People who work on cruises often describe ships as “cities at sea,” but cities usually have speedy Wi-Fi, food delivery services you can summon on your phone, and homes with voice-activated assistants like Alexa, Siri and Google to answer questions and provide information.

Now, cruise companies, realizing that an expectation that people disconnect from their technology is a big ask, are getting in the tech game. Beyond providing fast Wi-Fi onboard, many of these companies have developed technology to make people feel like they are at home while traveling and have integrated new tools and apps into the cruise experience. The new features make it easier for guests to get on board and enjoy their sailing, while also making it easier for the crew to keep things moving swiftly.

“Technology is impacting every element of the cruise experience, making it faster, easier and more fun,” said Emma Le Teace, who runs the blog Cruising Isn’t Just For Old People. “Most cruise lines now offer downloadable apps which really allow cruisers to tailor the cruise experience to them.”