Internet connection has been a problem, with new technology will allow six times faster connection than on any cruise ship in service at the moment. This will allow passengers to use Skype, Facetime, to stream video etc. while on the cruise, said Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL), in a webcast presentation from the Meyer shipyard in Germany.
Internet will still be charged form, but the service will be faster and the rates lower than so far. All cruise members, 40,000 in all, on all Royal Caribbean International ships will receive their own Windows tablet as the fast connection will be introduced on all ships of the company for the use of both passengers and crew.
The smokestack of Quantum of the Seas can be lowered to allow passage under e.g. the Verrazano Bridge in New York to allow the ship to pass under it and with Smart Check in, the first inclination was to make it easer, but it was decided to eliminate it altogether. You can prepare all the boarding documents, including loading a selfie for embarkation documents,
With the new technology on the Quantum class, the first day of the cruise will not involve long queues at check in, but to ensure boarding in 10 minutes from arrival to terminal to boarding.
However, the old system will be retained to those that feel uncomfortable to e.g. download their photo to the documents, Fain said.
Passengers will have an option to use Royal Caribbean app to follow the seven steps that their check in luggage goes through from delivery to staff at terminal to delivery to the cabin. The app will also allow passengers to manage their dining, spa booking etc other arrangements.
