Home » CRUISE NEWS » After United Airlines, Hawaiian, and Air New Zealand, Royal Caribbean Plans to Add SpaceX Starlink Internet Connectivity with 10Gbps Speed- this is the Real Future of Seamless Connection at Sea
Published on
September 17, 2025
Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas has officially raised the bar for internet connectivity on the high seas. For years, cruise passengers have struggled with slow, unreliable internet service, but this groundbreaking upgrade marks a new era. As the first confirmed cruise ship to be outfitted with SpaceX’s Starlink Community Gateway, Star of the Seas now offers an extraordinary 10Gbps symmetrical throughput. This new satellite internet system promises not only faster speeds but also greater reliability, ensuring that passengers can stay connected like never before. Whether for work or leisure, guests will experience seamless browsing, streaming, and communication, all while cruising the open ocean. This collaboration between Royal Caribbean and SpaceX sets a bold new standard for internet on cruise ships, making it clear that the future of seamless connectivity at sea is already here
In the ever-evolving world of air travel, passengers have long yearned for seamless, high-speed internet connectivity while soaring above the clouds. Traditional in-flight Wi-Fi solutions often fell short, plagued by slow speeds and unreliable connections. Enter SpaceX’s Starlink—a game-changer that promises to redefine the in-flight internet experience.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is SpaceX’s ambitious satellite internet constellation, designed to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to underserved and remote areas worldwide. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites that orbit at approximately 35,786 km, Starlink operates through a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites positioned between 340 km and 1,200 km above Earth. This proximity reduces latency and enhances connection speeds, making it an ideal solution for in-flight connectivity.
Airlines Embracing Starlink
Qatar Airways has been at the forefront of integrating Starlink into its fleet. In October 2024, the airline became the first to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi on its Boeing 777-300ER flights from Doha to Toronto. The service provides passengers with high-speed internet access from gate to gate, enhancing the overall travel experience.
United Airlines began equipping its regional jets with Starlink in May 2025, starting with the Embraer 175 aircraft. The airline plans to have Starlink installed on all its regional jets by the end of 2025 and aims to extend the service to its mainline fleet thereafter. The service is available free of charge to MileagePlus members.
Hawaiian Airlines was one of the pioneers in adopting Starlink, offering free Wi-Fi on its Airbus A330 and A321neo aircraft since 2023. The airline has plans to extend the service to its Boeing 787 fleet, ensuring passengers enjoy uninterrupted connectivity across its entire long-haul network.
Alaska Airlines announced in August 2025 that it would roll out Starlink across its entire fleet by 2027. The airline aims to provide passengers with the fastest and most reliable Wi-Fi in the sky, supporting activities like live gaming, real-time messaging, and high-quality streaming.
airBaltic became the first European airline to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi on its Airbus A220-300 fleet. The airline plans to extend the service to its entire fleet, ensuring passengers across Europe benefit from high-speed internet connectivity during their flights.
Air France announced in 2025 that it would begin offering free Starlink Wi-Fi to passengers across its fleet of over 200 aircraft. The rollout is expected to commence in the summer of 2025, providing enhanced connectivity for travelers flying with the airline.
7. WestJet (Calgary, Canada)
WestJet is in the process of installing Starlink Wi-Fi on its narrow-body aircraft, with plans to complete the installation by the end of 2025. The service will be available free of charge to WestJet Rewards members and TELUS customers.
Air New Zealand is testing Starlink on select aircraft, including both jet and turboprop models. The airline plans to roll out the service across its entire fleet in 2025, ensuring passengers enjoy seamless connectivity on all domestic and international flights.
For travelers who prioritize staying connected to the internet while on vacation, this breakthrough technology could be a game changer. With Starlink’s high-speed internet service now available on Star of the Seas, passengers no longer need to compromise when it comes to staying connected while cruising the oceans.
The Technological Breakthrough: Starlink’s 10Gbps on the High Seas
The Star of the Seas is no ordinary cruise ship—it’s one of the largest vessels in the world, featuring cutting-edge technology and luxury amenities. However, the addition of Starlink’s Community Gateway brings an entirely new level of sophistication to the vessel. This high-speed satellite internet system allows the ship to achieve symmetrical throughput of up to 10Gbps, meaning both download and upload speeds can reach 10Gbps.
This technological leap enables the Star of the Seas to offer an internet experience that rivals even the best land-based connections. This is particularly significant for the cruise industry, which has traditionally struggled to provide reliable, high-speed internet to passengers out at sea. As the cruise industry continues to evolve, this level of connectivity promises to enhance passengers’ experiences, allowing them to work, stream, and communicate in ways that were previously unthinkable aboard a cruise ship.
SpaceX’s Starlink operates via low-orbit satellites, which offer internet access to areas that have traditionally been underserved by traditional broadband infrastructure. Now, with the Star of the Seas outfitted with this advanced technology, cruise passengers will benefit from a more reliable and consistent internet connection while at sea, no matter how far from shore the ship sails.
The Cost and Installation of Starlink’s Community Gateway
Outfitting a cruise ship with Starlink’s Community Gateway is no small feat, and the investment required is substantial. The cost of the installation for the Star of the Seas was $1.25 million, an upfront expense that reflects the high-tech nature of the equipment and the complexity of installing it on a moving vessel. The Community Gateway is designed to facilitate high-speed internet connections, which are essential for satellite services like Starlink, especially when it comes to delivering uninterrupted service on a moving platform.
Additionally, SpaceX’s satellite broadband service comes with an operational cost of $75,000 per Gbps per month, which makes it a significant ongoing expense for Royal Caribbean. However, this investment is expected to pay off in terms of passenger satisfaction and the potential for new business opportunities. With more passengers demanding fast and reliable internet while at sea, the ability to provide this service will likely set the Star of the Seas apart from other cruise ships in the industry.
Royal Caribbean’s decision to equip its flagship vessel with Starlink’s Community Gateway speaks to the growing importance of technology in the cruise experience. Just as passengers now expect luxury amenities like fine dining, world-class entertainment, and spa treatments, high-speed internet is fast becoming an essential part of the modern cruise package.
A New Era for Connectivity at Sea
The Starlink installation is part of a broader trend of cruise lines looking to enhance the onboard experience with cutting-edge technology. Traditionally, cruise ships have had to rely on slow satellite internet connections, which often meant sluggish web browsing, long load times for videos, and frustratingly slow social media updates. For many travelers, this has been one of the least enjoyable aspects of cruising. But now, with Starlink’s powerful satellite system in place, passengers on the Star of the Seas will be able to enjoy high-speed internet without the frustration of slow connections.
SpaceX’s successful installation of the Community Gateway on a cruise ship marks a pivotal moment for the cruise industry. In fact, SpaceX has overcome significant technical challenges to ensure the gateway works on a moving ship. Typically, these Community Gateways are installed at SpaceX ground stations, but placing the equipment on the Star of the Seas required overcoming the added complexity of working on a constantly moving platform. Yet, this challenge has been met head-on, and the results are evident: the Star of the Seas is now leading the charge in maritime connectivity.
In a recent speed test conducted in July 2024, SpaceX demonstrated the capabilities of the Community Gateway by achieving an impressive 8.1Gbps connection, even in remote locations with no land in sight. The test highlighted the impressive potential of Starlink’s satellite technology, showing that it can not only deliver fast speeds in land-based environments but also maintain those speeds in the middle of the ocean, far from traditional internet infrastructure.
The Future of Connectivity in the Cruise Industry
The successful integration of Starlink on the Star of the Seas is just the beginning. As Starlink continues to refine its technology and expand its network of satellites, the possibilities for improving internet service on cruise ships will only increase. The Star of the Seas is setting a new standard for internet connectivity at sea, and it’s likely that other cruise lines will follow suit in the coming years.
For passengers, this means that high-speed internet will no longer be a luxury but a standard expectation. Whether you’re a digital nomad working from the deck of the ship or simply sharing vacation photos in real-time with family and friends, the ability to stay connected while cruising the open seas is an exciting new development.
As the cruise industry continues to innovate and embrace new technologies, passengers can expect even more exciting developments. With the Star of the Seas leading the way in satellite connectivity, the future of cruising looks more connected than ever before.
Looking Ahead: The Impact on the Industry
As more cruise ships implement Starlink’s Community Gateway and other advanced technologies, the cruising experience will continue to evolve. Starlink’s 10Gbps speeds will set a new benchmark for cruise ships, and in time, other vessels will look to offer similar high-speed internet to meet passenger demands. The ability to offer seamless connectivity while traveling to remote locations will undoubtedly make cruising more attractive to both leisure and business travelers.
the Star of the Seas’ adoption of Starlink’s 10Gbps satellite internet service represents a transformative shift in the cruise industry. Royal Caribbean’s bold move is expected to set a new standard for onboard connectivity, enhancing the experience for passengers and paving the way for future technological advancements at sea. For those embarking on their next cruise, the promise of high-speed internet on the open ocean is no longer a distant dream—it’s a reality.
