By Wei Ruyu, compiled and reported
Starting now, passengers and crew aboard the cruise ship SuperStar Aquarius can stay in touch with friends and family while visiting various destinations across Asia-Pacific through wireless communication services, including making calls, sending and receiving text messages and e-mails. The charges are similar to international roaming rates, calculated based on the roaming fees of each port.
This month, you can start enjoying the fun of onboard Wi-Fi by sailing on SuperStar Aquarius. (Photo provided by Genting Hong Kong Limited)
Genting Hong Kong’s Star Cruises, the world’s third-largest cruise line, together with Wireless Maritime Services (WMS), a leading global provider of wireless communication services for fleets, officially announced this month the launch of wireless communication services across Star Cruises’ Asia fleet. WMS enables cruise passengers and crew to use their mobile phones at sea just as they would on land. When the ship leaves port, WMS’s network automatically activates, and it shuts down when it connects to a land-based communication provider’s network.
Mr. Ng Chun Ming, Senior Vice President of Information Technology at Genting Hong Kong, said: “While enjoying their cruise vacation, passengers can share their onboard experiences with friends and family via mobile phones. The Sanya–Vietnam route of SuperStar Aquarius is making its maiden voyage this month, allowing passengers to be among the first to experience the convenience brought by this new service while enjoying a pleasant journey.”
Enjoy your cruise holiday while sharing moments with family and friends via mobile devices. (Photo provided by Genting Hong Kong Limited)
Mr. Ian McKenna, Vice President of Customer Support and Product Management at WMS, said: “Every one of our customers is an important partner, and we are excited about this first collaboration with Star Cruises, as it marks WMS’s expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. We have long partnered with hundreds of telecom operators around the world and have strong advantages in international roaming services, including with the world’s largest mobile phone provider — China Mobile. We look forward to leveraging these resources to deliver high-quality service to Star Cruises and Asian passengers.”
This service is expected to be gradually rolled out to SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Libra, and SuperStar Pisces from the end of this year to next year.