International. Elation has been providing lighting solutions for Royal Caribbean International cruise ships since the first Oasis-class ship launched in 2009. That trend continues with Royal Caribbean's latest luxury cruise, Spectrum of the Seas.
Tailor-made for the Chinese market and accommodating 4,246 guests, Spectrum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's first Quantum Ultra-Class ship, set sail from Shanghai in June as Asia's largest cruise ship. Like the Quantum-class ships previously launched by Royal Caribbean, Spectrum of the Seas offers first-class services at sea.
Built at the German shipyard Meyer Werft, Amptown System Company (ASC) served as a system integrator for sound, light, video, projection, media control and media technology networks for the ship's entertainment areas, working closely with Royal Caribbean's architects and technicians, a team under the leadership of royal Caribbean's Superintendent SLVR and Architectural Lighting, Christopher Vlassopulos.
Vlassopulos coordinated the design and specifications of all entertainment equipment in the three public spaces of the Quantum-class ships, including entertainment lighting systems, and played the same role in Spectrum of the Seas.
Efficient lighting with creative tool sets.
Spectrum of the Seas features energy-efficient entertainment lighting systems, a lighting package similar to that of the Quantum class, albeit with some upgrades and changes. "To keep up with the evolution of LED devices, you have to choose the newest and most advanced technology," said Malte Polli-Holstein, vice president of maritime business at ASC. "Therefore, with each new boat we strive for cutting-edge technology when it comes to LEDs and moving lights."
As cruises become greener, Polli-Holstein says the pressure on the entertainment aspect to be more efficient is also constantly growing. "Therefore, LED equivalents are highly prized over discharge lamps," he said. "Also the development of better LED sources with a higher output and a more natural output (high CRI/TLCI) are forcing the switch to LED.
Last but not least, versatility is an important part of the requirement. Accessories should provide a set of creative tools to create new looks over and over again, as all equipment won't be swapped for about a decade."
A good fit for cruises
With a slew of smart lighting manufacturers to choose from, Polli-Holstein said Amptown's preference for Elation is driven by a variety of factors. "Elation is one of the most advanced companies when it comes to smart entertainment lighting and a complete solution. From knowledge about the latest developments, sales, attractive prices to service and after-sales, everything works smoothly in the partnership."
Lighting upgrades
Elation's LED lighting products perfectly fit the spirit of the company with major changes to Spectrum of the Seas compared to the first Ships in the Quantum class that involve upgrades to the latest accessory versions. In other areas, the discharge lamp accessories have been replaced by the corresponding LED models. However, Malte assured that there are circumstances in which the update was omitted, for example, in custom positions and / or gaps where a change would cause unwanted architectural modifications.
Elation lighting is used to visually enhance many of the ship's main entertainment and relaxation areas. The Elation lighting features in the ship's Music Hall is a two-story multi-purpose entertainment space where guests can enjoy a variety of activities and live performances.
Accommodating around 400 guests, an Elation platform of Platinum Spot III and Platinum SEVEN LED moving heads, along with Color Chorus 24 LED slats and Protron 3K LED strobes, is capable of accommodating any event. At Two70, the ship's multifunctional and multifunctional entertainment space, ASC has improved the lighting of the characteristic Vistarama, 270-degree panoramic windows that transform into a large projection surface, from ELAR Quad bars to SixBar 500 LED slats.
On the Royal Esplanade, a multi-level street lined with boutiques, clubs, restaurants and bars that stretches the length of the ship, Platinum Spot III and Fuze Wash Z350 LED moving heads in discreet white housings provide ambient lighting effects and are used every night for shows and special events. Meanwhile, at the Bionic Bar, where robotic waiters mix drinks, Pixel Bar LED light strips adorn the space in decorative color.
In one of the ship's most popular active areas, SeaPlex, a multipurpose sports and entertainment space that is used every hour of the day, the Elation Fuze Wash Z350 and Platinum Spot LED Pro III moving heads provide color and design for sporting and entertainment events. Here, THE LED is again important as the fixtures are in constant use and the hassle and cost of regular lamp replacements has been eliminated.
Special architectural effect lighting has been incorporated into several outdoor areas of the ship, including the pool, crew, and sports decks where Elation's marine-grade SixPar Series Par LED fixtures are immune to salt water, heat, and humidity, not to mention the cleaning equipment's hose illuminates the decks in the evening hours in vibrant colors.
