PHASE II PRE ASSIGNMENT

WEEK 21 DIGITAL SERVICES, INTERNET OF THINGS, AUGMENTED REALITY, ROBOTICS

Blog post 3

Not long ago Christine Duffy, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), said that the size of ships, such as Royal Caribbean's Allure (full capacity is 6,360) was likely to be as big as it gets and that the new emphasis is "on more bells and whistles". As unique entertainment and dining options are introduced across the board, attention is also being paid to passengers' cabins, enabling travellers to personalise their in-cabin experience in a way that wasn't possible before.

Virtual balcony breakthrough

One of the most talked about in-cabin innovations is Royal Caribbean's virtual balcony; an 80-inch high-definition screen offering real-time views and sounds of the ocean. First introduced on Navigator of the Seas, they will be available in 373 inside cabins on Quantum of the Seas, which is planned for delivery in November 2014. The balconies enable passengers to experience sunrises and sunsets, as well as ports and destinations in every stateroom.

"The idea for the Virtual Balcony came from Richard Fain, our chairman and a small team of dreamers at Royal on the entertainment technology and IT teams," says Ronnie Farzad, manager of entertainment technology for Royal Caribbean who is based at the company's headquarters in Miami. "We developed the Virtual Balcony concept internally but leveraged the services of Control Group (an agency based in New York) for the programming. I personally demoed the technology to several groups of journalists: the sounds and visuals of the ocean transformed the formerly-inside staterooms on Navigator of the Seas."

The Internet of things trends

"The cruise industry is unrolling new technology that is nothing short of amazing," says a CLIA spokesperson. "Most of today's cruise ships offer internet cafes along with bow-to-stern Wi-Fi and phone connectivity. With sophisticated networks and innovative platforms on the horizon, cruise travellers will soon find that their smartphones and mobile devices provide communications services at sea that are comparable to those they expect on land."

While on most liners there is a cost for Wi-Fi, the industry has responded to complaints about roaming costs and high connection fees on board. "Examples include Connect at Sea by Wireless Maritime Services for iPhone and Android users which is expected to drastically enhance wireless communications and reduce costs, as well as direct innovation by individual lines," says a CLIA spokesperson.

"Royal Caribbean has also introduced 3G data services by WMS, on its Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, allowing guests to use their mobile devices to access email, use apps and surf the web at increased connection speeds, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers up to 500 minutes of free Wi-Fi internet access to guests in concierge-level suites and higher."