No matter how far your cruise goes, staying connected to the internet can be as important as oxygen and water for some cruisers. Whether you want to stream penguins live from your balcony on an Antarctic cruise, watch your favorite TV series or zoom into the middle of the Pacific Ocean, connectivity and quick access are now considered essential while cruising.
In the past, cruise lines have struggled to meet the demand for seamless connectivity at sea. In the middle of the ocean, ships depended on satellite systems that could be unreliable, prohibitively expensive and extremely slow. Satellite systems allocated only a certain amount of broadband to each ship, and each ship carried thousands of people, each with multiple devices.
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A better solution was needed. Meet Starlink, the world’s first and largest satellite constellation that uses low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet. As part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX program, Starlink now provides many cruise ships with bandwidth that can support streaming, online gaming, video calling and more worldwide. Starlink debuted in 2019 and has quickly revolutionized the way hundreds of cruise ships provide internet access, increasing connectivity and capacity as ships travel the world.
Will your next cruise offer land-like Wi-Fi speeds? Here’s everything you need to know about Starlink on cruise ships.
How does Starlink work?
Compared to standard communications satellites, which orbit the Earth at a distance of 35,000 kilometers, Starlink’s thousands of satellites orbit the atmosphere from about 550 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. Because it is much closer to Earth, Starlink’s data connections provide stronger and faster connections and provide the opportunity for more bandwidth on cruise ships.
Starlink satellite coverage is extensive and growing, with more than 5,400 satellites currently in orbit and plans to reach up to 42,000 satellites in orbit simultaneously in the coming years. Traditional satellite networks have a much more limited fleet and reach, especially in some of the most remote areas of the ocean. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation, with near-complete coverage of all the world’s oceans and waterways.
The Starlink system is installed on ships as a series of flat panels placed on the upper decks, replacing the now outdated domes often located near the ship’s funnel and radar masts.
Related: Wi-Fi on Cruise Ships: 5 Things You Need to Know About Internet Use on Board
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How fast is Starlink internet access?
Starlink’s website estimates download speeds ranging from 40 to more than 200 Mbps and upload speeds from 8 to more than 25 Mbps, with latency of less than 99 milliseconds. These are broad estimates that do not take into account cruise ship restrictions, cruise ship capacity, global positioning, and the costs and challenges of equipping a cruise ship with Wi-Fi connectivity from bow to stern.
The industrial strength steel frames and fire resistant materials used throughout the ship ensure that a strong, consistent signal throughout the cruise ship is an industry-wide challenge. There will be places on a ship, no matter what line you sail, where you will find a weaker signal. Signals are often strongest in the main public gathering areas.
As with traditional satellites, severe weather can be a factor in Starlink connections at sea. Severe storms can cause temporary service disruptions or reduced speeds, while heavy rain or snowfall can cause signal attenuation, causing a short-term loss of connectivity.
Cruising with Starlink
Here you will find a complete overview of all major cruise lines sailing with the new Starlink technology. How much does the connectivity cost you? Check out TPG’s guide to Wi-Fi access on cruise ships.
Note: Starlink on cruises may be a white label service depending on the line. While the cruise line may not advertise that it is using the new Wi-Fi technology, the list below can help identify which lines sail with Starlink.
He will last
The Azamara fleet has Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. One bandwidth level is available.
Carnival Cruise Line
The entire Carnival Cruise Line fleet is equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. Three bandwidth levels are available: Social Wi-Fi (with access only to popular social media and airline websites), Value Wi-Fi (for email, news, weather, banking and other basic websites), and Premium Wi-Fi (for streaming and high bandwidth usage).
Celebrity cruises
The entire Celebrity Cruises fleet has Starlink Wi-Fi for an additional charge. Two levels of bandwidth are available: Basic Wi-Fi (for social media, email, web browsing, and Internet-based messaging) and Premium Wi-Fi (for streaming and high bandwidth use).
Cunard
Cunard’s entire fleet is equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. Two bandwidth levels are available: Essential (for social media, email, web browsing, and Internet messaging) and Premium (for streaming and high bandwidth use).
Disney cruise line
Disney Cruise Line does not currently use Starlink Wi-Fi.
Holland America
Holland America offers Starlink Wi-Fi throughout its fleet. Three bandwidth levels are available: Surf (for social media, email, web browsing, and internet messaging), Premium (for Wi-Fi audio and video calling), and Stream (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic
Lindblad Expedition offers free standard Starlink Wi-Fi to all guests on board their ships, with the exception of Delfin II. There are two levels of bandwidth available for purchase: Enhanced (for social media, email, web browsing, and Internet-based messaging) and Premium (for streaming and high bandwidth usage).
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises is currently implementing Starlink across its fleet, with two-thirds of the line’s ships currently sailing with the enhanced service. Ships in the fleet not offering this service include MSC Opera and MSC World Europa (both due to receive Starlink in the coming weeks) and MSC Armonia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Splendida (expected to receive Starlink will receive before the 2024 summer season.)
There are two levels of bandwidth available for purchase: the Browse Internet Cruise Package (for social media, email, web browsing, and Internet-based messaging) and the Browse & Stream Cruise Package (for streaming and high bandwidth usage).
Norwegian cruise line
Norwegian Cruise Line is currently implementing Starlink across its entire fleet this year, with select ships currently sailing with the enhanced service. Currently, ships with upgraded internet include Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Pearl.
NCL offers two levels of bandwidth available for purchase: the Unlimited WiFi Package and the Unlimited Premium WiFi Package. As part of the line’s Free at Sea promotion, guests can receive a limited number of Wi-Fi minutes for free.
Oceania cruises
Oceania Cruises is introducing Starlink Wi-Fi on all its ships and will have the entire fleet equipped with the service by the end of 2024. Oceania Cruises offers free basic internet to the entire fleet with a premium option available for streaming.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises’ fleet features MedallionNet, the cruise industry’s only Wi-Fi network that combines multi-orbit satellites – Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), Mid-Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO/ Starlink) with 5G terrestrial networking to deliver a strong connection regardless of the ship’s location. One bandwidth level is available.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Starlink Wi-Fi is currently found on two Regent Seven Seas ships, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Grandeur. The entire Regent Seven Seas fleet will be equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi by the end of 2024. There are two levels of bandwidth available on Regent Seven Seas: a free basic package for emails and news and an upgraded package for streaming services and high-end bandwidth usage that is available for a fee.
Royal Caribbean
The entire Royal Caribbean fleet has Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. One bandwidth level is available.
Seabourn
Seabourn offers free Starlink Wi-Fi to the entire fleet. One bandwidth level is available.
Silversea Cruises
The entire Silversea Cruises fleet is equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi. There are two levels of bandwidth available: Standard Internet (for social media, email, web browsing, and Internet-based messaging) and Premium Internet (for streaming and high bandwidth use). Your suite and ship class determine which option you get for free. Service upgrades are available for an additional fee.
Viking
Viking’s entire fleet has Starlink Wi-Fi at no extra cost. There is one level of bandwidth, although the line advises users that high bandwidth use can be limited to ensure everyone has equal access.
Virginal travels
The entire Virgin Voyages fleet is equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi, at no extra cost. The included subscription enables social media, email, web browsing, and internet-based messaging. An upgraded Premium Bandwidth option is available for streaming and high bandwidth usage for an additional fee.
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