German cruise line AIDA Cruises has completed the installation of SpaceX’s Starlink broadband on three of its ships and has announced that the entire fleet of 12 ships will be equipped by mid-October 2023.
Carnival Corporation began its fleet rollout of Starlink in December 2022 with Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises. The AIDA project team has been dedicated to getting the entire fleet connected to SpaceX’s Starlink low earth orbit technology and its associated IT infrastructure which has led to the project being finished ahead of schedule.
SpaceX’s Starlink broadband internet has already been installed and tested on the AIDAblu, AIDAbella and AIDAstella.
“Our project team has already equipped three ships in the AIDA fleet with Starlink antennas and the field test has been very convincing. Guests and crew appreciate the faster internet connections and enjoy more comfortable web surfing. Digital work on board is also made easier. We are very much looking forward to offering this new standard on all ships very soon,” said Steffi Heinicke, Senior Vice President of Guest Experience.
Guests onboard AIDAblu, AIDAbella and AIDAstella can already benefit from a Starlink special offer. They will receive increased data internet packages beginning mid-July. The “Starlink Special” Internet packages L, XL, and XXL can be purchased at the usual price but with twice the volume. If guests have already booked their package it will be automatically doubled. Guests may also take advantage of a 50% discount when they book the social media flat rate “fifty” in the myAIDA service portal.
The introductory offer will be available until the entire AIDA fleet has been outfitted with Starlink. This summer, AIDAprima, AIDAperla, AIDAnova and AIDAcosma are expected to be equipped with the technology as well.
Starlink is also a significant benefit for crew members. It allows more consistent and improved communication to family and friends which can give more of a feeling of home while at sea.