Cruise ships have evolved over the years, including how technology has been leveraged to make the guest experience better.
I've always admired how Royal Caribbean has leaned into tech to bring more choices and make the cruise better overall. Some are quality of life improvements, while others add a different dimension to fundamentally alter what it's like onboard.
Plus, some of the tech we see on cruise ships are undeniably fun. Royal Caribbean's primary focus is creating memories for families, and if tech can help that along, it's a win-win for cruise line and passenger.
I came up with my list of five of the best cruise ship experiences that are possible because of Royal Caribbean's use of tech onboard.
Faster internet
It's amazing how far cruise ship internet has come in just the last few years, but we finally have reliable and fast WiFi on Royal Caribbean as we do on land.
Cruise ship internet is not new, but it had been traditionally slow, expensive, and disappointing.
A few years ago, Royal Caribbean struck a deal with Starlink to bring true high speed internet on ships that would be similar to what we have on land.
It took a little ironing out, but when I sail on Royal Caribbean ships today, I no longer cringe when I open my web browser to see how long it will take to load.
The reality is reliable internet access is a must-have for most passengers, simply from a casual communication standpoint. While some people conduct work on ships, most just want to be able to stay in contact with friends, check social media, or keep up with what's happening around the world.
Shows with robots
Royal Caribbean's best implementation of technology that improves a traditional experience is Two70 on its Quantum Class ships.
Two70 is a theater at the very back of the ship, but you'll quickly notice there's much more to this area than its location.
Within this amazing theater space are screens attached to robot arms that can move, swivel, and dance to match the performers and music.
Each of these roboscreens is programmed individually so it can move in sync or independently of the others.
According to Royal Caribbean, at the time of their development, it was the most complex robotics project that was happening outside of Mars.
Behind them are windows that transform into a 100 foot wide, 20 foot tall, screen known as Vistarama. Vistarama's 12K resolution is nearly twice that of any IMAX screen.
When you see the shows in here, it's easy to get lost in the spectacle of everything happening.
Royal Caribbean adopted the robot idea and put it on its Icon Class ships within the Aquatheater venue.
There are 4 six-axis robot cast members on Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas. They can do more than hold up a screen. They can even assemble and disassemble stage equipment.
The performers are still the focus of each show, but the venue adds a dimension to the experience that is sure to wow its audience.
Mobile check-in
I don't think Royal Caribbean gets enough credit for how easy it is to check-in for a cruise and then subsequently board the ship.
The cruise line has progressively worked on improving its check-in process to get guests from "car to bar" in a matter of minutes.
The secret sauce for this has been the development of the Royal Caribbean app.
The app makes check-in as easy as checking into a hotel or flight, and quickly takes you through the process. The more you do in the app, the less necessary to do inside the cruise terminal.
There's even an express boarding option that rewards those that complete all the steps within the online check-in process with a faster way to get onboard.
One thing I hear from our readers consistently is how much better check-in is on Royal Caribbean compared to other cruise lines. Royal Caribbean has optimized their check-in and boarding process so there's far less standing and waiting.
Elevators with less waiting
Among the 14 specific advances Royal Caribbean came up with just for Icon of the Seas, the most noticeable and enjoyable one is how much better the elevators are.
Destination elevators were a must for a ship as big as Icon of the Seas. Royal Caribbean built the world's largest cruise ship, and they knew elevator wait times were a pain point on other ships.
The elevators on Icon Class ships use an optimization algorithm to assign elevator cars.
Instead of pressing a button to wait for an elevator, guests push a button for which floor they want to go to and are assigned an elevator.
The result has been exactly what it sounds like: less time waiting for an elevator. This means you can get to where you want to go and keep the fun going.
While elevators may not be the most exciting or tantalizing aspect of a cruise, technology has clearly solved a long-standing problem.
Immersive dining unlike anything else
While it's still in its infancy, I think Royal Caribbean used tech to come up with a game-changing idea.
Royal Railway at Utopia Station is an immersive dining experience that combines the two things people love about cruising: food and destination.
More than just another specialty restaurant, guests are transported to different time by entering a classic train station to board their train.
You dine in a train car that looks and feels like the real thing, along with a story that you're part of.
Royal Caribbean's top priority is delivering an unforgettable family vacation that creates memories, and this is all but guaranteed to do that.
As you dine, you see from the digital windows scenery going by, you feel the rumble of the train in your seat, and interact with the performers and waiters during your meal.
Technology is what makes all of this possible, but it's not the focal point. It's symbolic of the evolution of how tech is used onboard from "hey, look at this shiny thing" to a supportive means that improves the experience.
