Take a Cruise On The World’s Largest Cruise Ship… Without Leaving Your Couch

Photo courtesy Royal Caribbean

There’s nothing like taking a cruise on one of the world’s largest cruise ships… without any of the hassles of leaving your couch!

Royal Caribbean International announced Monday a partnership with technology giant Google to become the first cruise line to launch Google Maps Business View using Google’s Street View technology onboard the Allure of the Seas. 

By using Street View technology, Royal Caribbean International says it will provide consumers with a sample of their vacation through an immersive and interactive experience.

“Business View allows people all over the world to explore a range of businesses and organizations in great detail in just a few clicks” said Deborah Schenker – Program Manager at Google UK, “You can check out anything from restaurants to aircraft in Google Maps, and now for the first time you can sail the seas too with the first ever cruise ship coming on board.”

Using the familiar street view interface, potential cruisers will be able to virtually walk through the various decks of Allure of the Seas including the Royal Promenade, Central Park, the Boardwalk, the Entertainment Place, the Pool and Sports Deck, and 22 restaurants, just to name a few.

To produce the virtual experience, over 20,000 images were taken using a basic DSLR camera with a fisheye lens over the course of 60 man hours and eight days in order to complete a representation of the ship.

“Consumers go online to research their vacations and this is the closest they can get to actually being onboard,” said Jo Briody, director of marketing & PR for Royal Caribbean International. “We are confident that once people get virtually immersed in Allure of the Seas’ various decks and features thanks to Google Street View technology, they’ll be eager to experience the real thing.”

For those of you interested, you access the technology HERE or via Google Search results, Google Maps and Google+ on your computer, smartphone or tablet.

No if you’ll excuse me, I have a vacation to attend to. Two more Coronas, please!

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