TORONTO — Hurtigruten Expeditions is tapped to become the first cruise line to implement SpaceX’s Starlink service across its entire fleet.
In cooperation with long-time connectivity partner Speedcast, the installation of SpaceX’s high-speed, low-latency broadband service will be completed this month. Speedcast and Hurtigruten Expeditions first began testing and integrating Starlink terminals onboard the cruise line’s ships in March 2022.
“As the world leader in exploration travel, it’s only fitting that we bring the world’s most innovative technologies onboard our ships to further enhance the experience and day-to-day lives for our guests, crew, partners and the communities we visit,” said Hurtigruten Expeditions CEO Asta Lassesen.
Guests, crew and scientists on all three Hurtigruten Expeditions ships that will explore Antarctica starting this fall will be the first to do so on ships able to connect through Starlink’s faster broadband service, which uses a network of low-orbit satellites. Starlink is expected to introduce Antarctic maritime coverage in Q4 2022.
“We’ve seen major players announcing plans for implementation of Starlink connectivity. Our partnership with Speedcast and fleetwide introduction of the new service not only puts us ahead of the rest of the cruise industry, it also puts us ahead of the technology. When Starlink introduces maritime coverage in Antarctica and the Arctic, we will be ready,” added Lassesen.
Hurtigruten Expeditions is the latest cruise line to team up with SpaceX, following Royal Caribbean, which announced its own Starlink plans in August 2022.
