Samsung joins with cruise line to enable guests to tour cruise ships before boarding
By
Rebecca Gibson |
MSC Cruises has partnered with technology provider Samsung to enable passengers and travel agents to tour its ships using an immersive virtual reality tool.
Built using Samsung’s Gear VR headsets and a purpose-built software application, the virtual reality tool is powered by Oculus and hardware developed by AxedGroup. It enables cruise passengers to ‘walk’ through six key areas of the ship including the pool areas, restaurants and cabins. They can also watch a show in the ship’s theatre, while 360° sensory technology enables the user to smell aromas from the restaurants.
The tool will be launched at Expo 2015, which runs between 1 May and 31 October and will be sponsored by MSC. The company’s stand will showcase a range of virtual experiences using Samsung Gear VR on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 device. Following its launch, the technology will be available to certain European travel agent partners.
In future, MSC will offer tours of its new prototype ships, such as MSC Meraviglia, which is currently under construction at the STX France yard in Saint-Nazaire.