‘Smart’ ships drive Florida cruises

FLORIDA: It’s time for South Florida’s annual peak cruise season, and passengers are about to be greeted with “smart” ships that offer high-tech concierge services, a re-imagined cruise terminal with a movie theater, digital avatar sailing companions and ultra-luxury voyages with butler service.

Those and other perks await cruisers departing from Port Everglades and PortMiami aboard select ships, some from newly refurbished terminals. And yes, they will be travelling to the Caribbean, a region industry executives are eager to advertise as being open for business despite a hurricane season that knocked out a number of ports.