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Royal Caribbean & Celebrity Offer Cell Service!



 
 
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Old December 3rd, 2004, 10:50 PM
Ray Goldenberg
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Default Royal Caribbean & Celebrity Offer Cell Service!

Hi Everyone,

I received this press release from Royal Caribbean/Celebrity thought
it would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
they are available on my web site.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com


Royal Caribbean International And Celebrity Cruises Offer Guests New
Way To Stay In Touch At Sea

Company Teams with Cingular Wireless and Maritime Telecommunications
Network to Provide Cell Phone Service On Ships
Service Launched on Majesty of the Seas

MIAMI, Dec. 3
Guests on Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises ships
can soon use their personal cell phones to stay in touch while at sea.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has teamed with Wireless Maritime
Services, a joint venture of Cingular Wireless and Maritime
Telecommunications Network (MTN), to provide a convenient and
affordable new communications option that allows guests to make and
receive calls on their own cell phones -- at their personal numbers --
while in international waters. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which
pioneered the use of this service on Island Cruises' Island Escape, a
joint venture with First Choice Holidays PLC, has now begun to offer
this service to guests sailing on its Royal Caribbean and Celebrity
brands.

"Our guests know they can count on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity to
bring them the latest innovations, whether in onboard programming,
ship amenities or technology," said Jack Williams, president and COO
of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "We know many of our guests will
welcome this opportunity to stay within easy reach of their families,
check voicemails or make calls."

The new capability is now available on Majesty of the Seas and is
slated to launch in the coming weeks on Navigator of the Seas and the
Celebrity ship Summit. The company plans to extend this service to its
29-ship Royal Caribbean and Celebrity fleet within the next year.

Most cruise guests with GSM phones will be able to take advantage of
the new service, making and receiving both voice calls and text
messages as they usually do while roaming on land. Guests with
data-capable GSM/GPRS devices may also be able to access data
services, such as email and picture messaging. In addition, the
companies intend to expand the offering so that customers of CDMA
carriers also can take advantage of the service.

Guests will be billed by their own wireless phone carrier at the
roaming rates set by that carrier. The new shipboard service will
activate when the ship leaves the range of the closest land-based cell
tower. While in port, cell service will revert to the local,
land-based towers.

Earlier this year, AT&T Wireless and MTN announced the formation of
Wireless Maritime Services, a joint venture combining MTN's expertise
in providing satellite services to the cruise industry with AT&T
Wireless' expertise in delivering wireless services to consumer and
business travelers. The joint venture was formed to develop and launch
this innovative communications offering for cruise ships, relying on a
combination of satellite and wireless services. AT&T Wireless was
subsequently acquired by Cingular Wireless, creating the nation's
largest digital voice and data network.

About Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that
operates Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, with a
combined total of 29 ships in service and two under construction. The
company also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Canada and
Europe. Additional information can be found on
http://www.royalcaribbean.com , http://www.celebrity.com , or
http://www.rclinvestor.com .

About Maritime Telecommunications Network

Maritime Telecommunications Network, Inc. (MTN), the leader in
maritime communications, provides broadband solutions for voice, data,
Internet and compressed video services to the cruise and other
offshore industries and to the U.S. Government using state-of-the-art
VSAT technology. MTN's Digital Seas Internet product, the first
Information Technology concession, provides turnkey Internet Cafes and
Wi-Fi Hot Spots to the cruise and offshore industries. MTN is
majority-owned by Falconhead Capital, a private investment firm. More
information on MTN is available at http://www.mtnsat.com .

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United
States, serving more than 46 million customers. Cingular, a joint
venture between SBC Communications (NYSE: SBC - News) and BellSouth
(NYSE: BLS - News), has the largest digital voice and data network in
the nation. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer
Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused
monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at
http://www.cingular.com . Get Cingular Wireless press releases
e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at
http://www.cingular.com/newsroom .

CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In addition to historical information, this press release contains
forward-looking statements regarding matters that may affect our
future operating results, financial position and cash flows. These
statements are based on assumptions and estimates and are subject to
risks and uncertainties. There are possible developments that could
cause our actual results to differ materially from those forecasted or
implied by our forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are
current only as of the date of this press release. We disclaim any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.

While the below list of cautionary statements is not exhaustive, some
factors that could affect future operating results, financial position
and cash flows and could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements a

* the pervasive and intensifying competition in all markets where
we operate;
* failure to quickly realize capital and expense synergies from,
and possible dispositions associated with, the acquisition of AT&T
Wireless as a result of technical, logistical, regulatory, business
and other factors;
* problems associated with the transition of our network to higher
speed technologies;
* slow growth of our data services due to lack of popular
applications, terminal equipment, advanced technology and other
factors;
* sluggish economic and employment conditions in the markets we
serve; - the final outcome of FCC proceedings, including rulemakings,
and

judicial review, if any, of such proceedings;

* enactment and impact of state and federal laws, regulations and
requirements pertaining to our operations; and
* the outcome of pending or threatened complaints and litigation.


 




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