Ally

Passengers on P&O Cruises ships will no longer have to pay premium satellite call charges at sea.

The line is introducing the Global Systems Mobile (GSM) network across four ships in its fleet, cutting the cost of international mobile phone calls.

The network is being activated on board Arcadia, Aurora and Oriana this month following a trial on Oceana.

Calls will cost £1.40 per minute and 50p per text depending on individual network provider rates. The GSM network will be switched off in ports and mobiles will pick up the local network provider.

The GSM network will be available in all cabin and various public spaces but not in restaurants and some deck areas. Multimedia functions will allow video clips and picture messages to be sent while at sea.

Head of brand marketing Philip Price said: "Mobile phones are now a way of life, so this initiative has been very well received by our passengers. They see it as the ideal way to stay in touch with family and friends.

"Cruising is very sociable and our passengers love being able to talk to people they are travelling with or to new friends made whilst on board. Our ships are pretty big so this technology will make life on board even easier for our passengers."

Report by Phil Davies


(TravelMole)