The Internet of Things is taking to the high seas.
Cruise
ships are being retrofitted and reengineered to include the latest IoT technology to enhance the experience of passengers.
MSC Cruises, which bills itself as the world’s largest
privately-owned cruise line, just unveiled a fleet-wide digital innovation program for all its coming ships.
The first mega-ship with the technology will come into service in June and will be
fitted with 16,000 points of connectivity, 700 digital access points, 358 interactive screens, and 2,200 staterooms with RFID and NFC access technology.
This follows the introduction of
passenger connectivity in the ships of Princess Cruises, highlighted in a major keynote presentation by Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year.
In that
implementation, cruise passengers are given an ocean medallion, a small gadget that includes the passenger’s identity and communicates with readers throughout the ship and in select
ports. The medallion can be used for unlocking stateroom doors, payments and future reservations.
The MSC Cruise program, branded a ‘MSC for Me,’ was conceived with tech and
behavioral science experts with Deloitte Digital, Hewlett Packard and Samsung. Some of the features of the connected program are:
- Concierge – Allows passengers to book services,
restaurants and excursions in real time
- Capture – Digital immersive discovery using virtual reality to preview the trip
- Organizer – A planning tool so passengers can
check in with their mobile device, book trips, seats for shows or best dinner table, before embarking or during the trip
- Navigation – Like smart maps, a digital way finder provides
passengers with advice and how to find their way around a 1,000-foot long ship
- Tailormade – A digital personal advisor for personal recommendations based on preferences and includes
facial recognition technology, including interactive bracelets and 3,000 Bluetooth beacons throughout the ship
With two major cruise ship companies transforming their vessels into
totally connected travel experiences, the bar is being raised for what consumers will come to expect.
Some travelers likely will opt out of the connected services offered, being totally fine
with missing the boat on IoT services.