MSC Cruises introduces robotic bartender onboard its newest ship
MSC Cruises has revealed its futuristic MSC Starship Club featuring Rob, the first-ever humanoid, robotic bartender at sea
The MSC Starship Club will be exclusively available onboard the line’s newest flagship MSC Virtuosa when it comes into service from 16 April this year.
The integrated bar and entertainment experience, called MSC Starliner One, is inspired by MSC Cruises’ vision of the spaceship of the future and is enabled by technologies designed to create a futuristic atmosphere. 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.
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 and human-like expressions for a fully immersive bar experience. 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.
MSC Starship Club six years in the making
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. Not only does Rob prepare an impressive range of cocktails, but he can speak eight languages – English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese – according to the language chosen when the guest makes the order, and he also has a clear personality that evolves with the surrounding settings and atmosphere. He uses his LED face to convey emotion so that guests can enjoy his performance whilst they sip on their cocktail.
The MSC Starship Club has been nearly six years in the making, since the first original concept, and the company has really pushed the boundaries with the engineering that has gone into making this a reality. During this time, MSC Cruises has worked with leading experts from companies specialising in robotics and automation, interior design as well as entertainment and digital experience solutions to create a custom designed entertainment venue with a humanoid robot as the star.
In a world where health and safety is top of mind, this seems like a smart move to ITIJ. Of course, robotic bartenders have been around for some years on cruise ships, but the friendly face of Rob certainly takes things to the next level. In a world where many of us are craving more human interaction once more, this this humanoid will certainly be seen as a step in the right direction when it comes to automating onboard processes.
Cruises in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe
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. 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.