The $800 million QM2, constructed in the shipyard at Chantiers del’ Atlantique, France, and owned by Miami- based Cunard Line Ltd., made her maiden voyage in early 2004. Passengers in each of her 1,310 cabins had access to digital entertainment such as on-demand movies and interactive television. Each cabin is also wired with Internet access and network services. For example, passengers use the network to make shore excursion reservations and dinner plans. Upon checking in, passengers are presented with a plastic bar-coded card. The card is used while on board to make purchases, which are then billed to the customer’s account. It is also swiped as guests leave and return to the ship to track passenger location. The ship’s massive data network brings order where there once was chaos. Ship managers can run reports showing which passengers are on board, how many will be attending the morning exercise class, and which entrée was most popular at last night’s dinner. The network and database are backed up by redundant systems that automatically take over if the primary system fails.
The information system, called the Ship Partner, is used to track security, billing, telephone service, onboard television, and other operations. It was designed by Discovery Travel Systems LP (DTS). John Broughan, president of DTS, says that the IT needs of cruise ship operators differ from those of typical hotel property management companies, so specialized systems had to be created to better serve cruise companies. The Queen Mary 2 provides yet another example of how information systems assist with management functions, providing valuable information and offering services to customers.
Critical Thinking Questions
- 1. What conveniences does The Ship Partner information system provide to passengers of the Queen Mary 2? What entertainment services could be made available to passengers through this digital network?
The information system of Queen Mary 2, so called THE SHIP PARTNER enables passengers in each cabin to have an access to digital entertainment such as on-demand movies and interactive television. Since, the cabin is also wired with Internet access and network services, passengers can use the network to make shore excursion reservations and dinner plans.
2. 2. How does The Ship Partner information system assist ship managers with their duties and responsibilities?
Bundled with the information system is the plastic bar-coded card. Through this, the ship’s massive data network brings order where there once was chaos.
Moreover, this plastic bar-coded card help the ship managers to manage and run reports showing those passengers being on board on the ship and not. Also, it counts how many customers will be attending the morning exercise class, and which entrée was most popular at last night’s dinner
3. 3. How does The Ship Partner information system assist Cunard in competing in the travel industry? What other travel & leisure industries would benefit from a system like The Ship Partner?
Since Queen Mary 2 is the largest and most expensive cruise ship ever built many business enthusiasts would be very interested on to how and what is with this ship that makes it most expensive. They will sooner discover about its accommodations and different articles of trade offered to their customers or passengers and this will be a great entrance of presenting the information system that helps the management for this ship distinctive and effectual to every aspect of its operations. This will also persist to the curiosity of whom or which company has ever been to a brilliant idea of making this ship unique. Through that discovery it will assist Cunard to be very competitive in travel industry by making an edge of their vessel from the other.
By then THE SHIP PARTNER ought to be operational for other travel & leisure activity such as cruise, field trips and seminars and most especially in engine-driven flying vehicle.
4. 4. Why is it important for the Ship Partner to have a backup system? How would a system wide failure affect the functioning of the ship?
For all type of information system, back up is very essential. Towards The Ship Partner, the important of having a backup system is very useful when there is a primary system failure. Because if such things happen this will affect the various operation of the Queen Mary 2 since all of its process somehow depend on the existence of that system. This will affect not only their daily commodities for their passengers but also for passenger authentication. Going over with the discussion, system failure might be conducive for pirates. Metaphorically, showing those possibilities that it would be difficult for the ship management to recognize which among all on board people are authenticated personnel and not.
