Top apps for cruising

Cruising is one of the most exciting ways to see the world. Along with the luxury of always having somewhere comfortable to rest after exploring a new country, the convenience of everything being in one place is an obvious attraction for many travellers. But there are some things you’ll need to work out for yourself, such as how to order a meal in a foreign language or what to pack for the journey. Here, we look at some of our favourite cruising apps ahead of your next voyage: 

Sometimes, it can be a little daunting hopping off a cruise ship in a new city. There will, inevitably, be places you want to see, but you’ll need to work out how to get to them. To help you navigate, Citymapper is a great option. The app will help you to work out how to travel from one place to another and tell you exactly which mode of transport or route to take. Citymapper is available to use in Europe, the US and Canada and Asia and ROW. 

To translate signs or menus quickly and easily, the Google Translate app is essential. All you need to do is hold your camera up to the text you’d like to translate, and Google will translate it for you instantly. 

Part of the charm of being in a foreign country is listening to a new language. And while muddling through ordering your food at a restaurant or asking for directions can be entertaining, sometimes it’s nice to get some help. One of the most useful apps is iTranslate Voice, which allows users to speak into the phone before automatically translating it and playing it back to you in your chosen language. With over 40 languages available, it’s a very handy app to have when cruising around the world. 

Create a digital journal of your travels so you can look back on your holiday with LiveTrekker. The app tracks you as you go, marking the route using a red line. For many adventurers, it can be fun to see exactly which route you’ve taken on your travels. As well as simply tracking your journey, you can add photos, videos, audio and text along the way, so you have an interactive map of your holiday. 

One of the best parts of taking a cruise is that everything is ready for you onboard. There’s no stress of lugging your bags around or constantly checking in and out of hotels. But one unavoidable task is packing. If you find that no matter how frugally you pack your suitcase, it’s still overflowing, PackPoint Packing might be the app for you. It offers personalised packing suggestions based on your answers to a few easy questions, such as when and where you’re travelling and which activities you might take part in. 

While no one wants choppy seas on their cruise holiday, as we all know, the weather can be incredibly unpredictable. If you’re concerned about seasickness, this app may be helpful. Motion sickness is a condition that sees an unbalance between the visually perceived moment and the vestibular system’s sense of movement. This unique app works by providing a visual guide to movements. Position and secure your iOS device in front of you (like a virtual window) and focus on the balancing line. 

When you arrive in a new country or city, it’s helpful to know where is good to eat and which attractions are worth dedicating some time to. Millions of TripAdvisor users share their thoughts on restaurants and attractions worldwide, so you can plan your itinerary and visit the very best in the port. You can also download maps and check out free walking tours to get a better insight into the town or city. 

Once you have all the preparations out of the way for your holiday you can sit back, relax and explore the world at your leisure. To help you get this part done, TripIt is an extremely useful app. TripIt creates a hub for your cruise itineraries, flight details, hotel bookings, transfer reservations and more. You can even use it to set check-in reminders and other alerts. 

We rely on our smartphones so much these days that it’s a bit of a pain to be without Wi-Fi while you’re out and about. Wi-Fi Finder helps you to find a free or paid internet connection whether you’re online or offline. Search for Wi-Fi hotspots around you in a new town or city, view the exact details and get directions, all from your phone. 

With exchange rates always fluctuating, it’s difficult to keep track of how much you’re actually spending on holiday. That’s where XE Currency comes in. This useful app allows you to calculate currencies on the go all over the world. Use it to check up-to-date exchange rates and calculate prices on your phone.