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<p>That’s why Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is combining facial recognition technology, QR codes, digital beacons and an app guests can add to their smartphones to streamline and simplify boarding a ship.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Guests who want to breeze through boarding can start the process before their vacation begins. The first step: download the app for the upcoming cruise. It’s an app guests will want once onboard for everything from booking dining, entertainment and shore excursion options, to finding their way around the ship, to ordering a beverage that will find its way to them wherever they are on board.</p>
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<p>Step two is to complete the quick and easy check-in on the app with built-in travel document scanning and verification, and image recognition technology for security photo validation. This enables guests to enjoy a frictionless and expedited boarding experience through a dedicated lane the moment they arrive at the port.</p>
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<ul><li>Worry-Free Curbside Luggage Drop-Off. Drop off your luggage when you arrive at the terminal with the peace of mind that your belongings will arrive at your stateroom through luggage tagging and tracking technology.</li><li>Expedited security check points. Using the pre-validated security photo uploaded earlier, facial recognition technology knows who is coming aboard, acknowledges them, and starts checking them in automatically in the background.</li><li>Be welcomed aboard. Check in complete, guests are now on their way effortlessly to their first vacation day. Any last minute paperwork to complete? A crew member will know, find the guest and take care of it all on the spot.</li></ul>
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<p>Friction-free arrival will be piloted starting in the second half of next year in the U.S.</p>
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