When MSC’s Virtuosa gets to welcome travelers again on April 16, they’ll be greeted at the bar by a new crewmember, a robotic bartender named Rob.
Unlike arm-only robot bartenders tried out by Royal Caribbean or the rolling guest services robot on Costa, Rob is a full-body ‘humanoid’ with and LED-display face to show off his expressions and ’emotions.’
Rob will be working in the ship’s Starship Club lounge, an area filled with digital wall art, 3D holograms and augmented reality tables. The robot will take drink orders—in any of eight languages, depending on which one is spoken to him—mix and serve the drinks, and carry on conversations.
Remaining question: Will cruise guests really want life advice from a robot bartender? And who will keep the tips?
