Two thirds of MSC Cruises’ ships are now equipped with SpaceX’s Starlink cruise ship Wi-Fi.
It expects the fleet rollout program to be completed by May 2024.
The low earth orbit connectivity solution is currently providing faster internet speeds, improved cruise ship Wi-Fi in cabins and public spaces, and reduced latency levels.
It also generates lower operational costs for 15 of the line’s fleet of 22 ships following bandwidth and data traffic trials in 2022.
The first of MSC Cruises’ vessels to be equipped with Starlink was MSC Magnifica in December 2022.
MSC Cruises has seen onboard bandwidth consumption continue to rise.
Starlink will provide MSC Cruises with enough capacity to keep up with the future requirements of its guests, crew and also the technical requirements of its fleet.
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.
The line’s other five ships set for Starlink 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 and EXPLORA II will be fitted when it first sets sail in August 2024.
MSC Cruises offers a ‘Browse Internet Cruise Package’ and a ‘Browse & Stream Cruise Package’ onboard its fleet that are tailored for its guests to cover the connection and number of devices needed during a sailing.
