Innovations at Sea
 To attract more first-time cruisers, cruise lines continue to push the envelope with the addition of innovative “passenger pleasing” amenities that enrich the overall cruise experience.
Since introduced in 2003, Princess Cruises’ “Movies Under the Stars” has received rave reviews from passengers and stands out as one of the most unusual entertainment venues afloat. Every ship in the Princess fleet is equipped with a 300-square-foot LED screen at poolside that offers as many as seven screenings a day, including family movies and first-run hits, as well as concert footage, sports events and other special programs. A big favorite of both children and adults is the interactive film experience “Sing-a-Long Wizard of Oz,” which invites audiences to sing along with Dorothy on her fantastic journey through Oz while viewing a fully restored big-screen version of the classic film. Every evening, passengers view movies while reclining on lounge chairs covered with cushions and blankets while enjoying soft drinks and nibbling on popcorn and candy. Couples have compared the experience to a drive-in movie as they snuggle together under the stars.
Illuminations, the first-ever planetarium at sea on Cunard’s Queen Mary2(QM2), transports passengers past planets and constellations on a spectacular virtual ride through the cosmos. Another QM2 entertainment “first” is performances by a company of actors from London’s famed Royal Academy of Dramatic Art(RADA), who also lead workshops and acting classes. For spa aficionados, world-renowned Canyon Ranch is operating its first SpaClub at sea aboard the QM2. This 20,000-square-foot state-of-the art facility, which encompasses two decks and employs a staff of 50, contains 24 treatment rooms, as well as a thalassotherapy pool, airbed recliner lounges, a deluge waterfall, neck fountains and body-massage-jet benches.
Celebrity claims the title of first cruise line to offer acupuncture at sea, with two to four doctors of Asian medicine on each ship in its fleet who perform acupuncture treatments for pain management, weight loss, smoking cessation and stress management. They also diagnose and treat specific syndromes with medicinal herb formulas and deliver talks on topics ranging from feng shui and nutrition to healing with herbs.
Most major cruise lines have installed onboard wireless systems that enable passengers to connect with the Internet anywhere in the world. For example, this writer was able to surf the Web and send e-mails on an Antarctica cruise last year in the privacy of his stateroom as well from “hot spots” throughout the ship. In addition, most ships nowadays are equipped with Internet cafes that provide 24/7 access to the Web.
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