MSC Cruises Enhances Fleet with Starlink Internet

MSC Cruises upgrades two-thirds of its ships with SpaceX's Starlink, promising faster internet and improved Wi-Fi across its fleet by May 2024. The move aims to meet rising bandwidth demands and future-proof onboard connectivity for guests and crew.

MSC Cruises has significantly upgraded its onboard internet capabilities by integrating SpaceX's Starlink technology into two-thirds of its fleet, with plans to complete the deployment across all vessels by May 2024. This advancement comes after successful bandwidth and data traffic trials in 2022, showcasing the benefits of low earth orbit technology such as enhanced internet speeds, superior Wi-Fi coverage in both cabins and public areas, reduced latency, and lower operational expenses. The introduction of Starlink began with MSC Magnifica in December 2022, setting a new standard for connectivity at sea.

As digital consumption onboard increases, driven by the growing number of connected devices and applications used by guests, MSC Cruises is responding by ensuring its ships can accommodate the burgeoning demand. The current fleet equipped with Starlink includes notable ships such as MSC Divina, MSC Euribia, and MSC Grandiosa, among others, with MSC Opera and MSC World Europa slated for upgrade within the month. The remaining five ships are expected to join the enhanced connectivity roster before the summer 2024 season, ensuring a fully connected experience across the fleet.

Furthermore, Explora Journeys, MSC Cruises' sister company, is also adopting Starlink for its luxury ships, starting with EXPLORA I and continuing with EXPLORA II upon its launch in August 2024. To complement this technological leap, MSC Cruises offers specialized internet packages onboard, catering to the varied needs of its guests, ranging from basic browsing to high-demand streaming services.