Steel cutting began last week for Royal Caribbean’s third Quantum Class ship, “Ovation of the Seas”. Scheduled to be delivered in autumn 2016, the ship will join sister ships “Quantum of the Seas,” which sails on Nov. 14, and “Anthem of the Seas,” which sails Spring 2015.

The steel cutting took place at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, where all of the Quantum Class ships are built.

The Quantum Class ships span 18 decks, encompass 167,800 gross registered tons, carry 4,180 guests at double occupancy and feature 2,090 staterooms. They also boast a whole new set of amenities, including a “skydiving simulator”—which, according to Royal Caribbean, lets you experience “the sheer thrill and exhilaration of flying in an air machine that lets you soar in a safe, controlled environment”—and SeaPlex, which Royal Caribbean says is the “largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with bumper cars, roller skating and more.”

The most noticeable feature on the Quantum Class ships is the North Star—a windowed capsule at the end of an arm atop the ships that will lift passengers 300 feet above sea level and offer striking views of the ocean and destinations.

Among the many other amenities and features mentioned by Royal Caribbean, “robotic bartenders in Bionic Bar” caught our eye, because nothing says “the future is here” like robots…well, except maybe “Virtual Balcony staterooms, which offer expansive, real-time views of the ocean and exciting destinations for interior staterooms.”

Keep an eye out for the Quantum Class ships, coming soon, and contact your local travel agent and ask for a GOGO Vacations package!