Smart-Ship 'Quantum of the Seas' Readies

Tech-savvy modern travelers will be wowed by Royal Caribbean International's newest ship, 'Quantum of the Seas', which incorporates unprecedented levels of technology to amp up the vacation experience, say owners Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

A brand new venue onboard Quantum of the Seas, 'Bionic Bar', is set to make waves with robots at center stage. Guests place orders via tablets and then have fun watching robotic bartenders hard at work mixing cocktails.

Boatloads of bandwidth keep guests connected says the cruise line; easy-to-use systems expand guest choices and simplify schedules; and RFID technology speeds the boarding process and allows guests to keep track of their luggage every step of the way.

"Cruise vacations have a romantic past – but they also have a lively, adventurous, state-of-the-art future," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.  "We were determined to take the best advances in modern technology, turn them into shipboard WOWs, and take the frustration out of the vacation. This ship's combination of ease and flexibility would make a yoga instructor proud."

One of the morst significant innovations is SMART Check-In which is intended to convey passengers from sidewalk to ship in record time.

RCI explains that a Quantum vacation begins at home, where guests can generate boarding documents online, upload their own ID photo, and receive digital boarding confirmation. By the time they arrive at the cruise terminal for departure, Royal Caribbean guests can go from "sidewalk to ship" in 10 minutes with no check-in counter, no forms to fill out and no lines to stand in.

Guests will be able to track luggage in real time on their smartphones. Luggage will be tagged curbside with RFID technology at drop-off, and guests can monitor their bags' progress through key points en route to the stateroom. On departure, the process is reversed.  

About the Quantum-class
The Quantum-Class spans 18 decks, encompasses 167,800 gross registered tons, carries 4,180 guests at double occupancy and features 2,090 staterooms. Quantum of the Seas will sail out of New York Harbor from her homeport of Cape Liberty for her inaugural season before departing to her new homeport of Shanghai (Baoshan), China.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com