MSC Cruises is taking cutting-edge robotics and digital technologies to deliver a futuristic, immersive entertainment lounge, completely re-imagining the traditional bar experience to literally transport guests to another world.
Have you seen ‘Avenue 5’ the surrealistic HBO-show taking place on board the interplanetary cruise ship, the Avenue 5? Well MSC Cruises is bringing a bit of it to the sea, right here and now, onboard MSC Virtuosa.
The MSC Starship Club experience
MSC Cruises is known to always take things a little further, enriching the travel epxerience with every new ship. The MSC Starship Club, an integrated bar and entertainment experience onboard the cruise line’s upcoming new flagship is a prime example. Inspired by MSC Cruises’ vision of the spaceship of the future – MSC Starliner One – the club will offer a completely new experience enabled by state-of-the-art technologies. This includes 3D holograms, an immersive digital art wall and a 12-seater infinity digital interactive table, giving guests the possibility to explore space with their own personalised galactic tour.
Robotic bartender Rob will mix, and serve his signature cocktails, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and countless personalised drinks, just like a human bartender would do, whilst engaging the guests with his voice, human-like expressions for a fully immersive bar experience.
Guests will use specifically designed vertical digital cockpits within the area to place their order. Rob will then get to work and use all of his customised robotic skills to prepare the cocktails – pouring spirits, juices and syrups; shaking, building or stirring the concoctions; garnishing.
The status of the cocktail preparation will be displayed through digital monitors within the area and a ticker-tape-style LED strip above the robotic island, whilst being immersed in the space-themed experience. The cosmic cocktails are served in custom-designed futuristic glasses that guests can be collected as a lasting souvenir of the MSC Starship Club experience. Guests will be able to return to the club multiple times over the course of their cruise, experiencing a new interaction with Rob each time.
Rob’s skills and emotional responsiveness combined with bartenders dressed as if they had just stepped out of a sci-fi movie supported by the immersive surroundings and technology will ensure that the MSC Starship Club is a must-visit attraction for all ages.
Meet Rob
Rob, your new favorite humanoid, robotic bartender comes from a remote planet at the edge of the universe and is a galaxy-trotter. He has travelled all the way around the galaxy and, during his journeys to many different planets, he has learned mixology in the best intergalactic bars. He perfected his technique on small satellites far in the galaxy, on colonised Mars and many other places, and now he has decided to bring his abilities exclusively to the MSC Starship Club.
Rob loves to interact with humans! He is not a cold machine but a humanoid that can interact with guests using a witty and involving language, changing his facial expressions and if he is in the mood, even showing his dance moves. He likes being at the centre of attention, something he does by telling everyone who surrounds him jokes, riddles and space trivia.
Rob moves his arms, body and head in a highly natural way, all collaborating to give the impression that a real bartender is preparing the cocktail – a very unique engineering feature. Different facial expressions and a voice have been designed to give Rob a human-like personality.
When Rob is not preparing cocktails, he can scan the environment around him and recognise guests passing by, through an intelligent human recognition movements system placed on his head and he will be able to greet and engage with them. Rob can speak 8 languages (English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese), according to language chosen when the guest makes the order.
Rob is not the only crew member in the area. Human bartenders will be always be on-hand to assist and prepare unique beverages too as part of the overall experience.
Exclusively onboard MSC Virtuosa
MSC Virtuosa is the line’s newest flagship and will come into service in April this year. Each and every MSC Cruises ship is unique and MSC Virtuosa will feature new experiences for guests, with the introduction of Rob being just one of them. She will be highly equipped with cutting-edge technologies and environmentally conscious capabilities.
After completing a few three, four and five-night cruises in the Mediterranean, MSC Virtuosa will be deployed to Northern Europe in summer 2021 with a range of itineraries to the Norwegian fjords and Baltic capital cities.