P&O Cruises and Cunard have signed up with SpaceX’s Starlink to bolster Wi-Fi connectivity and bandwidth across their lineup of cruise ships, allowing passengers to have seamless connectivity even in the middle of the ocean.
The journey towards this enhanced connectivity began in June, with plans to make the service available in both public spaces and cabins on Cunard’s ships—Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth—by the end of 2023. Passengers aboard Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne will also be equipped with Starlink when it launches in May 2024.
P&O Cruises has already introduced Starlink to the public spaces to two of their ships, Britannia and Azura. By the end of 2023, the high speed low latency satellite internet service will be available in both public areas and cabins on Arvia, Iona, Ventura, Arcadia, and Aurora.
“Sharing unforgettable moments with friends and family back at home is an important part of any holiday. Whether it’s uploading a picture of a sunset as you sail away from a newly discovered destination or catching up with the news, live events or content from home, Starlink will make it even easier for our guests and colleagues to stay connected.” Starlink vice president of commercial sales Jonathan Hofeller said.
To celebrate the roll out, Cunard passengers can purchase the Essentials only internet plan for US$15 per day or the Premium internet plan from US$20 a day, a 15% discount compared to regular prices.
The partnership between P&O Cruises, Cunard, and Starlink is part of a broader agreement between parent company Carnival and Starlink, signed in January of this year. Several other Carnival brands, including AIDA, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa, Holland America Line, and Seabourn, have already implemented Starlink across their fleets.
SpaceX has quickly taken over the cruise industry with Starlink either installed or being installed on 11 additional cruise lines, including some of the largest and smallest lines in the industry.
