There’s a lot to think about when going on a cruise. As well as deciding how to make the most of all the amazing features and services onboard your ship and checking out the timetables for excursions, entertainment and activities, there’s also the essential travel information you need to be aware of for each country you visit.
Fortunately, in the age of digitalisation, most cruise lines have put all this information into a convenient app, so you can have everything you need to know right at hand. These apps can also help with booking tables at your favourite onboard restaurant or at the show you can’t wait to see, making things quicker and easier, so you don’t miss out.
Read on to discover what cruise app you need to download and how it can help pre-departure and during your holiday.
NB: Unless otherwise specified, cruise apps are free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. They can be used for free via the ship’s Wi-Fi when onboard, without needing to purchase internet packages.
Royal Caribbean Cruises
The Royal Caribbean International app helps you from check-in right until the end of your cruise. Use it to get onboard faster, scanning your passport and taking your security photo. It also has helpful information on health and safety for your holiday. When onboard, you can use it to view what’s happening each day, add favourites to your personal cruise calendar and jump the queues when booking speciality dining, shows and excursions.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises offers innovative wearable technology via its MedallionClass. This casino chip-sized medallion enables touch-free boarding, location of your travelling party and enhanced personalised service. The MedallionClass app interacts with this wearable device to facilitate faster check-ins, navigation around the ship, ordering food and drink to your location onboard, viewing and booking activities, shows and excursions, and much more.
Celebrity Cruises
The Celebrity Cruises app provides faster check-ins, safety information, a personalised calendar, dinner reservations and excursion bookings. There’s also a friends and family chat option to use with those travelling with you. On some ships, the app has a handy digital key for your stateroom door, and when inside your stateroom, you can use it to control the TV, lighting and room temperature.
P&O Cruises
Last year, P&O Cruises announced their digital pocket planner, My Holiday. It offers many standard cruise app features, both pre-departure and while onboard, such as booking shows and excursions or reserving a table in their onboard restaurants. You can also access your onboard account to check purchases and monitor your onboard spending money, and there’s a virtual GP service for if you feel unwell or need medical advice.
Norwegian Cruise Line
The Cruise Norwegian mobile app allows you to book onboard activities, dining, shore excursions and entertainments even before your holiday starts. Once onboard, you can also access your own account that shows onboard purchases, view daily ship timetables, and message other guests you’re travelling with.
MSC Cruises
On MSC Cruises, their MSC for Me app offers a wide range of features designed to save time and make your cruise holiday easier. As well as the mobile check-in, real-time events and activity information, and messaging facility on the app, MSC for Me also offers a wearable wristband so you can make purchases more easily, book services and even unlock your cabin. Some ships also provide a personalised cocktail service prepared by their robotic bartender and an in-cabin Bluetooth speaker.
Cunard Cruises
Instead of an app, Cunard Cruises offers a digital planner, accessed via its free onboard Wi-Fi. On it, you can do many of the things that the other apps provide, including viewing your onboard account, making dinner reservations, booking shore excursions and joining virtual queues. It also has a virtual GP service, offering medical consultations if needed.
Cruise apps are another example of how cruise lines are using the latest digital technology to improve and personalise your holiday experience. They are evolving all the time, with more features being added to make things quicker, easier and better before and during your holiday.
To find out more about the cruise app you need for your holiday or to book your next cruise, please get in touch with our cruise specialists.
