Another cruise line plans a robot bartender -- and this time it'll almost look human
You'll soon be able to have a drink on a cruise ship mixed by a human-shaped robot bartender.
MSC Cruises on Thursday announced that its next new vessel, MSC Virtuosa, will have what it's calling the "first-ever humanoid, robotic bartender at sea."
To be called Rob (that's short for robot, of course), the never-tiring drink slinger will preside over a futuristic lounge called the MSC Starship Club.
Just to be clear, while Rob will have a humanoid shape, you shouldn't expect anything as sophisticated as the Michael Sheen robot bartender character in the 2016 film "Passengers."
But MSC Cruises does say Rob will be able to speak eight languages (English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese) and have "a clear personality that evolves with the surrounding setting and atmosphere."
Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles
Rob will use his LED face "to convey emotion so guests can enjoy his performance while sipping their cocktails," MSC Cruises said in its announcement.
MSC Cruises isn't the first line to add a robot bartender to a cruise ship, of course. Royal Caribbean is famous for the Bionic Bars on several of its ships that have robot bartenders.
Related: The ultimate guide to MSC Cruises
But the "robots" in Royal Caribbean's Bionic Bars are not humanoid. They're just mechanical arms that are programmed to make drinks to order.
The first Bionic Bar debuted in 2014 on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas, and they have since been added to four more ships: Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.
The MSC Starship Club where Rob will be based will be inspired by MSC Cruises' vision of the spaceship of the future, the line said. It'll have a futuristic atmosphere with 3D holograms, an immersive digital art wall and a 12-seat digital interactive table.
The latter will give passengers "the opportunity to explore space with their own personalized galactic tour," MSC Cruises said.
While mixing and serving drinks, Rob will engage with and speak with passengers, the line added.
Rob's first day on the job will be April 16, 2021 -- the day MSC Virtuosa debuts. Or, at least, that's the plan. With the current coronavirus-related shutdown of most cruising around the world, Rob's true start date may be a bit up in the air.
Related: The 9 most anticipated new cruise ships of 2021
MSC Cruises said it took the company nearly six years of work with leading robotics and automation experts to develop Rob and his spacey surroundings.
MSC Virtuosa is scheduled to sail in the Mediterranean briefly when it first debuts in April, with a series of three-, four- and five-night voyages. It'll then redeploy to Northern Europe for the summer of 2021 for a range of itineraries to the Norwegian fjords and Baltic capital cities.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.