When your envisioned goal seems unattainable given the roadblocks,
we can usually help.
Sometimes, due to constraints or other challenges, a company requires a truly unusual approach, solution, or method of delivery. In addition to "solutions," sometimes our creative thoughts identify, and make possible, the opportunity to start providing a new product or service.
Most often, we can hand you an elegant, turn-key solution for your most challenging stumbling blocks.
Gangway (Elevator) Button
As a cruise ship sails along their itinerary, docking at various ports of call, the location for the passenger gangway will often vary. The location can vary from port to port, but can also change within a given day due to tidal changes, staffing restrictions, or other conditions. This ever-changing situation is understandably very confusing for passengers. An announcement (over the PA) was always the traditional method for conveying the current location of the gangway.
When the world’s largest cruise ship was under development, “people flow” on and off the ship was an area of much focus. A true “guidance system” was needed.
When pushed, the Gangway Button is dynamically programmed to take passengers to whatever deck is appropriate for gangway access at that moment in time (given their current location on the ship). Each “elevator group” (e.g., forward, aft, port, starboard) is programmed independently according to the passenger flow scenario in effect at the time.
The “Gangway Button” has become an industry-wide standard for newly constructed cruise ships.
Elevator "Boarding Mode"
When the majority of passengers return to a cruise ship within a very short time period, the elevator system, as traditionally designed, is unable to handle the intense demand, or sheer volume of people. Increased waiting times, and crowded elevator lobbies drive most passengers to the stairs as a last resort.
Boarding Mode is a special elevator operating mode embedded with a series of sophisticated programming rules and customer-facing features that transforms the normal elevator operation into a true “people moving machine.”
The elevator manufacturer concluded that the Boarding Mode approach transports passengers more than 1000% more efficiently than their traditional programming.
Boarding Mode has become an industry-wide standard for newly constructed cruise ships.
Interceptor Dining Reservation System
A new cruise ship offering an ambitious state-of-the-art dining program was under development. Among the options were four independent dining rooms, the entries of which were in extremely close proximity to one another.
To avoid unpleasant congestion and confusion, it was essential that passengers approached and entered the various (and correct) dining rooms smoothly and efficiently, especially during peak dining periods.
Passengers without reservations would need to be assisted, and passengers arriving at the wrong dining room location would need to be sensitively redirected.
We developed an RFID-based “proximity alert” system that allowed crew members to identify the approaching passengers (by photo and name), and ascertain their current “dining reservation” status (allowing appropriate guidance or assistance).
Crew members could elegantly anticipate and deliver the appropriate service to keep the high-volume flow moving.
LCD Dynamic Guest Guidance System
Cruise ships present a unique environment, in so many ways. One of the more confounding conditions is the seemingly ever-changing location of the ship’s gangway (the method passengers use to get on and off the ship while in port).
We developed a family of 64 small, specifically programmed, strategically placed LCD screens that work in unison (as an overall system). They dynamically change according to the passenger flow scenario in effect at the time.
These signs are extremely effective; they allowed shipboard management to reduce the required number of “human crew guidance staff” from 24, to just 4 (required for safety purposes).
Stateroom Numbering Scheme
Created a stateroom numbering/ship navigating scheme (guest facing) that eliminated the need for a 5-digit stateroom number door plaque, even though the deck numbering, the volume of staterooms, and multiple IT support systems demanded a 5-digit system.
We provided a simple, elegant solution: the deck number is “spelled out” (e.g., Deck 12), and below this the 3-digit stateroom number appears.
The sensitive and intuitive numbering scheme generates a positive guest experience onboard the world’s largest cruise ship.
RFID Luggage Tags
Developed the first-in-the-industry RFID luggage tracking system in the cruising industry.
Program accommodates different passenger groups (e.g., loyalty club members with permanent luggage tags; passengers arriving at the pier without luggage tags).
Validation and pairing occurs at multiple stages, increasing accuracy through redundancy.
Passengers can view the status of their luggage on an app (part of a larger effort on the part of the cruise line). The crew also has visibility the system, allowing the efficient servicing of the varying needs of passengers.
Luggage is tracked during its inbound journey (from the pier to the passenger cabins), and also during its outbound journey (as it leaves the ship on debarkation day).
The system also provides various metrics for management follow-up (e.g., delivery time for VIP luggage).
