The beating heart of the Royal Caribbean megaship, Icon of the Seas, is The Pearl. A 14-meter structural wonder, the combined sculpture and technological marvel is a first among firsts on board the largest ship in the world. The giant structure is situated in the Royal Promenade. Guests can sit and stroll in and around the sphere, while glossy white tiles ripple and flutter in time with the tides above their head.
An example of cutting-edge cruise ship technology, The Pearl was born out of a desire to truly fill the Royal Promenade with light. Jason Liberty, President & CEO, Royal Caribbean, explained that from the very initial stages, the Royal Caribbean team wanted to open the Royal Promenade up in unprecedented ways. They wanted guests to be soaked in sunlight and have far-reaching views of the horizon. In order to achieve this, they needed to create something remarkable.
Creating an iconic guest experience
Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer, Royal Caribbean Group, described how it was hard to pin The Pearl down to one function. He said that the sculpture was, ‘A bit art, sculpture, a bit experience, a bit wow, but all in an architectural marvel’. The design of The Pearl allowed Royal Caribbean to insert large panelled windows into the side of the ship. The sheer size and placement of the windows is unusual for a cruise ship. However, cruise brands have been following guests’ desire to feel connected to the light and the sea with cruise ship innovations. Carnival Cruises moved their atrium on the Mardi Gras to meet this purpose, building it into the side of the ship in another first for the cruise ship industry.
Royal Caribbean described The Pearl as a ‘superstructure’. It is in fact a fundamental part of the ship’s structure, in addition to being an experiential artwork. The Pearl supports the floor and staterooms above it. The team transformed a challenge into an opportunity. While the shell of The Pearl was designed and constructed to be load bearing, the internal design was taking shape.
Tech meets art
Brooklyn-based kinetic art studio Breakfast designed the interior and functionality of The Pearl over two years. In an article they said, ‘The sculpture beautifully simulates various natural phenomena such as rolling waves, gentle breezes, shooting stars, and the dynamic ocean surface. Drawing its inspiration from the sea, the tiles are arranged in a Fibonacci sequence, echoing patterns found in marine life.’
The sculpture pulls live data from the web and adjusts its movement patterns according to the information it receives. This means the guests never experience The Pearl in the same way twice. Jennifer Goswami, Director, Product Development, Royal Caribbean International, said, ‘The Pearl was designed to create this ever-changing experience in itself but also within the guests’ mindset.’ In their own article about The Pearl, Breakfast said, ‘What sets the artwork apart is its utilisation of data from nature. The sculpture’s movements are influenced by real-time tidal and wind data from the Caribbean. By pulling this data from the web, it allows the piece to continuously transform, reflecting the current environmental conditions in an ever-evolving display of calmness or intensity.’
Personalisation at scale
Technology on cruise ships is often deployed to aid functionality, such as Carnival Cruises’ Medallion. Wearables like these allow guests to plan their trip, navigate the ship with ease, unlock their stateroom and more. However, cruise ships are using the data to create something they call ‘personalisation at scale’. Technology aids them in collecting data and using it to create unique events. Performers on board Princess cruise ships can use the data collected by the Medallion app to adapt their setlist, ensuring they perform favorite songs of guests present in the crowd.
It’s clear that, between implementing personalisation at scale and constructing fascinating data-infused sculptures and artworks, guest experience is at the heart of cruise lines’ investment in new technology on cruise ships.
Click the video below to learn more about the fascinating story of The Pearl, and hear from the creative minds behind this ground-breaking structure.
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