North Star on Quantum of the Seas

Unique to Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class cruise ships, the North Star is a viewing pod that rises 300 feet in the air above the top deck of the ship for the best 360-degree view at sea. It’s a glass bubble somewhat resembling one pod of a giant Ferris wheel – only bigger, attached to an arm that not only rises up and down, but also circles from one side of the ship to the other.

North Star in down position

We knew we wanted to try it before the cruise even started. The app said it had to be booked onboard, but when it finally appeared in the available activities for the cruise on Royal’s website it said all times were booked full. Luckily the app was right and we were able to book it onboard. My niece Melissa suggested going up at sunset, which sounded like a good time for great views.

sunset at sea

We booked a time for the next day that coincided with sunset of the day we booked it, only to find out the next day when we actually had our ride that the ship had gone far enough north that the sun set over an hour later. The time we booked was the last time open that day so we wouldn’t have been able to schedule a later one and see the sunset from way up there anyway. There were people waiting to go when we came down so it wasn’t that it didn’t run any later, just that other people had already booked that time. It was starting to set while we were up there and went down shortly after we were done so we got some sunset photos, just from the deck rather than up high.

waiting area for the North Star

Check-in is on the top deck next to the pod. There’s a small waiting area with a bit of seating to hang out in while waiting for the group ahead to finish. When it’s time you take stairs or if needed an elevator up to the boarding level, where only people whose turn it is for the ride are allowed to go.

our group of 6 in the pod

This is an awesome experience. The glass bubble holds up to 12 passengers as well as a guide. The somewhat oval pod has a metal floor surrounded by glass walls. There’s no seats, but a metal railing runs around the inside at a height convenient for most people who are inclined to do so to grab. People can move about the enclosure as they please, taking any photos desired.

view of the arm holding the pod from inside the pod

You can see the view off into the horizon as well as an aerial view of the ship. It rises on a long arm that brings it out over the edge of the ship as it rises until the arm goes straight up, then out over the other side on the way back down.

the guide and the other people in the pod

There were four other people besides our group of six. The pod was pretty spacious and never felt crowded. Everyone had space enough to move around and take photos from all different directions.

disgusting smoke trail

Unfortunately at the time of our ride the ship was spewing massive amounts of thick brown smoke, the likes of which I have never seen coming out of a cruise ship smokestack before or since, not even on that same ship. Hopefully it was not as toxic as it looked since it left a trail behind the ship that went on for miles. This definitely marred the view in that direction, though that is probably the least of any worries that trail of smoke caused. We did not see that coming from the ship at any other time on our cruise when we went up to the top deck. Just that day. The smoke was plainly visible from the top deck too so it’s not like it could only be seen from the pod. If that is something this ship does on a regular basis and not just a one-off it definitely should be required to undergo some repairs as nobody should be allowed to emit that much pollution no matter who they are.

looking down on the ship

Other than the smoke, the view from up there is fantastic as you can see everything for miles around. You can also look down onto the ship for an aerial view you’d never get anywhere else.

guide and his control panel inside the pod

The guide warned us not to touch his control panel, and to be careful not to bump into it while taking photos.

looking down to the ship and sea from the pod

It does cost a bit extra to go up the North Star, but not a lot. They have different prices for different amounts of time in the ride. Ours was $19 per person for the extended experience, which I would guess by the titles was the medium length one since they also had standard and premium. There may be some complimentary rides available in port or on boarding day.

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