Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2020

MARKET OVERV IEW Guests onboard cruise and expedition vessels expect high-speed connectivity to be able to contact friends and relatives and access online entertainment any time, anywhere – and the same applies to ferry passengers. Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress, the world’s largest Maritime VSAT service with over 9,000 installed vessels, is making headway in the passenger ship sector. The expedition segment has been a particularly enthusiastic adopter of the Ka-band/L-band hybrid solution, with glowing testimonials coming from both Oceanwide Expeditions and Lindblad Expeditions. Oceanwide’s new flagship Hondius features a dual high-speed Fleet Xpress solution to deliver reliable network availability in isolated polar regions. Meanwhile, the operator’s sailing schooner Rembrandt van Rijn runs the FB500 FleetBroadband service, providing passengers with a 5GB data allowance. Lindblad’s adventure cruise ship National Geographic Venture deploys Fleet Xpress, gaining round-the-clock coverage, stability and reliability in even the most remote of locations. The purpose-built, one-metre VSAT terminal is also the right fit for this compact vessel. The functions and characteristics that make Fleet Xpress so popular with expedition operators are equally applicable to passenger ferries. With the longest ferry routes covering hundreds of kilometres and taking upwards of a day to complete, fast, reliable network availability is crucial. Inmarsat’s high- performance solution will enable ferry passengers to remain connected like never before – and considering the dimensions of a typical ferry, the VSAT terminal’s small footprint is a clear bonus. Passenger experience enriched by Fleet Xpress With a proven track record in the passenger expedition segment, Inmarsat’s maritime broadband service Fleet Xpress is ideally suited to deployment on passenger ships Much of the market expansion in maritime satellite communications is targeted at meeting changing customer needs in the passenger shipping sector. As guests become more accustomed to ‘always-on’ connectivity options, providers are racing to raise their game by enhancing the customer experience in innovative ways. This means exceeding passenger expectations for price, sustainability, wi-fi, food, onboard shopping, accommodation, booking, check-in and other aspects of the journey. Likewise, there is a growing need to ensure seamlessness across the entire customer journey, from booking the crossing to the return home and repeat sales. Another trend that is yielding encouraging opportunities is the extension of existing revenue channels. As the large ferry operators move from selling pure capacity and towards value-added services, there are good financial arguments for pursuing a joined-up experience, both on and off the ship. This is seeing booking services extend their reach across previously separate areas such as hotels, car hire and attractions; or, for example, adding services similar to those of a travel agency. Demand for maritime broadband connectivity is poised for rapid growth in the coming years, as operators look for ways to provide different, targeted levels of service to operators, passengers and crew. There is a move towards offering free basic connectivity for messaging, supplemented by premium connectivity options for streaming. Prioritised digital services for ship operations are also on the rise, with operators demanding guaranteed bandwidth availability for priority systems such as vessel systems and digital transactions. Advancing the digital journey To maintain and grow their business, maritime satellite providers are looking to exploit continuing demand for connectivity across all market segments, offering increasingly flexible and robust solutions to their customers Inmarsat Fleet Xpress provides connectivity for Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Venture 1 1 1