INTERNET CAFES AND WI-FI HOTSPOTS NOW STANDARD ON MOST CRUISE SHIPS, KEEPING WEB-ADDICTED GUESTS CONNECTED

DES MOINES, Iowa, July 20, 2006 - A couple of years ago, only a handful of cruise lines equipped their ships with dedicated Internet cafes and Wi-Fi "hotspots" for wireless connections to the Web. Since then, guest demand for 24/7 connectivity at sea has surged even higher and now virtually every major cruise line offers travelers convenient ways to stay connected with the outside world.
"Not long ago, Internet access on a cruise ship was the exception, rather than the norm, but that's now reversed," said Bob Levinstein, CEO of CruiseCompete.com, the world's only competitive cruise pricing Web site. "Our customers are asking which ships are equipped with Internet and wireless access. I guess it's becoming harder for people to simply relax and cut themselves off from the mainland while on a vacation.
"The cruise lines have responded by integrating new communications technologies into their ships, including Wi-Fi hotspots that provide access in a variety of public areas and, in some cases, in the comfort of staterooms."

The following provides a summary of Internet connectivity available on many of the world's most popular cruise lines:

Carnival Cruise Lines
The entire Carnival fleet offers wireless Internet access in designated areas near its Internet cafes, which are open 24/7 and feature the latest flat-panel monitors. The Carnival Valor and Liberty are the only ships in the industry that provide wireless connectivity from bow to stern, including cabins.

Celebrity Cruises
Cyber cafes aboard Celebrity ships provide Internet access and shipboard e-mail services 24 hours a day. In addition, for guests with their own laptop computers, Internet access is available in each stateroom on the Milenium, Infinity, Summit and Constellation. Some ships feature Wi-Fi hotspots.

Crystal Cruises
In addition to 24/7 Internet cafes, Crystal Cruises feature a Computer University @ Sea program with computer labs and 30 courses. Wi-Fi hotspots are available in Crystal Serenity penthouse suites and fleetwide wireless access, laptop rentals and cell phone service will be available by the end of this year.

Cunard Line
The Queen Mary 2 offers 30 computer workstations connected to the Internet, situated between the Computer Leaning Center and the ship's library. There also are a total of 13 Wi-Fi hotspots around the cruise liner.

Disney Cruise Line
Cruisers with wireless laptop computers will find new Wi-Fi hotspots in most public areas on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. Internet cares are available to those guests without laptops.
Holland America Line
Guests on all ships are invited to visit the Explorations Café 24/7 for high-speed Internet access, plus there are various Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the public area for wireless connectivity. In addition, shipboard e-mail accounts can be set up.

MSC Cruises
Public areas on the MSC Opera and MSC Lirica feature Wi-Fi hotspots and both ships also feature Internet cafes. Dedicated Internet cafes also are found on the MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, and MSC Musica. Balcony suites have Internet access on several of the ships.

Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian ships feature Wi-Fi access in most public areas and in select stateroom categories. Guests can also use Internet centers found on all ships. In addition, guests are provided with a personal e-mail address with their cruise documents

Princess Cruises
All Princess ships have Internet cafes and Wi-Fi networks. Travelers with wireless-enabled laptop computers can access the Internet from the Purser's Lobby/Atrium and surrounding lounges and bars.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Workstations located on Regent ships offer e-mail and Internet services for a nominal fee, 24 hours a day. Computer instruction is available during select hours for guest queries and assistance. In addition, all vessels have Wi-Fi spots located in various spots on the ship.

Royal Caribbean International
The cruise line's "Cybercabin" service allows guests to use their personal laptop computers to connect with the Internet from their staterooms. Ships also feature a number of Wi-Fi hotspots and computer workstations that provide 24/7 access to the Internet. Persons can check email and send e-postcards with personalized photos.

Seabourn Cruise Line
Most public areas on Seabourn yachts are Wi-Fi hotspots and all suites have wireless Internet access. All three ships also feature computer centers.

Silversea Cruises
All four Silversea luxury ships have Wi-Fi access in designated public areas for guests with their own personal laptop computers. Its shipboard Internet centers have state-of-the-art workstations with 17-in flat-screen monitors.

Windstar Cruises
Wi-Fi Internet access is available in all public areas and cabins aboard the three Windstar chips. Ipod Nanos are available for complimentary use and laptops can be rented. The Wind Surf has an Internet center with multiple workstations to peruse the Internet.

CruiseCompete.com saves consumers time by finding the agent with the best deal for them. Consumers secure quotes for cruise deals from multiple travel agencies without having to contact each one separately. To date, more than 275,000 customers have accessed CruiseCompete.com to request cruise quotes from more than 200 member travel agencies around the country. Agents have provided more than one million quotes to consumers. CruiseCompete, LLC, is an independent company not owned by or affiliated with any travel agency. For more information, visit www.cruisecompete.com.

As reported on CNN.com:

"Using a cruise broker is the most cost-effective way to book a cabin. Rather than shopping around, go to CruiseCompete.com and enter your dates; several brokers will send you their best offers."