SES Signs Cruise Connectivity Deal With Explora Journeys

Explora Journeys, Explora I ship. Photo: Explora Journeys

SES has signed a deal with Explora Journeys to provide global connectivity services, debuting on its Explora I ship. Explora Journeys is a new luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group, and Explora I is its first ship. SES announced the cruise deal on Monday, and did not disclose financial terms.

Guests onboard the Explora I will enjoy complimentary, high-speed, reliable, and uninterrupted Wi-Fi powered by SES Cruise mPOWERED connectivity service. Explora I’s maiden journey is set for the Mediterranean in May 2023.

“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. Today’s guests simply 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 be able to offer this connectivity experience to our guests onboard Explora I thanks to SES’s services,” Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys, said in a statement.

Cruise is a major market for SES’s O3b and O3b mPOWER system. Last year, the operator announced four major cruise companies entered into long-term strategic framework agreements with SES for services delivered over the O3b mPOWER communications system, totalling around around 220 million euros.