How do the crew remember you?

[travelplus]

This has been one of the biggest questions  I have been pondering. How do the crew remember you from one cruise to the next especially with running into thousands of passengers? I have had a Maitre D' remember my Father and I two years later. We could not believe he remembered us?  He made sure to check on us nightly and took the time to talk with us and made sure our meals were perfect! It made us feel like family! Another server in the Windjammer came by my table and said I remember your Father and you from a previous cruise!     The same happened at Guest Services.

 

I enjoy interacting with the crew and talking with them but I am utterly touched when someone remembers us after a few years and thousands of passengers later.

 

Now herein lies the mystery does Royal Caribbean use the computer software to state that this person was on the same cruise and to recognize them?  For instance the Waiter remembers that we like Lemonaird with Iced Tea at dinner do they add it to Passenger notes and go over it every evening?   Is there some training involved or some secrete  method because I know that I run into many people and remember some but after seeing so many  I do tend to forget.

 

Have you had someone come up to you on a cruise and remember you?  

[rhuntington3]

Some people have good memory!

[mets123]

I've had waiters come to us, and we'd go to others and say hello. There's no secret training or notes involved. We would see them in the dining rooms or Windjammer randomly. Same holds true for the bar staff of CD staff.

[grapau27]

I think they have good memories.

A waiter we had on Explorer out of New York in January 2008 recognised us on Brilliance the following year.

[GUT2407]

I’m ugly enough that it’s probably hard for them to forget.

[PerferWarmWeather]

I believe we were on the same cruise?

[Spidybabe1]

That is something that has always amazed me too. Many times staff has approached us, remembering us from previous sailings.  Amazing memories

Safe sailing 

[Snit13]

Have experienced this many times over the years both with Celebrity and Royal.  If you are a pleasant person and interact with the crew many will remember you even years later.  It also helps, in my humble opinion, if you are a good tipper...not required but they do remember.  Smile and say hello and treat crew with respect and you will make an impression on their mind.

[pinebro]

We had a lovely bar waitress from Philippines on Century south pacific.

Saw her on another cruise 9 years later, went to say hello and she says

’hello, mr christian, are you ready for a southern comfort manhatten?’

It was my go to drink on previous cruise! Amazing 

[johnjen]

8 hours ago, travelplus said:

Now herein lies the mystery does Royal Caribbean use the computer software to state that this person was on the same cruise and to recognize them?

 

I cannot confirm this, but with all the photo taking going on during a cruise from start to end, I have to wonder if RCL uses facial recognition software for security reasons. This might raise an ire of concern for privacy reasons, but with this technology in existence, I would not be surprised.

[Ocean Boy]

8 hours ago, travelplus said:

 

Now herein lies the mystery does Royal Caribbean use the computer software to state that this person was on the same cruise and to recognize them? 

 

The thought that RCI's IT department could pull something like that off is really funny.

[travelplus]

23 minutes ago, pinebro said:

We had a lovely bar waitress from Philippines on Century south pacific.

Saw her on another cruise 9 years later, went to say hello and she says

’hello, mr christian, are you ready for a southern comfort manhatten?’

It was my go to drink on previous cruise! Amazing 

After nine, years now that makes me wonder if they have a profile linkes to your SeaPass that tracks your purchases like at a supermarket with a red note to say you like Manhattens! 

[travelplus]

34 minutes ago, johnjen said:

I cannot confirm this, but with all the photo taking going on during a cruise from start to end, I have to wonder if RCL uses facial recognition software for security reasons. This might raise an ire of concern for privacy reasons, but with this technology in existence, I would not be surprised.

Target uses AI photo recognition to catch shopliffers and has a large crime lab. So Royal using this technology is not far flung especially on newer ships. 

 

At Singapore Changi Airport one terminal is all automated using biometrics. I bet you one day the SeaPass will be obsoleted and your retina and fingerprint will take over boarding the ship, ordering drinks etc. 

 

As for Royals IT well now that's a big question a part of it is so abysmal like their App does not show all of my shore excursions, tells me that my Checkin is not available when I did it on ne. Poor integration and synchronization. Even airlines have better apps in which I can. Book a flight in 1 minute. 

 

Another thought is robots may be placed, on ships. 

 

It's a, scary and wild world out on the open seas. You know what I once woke up from a nightmare on my first cruise scared that a robot with auto pilot like a Tesla  was driving the shop and the crew was sleeping relying too much on technology. I am always scared boarding a driverless monorail at the airport for fear the doors would close with me stuck in between and we just take off the same for Waymo.

 

Scary to think that a, Bionic robot would deliver the noon announcement, attend the Captain*s Gala, make decisions for medical evacuations or SOS evacuations. 

 

Another robot serves our drinks. Now why would I tip an impersonal computer? A robot is cool  but it does not replace humans unless Royal wants a Bionic Class of ships that are all robots both passengers and the crew now that's something I'd like to design and implement see how robots interact with each other pilot g the ship. There would be a few humans, for food service. Robots would dance, fold napkins, clean rooms etc. 

Edited July 31, 2019 by travelplus

[Biker19]

9 minutes ago, travelplus said:

Another robot serves our drinks. Now why would I tip an impersonal computer? 

Because RCI makes you, like at the Bionic Bar.

 

Biker, who is not surprised how quickly virtually any thread can be turned into a tipping thread.

[Grandma Dazzles]

First cruise solo after my husband died I was pretty apprehensive and nervous. Two years later  I walked into the DL and realized it was a familiar waiter. He greeted me immediately - said he would get my Chardonnay and should he get one for my husband. At that point I teared  up and told him what had happened.  He came out from behind the bar and gave me a big hug. He was genuinely compassionate and kind. He did say “what a nice man; always asked how I was and talked to me, and took care of me every night.”  Good memories. 

[travelplus]

8 minutes ago, Grandma Dazzles said:

First cruise solo after my husband died I was pretty apprehensive and nervous. Two years later  I walked into the DL and realized it was a familiar waiter. He greeted me immediately - said he would get my Chardonnay and should he get one for my husband. At that point I teared  up and told him what had happened.  He came out from behind the bar and gave me a big hug. He was genuinely compassionate and kind. He did say “what a nice man; always asked how I was and talked to me, and took care of me every night.”  Good memories. 

Aww that is very  touching.You really do feel like family on Royal and their sister brands. If God Forbid I was mourning the loss, of someone near to me I would do so on a Royal ship because of the phenomenal crew and passengers.

 

I would love to interview the top Exrecutives of Royal and one of the first questions is how do they train their crew so well to remember you after seeing thousands of peolple and years later? 

 

Now I can unsersrand a manager at a grocery store you frequent or a hotel you spend many nights  at but on a cruise ship unless your living on it and dont cruise every month on the same ship. That's amazing and very touching. 

Edited July 31, 2019 by travelplus

[travelplus]

11 minutes ago, Grandma Dazzles said:

First cruise solo after my husband died I was pretty apprehensive and nervous. Two years later  I walked into the DL and realized it was a familiar waiter. He greeted me immediately - said he would get my Chardonnay and should he get one for my husband. At that point I teared  up and told him what had happened.  He came out from behind the bar and gave me a big hug. He was genuinely compassionate and kind. He did say “what a nice man; always asked how I was and talked to me, and took care of me every night.”  Good memories. 

I am so sorry for your loss. May the good memories bring you comfort. May Peace be with you! 

 

For me if I was mourning someone very close to me I would do so on a cruise as I'm sure other passengers would be doing the same. I would have people to talk to, a gym and Disco to help me with my emotions, meals cooked for me with Chops and Giovanni*s for nights when I don't want crowds Some of the theater shows may be too emotional so I have a, Balcony with just God the sea and myself. If I want to cry I can. If I need to be alone then Room Service can bring my meal or tea. 

 

It's super healing to cruise during hard times not even a death but after a stressful period. 

Edited July 31, 2019 by travelplus

[dodgestang]

Half the casino staff followed me from Grandeur to Anthem this year.  The wife gets worried when I sit down at a casino we've never been in before and 3 people in 20 seconds say "Hello Nick"

[travelplus]

8 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

Half the casino staff followed me from Grandeur to Anthem this year.  The wife gets worried when I sit down at a casino we've never been in before and 3 people in 20 seconds say "Hello Nick"

Hello my friend so nice  to see you again Nick here is your chips, drink and a bonus credit. Can I get you anything else?, 😁

 

Wife says*Ah Ium what is going on*

 

Now that's scary that wifey knows where you spent a good portion of your cruise at all hours of the day or night. You must have tipped them too good for them to remember you in 20 seconds just like in a movie. 

Edited July 31, 2019 by travelplus

[awestover89]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

The thought that RCI's IT department could pull something like that off is really funny.

 

Royal doesn't really have a single IT department, though. And much of their work is contracted out. For example the team that worked on Espresso (their travel agent portal) is completely different than the team that worked on their customer facing website. I'd imagine that the Cruise Planner team was yet a different team. Corporate development (reports, ad tracking, SEO, etc) would be another team entirely. 

 

I wouldn't be surprised at all if they have a contract setup with a company that specializes in IT solutions to people management and security.

 

Computer vision and AI are completely different fields of software development than website development

[sjb317]

I’ve always wondered how crew does this.   I was standing at the entrance to WJ waiting for my husband when I hear someone saying Mrs.B.... Mrs. B.....  It was an assistant waiter from a cruise the previous year.  I was amazed.😀. 

 

Sherri🙂

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, travelplus said:

 

 

It's super healing to cruise during hard times not even a death but after a stressful period. 

The ocean, and ships, have amazing healing abilities. There is no question in my mind about that.

[pinebro]

Evertime your card is swipped they see your picture....the name may be easy, the cocktail choice not so much. It was her warm smiling face that gives her the benefit of sincerity 

[Virtopia]

I've heard it was my smile, laugh and the fact that I was traveling alone why they remembered me - it was about 3 years in between sailings, which was amazing.

[djh]

2 hours ago, dodgestang said:

Half the casino staff followed me from Grandeur to Anthem this year.  The wife gets worried when I sit down at a casino we've never been in before and 3 people in 20 seconds say "Hello Nick"

That happens to us a lot in the casino, even if we haven't cruised in a year. We play three card and my husband is a very generous tipper. I'm sure that helps, lol!