Editor's Note: This story was last updated on May 30, 2023.
Increasingly, clients want to stay as connected as possible wherever they are traveling, and cruise lines are recognizing this need, with more and more companies planning the implementation of SpaceX’s Starlink internet.
Employing low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, the technology works to offer not only a faster connection, but a more stable one.
Now following Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, collectively) is next in line to adopt the tech, as well as the independent operator Aqua Expeditions and Lindblad Expeditions - National Geographic.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Norwegian has been testing Starlink onboard Norwegian Breakaway and next plans to implement the connectivity across its three-brand corporate fleet in phases.
"We are thrilled to offer Starlink onboard our ships to improve internet connectivity at sea,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO-elect of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “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. 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.”
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.
Provided current trials prove successful, the corporation will apply the technology to seven additional ships by the end of the year, which would extend to each brand’s upcoming new ships: Norwegian Viva, Oceania’s Vista and Regent Seven Seas Grandeur.
In addition to supporting guests and crew, the company points out that “the extra bandwidth will also allow for more flexibility for onboard services and improve the ship-to-shore connection for operational needs."
Further details regarding which additional ships receive Starlink will be revealed once finalized.
Aqua Expeditions
It’s not just the big players that are adopting Starlink. Small-ship and riverboat operator Aqua Expeditions has also recently announced that it has equipped several vessels with the latest high-speed internet. Aqua Mare, Aqua Nera and Aqua Blu already received it in March 2023, and Aria Amazon and Aqua Mekong are scheduled to get it in September 2023.
“I am excited to offer reliable quality internet service to our guests and crew,” said Francesco Galli Zugaro, CEO and founder of Aqua Expeditions. “Our goal is to provide the best possible Wi-Fi connection to allow guests to stay in touch with friends and family, particularly during our longer voyages of seven, 12 and 14 nights.”
As it relates to Aqua’s remote destinations, the line explained that Starlink already has more than 2,500 satellites that extend coverage, even into the Peruvian Amazon, the Coral Triangle of East Indonesia, the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia and the Galapagos Islands.
Guests on Aqua’s vessels will be granted two hours of free Wi-Fi access daily, or they can purchase unlimited connectivity for $100 per person for the length of the cruise.
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic
As of late May, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is the latest cruise line to join the fold embracing Starlink.
In fact, the new connectivity has already begun rolling out, and is currently available on National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Sea Bird, National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Explorer, as well as the line’s newest National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution.
“Our goal has always been to help connect our guests with the off-the-beaten-path destinations around the world and now, with Starlink, we can help them stay connected with their family, friends, and colleagues back home,” said Noah Brodsky, chief commercial officer for Lindblad Expeditions. “Starlink will enable up to 10-times faster download speeds over our existing service and enhanced streaming capabilities with full coverage throughout some of our most remote itineraries, like Antarctica, the Canadian Arctic, Svalbard, and Alaska. This enhanced connectivity will also enable even more meaningful research and conservation work for our naturalists, expedition leaders, and the researchers in our Visiting Scientist Program.”
By the end of the year, Lindblad plans to offer a three-tier set of internet packages employing Starlink. “Basic” will facilitate free messaging via iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, in addition to emailing and limited social media use. “Enhanced” will then upgrade to web browsing and social media in general, plus the ability to Zoom, FaceTime and and communicate by video on other platforms. And “Premium” will be full-throttled for unlimited web, social and streaming capabilities. Exact pricing has not yet been revealed, but inclusions will be updated.
What’s more, the implementation is part of Lindblad’s broader partnership with Speedcast, which has just been renewed, for its overall communications solutions. Speedcast combines the best of Starlink and other satellite and cellular connectivity for uninterrupted access thanks to its Unified Global Platform (UGP) software.
“The decision to further enhance the capabilities available to much of its fleet demonstrates Lindblad’s commitment to a superior guest and crew onboard experience,” said Brent Horwitz, senior vice president – cruise and ferry at Speedcast. “The future of satellite is software-defined, and our expedition cruise customers are among the first companies to see this benefit in their daily operations.”
