MCP will fit wireless telephony on 21 cruise ships

Maritime Communications Partner (MCP), fully owned by Telenor ASA, has signed a contract to install and operate the cellular network on board all ships in the fleets of Princess Cruises, Cunard Line and P&O Cruises Australia.

The agreement covers 21 ships with a total passenger capacity of approximately 45,000 and a crew of 20,000. The MCP service will allow everyone to use their own mobile phones when at sea.

Senior vice president of commercial affairs at Princess Cruises, Anthony Kaufman, says: “This is a service that an increasing number of passengers expect to find on our ships. MCP has been very good to work with, particularly in respect of disabling the service in the certain public areas of the ship where we prefer cell phone service not to be present.”

Separately, GSM technology from MCP was put to the test following the evacuation of the stricken Explorer after it hit underwater ice just east of King George’s Island during an Antarctic cruise last November. After passengers and crew transferred to the Nordnorge, which was in the vicinity and led the rescue operation, they were able to take advantage of the rescuing vessel’s onboard GSM network to get in touch and re-assure their families at home using their own mobile phones. MEC