Royal Caribbean Facial Recognition
A cutting-edge facial recognition prototype that streamlined cruise ship embarkation by enabling seamless, queue-free boarding experiences.
Project Snapshot
Royal Caribbean (via Philosophie)
Travel & Hospitality
May 2017 - July 2017
Product Strategist
Computer Vision, Facial Recognition APIs, IoT Systems, Real-time Processing
Product Strategy, Technology Prototyping, User Experience Design, Field Testing
Cross-functional team of 6: 2 Product Strategists (including myself), 2 Developers, 1 UX Designer, 1 Account Manager
What It Was
An innovative facial recognition prototype designed to transform cruise ship embarkation by eliminating traditional check-in bottlenecks. The system leveraged computer vision technology to identify passengers instantly, allowing them to walk seamlessly from car to ship without stopping for manual verification. We deployed and tested the solution on Harmony of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship at the time, with 100 real passengers experiencing the VIP embarkation flow.
What I Did
- Collaborated with senior product strategists to define experiment objectives and establish success metrics for the facial recognition deployment
- Designed the physical passenger flow through Fort Lauderdale terminal, optimizing camera placement and user journey mapping
- Supported development team in critical deployment phases, troubleshooting technical issues under tight timeline constraints
- Conducted comprehensive results analysis, evaluating recognition accuracy rates and identifying environmental factors affecting performance
- Co-presented findings and strategic recommendations to Royal Caribbean's Innovation Lab leadership team
Passengers experiencing seamless walk-through embarkation
Real-time facial recognition verification system
What Came Out of It
- Successfully executed a high-stakes prototype deployment with measurable insights on facial recognition viability in cruise environments
- Delivered comprehensive analysis of technology limitations, including quantified impact of accessories like hats and sunglasses on recognition rates
- Demonstrated Philosophie's capabilities under pressure, leading to four additional project engagements with Royal Caribbean
- Provided strategic guidance that informed Royal Caribbean's long-term technology roadmap and investment decisions
What I Learned
Real-world prototyping reveals critical insights that lab testing cannot replicate. Physical environment factors, user behavior patterns, and edge cases only emerge through authentic deployment scenarios. High-pressure situations demand both technical problem-solving and interpersonal skills – staying calm while facilitating creative solutions and resolving conflicts is essential for project success. The most valuable feedback comes from observing actual user interactions in their natural context.
Exploring Computer Vision Applications?
Interested in prototyping cutting-edge technology or designing physical user experience experiments?