RCG-Royal Caribbean Group (the world's second-largest cruise shipowner/after Carnival Corporation) announced it was planning to implement SpaceX’s Starlink satellite Internet technology, thus making RCG the first in the industry to adopt the high-speed, low-latency connectivity for a better experience for passengers and crew fleetwide.
Starlink's broadband Internet will be installed on all RCG-owned vessels in the fleets of RCI-Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, and Silversea, including on new ships currently under construction.
Deployment of the Starlink technology across RCG's fleet will start immediately, leveraging the insights obtained from the trial on Freedom of the Seas, which received positive feedback from guests. The installation is expected to be completed by the end of 2023-Q3.
Jason Liberty (RCG's President and CEO) said their purpose as a company was to deliver the best vacation experiences to their guests responsibly, and the new offering, which was the biggest public deployment of Starlink’s high-speed internet in the travel industry so far, demonstrated their commitment to that purpose.
“This technology will provide game-changing internet connectivity onboard our ships, enhancing the cruise experience for guests and crew alike. 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.”
Faster/more reliable internet will make it easier for passengers and crew members to remain connected to family, friends, and work, no matter where they are.
SpaceX Vice President of Starlink Sales Jonathan Hofeller said that Royal Caribbean Group selecting Starlink to provide high-speed, low-latency internet across their fleet would make passengers’ getaways even more luxurious.
“We couldn’t be more excited to work with Royal Caribbean Group to ensure travelers at sea can stay connected with a great internet experience.
“Our work with SpaceX is another example of how Royal Caribbean Group continues to lead the cruise industry in innovation and adoption of cutting-edge technology.”