As the world continues to evolve and smart technology continues to take over, many cruise lines have introduced handy mobile applications to ensure smooth sailing. Want to make a dining reservation? Chat to your cruising companion? Check the weather? There’s an app for that! Here’s our line-by-line guide to cruise applications:
Which cruise lines have mobile apps?
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises App
The Celebrity Cruises App allows you to “maximise your vacation with pre-cruise planning, effortless check-in, daily activity schedules and much, much more.” Recent changes to the app as a result of COVID-19 mean travelling aboard a Celebrity cruise is easier than ever - check in with the app, generate a mobile boarding pass and qualify for expedited boarding, watch the mandatory muster video via the app and utilise keyless stateroom entry.
Features:
- Complimentary in-app chat
- In-app calendar
- Keyless entry
- Expenses tracker
Download on the App Store.
Get it on Google Play.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines App
Enhance your Fred. Olsen experience with the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines app. Prior to your cruise you can use the app to countdown to your upcoming voyage and complete your Guest Information Form with ease, ready for your departure. Once aboard, you can quickly and easily access your Cabin Account as well as information on daily activities, extensive destination guides and much more.
Features:
- Cruise countdown
- Itinerary checker
- Entertainment schedule
- Cabin Account tracker
Download on the App Store.
Get it on Google Play.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line Navigator
The Holland America Line Navigator app allows you to “personalise your cruise experience once you’re on the ship, plan your daily activities, browse and purchase shore excursions, view restaurant menus, make dining reservations, check your account balance and more.”
Features:
- Digital boarding pass
- In-app chat
- Shore excursions booker
- Dining menus
Download on the App Store.
Get it on Google Play.
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten App
Available to those sailing on MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, the Hurtigruten app is your digital travel companion. “Everything you need to know about your cruise, including your bookings, daily programme, restaurants and services on board and essential information about available excursions is at hand at any time.”
Features:
- Daily programme
- Shore excursion information
- Tips and tricks
- Dining menus
Download on the App Store.
Get it on Google Play.
MSC Cruises
MSC for Me
“The MSC for Me app is the first-ever mobile application I have used at sea. So by default, it’s my favourite,” Lois from No Cruise Control. “MSC for Me is such an easy app to navigate, prior to embarkation, you can book the usual selecting dining options, pre-pay drinks packages, internet packages and fun passes. Mobile check-in is possible on the app, which really expedites embarkation and disembarkation.
“Once aboard your MSC ship, the app will work without the need to buy an internet package (which incidentally you can buy beforehand on the MSC for Me app!) The app can then be used to view menus, a map of the ship, to check daily events and opening times for different venues. During social distancing times, we were even able to book seats in the theatre on the app!” Select dining venues can be booked easily, then you can even instant message members of your party on the app!
“Do not fear if you’d rather leave your mobile in the safe and completely switch off from electronics, you can still use the app on an MSC access point dotted around the ship.”
Features:
- Mobile check-in
- In-app chat
- Interactive ship app
- Instant information
Download on the App Store.
Get it on Google Play.
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises My Holiday App
The new P&O Cruises My Holiday app is your very own pocket planner. “You can access it for free once you’re on board via your own device and you’ll have the power to personalise your experience from the comfort of your cabin, sun lounger, wherever! Before you sail, you can pre-book experiences with My P&O Cruises but once on board, My Holiday allows you to customise it in real-time. Want to manage your bookings? Make a dining reservation? View your on board account summary? It’s never been easier!”
Features:
- On board account summary
- Virtual queue
- Dining reservation
- GP service, SeaConsult
Download on the App Store.
Get it on Google Play.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises’ MedallionClass App
“Princess Cruises are an award-winning cruise line, having won to date over 50 awards including best overall cruise experience, to their stunning ships, food, entertainment and other areas, “ Marcus from Sparkx told us. “One area that deserves recognition has to be their work on providing a seamless guest experience and this is down to the handy Ocean Medallion technology fitted across their whole fleet.
“Put simply, instead of having a cruise card on board, you have a ten-pence piece, or medallion, which can be put in your pocket or be worn in a variety of ways. The medallion replaces the room key entirely and also acts as your identity on board using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi interactivity, alongside a clever phone-based app. It stores all your preferences, so staff are able to be more personable and tailor suggestions based on your likes and dislikes, or for instance, any allergies. You can also use it to pay for items on board, play games and excitingly it allows a quick, seamless and paperwork free embarkation process.
“That’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Ocean Medallion continually interacts with the ship, so for instance, as you walk up to your cabin door, it opens it for you like magic. It’s honestly so useful, especially when you have your hands full. And if you are somewhere on the ship and fancy a drink or bite to eat, don’t worry. Just open up the Ocean App and order pretty much what you want and it will be delivered to your exact location, even if you’ve moved elsewhere.” Read Marcus’ hands-on review on board Crown Princess here.
“The best cruise line app has got to be the Princess Cruises MedallionClass App,” Jenni from Cruise Mummy explained. “It can do so much more than any other cruise line app! My favourite feature of the app is OceanNow - the incredible new technology that lets you request drinks, snacks, towels and even suncream to be delivered right to you. The OceanMedallion wearer device allows the crew to locate you, so even if you move seats, they’ll find you. It’s so clever!
“Even if you don’t have a Princess cruise booked, I’d suggest getting the MedallionClass app and take a look at the OceanView section. It has some wonderful ocean-themed movies that you can watch at home for free.”
Features:
- Contactless boarding
- TrulyTouchless™ payment
- Keyless stateroom entry
- Family-friendly games
Download on the App Store.
Get it on Google Play.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal App
Jenni also recommends the Royal Caribbean app, which she loves, “The app has some really handy deck plans. Royal Caribbean make it so easy for you to navigate even the largest of mega-ships.
“Let’s say that you want something to eat but don’t know which venues are open. Or you want to see what activities are on. The app brings up a list and when you tap the one you fancy, it will show you opening times for each day of your cruise and also how to get there. So, if your kids want to ride the carousel, for example, you can use the app to know that today it opens at 5 pm until 10 pm but tomorrow it will be open all day.
“One thing that I love about many of the apps is that they let you message other guests on the ship for free, so you won’t need to pay for Wi-Fi to send text messages or rely on post-it notes left in the cabin.”
Features:
- In-app check-in
- Make reservations
- Daily planner
- Cruise Calendar
Download on the App Store.
Get it on Google Play.
Seabourn
Seabourn Source App
Seabourn Source “offers guests intuitive, up-to-the-minute access to daily details of their voyage directly on their smartphone, tablet or laptop.” Users can tap Seabourn Source to instantly review daily activity and entertainment schedules, peruse menus and meal times for all on board dining venues, track port times, including arrivals and departures, learn about on board spa treatments and wellness classes, browse and book shore excursions, connect to paid satellite internet and stay on top of ship board account records.
Features:
- Book shore excursions
- Digital boarding pass
- Dining menus
- Itinerary tracker
Download on the App Store.
Get it on Google Play.
