By
Rebecca Gibson |
Royal Caribbean International has partnered with the Imperial Palace Museum (the Palace Museum) in China to bring traditional Chinese artwork to Ovation of the Seas.
As part of the agreement, experts from different research fields selected by the Palace Museum will be invited to give lectures about Chinese history and culture to guests on Ovation of the Seas. The museum will also act as a consultant for the ship’s interior décor and art programme, providing signature pieces from its collection for onboard displays and auctioning artwork created by its in-house artists.
“We are proud of the extensive collection of art and relics that represent the imperial treasures of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and it is our goal at The Palace Museum to showcase the traditional Chinese culture to people all over the world,” said Shan Jixian, director of the Imperial Palace Museum. “This partnership with Royal Caribbean International and our programmes on Ovation of the Seas will help to further these objectives. We are excited to promote the rich heritage of the Forbidden City and China to the guests of the world’s largest global cruise line and we hope to continue to expand on these efforts.”
Ovation of the Seas – which translates as ‘praising the world and welcoming guests from everywhere’ in China – is Royal Caribbean’s third Quantum-class ship and will debut in April. She will be the first of the line’s ships to homeport in China immediately after delivery when she begins sailing from Tianjin in June after a 53-day ‘Global Odyssey’ voyage from Southampton, UK.
Currently under construction at the Meyer Werft yard in Germany, Ovation of the Seas will offer many of the features found onboard her sister ships Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas. These include the North Star, an observation capsule that extends more than 300ft above the ship; the Two70 entertainment venue; robotic bartenders in Bionic Bar; Sea-Plex, the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea; the RipCord by iFLY indoor skydiving experience, and the industry’s first Virtual Balcony staterooms, which offer real-time views of the ocean for those sailing in interior staterooms.
“Cruising is becoming increasingly popular with Chinese travellers and Royal Caribbean’s award-winning and state-of-the-art ships are very appealing to those consumers looking for a high-quality vacation experience,” said Zinan Liu, president of North Asia Pacific and China at Royal Caribbean. “Quantum of the Seas has been very well received by our Chinese guests and we are excited to now bring Ovation of the Seas to Tianjin. Sailing two of the world’s newest and most technologically advanced ships in China demonstrate our leadership and commitment to the market and this partnership with the Palace Museum showcasing China’s rich heritage will bring yet another unique element to our vacation offering.”