By
Alex Smith |
Carnival Cruise Line is expanding its use of facial biometric technology throughout the summer season in a partnership with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to speed up the disembarkation process.
Nine of Carnival’s 14 homeports in the USA are using the technology, including Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Jacksonville, New York, Baltimore, Mobile, Galveston and Long Beach. The technology has shortened the disembarkation process by an average of 30 per cent for the more than three million Carnival passengers who have used it so far.
“Expanding this technology at our US homeports ensures we’re doing everything we can to make the disembarkation process as simple as possible for our guests,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Thanks to our partnership with CBP, these technology solutions make the process more efficient, while giving guests a sense of safety and security, knowing their information is protected.”
In the process, guests leaving the ships at the end of a cruise pause at a kiosk with a camera and take a photo. Within seconds, the image is biometrically compared to their passport or visa photo to verify the guest’s identity with over 98 per cent accuracy.
“CBP is excited to expand the use of facial biometrics in the debarkation process to further secure and streamline the passenger experience through public/private partnerships with the cruise industry,” said Diane J. Sabatino, deputy executive assistant commissioner of the office of field operations for CBP. “Through our partnership with Carnival Cruise Line, we will continue to transform cruise operations by leveraging technology and enhanced processes while also strengthening our data sharing agreement to further secure US seaports.”
US travellers and select foreign nationals can request a manual document check from a CBP officer if they prefer to opt out of the process.