Summary:
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH), which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, announced plans to enhance connectivity for guests and crew at sea by providing SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet on its ships.
Starlink delivers industry-leading broadband internet connectivity, improving capacity, speed, and reliability onboard, thanks to its low-Earth orbit satellite network. The company is currently testing Starlink on the Norwegian Breakaway, with plans to roll out this groundbreaking technology across its entire fleet in a phased manner.
“We are thrilled to offer Starlink onboard 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 Ltd.
If trials prove successful, NCLH aims to equip seven additional vessels with Starlink by year-end, including Oceania Cruises’ Vista, Norwegian Viva, and Regent’s Seven Seas Grandeur. A comprehensive rollout plan is currently under development, with details on timelines and availability for specific ships to be announced once finalized.
In addition to enhancing the guest and crew experience, the extra bandwidth will also provide more flexibility for onboard services and improve ship-to-shore connections for operational needs.
Starlink will allow for low latency and high-speed internet while on the open seas, allowing video calls such as FaceTime, gaming and streaming of online video. Traditionally, cruise ship internet relies on legacy satellite internet providers, with connectivity at slow speeds and at a high cost.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. operates a combined fleet of 29 ships with over 60,000 berths, offering itineraries to approximately 500 destinations worldwide. The company has eight additional ships scheduled for delivery through 2028, comprising over 20,000 berths.
Besides NCLH, SpaceX has previously signed Starlink deals with Royal Caribbean Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Norway’s Hurtigruten Expeditions, and Windstar Cruises to name recent additions.
