Riedel Communications and Nordic media-technology company Media Tailor have teamed up to install a comprehensive broadcast, AV and communications backbone on Royal Caribbean International’s latest vessel, Star of the Seas. At 248,663 gross tons, the ship shares the title of the world’s largest cruise ship with its sister, Icon of the Seas.
The Star of the Seas is equipped to host large-scale entertainment across more than 30 theaters, live venues and multimedia spaces, with a centralized broadcast center connected to a fully decentralized Riedel MediorNet network. The system is managed through Riedel’s hi human interface platform and complemented by a full Artist, Bolero and PunQtum intercom ecosystem.
The broadcast center houses two production galleries and a main signal-routing rack room for recording, playback, post-production and graphics. More than 20 MediorNet MicroN UHD, MicroN and Compact nodes enable distributed routing, signal processing and multiviewing across the ship, reducing cabling, saving space and boosting reliability at sea.
“Creating a broadcast and AV environment of this scale requires a unified system that functions as one,” said Tuomas Niemelä, Media Tailor’s Business Director for Shipbuilding. “What we’re seeing here is the power of a decentralized architecture that lets operators route video, audio and data in real time across the vessel with remarkable efficiency and resilience.”
Riedel’s hi human interface system acts as the central control platform for all AV, broadcast and entertainment systems. Deployed with three servers and four hardware panels, hi spans the ship via software panels on PCs and iPads in entertainment venues and control rooms. It also unifies the ship’s MediorNet and Dante networks, routing Dante audio, converting embedded SDI audio, and grouping related signals into unified port containers. In parallel, GPIO-based automation links with the ship’s PA/GA system to trigger functions such as automated muting or signal rerouting during safety announcements. The onboard Artist intercom system adds a scalable layer of communications with an Artist-1024 matrix, more than 50 SmartPanels, 55 Bolero wireless beltpacks and PunQtum wired partyline systems.
“Our collaboration with Media Tailor and Royal Caribbean goes back more than a decade,” stated Philippe Genar, Riedel’s Regional Sales Manager. “Star of the Seas demonstrates how Riedel technology, paired with Media Tailor’s design and maritime know-how, can deliver seamless connectivity, operational efficiency and an exceptional entertainment experience at sea.”
Christopher Vlassopulos, Manager Newbuilding for Royal Caribbean, added: “Their integrated broadcast, communications and AV infrastructure gives our teams the confidence to produce spectacular live experiences for guests—anywhere in the world.”
