By John Pedler
Last updated on: December 8, 2020 at 11:46 am
What wouldn’t Australia’s early settlers have given for a poolside cinema, surf simulator or a mini-golf course to keep them entertained on their long sea voyage?
Passenger facilities have certainly improved over the past 200 years.
And as the competition among cruise companies heats up, travellers can expect to see even quirkier features adorn the world’s floating resorts. Here are a few of the more recent additions.
A magic portal
Trying to decide between an interior or outside stateroom? Well now there’s a third option – sort of. The wizards of entertainment at Disney have come up with the Magical Porthole.
Interior staterooms on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are fitted with circular, porthole-like screens that stream real-time vision from cameras mounted on the ship’s exterior.
Taking the concept to the next level, Royal Caribbean interior staterooms now come with a floor to ceiling virtual balcony, which also includes audio from the outside world. It’s remarkably realistic, so when you return to your cabin at the end of the night, be sure to remember you booked an inside room.