On cruise ships, the AV installation has very special features. There are two primary areas: one is the entertainment area and the other is the voice or PA area.
Carlos Salomon, CTS*
When we refer to the audiovisual industry, we commonly think of places on land where the installation is done in some city, but there is another surface in which there are no borders: the oceans and seas of the planet. It is difficult to imagine a floating theater for 3,000 passengers that includes the latest technology and presents shows at the level of the best in the world, or voice systems of very high standards capable of effectively evacuating 9,000 people in case of an emergency, a situation out of the ordinary for ground facilities.
This happens in the maritime industry, especially in cruise ships. Cruise lines invest a lot of resources to bring their customers the highest level of entertainment. In them you can find first-class casinos, restaurants, recreation and consumption areas with live music, both closed and outdoor theaters that offer from the best live shows to premiere movies, presentations on high definition screens and countless attractions that require a high technological content generating unique experiences that surprise travelers.
On cruise ships, the audiovisual installation has very special features. There are two primary areas where audiovisual communication is very important: one is the entertainment area or LES (Local Entertainment Systems) and another is the voice area or PA (Public Address) which is part of the security system and is regulated by high maritime standards.
The entertainment area (LES)
This includes locations such as theaters, restaurants, consumption and recreation areas, such as bars and sports bars, small rest areas with live music, discos, nightclubs, boardrooms with equipment for videoconferencing and multimedia presentations, common areas, such as walkers, and open areas, such as the pool, where both live shows and film screenings are held. Background music, or BGM, is common in all of these areas and is usually centralized in the broadcast center.
Each area requires a specialized treatment from its design to installation and commissioning, responding to specific needs. In some cases everything is centralized, in others it is by area and sometimes hybrid systems are required where both are combined.
The power supply system is different in each boat, in some it is 110v, in others it is 220v, and in most in Delta connection.
The voice area, PA
The other area that requires a high level of detail, redundant systems and high security is the Voice Area or PA. The delivery of messages to passengers is of the utmost importance to keep them informed at all times of the details of the trip.
Regardless of the activity they are doing, they must receive the messages optimally without exception, to achieve this any other audio source must be silenced and thus allow the message to be heard clearly. PA systems must normally be certified by Safety Of Life At Sea, Solas. The voice is carried out from different areas of the ship (such as the bridge, the "front desk", etc.) and can be general or by areas depending on the message that is required to communicate.
The entertainment area also has a voice system, but it is not certified as the emergency system and must reach all areas of the ship.
As you can see, the audiovisual industry in cruise ships has great possibilities for development and is growing by leaps and bounds. Every day more and more ships are built with the highest quality standards since passengers are increasingly demanding and surprising them becomes more difficult. Travelers have high expectations about their trip and the task of each cruise line is to offer them a unique and unforgettable experience over the oceans.
The level of technology that is implemented must respond to the highest standards from design to installation with the best quality since, unlike systems implemented on land, in the middle of an ocean it is impossible to find parts, spare parts and service in case of failures.
The equipment at sea must work 24/7 in perfect condition, so more and more technicians and operators of greater talent and specialized knowledge are requested. It is not easy to get the staff that is required, many of these come from schools oriented to land facilities and are specializing in the requirements for the maritime side with experience in the work area.
Partnership for Cruise Entertainment
The International Cruise Ship Entertainment Professional Association (ICSEPA) is the only International Association that represents everything related to cruise entertainment. This began as a form of communication between industry professionals, as it was growing at such a rapid pace that there was little time to gather the appropriate information to help develop industry standards.
CURRENTLY, ICESPA has several certification programs with the idea of training the talent that is so much needed. Its members include audiovisual equipment manufacturers and the world's largest cruise lines. Its vision is to integrate the industry with specialized information and create a meeting point for those interested in the commercial maritime market. For more information you can consult the page https://www.icsepa.com/ .
We can conclude that the audiovisual industry has no limits. Those fascinating floating cities that are cruise ships bring together for a period of time an endless number of people with the common desire to have fun and enjoy the best shows and attractions, opening the possibilities to an area of immense development in which technology and imagination go hand in hand to create the fantasies and unforgettable experiences that travelers can enjoy "on the waves".
*Carlos Salomon, CTS, is Senior Designer Engineer of Control AV Miami, member of ICSEPA, and author of the books "Fundamentals of Audio" and "Introduction to MIDI".
