Satellite communications selected for luxury cruise newbuild

Passengers and crew will be provided with high-speed and uninterrupted wifi on this ship and Ka-band connectivity in remote locations. Explora Journeys said guests can use this connectivity to share their onboard experience from any passenger-accessible part of the ship.

Enhanced connectivity will improve crew welfare and training, employee performance, motivation and retention.

“High-speed, reliable and uninterrupted connectivity is no longer a ‘nice to have’, with demand for connectivity services at sea growing in tandem with the development of social media platforms,” said Explora Journeys chief executive Michael Ungerer.

“Today’s guests expect seamless and uninterrupted connectivity comparable to on land, as they want to share their experiences and stay online as much as possible. We are pleased to offer this connectivity experience to our guests onboard Explora I thanks to SES’s services.”

Connectivity from O3b mPower satellites will be supplemented by SES’ geostationary satellites, operating in Ka, Ku and C bands for when the cruise ship is out of MEO satellite coverage.

SES vice president for cruise maritime services and global sales Simon Maher said Explora Journeys was “setting new standards in ultra-luxury curated travel experiences at sea” and has an innovative approach to satellite communications.

“Connectivity is one of the most important enablers for such travel experiences from both a guest and crew point of view,” he said.

“Our O3b mPower ultra-fast, low-latency connectivity is empowering a new experience that will revolutionise the ultra-luxury expedition maritime segment.”

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