MSC Cruises, the world’s third-largest cruise line, has announced that two-thirds of its ships are now equipped with Starlink, the satellite internet service provided by SpaceX. The fleet rollout programme will be completed by May 2024, making MSC Cruises one of the first cruise lines to offer this cutting-edge technology to its guests and crew.
Starlink, which uses a constellation of low earth orbit satellites, currently provides faster internet speeds, improved wi-fi in cabins and public spaces, reduced latency levels and lower operational costs for 15 of the line’s fleet of 22 ships. The first of MSC Cruises’ vessels to be equipped with Starlink was MSC Magnifica in December 2022, following bandwidth and data traffic trials earlier that year.
MSC Cruises has seen onboard bandwidth consumption continue to rise, driven by both the increase in the number of connected devices and the number of apps that guests like to use. Starlink will provide MSC Cruises with enough capacity to keep up with the future requirements of its guests and crew and the technical requirements of its fleet of vessels.
MSC Cruises’ ships currently equipped with Starlink are MSC Divina, MSC Euribia, MSC Fantasia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Lirica, MSC Magnifica, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Poesia, MSC Preziosa, MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview and MSC Virtuosa. MSC Opera and MSC World Europa will be added this month, and the line’s other five ships set for enhanced connectivity ahead of the summer 2024 season are MSC Armonia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Splendida.
EXPLORA I, the first of six luxury ships of MSC Cruises’ sister company Explora Journeys, is also equipped with Starlink. EXPLORA II will be fitted with enhanced connectivity when she first sets sail in August 2024.
MSC Cruises offers a ‘Browse Internet Cruise Package’ and a ‘Browse & Stream Cruise Package’ onboard its fleet tailored for its guests to cover the connection and number of devices needed during a sailing. These packages allow guests unlimited internet access, social media, video streaming, gaming, and more.
MSC Cruises’ chief executive officer Gianni Onorato said: “We are delighted to partner with SpaceX to bring Starlink onboard our ships. This is a game-changer for the cruise industry and a significant step forward in enhancing our guests’ experience and satisfaction. Starlink will enable us to offer our guests and crew a fast, reliable and seamless internet service, no matter where they are.”
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