Mundy Cruising predicts how artificial intelligence will change sector

Mundy Cruising and Mundy Adventures have tried to predict how artificial intelligence (AI) will change the cruise sector.

The companies, which have published articles discussing developments in ship design, are forecasting significant improvements which will help with fuel efficiency and boost the guest experience.

Mundy Cruising managing director Edwina Lonsdale said: “There will be a slew of enhancements brought by AI across all aspects of luxury cruising, from ship design and build to efficiencies in itinerary planning and provisioning, to enhanced guest interaction.”

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AI is likely to mean ships will have the most efficient design achievable, Mundy Cruising said, with carbon-neutral power “incorporated and controlled by AI in ways never before considered possible”.

AI will be able to plot the most fuel-efficient routes, according to Mundy Cruising, which will lead to smoother sailings, while improvements are also set to come on “passenger flow, saving energy and reducing waste”.

These advancements will contribute towards the industry’s net-zero ambitions, Mundy Cruising said.

The company added that guests will also benefit from an AI-powered concierge capable of answering questions on restaurant opening times, menu choices and shore excursion availability. It will also provide personal recommendations round the clock, Mundy Cruising said.

The design of expedition ships is also likely to change based on AI, according to Mundy Adventures. Panoramic views from every angle are anticipated, alongside “open decks with plenty of tools for exploration”.

Meanwhile, AI navigation can help ensure safe passage through sea ice, Mundy Adventures said, while giving the best chance of wildlife encounters and helping to make difficult landings.

Lonsdale said: “AI in the expedition sector is about the enhancement of the human connection rather than simply second-guessing the wants and needs of individuals on the basis of past behaviours, improving the experience and allowing guests to be delighted by authentic interactions, extraordinary surprises and exceptional destinations that take them out of their comfort zone.”

Mundy Adventures said it has been looking at innovations on Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot, a luxury hybrid electric polar exploration ice-breaker powered by liquified natural gas, as well as Hurtigruten’s aim to design the world’s most energy-efficient cruise ship.

Mundy Cruising said it had been studying the Orient Express Silenseas project producing the world’s largest sailing ship, and it had also looked at Four Seasons’ new luxury yacht which takes advantage of solar and shoreside electrical power.

Mundy Cruising and Mundy Adventures added that they would like to harness AI themselves.

Photo: Mundy Cruising’s AI-generated luxury small ship concept