Royal Caribbean International announced some of the major features for its new Quantum of the Seas, the first of a new class of two ships. The ship will feature a number of awesome “firsts,” including a giant moving observation platform, called the North Star. Similar to the London Eye, the North Star will have a 14-passenger, glass-enclosed cabin that extends above the ship and the sea on a giant cherry-picker at heights up to 300 feet. Also featured is RipCord by iFly, an indoor skydiving experience.  Seaplex will be the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea. Your family can experience a circus school with flying trapeze or play basketball on a full-size regulation basketball court. At night, ride on a first-ever bumper car ride or roller skate. Also new will be Two70, a multi-level great room lounge named for its 270-degree panoramic sea views through giant floor-to-ceiling glass walls spanning almost three decks at the stern of the ship. At night those same windows will be transformed into giant video walls with a variety of images. Every show at Two70 will immerse the audience through a combination of live performers, including aerialists, as well as video and digital scenery. Quantum’s new, larger staterooms enable innovation in design, storage and comfort including the industry’s first virtual balconies, video walls that will project the ship’s exterior sea views live. Family-connected staterooms will deliver more flexibility, using three different stateroom categories to form a special layout that provides separate bedrooms and bathrooms for all. A new indoor pool with operable roof and a H2O Zone kids’ aqua park will be featured on the top deck. Quantum of the Seas will offer Caribbean and Bahamas sailings out of Bayonne, N.J., at least though its first year of operation. The ship will begin sailing in November 2014, but is now open for bookings for members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program, and on June 4 for the general public. Quantum’s sister Anthem of the Seas will make its debut roughly a year later, in November 2015.