A prerequisite for most people going on holiday these days is access to the internet via Wi-Fi. Whether for business reasons or just to keep in touch with friends and family via social networks and email, the internet is essential to most people’s daily lives, even when on holiday.  With international 3G roaming charges being so extortionate, holiday makers are keen to access the free Wi-Fi services available in most hotels and airports.

Until now, customers on cruise ships only had limited access to the internet at sea, often having to wait until they docked to check their emails. Some ships do have some internet access but this tends to be highly unreliable and frustrating for passengers as the connection will drop in and out.

Royal Caribbean, one of the largest cruise operators in the world, has promised to provide a better alternative. The cruise liner has signed a multi-year deal with O3b network, a satellite network provider that is able to deliver internet at the same speed as fibre via satellite beams. The new reliable internet service will be trialled on board the 5,400 passenger cruise liner, The Oasis of the Seas.

The liner mainly sails from Florida to the Caribbean islands of Jamaica, Haiti band the Bahamas, as well as the coast of Mexico. Royal Caribbean has extended its offering of cruise deals for the ship in accordance with the release of its reliable internet access, added to its already extensive list of services available on board.

“Royal Caribbean is committed to delivering the most contemporary vacation to our guests, and that includes pushing ahead for on-board technological advances that offer the modern conveniences that guests enjoy on land,” said Adam M. Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “This milestone agreement with O3b Networks enables us to provide our guests with unprecedented Internet service at sea aboard Oasis of the Seas and potentially in the future aboard other ships in our fleet.”

Steve Collar, the CEO of O3b Networks is confident that passengers on board The Oasis of the Sea will enjoy surfing the web while they cruise, stating that “connection speeds that are an order of magnitude higher and latency that is four times lower than offered in the market today.”

“At O3b, we believe that affordable, high speed broadband should always be within reach – wherever you are in the world, on land and at sea - and we are delighted to showcase the unrivalled performance of O3b Maritime together with Royal Caribbean,”