Carnival Cruise Lines, in a joint venture with Wireless Maritime Services, will outfit its fleet of 22 ships with technology that will enable guests with any cell phone service to make or receive calls as they normally do on land, no matter how far out to sea they are. The Carnival Triumph already has the service installed, and Carnival´s remaining 21 vessels will be fitted with the technology by the first quarter of 2007.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) will become one organization with the CLIA name, based in Miami, and headed by current CLIA president Terry Dale. The announcement was made today by Richard Fain, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, and Andy Stuart, executive vice president of marketing, sales and passenger services for Norwegian Cruise Line, in a conference call. Fain and Stuart hold the chairman positions for the ICCL and CLIA, respectively.

Amadeus has announced an agreement with MSC Cruises, the largest independent Italian cruise line, to distribute its product via the Amadeus system. MSC Cruises has offices in the major Italian cities of Naples, Milan, Venice, Genoa, Rome and Palermo, plus a further 26 MSC Cruises offices worldwide.

Carnival Corporation reported second-quarter results this week, posting net income of $380 million on revenues of $2.66 billion. That compares with $388 million on $2.52 billion during the same quarter a year ago. Yields increased 1.5 percent compared to the same quarter in the prior year. Mickie Arinson, Carnival Corp.´s chairman and CEO, said the second-quarter results were in line with expectations, and the company´s North American and European cruise brand yields were strong, despite price pressure on Caribbean sailings.

The Crown Princess, the newest ship in Princess Cruises´ fleet, arrived in New York June 8 to begin its inaugural schedule. After a two-day “cruise to nowhere” on June 11, the ship returned to New York for a festive send-off June 14. Festivities started with Martha Stewart, the ship´s godmother, christening the ship during its naming ceremony, after which American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee performed the national anthem.

With 160,000 gross tons and hosting 3,634 guests double occupancy, the Freedom of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, and its first-ever call to Montego Bay brought on a world-class celebration. A command performance by Grammy Award winner Shaggy, as well as complimentary Jablum Blue Mountain Coffee and Appleton Rum, were some of the treats served up to passenger dockside.