USA: Wireless Maritime Services Announces New Contracts with TUI and Ocean Star Cruises

Wireless Maritime Services (WMS), the world leader in cellular service to the cruise line and ferry industry, announced today that they have renewed multi-year contracts with both Crystal Cruises and Silversea Cruises, and have also signed new contracts with TUI Cruises and Ocean Star Cruises to provide cellular at sea wireless service to guests and crew members on all of their ships.

“We are delighted to renew our partnerships with Crystal Cruises and Silversea Cruises for many more years to come. Guests onboard both cruise lines expect nothing but the best, and WMS is the best choice in the industry. Like each of these stellar, luxury cruises lines, we pride ourselves on delivering the best possible products and services to our customers” said Jim McKenna, Vice President of Customer Support and Product Management for WMS.

“Over the past four years Crystal Cruises has enjoyed a very good relationship with WMS and the services they provide. Our guests have benefitted by the added cell phone and WI-FI service we have been offering. This contract renewal strengthens this service and our guest experience” said Bill Roberts, Director, Systems and Operations for Crystal Cruises.

In addition to the contract renewals, WMS also announced new contracts with TUI Cruises for the Mein Schiff 2 and with Ocean Star Cruises for the MV Ocean Star Pacific to provide service to its guests and crew.

As Jim McKenna notes, “It’s an honor to be selected as a partner by each one of our customers, and our new relationship with TUI and Ocean Star is especially rewarding for WMS given the geographic focus of these cruise lines. With TUI catering to the German-speaking market and Ocean Star serving Mexican cruisers, our extensive list of roaming partner agreements with hundreds of carriers around the world has positioned WMS as the best possible choice for our customers and the communication needs of their guests.”

WMS service allows guests and crew members to use their cell phones as they currently do on land while the ships are at sea away from land-based cellular phone service. Connectivity is activated when the ship leaves port and turned off when in range of land-based providers. WMS provides uninterrupted service to guests and crew so they can stay in touch with family, friends or business associates back home while they enjoy the experiences of their cruise. Guests and crew can make and receive calls, send text messages, access email and surf the internet at rates similar to roaming internationally.

About Wireless Maritime Services

Wireless Maritime Services (WMS), is the world leader in providing maritime cellular phone service to the cruise line and ferry industry. The company specializes in cellular at sea communications, including voice, text messaging, email and web browsing. WMS technology allows cruise line and ferry passengers and crew to stay in touch with friends, family or business while at sea.

About TUI Cruises

TUI Cruises is a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has offered sea tours for the German-speaking market since the spring of 2009 on board its ‘Mein Schiff’.

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Source: WMS, May 25, 2011; Image: TUI Cruises