Norwegian Cruise Line Testing Starlink Internet
Faster internet may be coming to Norwegian Cruise Line. The line is in the process of installing Starlink satellite dishes on Norwegian Breakaway to test Starlink Maritime.
Recently, Royal Caribbean Group announced that they’d have a full installation of the high speed Wi-Fi by next April. SeaDream cruises also has implemented the service on its vessels.
Starlink Maritime runs about $5,000 per receiver but as founder Elon Musk said, it will allow you to stay connected in some of the most remote waters in the world. Starlink works with the receiver connecting to a network of low orbit satellites, bringing faster upload and download speeds.
MSC Cruises Achieves New Booking Record
MSC Cruises has achieved a new booking record.
The line recorded nearly 400,000 bookings across its global fleet in October, marking the most bookings it’s ever had in one month. The bookings were for voyages this coming winter and into summer 2023. As well, MSC’s ships are showing higher than average historical occupancy levels for the upcoming winter and summer seasons.
MSC Cruises has four ships sailing in the Caribbean this winter: Divina, Meraviglia, Seascape, and Seaside.
STORY: MSC Cruises Sees Record Number of Bookings in October
Bar Harbor Residents Vote to Further Restrict Cruise Ships
On Tuesday, Bar Harbor residents voted to further restrict cruise ships after years of overcrowding complaints. Voters passed a petition to lower the number of cruise ship passengers who can come ashore in one day to 1,000 people.
Currently, the Maine town already has a 3,500 per day cruise visitor cap in the summer, and 5,500 people during the early and late parts of the cruise season.
A 2021 survey found that 55 percent of the nearly 1,400 responses thought cruise ships had a negative impact on the town, and that they detracted from the attraction of Bar Harbor.
The change is set to go into effect in 2024.