Now more than ever technology is being integrated into everything we do. There are smartphones, smart TVs, smart cars. And now, there’s a smart ship.
The Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean‘s newest cruise ship, is the first ever smart ship to be released and fully functional. Onboard many Royal Caribbean cruise ships, passengers have seemingly unlimited options. From an ice skating rink to a shipping promenade to an outdoor park complete with a merry-go-round, these ships have it all. And now, technology has revamped their latest cruise ship, the Quantum of the Seas.
Even before checking in, the Quantum allows passengers an easier and more efficient way of starting their vacation. You can
complete all paperwork at home, and once you are ready to get all-aboard, the process is quick and effortless. Once you check in and arrive in your stateroom on the ship, technology is already a complimentary necessity. In addition to the traditional SeaPass card that allows passengers to unlock their rooms and make onboard purchases, the Quantum provides you with a WOWband. The WOWband is essentially your SeaPass card in the form of wrist gear. When you want to get into your room, play a game in the arcade, or buy a shirt to bring home, you simply hold up the face of your band to the access pad.
To go along with their tech-savvy ship, Royal Caribbean has also now introduced a new mobile app. With the Royal iQ app, you can plan your vacation to ensure that no time is wasted. You can see what you have signed up for, what reservations you’ve made, what excursions are available, and more. In addition, the WiFi and mobile service on the ship has been amped up for all your technological needs. The Quantum of the Seas now has more bandwidth available than every other cruise ship in the world combined. It does this using satellites launched with technology partner O3b Networks. With speeds that match the fastest broadband connections onshore, everyone onboard can watch videos, capture vacation moments in real‑time, and stay in touch with ease. With this new bandwitch capability, the ship also offers a live gaming suite where passengers can challenge Xbox Live gamers all around the world, including gamers on other Royal Caribbean cruises!
Throughout the ship, technology is omnipresent. The elevators are new and improved with lit touch screens that replace the usual three-dimensional elevator buttons. Throughout the halls, there are giant touchscreen pads to help you find your location and navigate your way through the ship and everything it has to offer. In staterooms, there are virtual balconies that project the weather as if you were actually outside. With the Bionic Bar, no humans are allowed behind the counters. With laser precision, large and fully functioning robot arms make, shake, and serve your drink orders.
And then there’s the North Star, essentially a solarium-like space from which you have 360º to view the world from hundreds of feet above sea level.
Credit: Quantum of the Seas Facebook Page
Technology is becoming a necessity as well as a lending hand to luxury, as shown through the new Quantum of the Seas. So the next time you’re planning a getaway, but don’t want to get away too far, consider the Quantum of the Seas as a smart(ship) alternative.