Anyone who has ever attempted to log onto the internet at sea knows
that cruise Wi-Fi connectivity is a mixed bag. Newer ships are generally
faster at accessing emails, web browsing and occasionally streaming,
but older (and smaller) ships are often beleaguered with antiquated
systems that are far slower.
Those frustrating inconsistencies are likely out the window now
thanks to Starlink — a fresh connectivity solution offered by Elon
Musk’s SpaceX — set to be implemented across Royal Caribbean Group’s
brands (Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea
Cruises) and ships, as well as the SeaDream Yacht Club fleet.
“Our purpose as a company is to deliver the best vacation experiences
to our guests responsibly, and this new offering — which is the biggest
public deployment of Starlink’s high-speed internet in the travel
industry so far — demonstrates our commitment to that purpose,” said
Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.
"This technology will provide game-changing internet connectivity
onboard our ships, enhancing the cruise experience for guests and crew
alike,” he added. “It will improve and enable more high-bandwidth
activities, like video streaming, as well as activities like video
calls. Using Starlink is one more example of our continued focus on
innovation and excellence for our guests, our crew, the communities we
visit and our shareholders.”
As a singular brand, Royal Caribbean has offered high-speed,
low-latency internet before with its Voom service, but this new rollout
is much broader, as it includes Celebrity and Silversea, as well.
"Starlink is a game-changer, and we can’t wait to revolutionise the
seas with faster and more reliable internet,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo,
president and CEO of Celebrity, who pointed out that guests will now be
able to connect to work, family and friends no matter where they are in
the world.
Royal Caribbean is currently implementing the service and expects it to be onboard every one of its ships by May 2023.
The
service is even coming to smaller operators and ships, such as
SeaDream’s SeaDream I and SeaDream II. As part of the line’s $10 million
renovation investment, Starlink internet is already available to its
passengers.
"I am proud to announce that SeaDream is at the forefront of
technology, becoming the first boutique travel line to implement
Starlink onboard,” said Andreas Brynestad of SeaDream. “This innovation
optimises our guests’ experience by putting high-speed internet at their
fingertips — so they can stream their favorite entertainment, work
remotely and connect with friends and family back home.”
The line describes Starlink as a low-Earth orbit satellite solution
(“decreasing the distance that information must travel to reach users”)
that can capably support high-bandwidth video streaming, online gaming,
video calls and more. Brynestad surmises that the combination of small
yachts and high internet volume might result in SeaDream offering the
fastest per-person connection onboard a cruise.
“In the two short months since introducing Starlink, we have received
remarkably positive feedback from guests and crew alike,” he added.
What enhanced onboard internet means for travel advisors and clients
Danny Genung, owner of Harr Travel in Redlands, Calif., believes he
will now be able to travel without the fear of being disconnected from
either work or home, as well as personally host more groups.
"Adding Starlink — true, high speed internet — will completely
revolutionise the cruise industry,” he said. “It will also change ship
design and what can be on a cruise ship. This is the moment that will
remove one of the greatest barriers that Gen X, Y and Z have with
cruising.”
Examples he hears daily from multiple generations of customers
include “never [having] to miss another Dodgers or Lakers game,” and “I
can cruise confidently knowing that I can still support my work team and
be available to them when needed.”
Recognising that concerns related to what might be missed back at
work or among friends and family at home hold many back from taking a
cruise, he added, “oddly enough, being more easily connected can really
allow one to disconnect.”
Source: TravelAge West