New cruise ships go high tech

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Royal Caribbean International announced a slew of technological innovations that will be rolled out with its next new ship, including robot bartenders.

The Miami-based cruise line will launch the 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas in November. The ship will debut in New Jersey’s Cape Liberty, sailing from there for six months before heading to its new home port in China.

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The company announced some of the ship’s “smart” features this week. They include:

• Expedited check-in that allows passengers to download boarding documents, upload a photo and get confirmation from home.

• Real-time luggage tracking thanks to radio-frequency ID tags.

• Wristbands using the same technology that let guests make purchases and get into their rooms.

• Apps that allow passengers to plan and book reservations on their phones as well as communicate with talk and text options.

• A venue, Bionic Bar, where guests will order by tablet and robots will prepare drinks.

• Microsoft Windows tablets for shipboard employees on Quantum — and, eventually, across the Royal Caribbean fleet.

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