8 Fantastic Apps for Cruise Travelers

I still vividly recall my first cruise thirteen years ago. At nineteen, I embarked on an adventure to Alaska aboard the Dinogo Spirit with a friend and her family. That inaugural journey on the Dinogos ignited my passion for cruising and travel. Back then, I had no knowledge of websites or apps to help prepare for the incredible experience ahead. I simply dove in, had an unforgettable time, and was captivated by the allure of cruising.

Now, after twenty cruises, my enthusiasm for each voyage remains as strong as ever, perhaps even more so thanks to technology and the plethora of handy apps that simplify planning and enhance the overall enjoyment of travel.

Here’s a glimpse into some of the travel and cruising apps I rely on the most.

Planning & Preparation for Your Cruise

PackPoint Packing List (Free) – It’s a guaranteed fact: whenever I forget to create a packing list, I inevitably leave something behind. Just last month, we cruised to Alaska, and my husband, who handles his own packing, forgot all his pants! He insists he packed them, but one thing’s for sure—he won’t make that blunder again.

One of the best features of the PackPoint Packing List is its ability to provide tailored suggestions based on your destination, weather conditions, and duration of stay—so even if you’re uncertain about what to bring, this app will guide you.

Seat Guru (Free) – While not everyone requires a flight for their cruise, those who do will appreciate Seat Guru, a fantastic app that helps kick off your journey by highlighting the best (and the worst) seats on your flights. As soon as I receive my flight confirmation, I check Seat Guru for my assigned seat before making any adjustments. Surprisingly, the most comfortable seats aren’t always the upgraded ones at the front.

Uber (Free) – I don’t know about you, but I’ve had my fair share of wild taxi rides that made me swear off cabs for good. Yet, the price of a private car can be shocking. Uber strikes a great balance, offering a reliable option for transportation to and from the airport and cruise terminal in major cities like Miami, Tampa, Seattle, Boston, NYC, and Charleston. With just a few taps on the app, you can request a ride, and since payment is processed through the app, you never need to worry about cash or tips.

ShipMate (Free) – If you’re anything like me and crave every little detail about your upcoming cruise, there’s an app tailored for you! ShipMate is hailed as the top cruise app for accessing ship information, including deck layouts, itineraries, port specifics, cruising photos, and more. It even features a cruise countdown … are you feeling the excitement for your cruise yet?

On Board & In Port

Tip: To avoid any data or roaming fees while on the ship, switch your phone to airplane mode as soon as you board. Keep Wi-Fi enabled if you plan to purchase minutes for use on the ship or in port.

Instagram (Free) – My favorite app for photo editing and social sharing is Instagram. The best part is that even without Wi-Fi, you can snap photos, write captions, and queue them up for later posting. Once you arrive in port or regain Wi-Fi access, you can share them on your Twitter and Facebook accounts for your friends and family to enjoy back home.

Day One ($4.99) – If you enjoy documenting your travel adventures, Day One offers a beautifully crafted and organized platform for capturing personal reflections, quick notes, or even photos while you're on the move. I appreciate this premium journaling app because it allows you to search through past entries by keyword and gives you the option to keep everything private or share your travel stories whenever you choose.

Oanda Currency Converter (Free) – Generally, exchanging money isn't necessary on cruises with stops in Mexico and the Caribbean, as U.S. dollars are widely accepted. However, I've had multiple instances where U.S. dollars were exchanged for local currency. This app is incredibly useful because it works offline (reverting to the latest exchange rate before data was turned off) and displays the conversion rates clearly, saving you the hassle of mental math.

iStone Travel Translation (Free) – When traveling to Mexico, parts of the Caribbean, Europe, or Quebec, having a translation app handy for greetings, directions, and casual chats is very useful. This app works with or without Wi-Fi and provides voice pronunciation for over 300 travel-related phrases. From my experience, even though English is commonly spoken in many countries, trying to use the local language is always appreciated.

This article was produced as part of my partnership with Dinogo. As always, the views, insights, and ideas expressed in this article are entirely my own.