continuing our collaboration with this conceptually and stylistically innovative brand."

In addition to Quantum and Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean extended their original agreement with Steiner for all of its cruise ships through 2017. 

We're about 24 hours away from Royal Caribbean's big event in New York City to reveal more details about its newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas.  The special event will take place on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 10am eastern time, when Royal Caribbean will pull back the curtain a little more to share more about its latest cruise ship.

Quantum of the Seas is under construction in Germany at the Meyer Werft shipyard and there's lots of speculation as to what this ship will include.  Some experts are expecting two to three cruise ship enhancements that are not just new to Royal Caribbean, but to the cruise industry as well.  Some ideas of what these innovations could be include various multi-functional day-to-night public spaces, as well as state-of-the art environmental technologies.

We will provide live coverage of the event as well as any live video feeds that may be available.

We're about 24 hours away from Royal Caribbean's big event in New York City to reveal more details about its newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas.  The special event will take place on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 10am eastern time, when Royal Caribbean will pull back the curtain a little more to share more about its latest cruise ship.

Quantum of the Seas is under construction in Germany at the Meyer Werft shipyard and there's lots of speculation as to what this ship will include.  Some experts are expecting two to three cruise ship enhancements that are not just new to Royal Caribbean, but to the cruise industry as well.  Some ideas of what these innovations could be include various multi-functional day-to-night public spaces, as well as state-of-the art environmental technologies.

We will provide live coverage of the event as well as any live video feeds that may be available.

We're about 24 hours away from Royal Caribbean's big event in New York City to reveal more details about its newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas.  The special event will take place on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 10am eastern time, when Royal Caribbean will pull back the curtain a little more to share more about its latest cruise ship.

Quantum of the Seas is under construction in Germany at the Meyer Werft shipyard and there's lots of speculation as to what this ship will include.  Some experts are expecting two to three cruise ship enhancements that are not just new to Royal Caribbean, but to the cruise industry as well.  Some ideas of what these innovations could be include various multi-functional day-to-night public spaces, as well as state-of-the art environmental technologies.

We will provide live coverage of the event as well as any live video feeds that may be available.

Wonder how Royal Caribbean named its two newest cruise ships, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas?  Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein shared some insight into the process.

According to Goldstein, Royal Caribbean worked with a naming consultant that provided several different names to consider (probably the list looked a lot like these).  The names offered a few different takes on the ship name including experiential names, cosmopolitan names, leading edge names and more.  However, the name Quantum fit the tone Project Sunshine Steering Committee was looking for.

After each member of the team voted on paper, the consensus reached was almost unanimous to Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.

Goldstein feels that the names represent what the ships will hopefully offer guests, "The word anthem is defined as a song of praise and Anthem of the Seas is indicative of many of the best qualities and features of Royal Caribbean International. Quantum represents a step change in cruising and anthem is a song of praise for that step."