iPad Technology for Royal Caribbean Guests on Splendour of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas is the next ship in its fleet to receive a "Revitalization" upgrade, Splendour is now nearing the end of a five-week upgrade process at the Navantia ship yard in Cadiz, Spain where $35 million in changes will occur.

So what new feature will she have when she returns?

OK, I might as well just list the new features:-

• New dining venues
  • Chops Grille
  • Izumi
  • the Boardwalk Dog House
  • Chef's Table
  • Park Café
• Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
• Diamond lounge for Crown and Anchor guests
• Concierge lounge for suite guests
• Technology upgrades throughout the ship
• 123 new balconies
• Stateroom flat panel television upgrades
• Ship-wide WiFi access
• Digital wayfinder system
• Electronic mustering
• Outdoor movie screen

But it's not just these features that appeal to me, as we start to become more new technology savvy, even I am looking at getting an Apple iPad!  Now, the announcement that when Splendour comes out of dry dock, she will be offering all of her passengers soon an iPad in every cabin, did make make think that the world is moving on.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean is planning on rolling out iPads to every Vision class ship (Vision, Grandeur, Rhapsody, Enchantment and Legend of the Seas) by 2014.
With the iPads, passengers will be able to

• Access the daily Cruise Compass of events and activities
• Access personal daily itineraries, including shore excursions
• Monitor their onboard account
• Order room service
• View restaurant menus
• Access the internet
• Watch movies

All of the features of the iPad will be complimentary, except for the Internet access.

Royal Caribbean senior vice president of Hotel Operations, Lisa Bauer, commented on the news, "Based on consumer research, we added the iPads to greatly enhance guest communication, interactivity and to continue to offer industry leading technology that helps enhance the guest experience. This is just one of the many exciting ways that Royal Caribbean continues to provide our guests with the ultimate cruise experience."

Royal Caribbean expects every cabin onboard Splendour to have an iPad by February 2012.

Now I know that Celebrity use an iPad for the menu on Qusine on Eclispe, so is this the next step and who else is going to follow?