Seabourn has installed SpaceX’s Starlink Internet across its entire fleet, joining other cruise lines such as Carnival and Cunard in their push to make connectivity accessible from every location.
“It will be a part of Seabourn’s expedition programme, meaning there is connectivity in the furthest reaches. Going forward, we see that Internet connect is not a luxury, it is a necessity. For a lot of the people who can afford to travel for long periods of time, they need to remain in contact because they are still working. The Starlink product allows for that to happen,” explains Shaun McCarthy, MD of Whitestar Cruise & Travel.
Seabourn’s luxury vessels now connect to Starlink’s low Earth orbit satellite, which enables passengers to access faster, more reliable WiFi while cruising, reports travelpulse.com.
According to McCarthy, the price of the WiFi depends on the cabin grades passengers book, as it is offered either as a paid package or complimentary.
“Currently, if you book a suite, it is complimentary, but if you book other grades there will be a fee,” says McCarthy. “I think that as we go along most ships are going to have to offer WiFi as a complimentary product. The challenge is to find a situation whereby it is not overused by passengers and crew, which currently makes it quite expensive.”
During 2023, Seabourn installed Starlink connectivity on its Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit vessels. Following positive feedback, the cruise line equipped its Seabourn Sojourn, Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation with Starlink WiFi.
