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.
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