By
Rebecca Gibson |
MSC Cruises is to add new capabilities to its MSC for Me digital platform in time for the debut of MSC Grandiosa, its first Meraviglia-Plus ship, this November.
First introduced on MSC Meraviglia in 2017, MSC for Me is a multi-channel digital programme that enables guests to interact with the ship, crew members and fellow passengers. It is now available on MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Splendida and MSC Bellissima.
New features include services that guests can use prior to embarking on their cruise, such as pre-registering a credit card and browsing and selecting pre-paid drinks and speciality restaurant packages, shore excursions and theatre shows. Guests will also be able to add pre-booked activities to their personal agenda.
Once onboard the ship, guests will be able to use the new MSC for Me Chat feature to message fellow cruisers without needing to purchase an internet package, as well as a ‘what to eat’ service to gain insights into the local ‘must-eat’ ingredients or dishes as they cruise from destination to destination. Plus, guests will be able to purchase wristbands powered by Bluetooth Low Energy technology and use the Friends and Family Locator feature to find their travel companions as they move around the ship.
Guests will also benefit from Zoe, a voice-enabled artificial intelligence-powered personal assistant, which was developed in partnership with Harman and Samsung Electronics and launched on MSC Bellissima this March. Zoe will be available in every cabin and will be able to answer hundreds of questions about the cruise and onboard facilities in seven languages. The chatbot will also be able to help passengers book services.
Other existing features in MSC for Me include mobile check-in to expedite embarkation and disembarkation, an interactive map for navigating the vessel, the ability to check daily events, activities and onboard highlights in real time via the app, in-cabin TVs or interactive screens throughout the ship. In addition, guests can use near-field communications wristbands to book services through the interactive digital screens, open their cabin door and more.
“Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at MSC Cruises and technology does not stand still,” said Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises CEO. “Since launching our industry-leading digital innovation programme MSC for Me in 2017, we continued to research and implement the latest technologies that are specifically designed to enhance our guest experience, ensuring that they can make the most of the rich array of services, activities and facilities that we offer onboard our ships.”
MSC Meraviglia, which is the fifth next-generation ship MSC Cruises has launched in just over two years, will be christened at the Port of Hamburg in Germany on 9 November. Once named, the vessel will embark on her inaugural winter season in the Mediterranean, calling at destinations such as Barcelona, Spain; Palermo, Italy; Marseille, France; and Valletta in Malta.