The first block of the new cruise ship Ovation of the Seas was lifted into the covered building dock at MEYER WERFT in Papenburg. Adam Goldstein, President and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, put down the lucky penny in the dock before the block of the new ship was lowered by the 800-ts crane.

The first of a total of 74 blocks of the new cruise liner weighs 740 tons. This block assembly ceremony (keel-laying) marks the official start of construction of the Ovation of the Seas in the building dock. For the time being the 168,600-gt Ovation of the Seas is one of the biggest ships the shipyard has built so far.

Delivery of the Ovation of the Seas is scheduled in spring 2016, the Anthem of the Seas the sister Ship is under construction on the MEYER WERFT Pier and is scheduled for April 2015

Both new ships for Royal Caribbean International will set standards due to their design, a parachuting simulator, bumper cars, virtual balconies and many more innovations.
Each ship can accommodate 4,180 guests at double occupancy and feature 2,090 staterooms

Photo:

From left; vl. Lambert Kruse (Managing Partner Meyer Werft) Jarmo Laakso (Associate Vice President Quantum Class Royal Caribbean) Adam Goldstein (President and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd) Bernard Meyer (Managing Partner Meyer Werft), Dr. Jan Meyer (Managing Partner Meyer Werft), Mika Heiskanen (Projekt Manager Royal Caribbean),Carsten Pengel Projekt Manager Meyer Werft) Claus Andersen (Kap. -Anthem of the Seas - Royal Caribbean)