Royal Caribbean has been using facial recognition for boarding since around 2019; it was pioneered at terminals in Celebrity Edge and later rolled out more broadly. On embarkation, guests upload a photo and cruise documents ahead of time—then breeze through the terminal with just a face scan at smart kiosks. Cruise technology trends

Even more recently, on February 2, 2025, CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) partnered with Royal Caribbean in San Juan to use facial biometrics for disembarkation. Result? Debarkation times cut by up to 30%

Wearables as Room Keys, Wallets, and Wayfinders

Royal Caribbean’s older-style RFID wristbands—like the WOWbands on Quantum-class ships—opened cabins, acted as onboard ID, and handled charges. Carnival’s Ocean Medallion is similar, powered by sensors and smart displays called Ocean Compass, so your wearable knows where you are and what you might like before you do.
But wearables are giving way to the best “wearable” of all: your face. According to Royal Caribbean’s SVP of Digital Experience, facial recognition is seen as superior long‑term, with no wristband to lose or charge.

Smart AI Inside, Right at Your Fingertips (or Voice)

App-Based Digital Concierge

Apps like Royal Caribbean’s Royal iQ function as AI‑powered concierges. Based on preferences and past bookings, the app recommends shore excursions, dining, spa, entertainment, and more. It’s like having a travel planner who learns your likes the more you sail.

MSC Cruises offers Zoe, a voice‑activated digital assistant available in cabins speaking multiple languages, responding to queries like “What time is dinner?” or “Where’s the spa?”—all powered by AI and a fleet of sensors onboard.

Personalization & Itinerary Optimization

AI doesn’t just suggest fun things. It’s analyzing real‑time data for operational efficiency—fuel usage, dining consumption patterns, HVAC systems, and even predictive maintenance. Royal Caribbean is using data platforms and ship “digital twins” to reduce energy consumption and cut food waste via an AI program called “Win on Waste.”

According to CLIA projections, more than half of passengers in 2025 will interact with AI‑powered services during their cruise—whether through chatbots, virtual concierges, or dynamic pricing systems.

Smart Cabin Hacks & Health Monitoring

Smart Cabin Controls

Imagine walking into your stateroom and the lights, temperature, and entertainment preferences match your routine automatically. That’s IoT in action—smart cabins can recognize your wearable or phone and prepare your environment in advance. Carnival Medallion-style wearables offer adjusted room climates and plan departures ahead of you—simple magic handcrafted by sensors and AI.

Future patents from Royal Caribbean hint at even more: facial recognition for cabin door unlocking and onboard personalization. According to a 2021 patent filing, this could control lighting, authorized access, notifications, and remote unlock features through facial scanning at the door itself.

Health & Safety via Monitoring

Wearables and AI also step in to monitor fatigue, crowd flow, and even health concerns onboard. Although medical fatigue use cases come mostly from workplace studies, the same tech—wearables analyzing ECG, EMG, EEG, and breathing patterns—can support onboard crew safety or health checks at sea.

AI-powered surveillance systems also monitor foot-traffic zones (pools, theaters, and corridors) to prevent crowd bottlenecks and quickly flag security situations or overbroad risks. Facial recognition enables contact tracing too, used during health emergencies or outbreaks abroad via linked passenger data—especially valuable post-pandemic.

Privacy, Ethics & What’s Next

Your Face Is Data—So What Happens to It?

Cruise lines are quite conscious of privacy concerns:

• Royal Caribbean claims biometric data is deleted within five weeks after a cruise
• Carnival and Princess adhere to similar policies—data retention post-cruise is limited, and images are deleted within days or weeks.
• Passengers can opt out of biometric scanning and undergo manual checks if desired.

Still, critics point out that facial recognition can misidentify people of color and may face legal restrictions—Seattle’s Port banned mandatory scanning, and Shanghai’s hotels limited use based on consent.

What Lies Ahead

Emerging trends hint at even smarter tech onboard:

• Earables (wearables near the ear) are being developed using AI to measure context-aware data—potentially mood, fatigue, and ambient noise changes. Imagine ear-worn AI assistants tuned to your comfort at sea.
• Platforms like INDIANA explore integrating wearable inputs with weather, location, and personal history to deliver dynamic recommendations—scalable models that cruise lines might adopt to make smarter suggestions mid-voyage
• From AI-powered mirrors, smart TVs, to snore-blocking earbuds, the innovations showcased at CES 2025 hint that cruises of the future may feel more like connected luxury resorts than ever before.

Why It Matters to You, the Passenger

1. Seamless Boarding & Debarkation: No more long queues or fumbling with keycards—just your face.
2. Fully Personalized: Apps and onboard sensors anticipate your entertainment, dining, and spa preferences.
3. Hands-Free Lifestyle: Whether it’s unlocking your cabin door or paying onboard, it’s all contactless.
4. More Time for Fun: With fewer chores and a chatbot as your butler, you’re free to soak in the sun—and maybe that robotic barista.
5. More Responsible Cruising: AI is helping reduce waste and energy use—letting you feel good while you sail.

Final Thoughts about Cruise Technology Trends

The rise of smart wearables and facial recognition, powered by AI, is reshaping cruise travel as we know it. The industry has leapt from wristbands and boarding selfies to AI-powered cabins, personalized experiences, and biometric frictionless travel—without sacrificing safety or sustainability.

As the tech evolves, expect cabins that know you better than you know yourself, virtual assistants in every cabin corner, and debarkation that is as breezy as the sea breeze.

So next time you pack for your voyage, just remember… you’re bringing your passport, your smart device—and your face (enabled).