MSC Cruises Installing Starlink Satellite Internet Across Fleet

MSC Cruises has installed Starlink infrastructure on two-thirds of its ships, with a goal of offering the satellite internet service on all of its vessels by May.

The company conducted bandwidth and data traffic trials using SpaceX’s low Earth orbit satellite technology in 2022 and decided to move forward. Since then, it has added Starlink equipment to 15 of 22 ships.

MSC Magnifica became the first Starlink-equipped ship in the fleet in December 2022.

Travelers have been using more bandwidth on MSC cruise ships in recent years. To help keep up with this and future demand, the cruise line decided to boost its capacity. MSC offers two internet packages to guests: one for browsing and one for browsing and streaming.

Sister cruise line Explora Journeys has also equipped the first of its six vessels with Starlink infrastructure. The brand will also be adding Starlink to Explora II ahead of the vessel’s launch in August.

Many other cruise lines are also installing Starlink infrastructure onboard, including Royal Caribbean, Cunard, Aurora Expeditions, Windstar Cruises, Holland America Line and Scenic Group.

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