Crystal ramping up media service

Passengers on Crystal Cruises have access to more than 370 full format newspapers from 65 countries the same day they are printed using a satellite communications service from a company called Newspaper Direct.

Seventy-four of the newspapers will be from cities in the United States and 40 will be from the United Kingdom. They were made available in March on the Crystal Serenity on its world cruise and will be available later in the year on the Crystal Symphony.

“Guests can access news through the Internet, but some travelers savor sitting on deck with a newspaper,” says Thomas Mazloum, Crystal Cruises’ senior vice president.

Passengers pay US$6.50 for each paper. Many of the papers are offered daily, but some are offered only on selected days.