Ovation Of The Seas

The 2016-built Ovation of the Seas cruise ship is the third Quantum-class Royal Caribbean liner, with sisterships Quantum OTS (2014) and Anthem OTS (2015). Of similar design are the Quantum Ultra-Class vessels Spectrum OTS (2019) and Odyssey OTS (2020).

The vessel (IMO number 9697753) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000397) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is a US passenger shipping company, a trademarked travel brand, and a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group (RCG/shipowner). Founded in 1968, RCI currently holds over one-fifth of the global cruise market and operates RCG’s largest fleet by both number of vessels and GT tonnage.

All RCI liners have names ending with “of the Seas”.

The 4200-passenger Ovation OTS is a Quantum-Class vessel and is significantly smaller in size compared to RCI’s Oasis-Class ships.

Decks and Cabins

Ovation Of The Seas staterooms (2091 total, in 33 grades) include 129 Suites, 1436 Balcony, 148 Oceanview, and 378 Inside cabins (including Virtual Balcony), as well as 28 Studios (Balcony and Interior). Most cabins measure 180-200 ft2 / 17-19 m2, while most balconies are about 55 ft2 / 5 m2. The largest accommodation is the Royal Loft Suite (1660 ft2 / 152 m2 plus a 620 ft2 / 58 m2 wraparound terrace). Wheelchair-accessible cabins total 22.

The ship has 16 decks, of which 15 are passenger-accessible and 9 contain cabins.

The “Royal Suite Class” booking category (suite accommodations only) offers the line’s highest-paying guests an all-inclusive experience, including exclusive Coastal Kitchen access, 24-hour personal butler service, included gratuities, all-inclusive beverages, complimentary Internet, and unlimited access to the thermal suite.

Ovation OTS also features RCI’s Virtual Balcony Interior cabins, fitted with floor-to-ceiling 4K UHD screens streaming real-time exterior views from onboard cameras. Compared to Oasis-Class ships, Quantum-Class liners offer larger staterooms, more connecting cabins for families, and additional Studio cabins designed for solo travelers.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Passengers aboard Ovation of the Seas can choose from a wide variety of dining venues, including multiple options for light bites. A total of 25 onboard dining venues are available, 14 of which are complimentary. Reservations for all restaurants can be made online in advance and, while not mandatory, are strongly recommended. The main dining rooms—Silk, Chic, American Icon, and The Grande—offer varied menus and distinct dining experiences.

Below is the complete list of Ovation of the Seas restaurants and food venues.

• The Grande (DreamWorks-themed breakfast, two fixed dinner seatings, and “My Time Dining”)
• Chic Restaurant (one of the four main dining rooms)
• American Icon Grill (one of the four main dining rooms)
• The Silk (Asian cuisine, one of the four main dining rooms)
• La Patisserie (specialty coffee and tea bar with fresh pastries and sweets)
• Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine
• Johnny Rockets (fast-food restaurant, complimentary)
• Kung Fu Panda Noodle Shop (a la carte Chinese noodle and dim sum venue). During the ship’s 2019 refurbishment, this venue was replaced by RCI’s specialty restaurant “Fish and Ships”, which debuted on Independence OTS as a poolside a-la-carte eatery serving British-style dishes such as battered cod, hand-cut fries, calamari, and draft beers.
• Windjammer Marketplace buffet (Early Breakfast from 6:30 am, Breakfast 7:00-11:30 am, Lunch 11:30 am-3:30 pm, Dinner 6:30-9:00 pm)
• Chops Grille (steakhouse and seafood)
• Prime (Chef’s) Table (14-guest gourmet private dining experience)
• Sorrento’s (Italian restaurant)
• Jamie’s Italian Restaurant (menu, deck 5), a 132-seat specialty trattoria operated in partnership with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver (surcharge applies)
• Izumi (73-seat Asian/Japanese restaurant)
• The Cafe at Two70 (casual dining marketplace)
• Coastal Kitchen (exclusive to Suite guests)
• Solarium Bistro (healthy dining menu “Devilishly Decadence”)
• SeaPlex Dog House (complimentary)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Ovation OTS, like all Quantum-Class ships, features signature attractions such as “iFly by RipCord” (a skydiving simulator, fee applies) and “North Star”, a jewel-shaped glass observation capsule that rises 300 ft / 92 m above sea level for panoramic views. North Star is available for an additional charge and can also be privately booked. At iFly by RipCord, guests are equipped with goggles, helmet, and jumpsuit for one-minute flight sessions. The ship also features the Bionic Bar, where robotic bartenders prepare cocktails ordered via tablet.

The first iFly by RipCord flight for each passenger is complimentary. The Royal Theater hosts the ship’s main production shows. Ovation of the Seas also offers the DreamWorks Experience, a themed entertainment program developed in partnership with the Walt Disney Company, featuring character meet-and-greets, themed activities, and family-oriented programming on select RCI ships.

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, Internet/WiFi access, supervised youth programs (Royal Babies, Adventure Ocean, Royal Tots, DreamWorks Experience), and laundry services.

Below is the complete list of Ovation of the Seas lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues.

• Royal Theater (3D movies, aerial acrobatics, Broadway-style productions)
• Music Hall (two-deck live entertainment venue)
• Two70 Lounge (three-deck observation lounge with live entertainment)
• Photo Gallery and Shop; SeaTrek Shop (diving equipment)
• Crown Lounge (formerly Diamond Club); Concierge Club and Lounge (suite and loyalty guests only)
• Amber and Oak Pub, Bionic Bar, North Star Bar, Boleros (Latin-themed lounge)
• The Via (retail and dining promenade on deck 5, part of the Royal Esplanade)
• Casino Royale; Card Room
• Outdoor Movie Screen
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center; 10 jacuzzis; 4 pools
• Solarium lounge and adults-only pool area; Solarium Bar
• Video Arcade; teen and youth venues; Royal Babies and Tots Nursery; Adventure Ocean; H2O Zone
• SeaPlex sports complex; North Star; FlowRider surf simulator; RipCord by iFly; Jogging Track; Rock-Climbing Wall

Retail Shops form a two-deck duty-free shopping arcade with a wide range of boutiques and brand-name stores, including Royal Caribbean merchandise, cosmetics, jewelry, watches, fashion, and accessories. Port Merchants is a general store offering convenience items, as well as liquor and tobacco.

Planned changes for the 2026 drydock refurbishment include a redesigned pool deck with private casitas, new dining concepts (Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen), and new lounges such as Pesky Parrot Bar and Sound Cellar.

Itineraries

Ovation of the Seas operates Southeast Asia cruises from Singapore and seasonal 7-day Alaska itineraries from Seward AK and Vancouver BC Canada. In summer 2025, the ship was redeployed to California, homeported in Los Angeles, offering Baja California cruises. For the 2026 season, a 4-night Los Angeles roundtrip itinerary visiting Santa Catalina Island and Ensenada was scheduled.

In summer 2019, Ovation OTS was deployed in Alaska as the first Quantum-Class ship in the region, homeported in Seattle WA, operating 7-day itineraries to Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria (BC Canada).

Ovation is Royal Caribbean's third Quantum-class liner, with younger “WOW” sisterships Quantum (2014) and Anthem (2015). RCCL also held an option to order a fourth Quantum-class vessel, as this was included in the original shipbuilding contract. During the early development phase, the Quantum class carried the project codename “Project Sunshine”.

Passenger cabins on all Quantum-class ships are approximately 9% larger than those on the world’s largest cruise ships – Harmony, Oasis and Allure, also part of Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Ovation features the new “virtual balcony” staterooms, offering a live camera feed of the passing scenery displayed on an 80-inch / 203 cm floor-to-ceiling HD LED screen. Other onboard “WOW” attractions include the DreamWorks Experience and a 3D movie screen. The ship was designed to be highly family-friendly and equipped with the latest high-tech systems available at the time.

On February 11, 2011, under “Project Sunshine”, shipowner Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) announced the order of a new vessel. This marked the introduction of an entirely new passenger ship class, the first unit (Quantum) being delivered in 2014. On February 29, 2012, RCCL ordered the second “Sunshine” ship – Anthem (launched in 2015).

On January 31, 2013, the new ship class was officially named “Quantum Class”. On the same day, the names of the first two vessels – Quantum and Anthem – were announced for the first time. The third vessel, Ovation, was launched in 2016 (float-out from dry dock on February 18). Her inaugural cruise (maiden voyage) took place on April 14, followed by the christening ceremony on June 24, with godmother Fan Bingbing.

On March 11, 2016, the vessel was officially delivered to RCI by Meyer Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. The delivery ceremony was attended by Richard Fain (RCCL’s CEO and Chairman) and Bernard Meyer (owner of Meyer Werft). After delivery, the ship departed the yard and was towed down the Ems River on a 26 mi / 42 km conveyance from Meyer Werft Papenburg to Eemshaven, Holland (North Sea), arriving on March 12 at approximately 6 pm. Sea trials followed shortly thereafter.

On April 11, 2016, the cruise ship arrived in Southampton, England and docked at Berth 101 (Western Docks). She remained in port for several days, after which she commenced the Suez Canal relocation voyage from the UK to China (Southampton to Tianjin). This 53-day itinerary, often described as a “world cruise”, was officially branded “Global Odyssey”. China departures from the homeport of Tianjin began in June 2016.

Among the notable facts is Royal Caribbean’s so-called “Chinese affair” – Ovation is the world’s first cruise liner purpose-built for the Chinese market, beginning operations in China and christened by a Chinese godmother, Fan Bingbing. Her appointment as godmother was announced on April 12. Fan Bingbing (born 1981) is a renowned Chinese actress, TV producer and pop singer. She has ranked in the top 10 of the “Forbes China Celebrity 100” list every year since 2006 and placed number one in 2013, 2014 and 2015. She is also the first Chinese celebrity ever selected to name a ship for an international cruise line.

On June 24, 2016, the vessel’s christening ceremony was held in Tianjin (seaport for Beijing). The ship’s godmother was actress Fan Bingbing, with her role officially announced on April 13, 2016. The naming ceremony was attended by Zinan Liu, President of RCI’s China and North Asia Pacific division. In 2016, Ovation joined Quantum, Legend, Mariner and Voyager in China, making Royal Caribbean the cruise company with the largest fleet operating in the Chinese market at the time.

During Ovation’s 2016 Asia season (homeported in Tianjin and Hong Kong), RCI partnered for the first time with local culinary experts to introduce more than 20 signature Chinese dishes onboard. These included fried scallops, pan-fried fresh shrimp, fish fillets with corn and steamed chicken. Ship menus were also redesigned with a picture-oriented layout for easier and more appealing reading.

The list of the ship’s revolutionary new “WOW” features includes:

• Two70° – a lounge with a 270° panoramic view, incorporating a café and ice bar. At night, it transforms into a venue for nouveau-cirque-style productions and a disco club.
• Bionic Bar – capable of producing up to two drinks per minute, using two robotic arms to prepare mixed beverages (muddled, stirred, shaken and strained). Orders are placed via tablets or smartphones and displayed on large LED screens. The system uses 30 different spirits and 21 mixers (8 sodas, 6 juices, 3 syrups, sugar, mint, limes and lemons).
• SeaPlex – a multifunctional complex featuring a roller-skating arena, full-size basketball court, bumper cars and a casual-dining “food truck”.
• RipCord by iFLY – Royal Caribbean’s skydiving simulator.
• North Star – a complimentary observation tower on the top deck, with a glass-walled capsule mounted on a rotating arm that lifts small groups of guests up to 300 ft / 91 m above sea level.
• RFID wristbands – introduced as an optional replacement for traditional SeaPass cards, enabling stateroom access and onboard purchases.

On April 13, 2016, Royal Caribbean announced that internationally acclaimed actress Fan Bingbing would serve as godmother of Ovation of the Seas. The announcement was made by Dr Zinan Liu, President of Royal Caribbean International China and North Asia Pacific, at a press conference in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. Fan Bingbing officially named the ship during the inaugural ceremony on June 24, 2016, in Tianjin, China.

Ovation OTS refurbishments review

Drydock 2021

In March 2021, Ovation OTS entered a routine five-year technical drydock at Singapore’s Tuas Shipyard.

Drydock 2026

In March–April 2026, the ship is scheduled to undergo a major refurbishment in Singapore as part of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Amplified fleet renovation program.

The project includes the addition of 40 new staterooms on decks 5, 9, 12, 13 and 16. Most will be located on decks 12, 13 and 16, replacing portions of public areas such as the Conference Center, Concierge Club (Suite Lounge) and part of the Fitness Center. Nineteen new staterooms on decks 5 and 9 will take space from technical areas and the Photo Gallery.

Casino Royale will be expanded by taking space from the lower level of the Music Hall (deck 3).

The Music Hall’s upper level (deck 4) will be converted into a nightclub, while Le Patisserie will be replaced by a Starbucks bar.

A new Pesky Parrot Bar will replace the Bionic Bar on deck 5.

The Wonderland restaurant will be replaced by Izumi Teppanyaki on deck 12.

Jamie’s Italian will be replaced by Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen on deck 5.

The Concierge Club will be relocated from deck 12 to deck 14, replacing The Living Room (teen club).

Inaugural itineraries 2016

The ship’s initial deployment regions and exact itineraries were officially announced at the end of March 2015, confirming that Ovation would be homeported in China (Tianjin–Beijing).

Following her April 2016 launch, Ovation of the Seas began operations with an almost “around-the-world” 52-night repositioning voyage, officially titled “Global Odyssey”, sailing from Southampton to Tianjin via the Suez Canal. The maiden repositioning was divided into several shorter itinerary segments. Prior to her relocation to Asia, the ship offered three round-trip cruises from Southampton, England:

• April 14, 2016 – 3-night inaugural cruise to Holland, calling at Rotterdam
• April 17–22, 2016 – 5-night cruise to France and Belgium, visiting Cherbourg, Le Havre (Paris) and Zeebrugge
• April 22–29, 2016 – 7-night cruise to France and Spain, visiting Gijon, Bilbao, Le Havre (Paris) and Cherbourg
• June 28, 2016 – 5-night inaugural China cruise, round-trip from Tianjin to South Korea and Japan, calling at Busan and Nagasaki
• November 30, 2016 – 15-night Asia-to-Australia repositioning cruise from Singapore to Sydney, with calls at Fremantle–Perth (first-ever Australian port of call), Adelaide and Hobart (Tasmania)
• December 16, 2016 – 15-night inaugural Australia cruise, round-trip from Sydney to New Zealand, visiting Hobart (Tasmania), Fiordland National Park, Dunedin, Wellington, Picton, Tauranga and Auckland

Itineraries 2017 changes

On April 4, 2016, Royal Caribbean announced that Ovation would return to Australia for a second season in 2017–2018. The ship’s maiden 2016–2017 Australian season was also extended with four additional itineraries. In June 2016, during Ovation’s maiden call at Singapore, RCI confirmed that the ship would be homeported in Singapore for her 2017 season. Adding Ovation to Voyager (May 2017) and Mariner (October 2017) increased the line’s passenger capacity in Southeast Asia by 30% compared to 2016. Other Royal Caribbean ships operating in Australia during 2017–2018 included Explorer, Radiance and Voyager.

As part of the 2017 season extension, four new Royal Caribbean Australia cruises from Sydney were added:

• 5-night Tasmania cruise from Sydney (January 23, 2017), from USD 960 pp
• 12-night New Zealand and South Pacific / New Caledonia / Mystery Island cruise (January 28, 2017), from USD 2320 pp
• 8-night Tasmania and South Australia cruise (February 9, 2017), from USD 1600 pp
• 3-night “Cruise to Nowhere” from Sydney (February 17, 2017), from USD 600 pp
• Note: These itineraries are currently not included in the ship’s official schedule.

At the end of May 2016, RCI also added six additional round-trip Australian cruises for 2018, all departing from Sydney:

• 8-night Sydney to South Pacific Islands cruise (February 18, 2018), from USD 1450 pp
• 5-night Sydney to Tasmania cruise (March 8, 2018), from USD 1050 pp
• 3-night “Cruise to Nowhere” from Sydney (March 23, 2018), from USD 670 pp
• Two 10-night round-trip Sydney to New Zealand cruises (departures March 13 and 26, 2018), from USD 1820 pp
• 14-night relocation cruise from Australia to Asia (one-way Sydney to Singapore), departing March 26, 2018, from USD 2070 pp

Ship Facts

• Vessel width: 162 ft (49 m); waterline width: 136 ft (41 m)
• Virtual balcony LED screen: 80-inch 4K (ultra high-definition)
• Jogging track length: 436 ft (133 m)
• North Star height: 300 ft (92 m); rotation cycle: every 15 minutes
• SeaPlex bumper cars: 15 units
• Per voyage provisioning: 25 tons of fresh fruit, 36 tons of fresh vegetables, 10 tons of fish, 79,000 eggs, 22,200 L of still water and 12,000 L of sparkling water
• Construction materials: 37,000 tons of steel and 346 tons of glass; total labor: 41,600 man-hours
• Main engines: two Wärtsilä 12V46F diesel engines (14,400 kW each), two Wärtsilä 16V46F diesel engines (19,200 kW each), and two Caterpillar 3516C HD engines (2,500 kW each)
• Diesel-electric propulsion: two ABB Azipod XO units (20.5 MW each) and four Brunvoll bow thrusters (FU115, 3,500 kW each)
• Signature feature: a giant top-deck “Mama and Baby” panda statue, weighing approximately 6.5 tons combined; Mama panda height 10 m (33 ft), Baby panda height 3 m (10 ft)
• Ship’s Captain: Henrick Loy

All Quantum-class ships do not feature a Viking Crown Lounge or an ice-skating rink. There are also notable differences in the Royal Promenade layout. Entertainment concepts are entirely new, featuring numerous “firsts at sea” highlighted in Royal Caribbean’s promotional materials.