3 Tech Trends Propelling the Cruise Industry Forward

In many ways, cruises are the ultimate culmination of the hospitality industry. These floating hotels/restaurants/casinos/movie theaters/venues attract almost 30 million passengers per year, and they also generate approximately $135 Billion in total yearly economic impact. However, this seemingly timeless industry is not immune to change. Modern passengers are often times looking for a more tech filled vacation option, and the historically reluctant cruise industry is having to accommodate this fresh group of vacationers in new ways. Here are 3 technology improvements that cruise lines are making to respond to these new demands.

 

1: WiFi

Staying connected is important. Even in the middle of the ocean. Most major cruise lines have now implemented some level of wireless internet on board their ships. Royal Caribbean has even doubled down on their commitment to offering ship wide WiFi by partnering with Voom and now claims that they have the “fastest WiFi at sea“. Gone are the days when you would have to sit in an internet cafe aboard a ship and pay an arm and a leg just to send a single email. This initial investment in WiFi may come with a good bit of sticker shock, but cruise lines should be able to recoup the cost quickly since internet packages can cost over $15 per day for a single device.

 

2: On Board Apps

Staying on trend with on board connectivity, cruise lines like Norwegian have bolstered their apps to include on board functionality. These applications allow for basic options like viewing the daily schedule, but can also allow you to view current room charges and book services across the ship. This is a great addition for cruisers and ship employees who want to stay connected to the ship and its happenings throughout their voyage.

 

3: Theater and Venue Upgrades

Production shows are one of the cornerstone events for many cruise goers. However, many of the smaller and older ships have fallen behind the current AV industry standards of production. Some of these ships are due for updates in the near future, but Celebrity Cruises has decided to future proof themselves and elevate their on board theater experience. The theater on Celebrity Edge has two rotating spiral staircases, 10 synchronized panoramic projection screens, 16 state-of-the-art video mapping laser projectors, aerial performance rigging, and more. Similar steps have been taken by Royal Caribbean. They recently opened an Aqua Theater on one of their cornerstone ships.

 


 

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Hospitality Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

HVAC
Turning a Career Pivot into Award-Winning Success in the HVAC Industry with Chloe Glynn
July 8, 2025

Breaking into a technical field of industrial sales without prior experience is a huge challenge. But someone like Chloe Glynn achieved such a feat and turned an accidental career pivot into an award-winning profession. As many industries continue to shift towards relationship-driven sales strategies, Glynn’s journey offers a blueprint for success in a…

Read More
speaking up
The Power of Speaking Up: Building Your Voice into Your Professional Equity
July 8, 2025

If you want to raise your PQ, learn to speak up! In this episode of Professional Quotient (PQ): Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham, Founder and Principal Consultant of Professional Quotient, sits down with Lauren Sanchez, Chief Operating Officer at Semper Mind. Lauren reflects on her journey from feeling like a “baby deer”…

Read More
automation
Revolutionizing Revenue Cycle Management: The Power of AI & Automation
July 7, 2025

Amid a rapidly evolving tech landscape, decision-makers need to navigate new AI-driven solutions addressing industry-specific hurdles. This session, recorded at the HFMA 2025 show, sheds light on how leaders are using pioneering automation technologies to stay competitive and efficient.

Read More
Portable AV system
AV Anywhere: Portable AV Systems Are Now Essential for Mission-Critical Response in Unpredictable, Connectivity-Challenged Environments
July 7, 2025

In crisis scenarios, portable AV systems must perform under pressure because failure is not an option. As Keysight Technologies notes, the evolution of mission-critical communications now depends on low-latency, mobile-ready platforms that can operate reliably in unstable, infrastructure-poor conditions, making portable AV systems essential for real-time response and public safety operations. These are the…

Read More