Topic: Royal Caribbean unveils child tracking system

The Oasis of the Seas, which embarks on its first commercial cruise next week, will feature a unique and innovative tracking system allowing parents to keep tabs on their children, USA Today reports.

Royal Caribbean's mammoth new vessel will provide wristbands for all child passengers, which have an in-built electronic tag allowing parents to track their location in real-time on the ship.

Passengers will also be able to rent new 'royal connect' phones which make it easier to keep in touch with eachother. These can be used to track children, text and call other passengers as well as the ship's restaurants and spas to make reservations.

The devices are adapted iPhones which only work on-board the ship.

Royal Caribbean's chief information officer Bill Martin told the news provider that he expects the new communication features to be hugely popular with passengers.

Singer Rihanna will be the star performer on board the Oasis of the Seas next week, making an appearance at the ship's inaugural festivities.

Do you think child tracking devices are a welcome innovation or do they introduce an unnecessary level of surveillance?

On a ship the size of Oasis, I think that this will be real comfort to parents. Little tots as well as teenagers will be going on this ship.

I have a far cheaper solution rather than paying out more money for such a simple system. Buy a cheap set of walkie talkies. We use them every cruise and our daughter loves them as she gets more freedom onboard knowing that we are always contactable.

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I have a far cheaper solution rather than paying out more money for such a simple system. Buy a cheap set of walkie talkies. We use them every cruise and our daughter loves them as she gets more freedom onboard knowing that we are always contactable.

Please no! These are the most irritating devices and should be banned from cruise ships. The best sound they make is Glug! Glug! when someone slings them overboard........Wilba

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Please no! These are the most irritating devices and should be banned from cruise ships. The best sound they make is Glug! Glug! when someone slings them overboard........Wilba

Couldn't agree more , Wilba.

Please no mobile phones or walkie talkies , one of the reasons to take a cruise is to get away from it all. Traffic , lawn mowers , barking dogs etc.

Recently I was in hospital in a four bed room and three mobile phones were going 24 hours a day. Try sleeping through that babble!

The tracking devices sound like a great idea .

What is needed is a child catcher with a tall black hat a bell and a net calling out children sweeties :D then throw the parents over the side for not looking after them ;)

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What is needed is a child catcher with a tall black hat a bell and a net calling out children sweeties :D then throw the parents over the side for not looking after them ;)

Love It!........Wilba

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Please no! These are the most irritating devices and should be banned from cruise ships. The best sound they make is Glug! Glug! when someone slings them overboard........Wilba

Irritating they may be but at least these parents are being responsible in tracking their children and more importantly, their children being able to track them, more especially on the giant ships RCI are rolling out. Just imagine the upselling RCI will put parents through to rent their own communication devices. I daresay the odd walkie talkie set will then become an item of fond memories!!!

Not keen on this idea my wife could use it to find that I am in the bar !!

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Irritating they may be but at least these parents are being responsible in tracking their children and more importantly, their children being able to track them, more especially on the giant ships RCI are rolling out. Just imagine the upselling RCI will put parents through to rent their own communication devices. I daresay the odd walkie talkie set will then become an item of fond memories!!!

Ahh! You didn't read the prior posts..... I was referring to the Walkie Talkies (Squawk!!! Screech!!!!) and not the new RCI System............Wilba