Quantum of the Seas

Los Angeles, say hello to what might just be your new best friend

Quantum of the Seas launched a completely new era for Royal Caribbean in 2014. It was the first-ever Quantum-class ship for the cruise line, introducing some of the biggest and best entertainment at sea and setting the stage for future ships like Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas. 

It’s safe to say that Quantum of the Seas was a groundbreaking achievement when it launched over ten years ago, and it continues to be a great ship that has made its mark in cruise history. Does it still hold up in the year of our lord 2025? Oh yes, even with a few changes to its itineraries debuting this year and beyond.

What we like about Quantum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean©

This is one of the ships that proved cruise ships could, in fact, be theme parks at sea. Or, as we like to say, mega-resorts on the ocean, like small Disney Worlds floating in the Atlantic. Even ten years later, the amount of things you can do on Quantum of the Seas is wild.

It’s still one of the few Royal Caribbean ships with an indoor skydiving simulator, a multifunctional entertainment venue called Two70, roller skating, bumper cars, a basketball court, an observation capsule that takes you 300 feet above sea level, a bionic bar, and a small waterpark with slides for little kids. Let me catch my breath, phew. There isn’t a major waterpark with big slides for adults, but there’s so much entertainment onboard that you probably won’t even see it all in just one week.

The number of entertainment options for families is top notch, and if you’re traveling with children, especially those up to ten years old, this is a great ship. They’ll have tons of things to do and see, like we mentioned above, and we haven’t even talked about the arcade, the Kids Club, the rock climbing wall, and the FlowRider. If we tried to list everything this ship offers for families, this review would probably be tens of thousands of words long.

Let’s also say that this ship comes with some pretty great prices. It’s one of the few that sails predominantly from Los Angeles, offering some cool itineraries to Mexico. It’s awesome to see our West Coast friends getting some love, especially since most of the newest cruise ships tend to sail from Florida. A quick 2-night cruise starts at around $260 per guest, while a 6-night Cabo and Ensenada cruise starts at just $410. Not bad, considering how much there is to see and do once you’re onboard.

What we don’t like about Quantum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean©

As is often the case with mega-resorts at sea, this is a massive ship built for around 4,000 passengers, and it can definitely feel crowded at times. Long lines are common, especially at the buffet, and it’s not unusual for some events to sell out quickly. The bumper cars, for instance, often have a pretty long wait.

There are also a few small issues that pop up here and there, possibly due to the ship’s age and the need for some refurbishment. That includes things like water pressure problems in some bathrooms or the Royal Caribbean app crashing unexpectedly. Hopefully these are addressed soon, because the ship’s overall design is still modern, fun, and full of potential.

The food is mostly okay and in line with what you’d expect from other mainstream cruise lines. Complimentary options are fairly average, and we do wish the buffet had a bit more variety. That said, there are some solid specialty restaurants onboard, like Chops Grille.

Conclusion

Quantum of the Seas is starting to show its age a little, but it’s still a super fun cruise ship. It’s the definition of a great family vacation and a perfect option for a quick 4-night getaway to Mexico. There’s a staggering amount of things to do onboard, making it a great way to enjoy some quality time with your little ones before upgrading to ships like Icon of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas.