Control AV onboard Star of the Seas

Behind every great entertainment venue is a great audiovisual system, something that experienced designer and installer, Control AV, knows all too well. The Miami-based integrators were brought on as part of Royal Caribbean’s core team for the build of its Icon Class of ship early in the fleet’s lifetime. After successfully delivering the bulk of the AV solutions for Icon of the Seas’ 68 leisure and entertainment spaces, Control AV was asked to reprise its role for Star of the Seas. 

Control AV’s President, Amir El Yordi, and CEO, Douglas Ellis, began by reminiscing on Icon of the Seas’ triumph. El Yordi explained: “We have evolved as a company since our affiliation with Royal Caribbean. I believe that because of Icon, we’ve been put on the map. We’ve previously worked on a multitude of exciting ships, but now that we’ve been recognised for our work on Icon, we’re really able to get involved with the latest and greatest ships. We really have the opportunity to set the standard when it comes to entertainment technology at sea.” 

Even though Control AV as an establishment is relatively young, having been established in 2013, its team is rich in experience. Most of the professionals within the company have reportedly beenactive in the maritime industry since 1998, being involved in the creation of Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas. “We’re lucky in that our staff is intimately familiar with the Royal Caribbean brand,” El Yordi said.  

“Not only this, but Control AV has a really deep understanding of other cruise lines, too, so we are aware of the latest trends, opportunities, and challenges across the at-sea entertainment sector. This is what these sorts of projects need – such large and complex integrations require the designers to be mindful of the ship’s goals and demographics.” The president noted that the employees behind the installer have advanced in tandem with the company; across the years of Control AV’s operation, technical assistants have graduated to lead technicians, and then to head engineers. Mika Tuomi was a significant example here, beginning to work with El Yordi and CEO Douglas Ellis in 1999, and now acting as Technical Director.  

El Yordi went on to comment that the integrator’s experience on Icon was beneficial when it came time to design for Star of the Seas. “We learnt some important lessons during the Icon project, and after too, when we saw it handed over to the client for its maiden voyage. I think it’s clear that we’ve grown from our initial designs for the first-in-class ship.” 

The differences between Star and Icon of the Seas are subtle, but the changes implemented are proof of Control AV and Royal Caribbean’s drive to utilise the most advanced, modern technology available.  

“The Icon Class will consistently evolve, as entertainment technology is always evolving. With every ship, we want to try to get the best possible product from each manufacturer, meaning that ship designs will change as the market does.” 

The largest difference between Star and Icon’s entertainment venues can be found in their respective Royal Theaters. Icon of the Seas’ Royal Theater was introduced with a Broadway-ready version of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ as its main attraction, whereas a similarly high-quality production of ‘Back to the Future: The Musical’ has found a home on Star’s stage.   

‘Back to the Future: The Musical’ has a slew of high-tech requirements that led the president, Mika Tuomi, and Károly Molnár, Project Director at Control AV, to need to redesign the audiovisual and staging solutions for Star’s theatre. El Yordi said this system “was a lot more challenging to put together, but we did it, and the result is amazing.” 

Notably, the famous ‘Back to the Future’ scene featuring the DeLorean transforming into a time machine and travelling through space was initially a technical obstacle. Working alongside rigging teams, sound engineers, and mechanical staging experts, Control AV had to figure out a way to make a car appear to fly, all within the unique constraints of a theatre at sea. 

“After a concentrated and thoughtful design period, we managed it,” stated El Yordi. “The lighting, sound, video, and rigging in Star’s Royal Theater make ‘Back to the Future: The Musical’ an incredibly immersive experience, just as it is on Broadway or the West-End.” 

Installations at the magnitude of Star of the Seas require a different approach from a typical land-based, single-purpose venue. With cruise ships containing a long and exhaustive list of all the entertainment and leisure spaces that a guest could possibly want, integrators must begin crafting solutions years in advance.  

“We’re already working on the systems that will be deployed on the fifth ship in the Icon Class, to be launched in 2028,” El Yordi said.  

Asked how Control AV continues to specify relevant and future-proof solutions for its maritime projects, El Yordi replied: “We’re thankful to have close relationships with the manufacturers we work with. This allows us to test and check out products that aren’t on the market yet, with some even still in the research and development phase. This helps us understand what technology will be significant in years to come – it’s like seeing into the future. 

“It’s a really interesting facet of our design process. We make sure that we’re only working with manufacturers we truly trust, as we’re specifying technology from them that does not yet exist, so we need to be confident that it will actually come to fruition!” 

One of the key ways the company stays connected to its partner brands is through a dedicated side project. El Yordi explained: “Myself and a couple of industry friends noticed that there was no organisation targeted towards professionals in the cruise ship entertainment industry, so we formed ICSEPA, the International Cruise Ship Entertainment Professional Association.”  

Christopher Vlassopulos, Manager, Sound & Light, New Building & Innovation at Royal Caribbean, has supported ICSEPA since the start, which El Yordi said he is extremely grateful for. “ICSEPA exists to try and educate, help, and connect people who are either already in the cruise ship industry or want to get involved in it,” he continued. “The maritime sector is different from the land-based venue world, so we saw that it was important for there to be a dedicated space for the professionals within it.  

“ICSEPA looks to bring together manufacturers, integrators, and end users. It can be difficult to find solutions for the specific challenges presented by at-sea entertainment venues; with this organisation, we’re trying to facilitate the communication and cross-pollination of knowledge, making things a bit easier for everyone.” 

The association hosts networking events across trade shows internationally, with its biggest function happening during SeaTrade, Miami. “The members of ICSEPA, such as L-Acoustics, Martin Lighting, DAS Audio, Robe, Absen, Allen & Heath, and Shure, host meet and greets at their stands to promote the operation and create a space for professionals to chat and connect with the industry.” 

Next for Control AV is a focus on the upcoming Icon Class ships, with the company contracted as the installer for all foreseeable ships in the fleet. El Yordi wrapped up the conversation by saying: “It’s an exciting time. We’ve had great feedback so far from both Star and Icon, and we expect the rest of the class to be received just as positively.  

“I want to conclude by thanking Christopher Vlassopulos and Matt DeJong, Royal Caribbean’s Lead Design Associate. Their expertise is what truly guides the right technology onto the ships.”