The first time I walked by it on my Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas cruise, I thought it might be a children’s treasure game. You know, the kind where a gigantic robotic arm reaches down to retrieve a toy from a pile of rewards. Children often expect to get that big expensive toy and usually end up with an unwanted trinket.

But this shipboard device is definitely not for children.

In fact, this gadget is more of a pleasure pursuit for adults.

I later revisited the place and watched the machine in action. My trivia cruise has one question – do you know what this device does?

Don’t look at the answer below until you have formulated your own reply. Congratulations if you are correct. If not, book a cruise on Symphony of the Seas and see how this apparatus works. You might even enjoy the fruits of its labors.

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(Answer) The strange looking piece of equipment is a Bionic Bar manned by two robots. That’s right, not a human bartender in sight.

The two robots know how to shake, stir and mix up your favorite drink. The Bionic Bar menu features classic and signature drinks but you can also design your own cocktail or mocktail and have one of the robotic bartenders whip it up.

Hundreds of bottles of booze hang upside down above a frosted bar with two robotic arms ready for action. Passengers use tablets to order mixed drinks. You can choose from the bar menu or create your own with the ingredients available.

The robot bartender will then either stir, shake, strain or muddle the ingredients. When finished, the robot pours the drink into a plastic cup and slides the cup to you.

An electronic board displays the drink currently being made and it’s not unusual for passengers to stop just to watch. The Bionic Bar lounge has tables and chairs to enjoy a drink or to relax and catch the action.

Drinks are priced the same as mixed drinks elsewhere on the ship. Although they are robots, the Bionic bartenders charge the same 18 percent gratuity as their human counterparts elsewhere on the ship.

Photos by Jackie Sheckler Finch