Samsung Equips Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas With More Than 6,000 Hospitality Displays
Samsung Electronics has unveiled a major new chapter in its long-running partnership with Royal Caribbean, announcing that it has delivered more than 6,000 hospitality TVs and Smart Signage displays to Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon-class cruise ship and the company’s latest addition to what it calls the world’s best family vacation experience. The vast installation covers nearly every part of the ship — from thousands of guest staterooms to crew areas and high-traffic public spaces — helping elevate onboard communication, entertainment, and guest engagement.
The deployment represents the continuation of a 21-year collaboration between the two brands. Since 2004, Samsung has been the exclusive provider of display technology across the cruise line’s global fleet, consistently delivering technology designed to withstand the unique challenges of maritime environments while enabling memorable guest experiences.
A New Icon-Class Ship Begins Its Journey
Star of the Seas is the second vessel in Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking Icon-class series, following the debut of Icon of the Seas in 2024. The ship is scheduled to embark on its inaugural voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida, in August 2025. As anticipation builds, Samsung’s advanced hospitality display technologies are set to play a major role in bringing the ship’s entertainment and communication systems to life.
Next-Generation Hospitality TVs Transform Guest Staterooms
At the heart of the installation is Samsung’s Crystal UHD Hospitality TV line, specifically the HBU8000 model. Purpose-built for commercial and hospitality settings, these displays are installed in every guest cabin on Star of the Seas.
Samsung’s Crystal UHD technology incorporates Dynamic Crystal Color, which can reproduce over a billion shades to deliver incredible picture clarity. This ensures guests experience stunning 4K UHD resolution, vibrant color fidelity, and precise detail — whether they are watching live broadcasts, streaming entertainment, or exploring onboard activities.
But the TVs serve functions far beyond entertainment. Each in-room display operates as a personalized digital concierge, greeting guests upon arrival with tailored welcome messages and providing real-time information. Through this interface, guests can view daily schedules, check port and destination details, follow weather updates, and revisit onboard announcements or programs at any time. This enhances convenience while reducing the need for printed materials and in-person inquiries.
Smart Signage Enhances Engagement in Public Spaces
Beyond individual cabins, Samsung’s technology extends throughout the ship’s public zones. The QMC series of UHD Smart Signage displays — known for their slim profiles and efficient use of space — are installed in lounges, theaters, dining areas, walkways, and other high-traffic venues. These displays deliver bright, high-resolution visuals ideal for showcasing entertainment lineups, wayfinding details, promotional content, safety information, and live updates.
Their ultra-slim design ensures they integrate seamlessly into the ship’s modern aesthetic without obstructing foot traffic or adding unnecessary bulk. This contributes to a cleaner, more streamlined interior environment while giving Royal Caribbean the flexibility to deliver dynamic messaging where it matters most.
A Partnership Defined by Innovation and Scale
Samsung and Royal Caribbean’s partnership has scaled dramatically over the past two decades. Since their initial collaboration in 2004, Samsung has supplied over 200,000 hospitality televisions and signage displays to 28 Royal Caribbean ships. This includes the more than 6,000 displays supplied for Icon of the Seas, the first Icon-class ship.
Samsung has maintained its position as the global leader in the commercial display market for 17 consecutive years. This consistent leadership reflects the company’s focus on reliability, security, and software integration — all crucial factors in the demanding cruise and hospitality sectors.
Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, highlighted the significance of the partnership:
“What we’ve achieved with Royal Caribbean over the past 20 years is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation and delivering world-class experiences to guests. As demand for richer entertainment experiences rises, we’re proud to deliver our most dynamic commercial displays to Star of the Seas and look forward to expanding our collaboration in the years ahead.”
Samsung Introduces New Solutions for Compact Hospitality Spaces
Expanding beyond its flagship products for large-scale ships and premium hospitality environments, Samsung recently unveiled the HF8000F, a 24-inch hospitality TV designed specifically for compact rooms and multi-occupancy settings. This new model addresses growing demand for space-efficient technology in crew cabins, hospitals, small hotel rooms, or other environments where maintaining functionality without sacrificing space is essential.
Despite its smaller footprint, the HF8000F carries many of the key features found in Samsung’s 2025 hospitality lineup. This includes Google Cast and Apple AirPlay support, allowing users to cast or stream content from their personal devices with ease. It also supports LYNK Cloud, Samsung’s remote display management platform, along with Samsung Knox for enterprise-grade security, Samsung TV Plus for streaming live channels without subscriptions, and Smart Hub for easy access to a broad range of apps.
By offering a compact, versatile option, Samsung broadens the range of hospitality scenarios it can support — from cruise ship crew cabins to healthcare facilities — without compromising on performance or modern connectivity. The HF8000F is now available in several regions, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Singapore, and is expected to expand to additional markets.
Building the Future of Onboard Digital Experiences
As cruise travel continues to evolve, guests increasingly expect seamless, connected, high-tech experiences that mirror the conveniences of home. Royal Caribbean’s investment in state-of-the-art display technology — combined with Samsung’s focus on commercial-grade performance and usability — is helping redefine what travelers can expect at sea.
From personalized in-cabin entertainment to real-time signage that guides and informs guests throughout the ship, Samsung’s displays serve as the digital backbone of the Star of the Seas experience. The collaboration also supports Royal Caribbean’s broader goals around efficiency and sustainability by enabling centralized content management and reducing the need for printed materials.
With Star of the Seas preparing for its debut and more innovations on the horizon, Samsung and Royal Caribbean continue to set new benchmarks for technology-driven hospitality in the cruise industry. Their two-decade partnership shows no signs of slowing — and as demand for interactive, immersive, and reliable digital experiences grows, displays will remain a core pillar of the modern vacation experience.
Source Link:https://news.samsung.com/
