Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled plans to
offer SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet on its ships.
The company, which operates the Norwegian Cruise
Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, is
currently testing Starlink onboard the Norwegian Breakaway cruise
ship before beginning a scheduled rollout of the technology across
its entire fleet if it is successful.
In addition to enhancing the guest and crew
experience, the extra bandwidth will also allow for more
flexibility for onboard services and improve the ship-to-shore
connection for operational needs.
Starlink uses advanced low earth orbit satellites
to deliver high-speed internet connectivity all over the world,
making it an ideal solution for cruise ships and others where more
traditional internet services are not available.
If trials are successful, the company plans to
equip seven additional vessels with Starlink by year-end,
including all three of the company’s new additions this year:
Oceania Cruises’ Vista, Norwegian Viva [pictured] and Regent’s Seven Seas
Grandeur.
“We are thrilled to offer Starlink on board our
ships to improve internet connectivity at sea. This initiative is
a testament to our continuous quest to find new and innovative
ways to enhance the experience for both guests and crew while
sailing on our award-winning brands,” said Harry Sommer, president
and CEO-elect of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. “Ensuring that
this technology meets our high standards of excellence for our
guests is incredibly important to us, which is why we are
introducing this cutting-edge technology across our fleet in a
phased manner. Once deployed, guests and crew will have a faster
and more reliable method to stay connected with friends and family
including by sharing in real-time the incredible memories they
create while at sea.”
Details regarding timeline, availability and
pricing of the rollout have not yet been finalised.
