After last year’s so-so week-long cruise on Harmony of the Seas with RAS, I honestly didn’t think I would board another Royal Caribbean ship, unless someone paid me.  Even though I expected crowds and the inevitable upselling for experiences and anything at every turn, it was a less than satisfactory experience. That was due to: the food (besides the specialty dining dinners) being substandard, visiting two out of the three scheduled ports due to rough seas, and having that throng being more overwhelming than I had expected.

But I decided to give Royal another try, because of the short cruise itinerary out of Los Angeles and the prospect of writing an article about this growing trend. I find the most common reason non-cruisers don’t want to get on a ship is the length of most sailings, which is often seven days. Judging by what I’m observing on Quantum of Seas here, cruise lines are taking notice and adding more of these three- and four-day options.

I must admit this ship is slightly more elegant and streamlined than Harmony, and that is likely because it was originally designed for an Asian clientele. Nearly all the signs are bilingual in Chinese. My stateroom has lighting that is more subdued, storage that is more thoughtfully planned and a hotpot for boiling water for tea. It’s simply a different feel than other Royal ships I’ve been on. But has it convinced me to sail again with them? Let’s see. As usual, I will go through my usual “3 A’s” cruise ship review categories.

Accommodations

My room was a larger balcony, with a queen bed put together from two twins and a couch that converted into a single. What I liked about the cabin was its effective use of space. There was probably more storage in cabinets and drawers than I have in my own bedroom at home. Continuing with the Asian theme of the ship, the room décor displayed muted tones and geometric wood patterns one some of the room accessories. The bathroom was also spacious, especially the shower. About the only complaint I had was the bed was a little too firm for my liking.

Quantum has the other usual other categories of staterooms – interior, ocean view and suites. The suites vary in size and amenity offerings, depending on which guests stay in, but they are all one bedroom in size. That means none of them can accommodate families with children, unlike suites on other Royal ships. But for those who stay in the suites, expect an exclusive restaurant and lounge, concierge services and priority embarkation and disembarkation.

Amenities

As I always do with cruise ships, I will review the food I tried in a separate blog post next week. But I will mention some of the features and services that are available to all guests on Quantum. I’m always looking for a quiet space onboard a massive and busy ship like this one, and I found it at the Two70 lounge, which also serves as multimedia show venue. It has comfortable, even cushy, seating and a floor-to-ceiling picture window aft view. Another place I enjoyed was the Solarium, the bright adults-only atrium with an impressive tiered pool structure. Two nearby pools provide two different vibes: one for a partying and crazy contests like the best belly flop, the other for something laid-back and quieter.

Every Royal Caribbean ship has a central retail/dining/entertainment area called the Royal Promenade. On Quantum, this was not as massive as those on the ships of other classes, especially last year’s Harmony of the Seas. The retail center also extended out further, going along the length of deck four from one end to the other. I found the flow of the ship easier to navigate, with fewer dead ends and maze-like passageways.  Another thing I appreciated about Quantum were the fitness facilities. The gym was well-equipped with plenty of room for cardio equipment, weights and exercise classes. There was also a fantastic running track near the top of the ship.

Activities

One aspect I’m always critical about with Royal is the constant up-charging for extras. For instance, if you want to do certain activities, there is always an associated cost to participating in them. The signature features on Quantum were no exception, which included the bumper cars in the Seaplex amusement center, the Ripcord skydiving simulator and the North Star observation pod, which resembles a giant hamster ball on a swiveling arm. This last one was the most disappointing, because it was $45 per person for a mere 15 minutes. I might have tried it if the price was lower.

As with any cruise, there is a nonstop slate of things to do. Unfortunately, I couldn’t watch the entertainment programs, because I didn’t make a reservation for them (something I highly recommend doing before you get on the ship). But I did sit in on a few music performances, a much-harder-than-anticipated trivia contest, part of a movie on the pool deck and some diversionary people-watching. You can also take part in shopping events, wine and liquor tastings, karaoke, nightclub dancing and casino gaming, among other activities.

Would I cruise again with Royal Caribbean? If it were on a ship like this one and it was part of work, I probably would. But I prefer at least five other lines and would go with them first.