The luxury cruise ship 'Quantum of the Seas' illuminates the ocean with Elation's Led technology

The new ship of the luxury cruise multinational Royal Caribbean, with the name 'Quantum of the Seas', has trusted the technology of Elation Professional and Acclaim Lighting for the installation of video systems and architectural and spectacular lighting, with the deployment of more than seven hundred energy-efficient LED devices.

The floating of 'Quantum of the Seas' last September, flagship of the cruise company Royal Caribbean, has not gone unnoticed, as it is not only the third largest ship for this market segment in the world, which can accommodate a maximum of 4.900 passengers, but for its latest generation technological commitment to the service of their comfort and entertainment..

In the cruise environment, a fundamental element is entertainment options, which in the case of 'Quantum of the Seas' reach the highest level. As already mentioned Digital AV Magazine, among other boat shows, highlights an audiovisual and dynamic one composed of LED screens of 100 inches mounted on robotic arms, that follow the rhythm of light and music.

Besides, passengers have a skydiving simulator, as well as a striking attraction, called North Star, that elevates passengers in a cabin more than a hundred meters above the ocean; Bumper cars with spectacular lighting and even robots that serve drinks to passengers.

Smart cruise’

On the other hand and no less fundamental, 'Quantum of the Seas' has been designed with the intention that all its elements are energy efficient; Hence it has been described as the 'world's first smart cruise'.
Its construction has been carried out at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.. The integration of the lighting and video systems of more than forty public areas of the ship correspond to the company ASC, very important elements of this floating installation.

Christopher Vlassopulos, Architectural lighting manager for Royal Caribbean, has been responsible for coordinating the design and characteristics of all the equipment, including lighting, for the ship's numerous recreational and leisure areas, with the challenge of achieving the greatest energy efficiency in lighting systems based on Led technology.

“The main reason we are using so many LED systems on ‘Quantum of the Seas’ – explains Vlassopulos- It is due to a Royal Caribbean directive recommending the use of as few incandescent lamps as possible on board cruise ships.. This would have been very difficult to achieve just three years ago., But today it is possible to practically completely eliminate this type of device.”.

The result of this LED-based energy policy is significant savings “of many thousands of dollars,” says this official.- when we value the useful life of all Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and in this aspect, ‘Quantum of the Seas’ is already benefiting from this reduction in maintenance costs of the lighting installation”.

The ship left the German shipyard last October and, As Vlassopulos assures “if the lighting were based on incandescent lamps, In these five months I should have changed practically all of them.
 This is not only a considerable savings, “But it also frees up the technical team so they can dedicate their work to other activities.”.

Another aspect that the company has taken into account has been the visibility of the lighting fixtures in the ship's leisure spaces.
“In the Two70 area, For example, All devices are located in highly visible areas, and you don't want to have to change lamps when there are clients circulating in the area at any time of the day. We avoid this thanks to Led systems”, points out the head of architectural lighting for Royal Caribbean.

The savings also extend to the reduction in electrical current wiring and not having to use brightness regulation dimmers.
 Added to this is the drastic reduction of the heat emitted by the lighting system thanks to Led technology., which results in less use of the air conditioning system and fuel savings on the boat.

Technological partner in Led lighting

For the 'Quantum of the Seas' lighting project, Those responsible carefully assessed what type of LED systems were the most appropriate and the direct collaboration with the manufacturer. The choice of systems Elation Professional (whose products are sold exclusively in Spain visualsvisuals), with the installation of more than seven hundred lighting and video products, along with Acclaim Lighting it was clear.

“The Elation team has been very helpful. The design and the lighting and video systems that they proposed have been perfectly integrated and we have been able to specify exactly what each space needed.. “I greatly value this close collaboration.”, Vlassopulos points out.

Zona Two70

One of the biggest attractions on the ship is the Two70 zone, a multi-functional space of various heights located in the stern.
During the day it is used as a rest area and has a large window that provides panoramic views of the ocean, while at night it is an ideal place for shows with performances, which take place in front of a large video projection that transforms the windows into a striking visual stage.

To illuminate this area, the Elation Platinum Wash ZFX Pro systems have been installed., Satura Spot Led Pro, Platinum Spot Led Pro II, as well as the Platinum Beam 5R Extreme type moving head, that are used daily in the 'Starwater' shows, with lighting design by Alex Picotte, and in 'The Virtual Concert', by Susan Rose.
 As there is no standard stage in this area, most of the luminaires are located directly above the audience.

This last lighting designer explains that her show “is based on a concert and I use lighting to create that feeling.”. The Elation Led systems work perfectly and I have even had to reduce their intensity a little so that they were more integrated with the video screens. Platinum Beam 5R Extreme is the only non-Led moving head in this space and I only use it at a 20% of its intensity.".

Zona Royal Theater

With a capacity for 1.300 spectators, In this theater on the ship, versions of musicals such as 'Mamma Mia' are performed.!’ o ‘Sonic Odissey’, in which Led moving heads are used such as Elation Platinum Wash ZFX Pro and Satura Spot Led Pro, as well as static systems such as the Eled QA bar and Design Brick 70 II RGBWA from this manufacturer.

For lighting effects, moving heads with Elation Platinum Beam 5R Extreme and Platinum Spot 35R Pro discharge lamps were chosen., In this space a central LED video screen has been installed (of 11x 6 metros), along with two screens also with this smaller technology (6×2 metros) for which Elation EPV20 Led modules are used.

Zona Music Hall

Configured on two floors, Music Hall is the space where passengers can enjoy various activities during the day, like dance and cooking classes, although at night it becomes the center of the ship's nightlife thanks to live musical performances.

With capacity for four hundred people, This area has been illuminated with Platinum Spot LED Pro II, Platinum Wash ZFX Pro y Design Brick 70 II.

Royal Esplanade area

It is a shopping gallery full of shops, restaurants and bars, that runs the length of the ship, providing passengers with a leisure and shopping area.
Platinum Wash Led Zoom and Platinum Spot Led Pro II have been installed throughout this gallery to offer different lighting environments throughout the day.

These systems also play an important role in the lighting of the parade that takes place every night and features singers performing., dancers and even part of the crew.

Zona SeaPlex

The largest interior space on the ship, Sea Plex, Used for sports and active entertainment activities, which includes a circus school, bumper cars, a basketball court, an area to play soccer and another to skate, in addition to being used for special events.

SeaPlex has a DJ booth that is located on an extendable mechanical arm that is activated when there is a music and dance event.
One end of this space has an LED display made up of Elation EPV6 modules to show visual content during sporting and musical events.. The Platinum Spot Led Pro II and Design Wash Led Pro moving heads have been installed on the ceiling of this area..

Pool and crew decks

Specific lighting equipment for outdoor architectural applications has been installed in numerous areas of the ship, such as the pool area, the crew deck and where outdoor sports are practiced.
Elation Elar systems 108 RGBW provide different lighting effects in this area at night.

The inaugural season of 'Quantum of the Seas' will be between New York City and the islands of the Caribbean Sea, to later land in China in the spring of this year.
Two more new Royal Caribbean cruise ships will soon take to the seas with a spectacular architectural lighting and video installation by Elation Professional and Acclaim Lighting: ‘Anthem of the Seas’, during this year, y ‘Ovation of the Seas’ en 2016.