Cruise Apps: What They Do Before, During and After
There are two families of cruise apps: the official app from your cruise line, and independent apps that work across every line. You will almost certainly need the first; the second is optional but useful.
| Stage | Official cruise line app | Independent cruise apps |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Browse and book the line’s cruises (some apps) | Ship and port information, reviews, price alerts |
| After booking | Pre-cruise purchases, dining reservations, online check-in, boarding pass | Countdown, roll calls with fellow passengers |
| On board | Daily schedule, menus, reservations, onboard account, sometimes messaging | Limited at sea without an internet plan |
| In port | Excursion details and all-aboard reminders | Port tips; ship trackers show where ships are |
Independent Cruise Apps Worth Knowing
Shipmate
Published by Cruiseline.com. Its store description lists roll calls for specific sailings, reviews, deck plans, port information, price alerts and a ship tracker, for every cruise line.
CruiseMapper
Describes itself as an impartial information app with itineraries, port schedules, ship details and the current positions of cruise ships.
Ship-tracking apps
General marine-traffic apps show ship positions; families at home use them to follow a sailing.
Deck plans
Most line apps show deck plans; Cruise Ship Deck Plans explains how to read them for a cabin choice.
Independent apps are best for research and community. For anything tied to your booking — check-in, reservations, your onboard account — use the official cruise line app.
A practical tip: download and sign in to the apps at home, on good Wi-Fi, and link your booking before you leave. Updating a large app at the terminal is no fun.
Good Cruise App Habits
- Put the phone in airplane mode at sea and connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi to avoid roaming charges from maritime networks.
- Turn on notifications from the line app so you see schedule changes and all-aboard times.
- Save your boarding documents offline, or print them, in case the terminal is busy.
- Give each person in the cabin their own login if the line allows it, so everyone can make reservations.
Packing the right charger and documents? Cruising Checklist has the lists.
Cruise Apps for the People Back Home
Cruise apps are not only for passengers. Family members at home often install a ship-tracking app to follow the voyage, see when the ship reaches each port and know when it is back alongside on the last morning. Some lines also let guests share a cruise countdown or itinerary with friends from inside the official app.
If you are leaving an emergency contact at home, give them the ship’s name, the cruise line’s name and your booking number. That is far more useful in an emergency than a tracking map.
Permissions and privacy
- Official apps ask for location, camera and notification permissions; grant what you need and switch off the rest after the cruise.
- Apps tied to your onboard account may store payment details. Sign out on shared devices.
- Delete apps you used only once, or turn off their notifications, when you get home.
Cruise Apps FAQ
Do cruise apps work without Wi-Fi at sea?
Several official apps say they work on the ship’s own network without buying an internet package, for schedules, menus and reservations. Check your line’s app description. Independent apps that need the internet will not work at sea without a Wi-Fi plan.
Are cruise apps free?
The official cruise line apps are free to download. Some onboard features, such as messaging between guests on certain lines, carry a fee.
Questions About Your Cruise Line’s App?
Book with our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise and we will help you link your booking and get ready to sail.
Ask a Cruise Advisor