New Unveiling Announcement Coming August 25

On the Royal Caribbean Press Center Website, there was an updated image saying

I'd rather see pictures of things of the inside. Like a promenade? theater, sea plex, staterooms. etc

You think it has something to do with North Star? There have been quite a few pictures of the cage floating around lately and they have yet to put the arm on the ship?

You think it has something to do with North Star? There have been quite a few pictures of the cage floating around lately and they have yet to put the arm on the ship?

I think they are going to reveal more of the more to come areas.

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I'm hoping that maybe, just maybe, that some of the technology they're talking about has to do with the more to come areas! I don't have any idea what that might be, but I'm just hoping it will finish the reveal of Quantum. :cool:

Now this has me really worried. Started booking my Dynamic Dinning on May 12th. Didn't finish until August 8th. Still trying to change 2 days but that is due to availability issues, not system issues. Don't see how anything labeled "Royal Caribbean" and "Technology" could possibly end well. And I love technology and work as an Application Developer. Prior to that I spent years integrating technology into the public school system. So i'm certainly not scared of it, just RCCL's IT department's ability to support anything. As the customer it should not have been my responsibility to explain how there system works and what to do to trouble shoot the database integrity problems. They slowly started listening to me and got my problems fixed but they can't do that for 4,500 people at once on a cruise.

I was really starting to get my hopes up that they were not going to do something to push the limits after causing so much unnecessary stress to the guests already. Hopefully what they announce is more shipboard stuff like the digital signage. That's easier to manage and ensure it works well. The mobile app in it's current iteration is worse than the old one but I have a feeling it will be something integrated with that.

I agree that I think it's definitely app-related. I remember way back when they announced the advanced satellite technology to allow for much more bandwidth. A Quantum app that allows restaurant booking, activity booking, maps, cruise compass, and intra cruiser communication seems like a very strong possibility.

With that being said, I echo our concerns with RCI and IT. The new cruise planner and dynamic dining reservations was an epic failure...

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I agree that I think it's definitely app-related. I remember way back when they announced the advanced satellite technology to allow for much more bandwidth. A Quantum app that allows restaurant booking, activity booking, maps, cruise compass, and intra cruiser communication seems like a very strong possibility.

 

With that being said, I echo our concerns with RCI and IT. The new cruise planner and dynamic dining reservations was an epic failure...

On a big ship like Quantum, being able to cmmunicate with others via a FREE app that everyone with a smartphone can have would make a big splash. MSC already has that.

Waiting with baited breath.....yawn!

On a big ship like Quantum, being able to cmmunicate with others via a FREE app that everyone with a smartphone can have would make a big splash. MSC already has that.

But that wouldn't be game changing.

Maybe they will be getting rid of seapass cards and going to some new biometric system where an iris scan does everything. Or maybe they chip us when we board the ship so that they know where we are at all times and they just scan us when we want to make a purchase :eek:

But that wouldn't be game changing.

No, but the marketeers could spin that as a differentiator since the other big US cruiselines don't have it.

A smartphone app that has your calendar, status of venues (like restaurant wait times), directions, comms, etc would make for a very enhanced experience.

The issue for RCI is to make it work - which given their IT prowess, is questionable.:cool:

I would happy with a new system that we could actually book dinner reservations.

Something that allows me to read the cruise compass on my iPhone.

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Based on how badly they seemed to fumble the Royal Wow Phone rollout with Oasis 5 years ago I have to wonder if they roll out any kind of app will the network just crash.

The one thing that I think they could handle would be to add rfid to the direction boards around the ship so that you could walk up, touch your seapass, and be shown your reservations and information. That would be useful to all and really accommodating. If they simply roll out a smart phone app I could see a lot of people complaining about not having access, especially if they lock some abilities down to just that. The combination of the two could be cool. Customize your items you want to attend from the compass on your phone and then touch the board and instantly get directions to your next location.

The issue for RCI is to make it work - which given their IT prowess, is questionable.:cool:

Use the app onboard the ship to make a dinner reservations... have your cruise repriced!

NCL has their iConcierge on Epic, Breakaway and Getaway.

They did not get it working on Getaway until she was 'inaugurated' in Miami though, but it was up in running on the other ships prior to that.

http://www.ncl.com/downloads/iconcierge

I'm not considering sailing on the new ships until all these issues are resolved on Quantum. I've following the new ships and I was very excited to see and sail on them. Disappointed Quantum was hurrying off to China but .... they get to debug the ship. LOL.

I'll see you all on the Anthem!:)

Based on how badly they seemed to fumble the Royal Wow Phone rollout with Oasis 5 years ago I have to wonder if they roll out any kind of app will the network just crash.

 

The one thing that I think they could handle would be to add rfid to the direction boards around the ship so that you could walk up, touch your seapass, and be shown your reservations and information. That would be useful to all and really accommodating. If they simply roll out a smart phone app I could see a lot of people complaining about not having access, especially if they lock some abilities down to just that. The combination of the two could be cool. Customize your items you want to attend from the compass on your phone and then touch the board and instantly get directions to your next location.

Mix what you have listed and place your set sail pass on your smart phone using nfc technology to finish the boarding process

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I agree the app is likely. However, if they are like Apple in including little clues into their teasers, it could be regarding their casino/gaming. I think Celebrity may have something like this...where you can gamble via your smartphone through an app, anywhere on the ship. Just an idea.

The structure that they keep saying is the skydiving simulator is actually going to hold a gigantic spool of fiber optic cable that will be constantly tethered to the transpacific hub, providing passengers with high speed connectivity:D

I agree the app is likely. However, if they are like Apple in including little clues into their teasers, it could be regarding their casino/gaming. I think Celebrity may have something like this...where you can gamble via your smartphone through an app, anywhere on the ship. Just an idea.

Celebrity does allow gambling from the cabin using the TV and I think a mobile app now as well so I would not be surprised to see that announced.

The one thing that is obvious about the new version of the app is that it is not really a mobile app. It is simply a web framework that talks to a web server. This means that by simply changing the onboard dns entry for the web server to a local server that could swap the app out when onboard.

The main thing that I hate about the new one (besides the less user friendly interface) is that they removed the deck plans entirely. There is absolutely no way of seeing them. The old app would cache them once you view them so you could access the deck plans while onboard without using internet. They must have that back before they even attempt anything fancy. It's such a simple thing, but we still don't even have full deck plans period at this point so maybe it is the toughest thing to accomplish.

Seems like a lot of hype just for an app, although like others have mentioned it could be much more comprehensive including an app, but also the technology with the onboard TV's and digital signage around the ship. Taking it all to the next level. Perhaps even the new high-speed internet will be tied in? Maybe the technology will even be tied into some of the new shows, making them more interactive with the audience?

This is taken from another site I can not name.

The technology reveal for Quantum of the Seas is expected to follow the recent dining and entertainment reveal events in showcasing what's new and exciting for Quantum of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has built a reputation of pushing the envelope when it comes to technology on its cruise ships and this event should further than agenda.

One aspect of technology we know about that is coming to Quantum of the Seas is brand new high speed internet that will allow guests to stay connected at speeds never seen at sea.

Traditionally the internet on cruise ships has been slow. As in 1996 at your parent's house on a dial-up modem slow. With Quantum of the Seas, that's about to change.

Royal Caribbean has teamed up with O3b Satellite Communications to launch a new generation of medium-Earth-orbit satellites with sophisticated antenna arrays aboard the cruise ships.

The higher internet speeds will make it feasible for a guest to download streaming video or post video clips to Facebook. Royal Caribbean is developing new pricing plans for added service.

When Quantum of the Seas launches, it will have the new internet speeds ready to go, which is something Royal Caribbean COO Adam Goldstein was quoted as saying,"several new, show-stopper uses of the bandwidth."

"In the old days,” Goldstein said, “we sold escape from the outside world. But today’s younger travelers want full-time access to the Internet." Along those lines, Quantum will feature a new broadband technology for cruise ships, currently being tested aboard the line's largest ships, Oasis and Allure of the Seas.

So how fast is fast? During a test back in March, Royal Caribbean reported bandwidth speeds exceeding 500 Mbps during tests aboard Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

I hope the announcement is broadcast from inside Quantum

I hope the announcement is broadcast from inside Quantum

Given RCL's crack IT capabilities, if they do that, the odds are good that they'll crash the system;)

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