MIAMI
– July 7, 2006 - NCL Corporation today announced
that it is the first cruise line to offer cell phone service
fleetwide. The service is available for all passengers
on all of its ships worldwide even when communications
towers are oceans away. The company is providing the service
through Wireless Maritime Services, a joint venture of
AT&T Wireless and Maritime Telecommunications Network
(MTN).
Leading the way in shipboard technology,
NCL was the first cruise line to offer cell phone service
when it introduced the new technology on Norwegian Sun
more than two years ago. NCL pioneered the industry’s
first Internet access on the high seas with its Internet
café in 1999. In 2002, NCL became the first cruise
line to provide remote wireless Internet (also known as
Wi-Fi) to its guests. All services are now standard throughout
NCL’s entire fleet.
“Cutting-edge onboard technology is
important to our guests,” said Colin Veitch, NCL
Corporation’s president and CEO. “While we
recognize that some guests traveling with us choose to
disconnect, others need to stay connected to loved ones
or business associates in order to get away. Cell phone,
Internet capabilities and WiFi services ensure that our
passengers can stay connected if they so choose.”
The offering combines satellite and wireless
services, enabling passengers to make and receive calls
on their own cell phones with their own phone numbers
while in international waters.
The service is available to most passengers
with GSM and CDMA phones that operate at 1900 MHz, which
is standard in the U.S. Passengers can make and receive
both voice calls and text messages. In addition, passengers
with data-capable GSM/GPRS devices can access data services,
such as email, internet and picture messaging. Passengers
are billed by the carrier to whom they subscribe at roaming
rates set by that carrier, just as if they were roaming
on land instead of at sea.
NCL America ships are deployed close to
shore in U.S. waters so passengers can access local cell
phone towers.
NCL Corporation Ltd. ("NCL") is
an innovative cruise company headquartered in Miami, Florida,
with a fleet of 15 ships in service and under construction.
The corporation oversees the operations of Norwegian Cruise
Line, NCL America and Orient Lines. The company christened
its newest ship, Pride of Hawai`i on Saturday, May 20,
2006, the largest and most expensive U.S. flagged passenger
ship ever built. It is currently building two ships, Norwegian
Pearl scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of
2006 and Norwegian Gem scheduled for delivery in the fourth
quarter of 2007.
For further information, please contact
NCL in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 327-7030; visit NCL’s
website at www.ncl.com or on AOL at keyword: NCL; or to
download high-resolution photography, visit www.ncl.com/hires
www.ncl.com/hires.
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