Some people board cruise ships so
they can power down their electronic devices and relax on an Internet-free
vacation. Others won’t agree to step on a cruise ship until they know that
they’ll be able to connect to the Internet while at sea. Whether they need to
check in with work, with people at home, or just want to keep up their social
media presence, more cruise passengers are looking for better, stronger, more
reliable Wi-Fi on the waves.
Fortunately for them,
ship-to-shore communications have come a long way in the past few years. Most
cruise ships are now fully equipped for wireless communications, with onboard
Internet cafes, Wi-Fi hot spots and cell phone service. Connecting isn’t free,
but cruise lines have been working to make connectivity more affordable for
passengers and provide a choice of plans so you can buy only as much access as
you need.
Cruise ships are applying new
technology in other ways that enhance the onboard experience. One of the most
spectacular examples is the robotic arms that are the featured bartenders at
the Bionic Bar on some Royal Caribbean ships. They select from 50 ingredients
stored in suspended bottles to mix classic or custom cocktails to order. They
don’t have human characteristics, so they won’t give you an extra-generous pour
– but they are fast, mixing two cocktails per minute.
More high-tech features popping
up on cruise ships include:
• Daily
schedules and menus on an in-room iPad to help plan your day.
• A
shipboard mobile app you can use to instant message family and friends while on
board.
• RFID
luggage tags let you use a mobile device to track your luggage and see when it
will be delivered to your stateroom.
• Wristbands
(instead of keycards) that you can use to open your stateroom door, pay for
drinks and other onboard extras, or book reservations at specialty restaurants.
• Facial
recognition technology that will help you quickly find your photos in the photo
gallery.
• This
may be a little way off, but watch for game centers the feature the latest in
virtual reality experiences.
If you would rather keep your cruise vacation
unconnected, you certainly can – but it’s nice to know that new technology will
keep making life onboard more convenient, easy, and fun. To book a ship that
offers some of the latest advancements, talk with Anita, your Cruise Holidays
personal cruise expert.
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