MIAMI, April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal
Caribbean International's newest smartship, Ovation of the Seas, is
setting sail from Southampton,
U.K. this week on her 52-day Global Odyssey visiting exotic
ports of call from the Mediterranean to the Far East and beyond.
Guests onboard Ovation will experience these
extraordinary ports while enjoying an 11,000-piece, $4.5 million dollar art collection that has been
inspired by the words of Confucius: "Wherever you go, go with all
your heart." The collection was curated by London-based Peter
Millard and Partners and features contemporary art from
artists from around the world.
"The true essence of a Royal Caribbean vacation is to broaden
travelers' horizons by introducing them to new and unexpected
adventures and that includes the art we feature onboard our
ships," said Michael Bayley,
President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Ovation of
the Seas features unexpected and destination-inspired artwork,
unique pieces and interactive art experiences that will surprise
and delight our guests."
33-Foot Panda and Cub Set Sail
One of the ultimate
photo ops onboard Ovation of the Seas is "Mama and Baby," a
larger-than-life commission designed by a U.K.-based artist
Jo Smith. Perched atop the SeaPlex
on deck 15, the piece depicts a mother panda and her cub, reaching
out to one another. Considered a symbol of good luck and a national
treasure in Chinese culture, the peaceful creatures with the
distinctive black and white coat were curated with Ovation's
primarily Chinese guests in mind, and intended to bestow peace and
prosperity on all who interact with them. The pandas are also a
playful nod to the cruise line's newly announced partnership with
World Wildlife Fund, which focuses on ensuring the long-term health
of the oceans its ships sail upon.
Mama and Baby together weigh approximately six-and-a-half tons.
Mama is 10 meters high, or approximately 33 feet, from the deck to
the top of the sculpture, while Baby is approximately three meters,
or ten feet tall.
Smart Art Includes First Moving Sculpture at Sea
It
wouldn't be a smart ship without smart art, and the
Quantum class hallmark of high-tech pieces continues onboard
Ovation with "Sky Wave," a piece sure to be a guest
favorite. Created by New
York-based Hypersonic and Boston-based Plebian Design, Sky Wave is the first ever kinetic moving
sculpture at sea. The installation pivots and curves at different
points to mirror the flow of both wind and water. Further
inspiration was also taken from the ship's movement, culminating in
a piece that combines both maritime elements and engineering.
Each petal in Sky Wave is made of
handcrafted fiberglass and varies in length to hone the flawless
rolling sway. Located on deck 5 just in the Royal Esplanade, the
eye-catching, carefully crafted art piece was commissioned
specifically for Ovation.
Elevator Art Gets an New Look, Still Prime for
Selfies
The elevator art on Quantum class is known for
selfie-taking, and Ovation of the Seas is no exception.
Ovation is elevating the selfie art game with all-new
imagery from Chinese photographer Huainan Li's series, "The World
of the Senses." The powerful series features the futuristic faces
of women accented in metallic hues and sporting glasses that
reflect a variety of whimsical scenes. The collection of 10
pieces is sure to surprise and delight guests each time they ride
from deck to deck, and pack an unexpected punch when the doors
open.
The Red Thread
One of the most iconic art locales on
Quantum-class ships is the rotunda, which connects mid-ship's
Jamie's Italian and Vintages. Ovation does not disappoint as
passersby can enjoy the work of Bieli Liu, a Chinese artist who
played into the natural movement of the ship with an adaptation
from her "Lure" series of installations. The sculpture was created
to fit the rotunda location and represents an ancient Chinese
legend depicting the red threads that connect Chinese children to
their soulmates. A disc may be connected to another, as a pair; and
a pair of disks may sprout from a single thread. The installation
is designed to suspend from the ceiling forming a vibrant and
energetic piece that responds to subtle air currents and movement
as the red coils turn, and strands of thread become entangled.
Throughout the entire ship, guests will find curated art at
every turn, all inspired by the exotic destinations Ovation
will visit. Figures from artist Zheng
Lu are located outside Two70. The sculpture – inspired by
the artist's father, a Chinese poet – weaves Chinese symbols
together in a delicate fashion.
Heading into the Royal Theater, artist Dominic Harris engages show-goers with an
interactive piece titled "Flutter Wall." The 120-inch screen
showcases butterflies on a black canvas that seemingly fly away as
guests walk up for a closer view. A true surprise and delight
experience akin to the additional installations that travelers can
enjoy onboard. To learn more about the onboard art collection click
here.
Ovation and her sister ships, Quantum of the
Seas and Anthem of the Seas, belong to the
Quantum class of ships and are built with the most advanced
technology. They feature first-at-sea amenities including the North
Star, an observation capsule that gently rises more than 300 feet
in the air to treat guests to breathtaking panoramic views;
thrilling skydiving and surfing experiences; Two70, a daily social
space which transforms into a multifunctional entertainment place
in the evening; and SeaPlex, the largest indoor activity space at
sea, which includes basketball, roller-skating, bumper cars, and
more.
Each ship offers 18 restaurants onboard with a variety of
cuisines to choose from as well as the industry's most relaxing and
luxurious accommodations at sea with the unique Loft Suites and
groundbreaking Virtual Balcony staterooms, interior accommodations
that feature large digital screens displaying real-time views,
ensuring that every room has a view.
Ovation spans 18 decks, encompasses 168,666 gross
registered tons, carries 4,180 guests at double occupancy and
features 2,091 staterooms. Media can find more details, images
and videos at www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/ovation. To learn
more about Royal Caribbean International, visit
www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to
make reservations, vacationers should call their travel agent;
visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.
Photo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160413/354801
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160413/354800
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ovation-of-the-seas-broadens-horizons-with-11000-piece-art-collection-as-exotic-as-its-destinations-300250956.html
SOURCE Royal Caribbean