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HomeNewsArchivesGet Your GPS On: Local Company Guides Passengers Off Cruise Ships

Get Your GPS On: Local Company Guides Passengers Off Cruise Ships

March 12, 2007 — Cruise-ship passengers now have a GPS system to guide them onshore, thanks to the efforts of a St. Croix company.
Princess Cruises and Calabash Technologies have partnered to provide the Calabash World Explorer, an innovative, hand-held GPS travel guide that passengers can choose as a self-guided shore excursion, according to a Calabash news release.
"The Calabash World Explorer combines the functionality of a hand-held GPS, audio tour guide, MP3 player, photo viewer, encyclopedia of local information, detailed atlas and local shopping directory," the news release said. "Passengers can now visit a destination without carrying numerous travel books, brochures, or maps and experience a destination in a manner usually reserved for locals. The GPS adds a measure of safety to passengers while onshore and includes simple maps with an arrow leading to any destination on the island."
All information is presented in a simple and easy-to-use manner and does not require users to have any previous experience with GPS devices. Users are able to press large, on-screen buttons to access "unlimited possibilities" while onshore, the release said.
"We are excited to bring the Calabash World Explorer excursion to the wide array of options that Princess offers its passengers," said Joseph K. Croney, President of Calabash Technologies. "Our technology gives passengers the freedom to explore based on their lifestyle interests while in port, and offers them the opportunity to experience a destination in a more meaningful way. This allows passengers to experience a destination at their own pace and as deeply as they wish."
A Princess official praised the GPS devices.
"This is a truly an innovative way for our passengers to explore all that St. Thomas has to offer, and we're delighted to be the first cruise line to provide this unique technology to enhance our passengers' onshore experience," said Graham Davis, Princess' manager of shore operations for the Caribbean.
Based on St. Croix, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Calabash Technologies is focused on building technology solutions for the travel industry. Its founder, Joseph K. Croney, a former Microsoft program manager who led product teams in the MSN, Mobility and Developer divisions, founded Calabash Technologies in 2003. Every member of the Calabash team is passionate about using technology to highlight the unique culture every travel destination has to offer.
The Calabash World Explorer is available as an onshore excursion entitled "St. Thomas-St. John on Your Own with GPS" through Princess Cruises. For more information about Calabash Technologies, visit its website.
Additional information about Princess is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS or by visiting the company's website.

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