Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, announced an agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink to provide faster and more reliable Wi-Fi on its ships. The roll-out of Starlink will begin with the Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises ships. 

The company then plans to expand to several of the company’s other cruise brands, including Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK), and Cunard.

Fast Internet Finally Comes to Carnival

After struggling to meet the demand for a significant amount of time, with several ships losing connection during cruises, the wait was for Carnival Corporation to follow Royal Caribbean and switch to Starlink. Today, January 18, the cruise company finally announced the two parties had signed a new agreement. 

Installation of the satellite connection packages started in December onboard the Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises ships and is expected to roll out further across all brands soon.

The agreement is part of Carnival Corporation’s ongoing plan to provide guests and crew across its cruise brands with the best available Wi-Fi experience at sea. In the last few years, the company has nearly tripled fleetwide bandwidth, yet WiFi problems seem to continue. In a time when the internet has become a basic necessity instead of a luxury, it was time that Carnival Corporation took action.

“For many of our guests, it has become more and more important to maintain the type of connectivity at sea that they’ve become accustomed to at home, and of course to share the unforgettable experiences of their cruise with friends and family,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation. 

“We are in the business of delivering happiness, and Starlink makes it as easy as possible for our guests to share all their great moments and memories, giving them even more joy out of their cruise vacation.”

The move by Carnival Corporation is a massive step forward and one that will be welcomed with open arms by those sailing onboard one of the Carnival Cruise Line or other brands’ ships in 2023. 

Starlink’s Innovative Technology

Starlink is the leader in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology providing fast and more reliable Wi-Fi on a global scale. The added bandwidth will give the brands the capabilities and flexibility to introduce new guest services and features and help boost operational functions like onboard equipment monitoring and real-time communications between ship and shore teams.

“High-speed, low-latency broadband internet is critical in our modern age, and we’re excited to provide Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA’s guests an internet experience that makes their travel even more enjoyable,” said Jonathan Hofeller, vice president of Starlink sales for SpaceX.

“In even the most remote waters, guests onboard Carnival Corporation ships will be able to share real-time updates with friends and family.”

The performance of Starlink Maritime is predicted to surpass that of many traditional home internet service packages, with speeds ranging from 100-350 Mbps for downloads and 20-40 Mbps for uploads and low latency. This is a significant improvement over regular Starlink terminals, which typically provide download speeds of around 100 Mbps but can vary widely depending on the location and access to the signal. 

The Maritime connection is expected to be vastly superior to the land-based connections, mainly because the system uses a dual satellite connection. 

Guest and Crew Experience

The new agreement with Starlink is set to transform the guest and crew connectivity experience with faster internet and more capacity onboard ships. Guests can share photos and videos, stream movies and live sporting events and enjoy other content onboard with a reliable connection, such as, or better than, they would have at home.

Adding Starlink’s innovative technology to the company’s existing connectivity platform will also help the crew stay in touch with friends and loved ones.

“Importantly, adding Starlink’s innovative technology to the company’s existing connectivity platform will also help our amazing crew stay in touch with friends and loved ones,” Weinstein continued.

Carnival Corporation’s agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink is a significant step towards enhancing the guest and crew connectivity experience on its ships. Guests onboard the Carnival Cruise Line ships will soon notice the difference in speed onboard the ships as the cruise line brings the systems online.

More From Cruise Hive

• Carnival Cruise Line Has Good News for Guests That Use WiFi
• Investigation Points to Royal Caribbean After Canceled SpaceX Launch
• Norwegian Testing Starlink for All Three Cruise Lines
• Another Cruise Line Switches to Starlink Internet 

What and if Carnival Cruise Line will charge for using the new WiFi connectivity is unknown. Several companies have chosen to offer the service for free, as it is significantly less expensive than the older satellite systems. Elon Musk revealed his companies previously paid up to 150,000 dollars per month for a reliable internet connection. Starlink Maritime has a $10,000 installation price tag and a $5000 monthly fee.

Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Hurtigruten, and SeaDream Yacht Club were among the first to switch to Starlink Maritime Internet last year. The system was tested onboard the Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway, and American Cruise Lines also announced the new system earlier this month. 

While different cruise lines are making adjustments to safety briefings as best suit their operational needs, Carnival Cruise Line remains committed to the e-muster safety briefing or virtual mustering.

While rumors have persisted that the cruise line may be returning to the more traditional in-person group muster, Carnival has confirmed that the new, updated drill remains in place.

E-Muster to Remain

In addressing online rumors about the return of in-person muster drills from February 1, 2023, Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald has confirmed that Carnival will continue to e-muster and noted the success of the new drill in demonstrating real-world application of the safety procedures.

“The new way of doing the drill shows guests where to go in a real emergency and how to wear the life jacket,” Heald said. “In a real emergency that is what guests have to do and from there listen to the Captain, listen to the crew. Trust the captain, trust the crew.”

The e-muster drill was initially implemented as part of pandemic precautions to minimize crowding and promote social distancing. Rather than bringing all guests together in close quarters at muster stations to go over safety information, the e-muster drill has guests view safety videos either online or through the Carnival Hub app prior to setting sail.

Once on board, guests report to their muster station at their leisure, where their Sail and Sign cards are scanned to record their attendance. At that time, a crew member confirms that this is the guests’ muster station, and a life jacket demonstration is made if necessary. Young children will also be fitted with wristbands printed with their muster station.

The new drill takes just a few minutes, and if guests report to their muster station right away, might only take a few moments. The old drill, by comparison, could take 30-45 minutes, with delays if not all guests report to the proper station or if there are late arrivals to the cruise terminal.

Another component of the drill is sounding the ship’s horn in the emergency signal – seven short blasts and one long blast – which is still done just before sail away, so all guests hear the sequence. At that time, food and beverage operations shut down and there are no ongoing activities, as this is the safety drill for crew members.

“Safety is always the top of our list,” Heald said. “Your safety, the safety of the crew and ultimately the safety of the ship herself will always be most paramount.”

Encouraging Guests to Muster

Many Carnival guests report to their muster stations in the first few minutes of their cruise vacation, and crew members are on hand at the gangway to help direct guests to the proper station.

The new drill, however, does permit some flexibility in when guests choose to muster. Some guests prefer to enjoy lunch first, while others wait until they have been able to visit their staterooms – which are generally open at 1:30 p.m. – to drop off luggage, then they can proceed to their muster station unencumbered.

Because the safety drill is essential and all guests must participate and complete their mustering before the ship sets sail, Carnival Cruise Line takes several steps to encourage mustering.

First are the crew members at the gangway encouraging mustering as guests embark. The ship’s cruise director will also make periodic announcements to remind guests to muster. As the time for sail away approaches, the last few guests’ names may be called over the intercom for muster reminders.

The cruise line also has it set up that after ordering two drinks, guests’ Sail and Sign accounts are locked and they cannot order any additional beverages until after completing the muster drill.

These methods have largely proved effective, and the vast majority of Carnival guests muster successfully and appreciate the ease and efficiency of the e-muster.

Future Changes Possible?

While Heald does admit that he is “not in a position to never say never,” it seems unlikely that Carnival will revert to the old-style group mustering.

“I don’t know if it will ever change or not but what I can say is that we are not returning to the previous way of doing this next month or indeed, at all,” Heald clarified recently.

These rumors do occur regularly, and notably, every cruise line has to make the decisions and implement procedures that work best for their operations. Disney Cruise Line, for example, transitioned back to the more traditional group drill in November 2022, and other cruise lines may follow if that option works best for their crew and guests.

So long as guests continue to comply with safety procedures and those procedures are deemed effective by maritime authorities, Carnival’s e-muster is likely here to stay.

Alaska is a dream cruise destination, one that many travelers choose carefully for a specific itinerary. Cruisers booked on Carnival Miracle for a number of 2023 sailings and one 2024 departure, however, are not going to get the same itinerary they originally chose, as Carnival Cruise Line has announced modifications for 11 different sailings to the Last Frontier.

Every Carnival Miracle Alaska Cruise Changed

Carnival Cruise Line reached out to booked guests with notification of itinerary changes for a total of 11 sailings, 10 of which are in 2023 and one in 2024.

The changes vary and impact different sailings as early as the ship’s very first Alaska sailing of the 2023 season, while the last impacted departure date is the first sailing of the 2024 Alaska season.

The only 2024 departure date currently impacted is the April 21, 2024 sailing from Long Beach. Every 2023 Alaska sailing for Carnival Miracle has had at least one change, with departure dates as follows:

• April 23
• May 15, 29
• June 12, 26
• July 10, 24
• August 7, 21
• September 10

Types of Changes

The exact itinerary alterations for each sailing vary depending on sailing date. For some sailings, port visits have been changed, others have different port times though the ship will still visit the same destinations. Three cruises have altered sail away times from the Long Beach homeport, while one sailing is swapping out the location of scenic glacier cruising.

The biggest change for each altered itinerary appears to be removing Victoria, British Columbia, as a port of call and instead planning to visit Prince Rupert, a change that has been made to 10 of the 11 altered itineraries.

Both are coastal port towns in British Columbia, but Prince Rupert is approximately 580 miles (933 kilometers) sailing distance further north-northwest of Victoria. This can impact the sailing speed necessary to reach the port, which can affect fuel efficiency.

Furthermore, visiting Prince Rupert rather than Victoria provides guests with more time in port. On the original itineraries, Carnival Miracle was scheduled to be docked in Victoria only from 8 a.m. until noon or 1 p.m. – just a 4- or 5-hour visit. The updated itineraries, however, show the ship docked in Prince Rupert from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m – a full eight hours.

This longer port time provides greater opportunities for longer shore tours and thoroughly enjoying the port of call, known for excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, which are always a sought after experience on Alaska cruises.

Pre-purchased tours sold through Carnival Cruise Line will automatically be refunded to guests’ original form of payment, while new shore excursions for Prince Rupert will be available for booking prior to each cruise.

Another change on several itineraries removes some time from the call at Icy Strait Point. On the original itineraries, the ship was to be at the port from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., but the updated schedules have the port of call listed as 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. While this does trim the port time by four hours, guests still have plenty of time to enjoy that unique destination.

Finally, two sailings – the very first sailings for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons – will be departing Long Beach one hour earlier than expected, at 5 p.m. rather than 6 p.m. This will mean that guests traveling to the cruise port will need to ensure they are able to arrive early enough for proper embarkation before the ship leaves.

Why So Many Adjustments?

Carnival Cruise Line has not provided details about why every Alaska sailing for the Spirit-class ship has been altered, but it is not unusual for cruise lines to continue refining schedules as sailing dates approach. This can be especially true for Alaska sailings, when the short tourist season can create crowded ports as many cruise lines seek to entice cruisers to the region.

“Thank you for your understanding,” the email from Carnival read. “We look forward to welcoming you aboard for a FUN and memorable cruise.” Even the earliest altered sailing is still three months away, giving guests plenty of time to make adjustments to their travel plans if necessary.

In addition to Carnival Miracle, the cruise line will have two other ships sailing in Alaska during the 2023 season: Carnival Spirit and Carnival Luminosa. It is possible that changes may be coming to those ships’ itineraries, and booked guests should stay in close contact with the cruise line to be informed of any updates.

Carnival Jubilee, the newest cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line, is currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The shipyard provided a construction update of the vessel today, showing the steady progress that has been made lately.

Carnival Jubilee is the first Excel class cruise ship to be built for Carnival Cruise Line in Germany, marking a significant milestone for the company. Construction on the sistership to Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras is expected to be completed in the second half of this year, with the maiden voyage taking place in December 2023.

Meyer Werft Provides Construction Update on Carnival Jubilee

Construction on the 180,000 gross tons Carnival Jubilee began in March of 2022 when Carnival Cruise Line and the Meyer Werft shipyard celebrated the cutting of the first steel.

The keel was laid down in July of 2022, and since then, the shipyard has been working diligently to bring the vessel to completion. The shipyard provided an update on the cruise ship’s construction today, January 17, showing the final coat of blue paint on the ship.

The Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, stated on its Facebook page: “The year 2023 is now a few days old, and so it’s high time to post a recent photo from our building dock once again: The Carnival Jubilee is currently under construction in Hall 6, and with her bright blue paint job and finished ship’s name, she is an impressive sight to behold.” 

“Work on and inside the 345-meter ship for the American shipping company Carnival Cruise Line continues to make steady progress. When completed, she will be in no way inferior to her Turku-built sisters Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.”

The ship now features the sparkling blue paint of the hull, the red pinstripe along the edge of the hull, and the flowing lines of the name painted on the side of the ship. The full vessel has now been painted, with no more bare metal showing. 

In the coming months, expect more updates regarding the build progress of Carnival Jubilee, as the shipyard will be installing important Fun stuff such as the BOLT rollercoaster and the signature Carnival Cruise Line Whale tail funnels. 

Carnival Cruise Line will disclose more details about this exciting new cruise ship soon, as several areas on decks 6, 7, and 8 are still to be revealed. Many of these areas have seen several changes between Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. The expectation is that Carnival Cruise Line will think of several new venues and spaces for Carnival Jubilee.

Delivery of Carnival Jubilee Slightly Delayed

Carnival Jubilee was scheduled to sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton in the United Kingdom. However, due to delays in the global supply chain, this voyage and several others were canceled. The impacted sailings are all voyages from October 30, 2023, through and including the December 16, 2023 sailing.

Because of the delay, Carnival Jubilee‘s maiden voyage will now be sailing from Galveston on December 23, 2023. Further details of that sailing are not yet available.

Once completed, the Carnival Jubilee will be based year-round in Galveston, Texas, and will be operating seven-day cruises to the Western Caribbean with departures every Saturday. Voyages include cruises to Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Mahogany Bay on Isla Roatan, Honduras. The vessel will be able to welcome 5,347 guests at double occupancy and as many as 6,631 guests when fully booked.