Cabling There are 1,550 miles of cable on board. There are some 2,500 data drops throughout the ship. Smart Cards Passenger information is scanned onto the cards, which also contain passenger photos. Guests use them to embark and disembark, buy products and services on board, and open cabin doors. Passenger Cabin Every cabin has a digital interactive TV. Guests can e-mail, buy products from the ship’s stores, sign up for shore excursions and classes, watch on-demand movies and check their billing data. Satellite Communications Two satellite antennae allow ship-to-shore communication. Cunard’s Miami-based IT staff can connect to IT systems via satellite to resolve onboard IT problems. Bridge The commodore?Captain Ronald Warwick, whose late father helmed Cunard’s Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 2?and his staff can navigate using a joystick. Pods Four electric motors (pods) pull the ship through the water and provide unprecedented maneuverability for a ship this size?the ship can dock without the use of tugs. Data from the engines is automatically transmitted via satellite. Restaurants and Bars Servers enter orders into the point-of-sale system. Information is wirelessly transmitted to access points on the ceiling, which are connected via cables to the galley. There are 40 or so wireless access points located throughout the vessel. Chefs view orders on two large plasma screens. Main Business Operations Center This room, located in the heart of the ship, hosts a rack of servers, the PBX communications system and the PA system. It has a raised floor, fire suppression and redundant power supply. Two other rooms serve as backups to the main computer room in case of failure. Related content Feature Industry clouds prove their business value Born of partnerships and ecosystem-centric by their nature, cloud solutions aimed at specific verticals are taking root, forming a complex, rapidly evolving market CIOs must be strategic about entering. By Paula Rooney Mar 24, 2023 7 mins Cloud Computing Feature What is data governance? Best practices for managing data assets Data governance defines roles, responsibilities, and processes for ensuring accountability for and ownership of data assets across the enterprise. By Thor Olavsrud Mar 24, 2023 10 mins IT Governance Frameworks Big Data Data Mining BrandPost Stay in Control of Your Data with a Secure and Compliant Sovereign Cloud By Stan Kwong Mar 23, 2023 6 mins Cloud Security Cloud Computing News Accenture to lay off 19,000 to cut costs amid economic uncertainty Technology services giant Accenture will continue to hire but meanwhile is cutting staff to streamline operations in the face of economic headwinds. By Anirban Ghoshal Mar 23, 2023 2 mins IT Consulting Services Technology Industry Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe