The world’s most technologically advanced cruise ship sailed into Southampton’s port last week.

Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas was developed with the aim of setting new standards in cruising innovation and capitalising on increasing passenger numbers in the UK and Ireland.

With Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean will specifically target new consumers who have never tried cruising before.

The ‘smartship’ includes robotic bartenders, smart check-in using RFID luggage tags and high-speed internet.

The first guests will board today for a transatlantic voyage to Quantum’s home port of Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne, New Jersey.

From there, the ship will sail to the Bahamas and the Caribbean for its inaugural season before departing for its new homeport of Shanghai (Baoshan), China, in May 2015.

Royal Caribbean has two more Quantum class ships on order to cope with anticipated demand around the world.

Each can carry 4,180 guests at double occupancy, with 16 guest decks and 2,090 staterooms.

Of these, Anthem of the Seas will be docked at its home port of Southampton in the UK next April.

More than 80,000 people are anticipated to travel on Anthem of the Seas during its inaugural season of Mediterranean itineraries.

Cruising is becoming more popular in Europe – last year passenger numbers were up 44 per cent to 6.4 million from 2008, and the Royal Caribbean Cruises brands collectively in the UK and Ireland saw eight per cent growth in the same period.

“The UK is a critical market for Royal Caribbean – our second-largest globally – and Quantum of the Seas’s departure demonstrates our recognition and belief in its potential,” said the company’s managing director Stuart Leven.