It seems that every year cruise ships get smarter. A new wave of vessels brings new technology to the seas, improving your experience as a guest as well as the efficiency and sustainability of the ships themselves.

From wristbands that give you access to your cabin to superfast Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art theatre venues, it’s amazing what you will find on board when you take a cruise holiday. Here are some of the latest futuristic facilities that will leave you amazed.

The Bionic Bar, Royal Caribbean

Whilst not the newest innovation at sea, the Bionic Bar is still something that excites anyone who climbs aboard one of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class and newer Oasis class ships. And with good reason, as who wouldn’t want to have their favourite drink made by a robotic bartender.

The concept is simple; you place your cup in the holder, select your drink from a list on the electronic screen and then step back and watch a robotic arm collect the components of your cocktail from bottles above and then shake your drink into existence. The cup is then placed back into the holder and thrust forwards for you to enjoy.

Ordering your drink and then collecting the finished product is done using the Wow Band you’re given when you first check-in. This wrist strap becomes a universal accomplice during your holiday, granting you access to your cabin, helping you pay for drinks and it can even be loaded with credits to use in the arcade.

Zoe, MSC Cruises

In the world of technology, digital personal assistants have become a key trend in recent years. We were already used to having Siri on our phones, but now some people have welcomed Alexa and others into their homes to help streamline their lives.

When MSC Bellissima launches in March, she will be the first cruise ship to boast an in-cabin personal assistant to help guests with a variety of needs. Zoe, as the AI interface is called, will be available to make restaurant reservations, curate your wine preferences, offer ideas of what to do on board and give general information about the ship. All you need to do is call out her name.

Some members of the Fred. Cruises team have been invited to the launch ceremony for MSC Bellissima in a few weeks so, hopefully, we will soon have more details about Zoe.

Ocean Medallion, Princess Cruises

Similar to the Wow bands mentioned above, Princess Cruises’ Ocean Medallions are the key to an effortless holiday and provide a great deal of functionality when it comes to your cruising experience. In essence, it’s a small pendant containing a unique identification number that can be worn either on your wrist, around your neck or simply kept in your pocket.

You can use for basic things like getting into your cabin and making purchases in the shops, but so much more is possible too. Use touchscreens around the ship or your own personal device to order drinks to wherever you are on the ship. The crew will use the location data provided by your Ocean Medallion to find you, even bringing your order directly to your sunbed. Furthermore, you can have your medallion sent to you at home so that you can breeze through check-in and start your holiday sooner.

The new technology will be exclusive to Medallion Class ships. It is currently available on Caribbean Princess and is coming to Regal Princess (17/2/19), Royal Princess (13/4/19), Enchanted Princess (19/6/20), Crown Princess (24/7/19) and Sky Princess (27/10/19).

Submarines, Scenic Cruises

Luxury cruise line Scenic offers many facilities and experiences that you won’t receive from other operators. One example is the U-Boat Worx submarine carried on board Scenic Eclipse, offering the chance to float into the unknown as part of a unique excursion. Six guests at a time can take their seat for a journey into the depths of the ocean, hunting for beautiful coral reefs, colourful shoals of fish and mysterious shipwrecks.

The panoramic glass windows of the submarine provide fantastic views of a world you would otherwise never get to see and there’s even the chance to steer the vehicle under the watchful eye of the pilot.

Le Petit Chef, Celebrity Cruises

Le Petit Chef is a speciality dining experience offered on board the brand new Celebrity Edge. Although the food will certainly be something to savour, the real highlight is the way technology is used to create an innovative form of entertainment whilst you are waiting for each dish. Projections are cast onto the table in front of you to make it look as though a tiny chef is preparing your meal. It’s so slick that it feels like you could almost reach out and pat the little guy on the head.

Then, when the food arrives, it looks exactly as it did in the projections, complete with any comical ‘mistakes’ Le Petit Chef may have made along the way. This exciting dining concept is currently offered on select nights in Le Grand Bistro and there are plans to roll it out across the whole Celebrity Cruises fleet.

If you would like to experience some of this mind-blowing technology for yourself, the team at Fred. Holiday can help you find your perfect cruise. Call us on 0800 035 0701 of contact us through the website.