Royal Caribbean International to provide 40,000 crew members with Windows 8.1 tablets

In line with technology upgrades being made across the Royal Caribbean Cruises fleet, the company is giving all of its 40,000 shipboard crew members Windows 8.1 tablets.

“This technology isn’t only about giving our guests a better vacation – it’s about giving our crew and their families a closer connection than we’ve ever been able to,” says Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises.

These Windows tablets can help crew members keep in closer touch with family and friends by using Skype and sharing photos on OneDrive. They can also use Bing and Office 365 to get other tasks done.

The rollout will begin in October and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The crew of Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Quantum of the Seas, will be the first to receive the eight-inch Windows tablet built by HEXA for the cruise line. This technology-imbued vessel uses new RFID luggage tags and wristbands, which help track bags, orient vacationers onboard, make onboard purchases and unlock rooms. Guests can also watch robots mix their drinks. (Yes, robots.) And, they can play Xbox One on board using faster broadband connections to make the most of live video gaming.

Read more about Royal Caribbean’s technology on the Windows for Business blog, a Microsoft News Center press release and the Royal Caribbean press release.

Previously, Royal Caribbean deployed a Windows Embedded-powered solution that includes point-of-sale (POS) and inspection products.

Athima Chansanchai
Microsoft News Center Staff

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