Royal Caribbean Will Equip All Its Cruise Ships With Starlink Internet (techcrunch.com) 47
Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines announced it will be adding Starlink to its whole fleet, "after a pilot service on one of its ships got rave reviews," reports TechCrunch. From the report: The test deployment aboard the Freedom of the Seas "received tremendous positive feedback," and if you've ever been on one of these boats, you can probably guess why. Current satellite at sea options aren't great: expensive and slow, having enjoyed a market with little competition or innovation for the last couple decades. Starlink Maritime will be a real kick in the pants for existing providers, considering how quickly a huge customer like Royal Caribbean decided to buy in to the new satellite on the block. Even though its coverage is limited to coastal waters for now, the speed is way better and will probably pay for itself with onboard "premium Wi-Fi" charges in the first month.
The service costs the company roughly $5,000 monthly and has at least a $10,000 upfront hardware fee for the special terminals you'll need to use it. That's a rounding error in the rolling costs of running vessels as large as modern cruise ships. (An image provided by Celebrity Cruises suggests additional dishes will be used -- I've asked for more information.) Although the Starlink constellation doesn't yet work mid-ocean (such as on container ships), the plan is to provide that capability in the northern hemisphere by the end of the year and the southern hemisphere in early 2023.
The dishes will be added to all vessels in the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises fleets, in case you're planning a trip. No specific dates yet, but the company says they should have the service on all ships by the end of Q1 2023.
The service costs the company roughly $5,000 monthly and has at least a $10,000 upfront hardware fee for the special terminals you'll need to use it. That's a rounding error in the rolling costs of running vessels as large as modern cruise ships. (An image provided by Celebrity Cruises suggests additional dishes will be used -- I've asked for more information.) Although the Starlink constellation doesn't yet work mid-ocean (such as on container ships), the plan is to provide that capability in the northern hemisphere by the end of the year and the southern hemisphere in early 2023.
The dishes will be added to all vessels in the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises fleets, in case you're planning a trip. No specific dates yet, but the company says they should have the service on all ships by the end of Q1 2023.
$5000 a month is peanuts (Score:2, Insightful)
They spend more on toilet paper per month on a ship that big.
No thanks (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:3)
I go on cruises to avoid the 'always online' world.
Weird.
Most people go on cruises so they can send selfies. This will enable unlimited selfing.
Re: (Score:1)
Seriously? (Score:3)
Yes, the captain will make you walk the plank if you do not keep your cellphone on at all times and get on the internet.
Re: (Score:2)
With "premium fees" I don't think you have a lot to worry about. It's not like your device(s) will be allowed to automatically connect.
Re: (Score:2)
Took a caribbean cruise in March -- the ship was half-full and I paid for the 'premium' internet, which was something like $100. Thanks (I suspect) to the limited number of people aboard, the internet worked fabulously -- I was even able to do some video calls, although the lag from bouncing off what I presume was a geosynchronous satellite was definitely noticeable.
Once upon a time, I would have absolutely been with you on getting away completely. But, that's unfortunately not the reality of my daily li
Re: (Score:2)
I agree. I miss the cruise days when there was no connectivity at all. Board the ship, the phone went into the safe for the duration. I'm there to disconnect and enjoy being there, meeting people, and of course drinking. That said, internet access on board the fleet now is basically worthless. We use our one free day each per cruise, but I'd never pay money for that. This could be a game changer in that respect, although I still don't want it.
When do we get Starlink on the SLS? (Score:3, Funny)
Now that would be a big joke!
That SLS isn't going to leave earth for a while so NASA might just as well provide some entertainment on board.
Great (Score:5, Funny)
Because when I'm 80 years old on a plague ship (aka floating petri dish), fast internet is a major priority.
Re:Great (Score:4, Funny)
You've got to have something to do between bouts of projectile diarrhea.
Re: (Score:2)
For decades they have been trying to get younger people interested, with things like fun pools and slides for kids. Limited success, being stuck on a ship people soon get bored if they aren't there for the slow pace life.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Appealing mainly to old people isn't the end of the world, actually it's a rapid-growth demographic
Yes, but those old people's ability to buy stuff is rapidly decreasing, as inflation outpaces their retirement funding, social security, etc.
Re: (Score:2)
Got to keep those lemonparty videos comin'
Re: (Score:2)
Is cruising that much of a retiree thing where you live? I've been on 3 cruses (and I've not even hit middle age yet) and they varied from a complete mix of old / young people, to one boat that was really just a giant party with mostly 20somethings on it.
Re: (Score:2)
No internet was a perk (Score:4, Insightful)
One of the nice things about being on a cruise was no internet (or so expensive you don't think of getting it).
Being out of contact for days is one of the best ways to get well rested.
Re: No internet was a perk (Score:4, Insightful)
Who is forcing you to get on the internet when youâ(TM)re on a ship?
Re: No internet was a perk (Score:4, Funny)
Colossal, crushing boredom, perhaps?
Re: (Score:2)
/., duh! ;)
Re: (Score:2)
Who is forcing you to get on the internet when youâ(TM)re on a ship?
For people with jobs that are hard to get away from, cruising has been a great way to be able to tell your boss, "I won't have any phone or internet, and won't be reachable at all" while not having to be in a tent in the middle of nowhere with no amenities. For those who haven't been on a cruise ship, the current state of internet access is "barely loads a page, and streaming video or voice would be laughable."
Now they can make a case for "take your laptop just in case, and check your email once or twice a
Re: (Score:2)
You don't need a cruise for that. Heck you don't even need to leave your house for that. Just turn off your devices.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
"Close to shore" is a misleading statement by the article. Starlink's definition of "close" extends far beyond littoral waters into blue ocean containing virtually all non trans-oceanic routes.
Virtually all non trans-oceanic cruise routes are well outside of cell phone coverage.
Was the shore power announcement covered? (Score:5, Informative)
This reminded me of a different kind of connection for Royal Caribbean ships, they planned on taking on shore power while in port so they aren't stinking up the place with their diesel engines.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog... [royalcaribbeanblog.com]
I recall a different news article that pointed out that while ports were equipped for giving power to cruise ships the connections were rarely used. The wires were run to a small number of piers, and those piers might not be available when the cruise ship was in port. This meant a ship that could not take shore power was in that spot, while the ship that could take shore power was at a pier that was not wired for power. Another issue was that the connection and disconnection was not always done quickly and smoothly, so unless the captain knew that they'd be in port for a long time they might not bother. This means they'd be burning fuel, then get delayed, and still be reluctant to take on power because that could delay them more. Then comes the cost of the electricity. It might still be cheaper to keep the engines running for power than buy power from shore.
I can envision these connections being used in reverse. The UK is looking to build civilian nuclear powered cargo ships. They could be in port and sell power to shore, which could help alleviate power shortages in states like California and help cover the operating costs of a nuclear powered ship.
https://maritime-executive.com... [maritime-executive.com]
Along with this is the potential for floating nuclear power plants being floated to the USA to provide electricity to shore and/or produce hydrogen gas for things like fueling rockets.
https://maritime-executive.com... [maritime-executive.com]
https://www.greencarcongress.c... [greencarcongress.com]
The hydrogen could also be used as raw material for the production of fertilizers, and producing lighter petroleum products from heavier ones, a process called hydrocracking. Currently the hydrogen is often produced from natural gas, rarely from water. Cheap hydrogen from a floating nuclear power plant could change that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
This process could mean future cruise ships are partially powered by nuclear power, part of the energy in the fuel is from petroleum and part from hydrogen made by nuclear fission. This is not a "low CO2" fuel but a "lower CO2" fuel. This process is a small step from fully synthetic and net zero carbon fuels.
SpaceX is working on nuclear thermal rockets for going beyond Earth orbit. Not likely needed for Starlink unless the goal is Starlink services on the moon and Mars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
SpaceX is working on synthesized fuels to lower their carbon footprint on Earth, and for in-situ rocket fuel production on Mars.
https://www.businessinsider.co... [businessinsider.com]
https://balkangreenenergynews.... [balkangree...gynews.com]
All kinds of news coming out of the space travel and sea travel industries showing a bright future with lower carbon emissions and improved communications.
Re: Was the shore power announcement covered? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
This reminded me of a different kind of connection for Royal Caribbean ships, they planned on taking on shore power while in port so they aren't stinking up the place with their diesel engines.
Let's hope so.
I live near a port and I can see the cruise ships from here. They usually have a big filthy cloud of diesel smoke pouring out of them.
Re:Was the shore power announcement covered? (Score:5, Informative)
SpaceX is working on nuclear thermal rockets for going beyond Earth orbit. Not likely needed for Starlink unless the goal is Starlink services on the moon and Mars
I'm pretty sure the primary purpose of Starlink *is* to provide service on Mars.
The entire purpose of SpaceX as a company is to get people to Mars. This is why they haven't (and probably will never) go public. The commercial launch business doesn't exist to provide commercial launch services - it's just to pay for developing the rockets and infrastructure needed to get to Mars. Likewise, I highly suspect that Starlink service on Earth is similar - it's paying for developing the the tech and infrastructure to provide connectivity on Mars as well as inter-planetary (I'm betting we'll see some bigger Starlink satellites intended for Earth-Moon-Mars links at some point).
My bet is the NTRs are being developed for Moon-Mars cargo tugs, or something like that.
Re: (Score:2)
The problem is many fold.
First, a limited number of ports provide shore power - many in the western world where they care about the environment do provide shore power capability, and many ports have fully equipped every dock with shore power availability so any ship docked, cruise, cargo, etc., can avail themselves to it. (It's not easy - you need to have properly trained electricians able to do it because the power involved presents serious arc flash risks)
Second, there is no shore power standard - voltage
Yeah OK whatever (Score:1)
Although the Starlink constellation doesn't yet work mid-ocean (such as on container ships), the plan is to provide that capability in the northern hemisphere by the end of the year and the southern hemisphere in early 2023.
Yes, surely this will be the time that one of Elon's projects is completed on schedule! Doesn't Starlink have to launch a whole new generation of satellites before this functionality can be implemented? And they have launched 0 of that kind of bird so far?
Don't cross the cult of Elon (Score:2)
They will mod you down! Such is their power!
Re: (Score:2)
Negative. While the v2 Starlinks will have the intra satellite laser comms, that won't be one of the totally new features of that version. The laser interlinks were added to the current gen satellites about a year ago. Already being used for users in the polar regions to move their data to lower latitudes where a satellite can talk to a ground station.
I think they have a high enough number of such satellites in operation now for a wider rollout of the feature, but are just working through the FCC hoops
Coastal waters only? (Score:2)
I'm sure there's a technical answer, but I'm having trouble picturing what kind of orbits these satellites must be in such that only land masses are covered. Not like they get to the edge of a continent, decide they're rather not swim, and just turn their orbit around in the opposite direction.
Anyone know the real reason? A quick Google didn't turn up anything obvious....
Re: (Score:2)
Yours for only $5 per minute! (Score:2)
Or perhaps for $5 per MB.
You'd be better off getting your own StarLink service.
20 years ago (Score:2)
RC has always been an early adopter of this sort of tech. I am not sure how news worthy this is. Itâ€(TM)s not Y2K anymore. These days we kinda simply expect that cruise ships will offer Internet access via satellite. I do not think anyone actually cares how. Just as long as it is