Having been delayed by a day due to tidal conditions and adverse weather, the 168,666gt Quantum of the Seas began her conveyance of the River Ems from Papenburg in Germany to Eemshaven in The Netherlands on 22nd September at 1430 like every other ship built at the yard since 1795.
Travelling astern, the ship became the largest to navigate the river and arrived at Eemshaven on 24th September after the 26 mile voyage. The conveyance itself usually takes 10 hours but the ship was 5 hours behind schedule on reaching the Leer Bridge. After various tests at the Dutch port the Quantum of the Seas departed for sea trials on 2nd October and arrived at the Columbus Quay Cruise Terminal in Bremerhaven three days later on 5th October. Here the ship received her North Star observation pod and then undertook the main sea trials.

The new ship arrived at Southampton on 30th October prior to setting out on her 8-night maiden voyage across the Atlantic on 2nd November bound for Bayonne, New Jersey.