MIAMI – Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, has been equipped with Clear-Com's FreeSpeak digital wireless intercom system. Using FreeSpeak, the Oasis of the Seas crew coordinates many of the ship's theatrical productions, including several weekly runs of the Broadway-licensed musical, Hairspray.
Clear-Com equipment has also been installed on 16 other Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Aboard Oasis of the Seas, the entertainment options are organized into seven themed neighborhoods and performance spaces. Clear-Com's FreeSpeak system features DECT and wireless roaming technologies that lets users move freely throughout a production environment without losing connection to the communications system.
"We've worked with Clear-Com intercoms since the first installation of communications equipment on Sovereign of the Seas more than 20 years ago," said Christopher Vlassopulos, entertainment technology & technical design, Royal Caribbean International & Celebrity Cruises. "We've become very confident in Clear-Com's intercom systems and the service the company provides," Vlassopulos added, crediting the gear for ease of use and reliability.
Oasis of the Seas' staff uses the FreeSpeak base station and beltpacks in the ship's Opal Theater, AquaTheater, Studio B and Royal Promenade to coordinate the various entertainment offerings for guests. With eight FreeSpeak wireless beltpacks, production managers are able to communicate freely with stage staff and video technicians on the system during the production and set changes for on-board musicals and similar shows. In addition, the crew connected Clear-Com's V-Series panels to an Eclipse Median system and is using the panels throughout the ship's entertainment spaces. The staff is making good use of the "Listen Again" feature, where the V-Series panel's digital memory can relay up to the last 10 messages or 30 seconds from an incoming call at a touch.
Oasis of the Seas' staff also benefits from the FreeSpeak system's ability to stand up to the harsh weather on board, including high humidity and salty sea air. Further, the system operates license-free in the 1.8-1.9 GHz frequency band, allowing the system to continue to perform even in the crowded RF environment on board and among PCs, talent microphones and other wireless systems.
In addition to Clear-Com's FreeSpeak base station and beltpacks, Oasis of the Seas also uses the Eclipse PiCo digital matrix intercom system, the IMF-3 interface module frame and the CCI-22 digital matrix intercom interface module, providing a seamless entertainment experience for all cruise-goers on board.
For more information, please visit www.clearcom.com and www.hme.com.
