This changes everything – Royal Caribbean’s marketing slogan for its latest ship – is a bold statement. Quantum of the Seas is being sold as the cruise industry’s first smart ship and the technological innovations start the moment you get on board.
The journey from port to state room was largely stress-free thanks to tablet-wielding staff and the fact that much of the form filling can be done in advance online.
In theory this will also extend to booking activities and dining options for the duration of the trip, which chief executive Richard Fain has likened to giving passengers the first day of their holiday back.
“I tried to sample as much as possible but barely scratched the surface of what is on offer”
This might seem like a throwaway phrase but given the sheer amount of things to do on board it might just be the most valuable innovation Royal has made.
Two of the biggest draws are likely to be the North Star glass pod and Ripcord indoor skydiving wind tunnel - the later of which was almost as fun as the real thing.
Having never actually cruised before I tried to sample as much as possible but barely scratched the surface of what is on offer.
Putting so much emphasis on the technological side of anything new does mean that if things go wrong, there’ll be noticed. There were some grumbles about the intermittent Wi-Fi (which will be fixed when the satellite network comes on line) and the robots in the Bionic Bar appeared occasionally to be on strike.
Still, when you’ve got a ship that is likely to be head and shoulders in front of the competition, teething problems are to be expected. Royal Caribbean is pushing the boundaries – and at the same time raising expectations of what a cruise should offer.
