I remember when I took my very first cruise, thirteen years ago. I was nineteen and traveling with a friend and her family to Alaska on the Carnival Spirit. It was that first cruise on Carnival Cruise Lines that got me hooked on cruising and traveling in general. Back then, I wasn’t aware of any websites, and there certainly were no apps, to prepare myself for the awesome experience I had ahead. I just jumped in, had an amazing time, and was bitten by the cruise bug.
Twenty or so cruises later, I’m still excited about each and every sailing as if it was my first. Though, that excitement may even be more enhanced today because of technology and the many, many useful apps that make planning and getting away so much easier and fun.
Here’s a look at some of my most used apps for general travel and cruising.
Pre-Cruise & Planning
PackPoint Packing List (Free) – It never fails, whenever I neglect to make a packing list, I always leave something behind. Just last month we took a cruise to Alaska and my husband, who does all of his own packing, forgot all of his pants! He still swears that he put them in the suitcase, but you can be sure he’ll never make that mistake again.
Another great thing about PackPoint Packing List is that it makes suggestions for you based on your destination, weather and length of stay – so even when you’re unsure of what to pack, this app has your back.
Seat Guru (Free) – Not everyone needs to fly in for a cruise, but for those who do, there’s an awesome little app called Seat Guru that can help you start your trip off right by showing you which seats are the best, and perhaps more importantly, the worst, on each flight. The moment I have my confirmation number for my flights, I use Seat Guru to check on my assigned seat before I make any changes. Surprisingly, it’s not always the upgraded seats near the front that are the most comfortable.
Uber (Free) – I don’t know about you, but I’ve had my share of crazy cab rides that have made me vow to never ride in one again. But then I gasp at the price of a private car. Uber is a great balance between the two that can be used to and from the airport and the cruise terminal in major cities, including Miami, Tampa, Seattle, Boston, NYC, and Charleston. The Uber app allows you hail a ride with just a few taps, and since the system is credit card based through the app, you never have to worry about having cash or tips.
ShipMate (Free) – If you’re like me and want to know every little detail about your upcoming cruise, there’s an app for that! ShipMate has been voted the #1 cruise app for ship info, including deck plans, itineraries, port details, cruising photos and more. There’s even a cruise countdown … are you excited about your cruise yet?
On Board & In Port
Tip: To ensure you won’t incur any data or roaming charges while onboard the ship, turn your phone on airplane mode as soon as soon as you embark. Leave Wi-Fi on if you want to purchase minutes on the ship or for use in port.
Instagram (Free) – My absolute favorite photo, editing and social sharing app is Instagram. The great thing about this app is that even when you don’t have access to Wi-Fi, you can still take photos, add captions and then add them to a queue for later. Then, when you get into port, or have access to Wi-Fi, you can publish to your Twitter and Facebook channels for friends and family to see back home.
Day One ($4.99) – If you’re into journaling your travel experiences, Day One is beautifully designed and organized for recording personal thoughts, quick notes or even photos while on the go. I like this paid journal app because you have the ability to search past updates by keyword and can choose to keep everything private or publish and share travel entries when desired.
Oanda Currency Converter (Free) – For the most part, it’s not necessary to exchange money on cruises with port days in Mexico and the Caribbean because U.S. dollars are widely accepted. However, I have had many experiences where U.S. dollars have been rendered and the local currency has been returned. The Oanda app is great because it can be used without Wi-Fi (will revert to the most recent exchange rate before data was disabled) and clearly displays the conversion, so you don’t have to figure the exchange in your head.
iStone Travel Translation (Free) – When cruising to Mexico, some part of the Caribbean, Europe, or Quebec, it’s handy to have a translation app for greetings, directions and casual conversation. This app can be used with or without Wi-Fi and offers voice pronunciation for more than 300 phrases for travel. My experience has taught me that even though English is often spoken in many other countries, it’s always appreciated when you at least attempt the local language.
What are your favorite travel apps?
Other Cruise Posts You Might Like:
- 10 Food and Beverage Tips for Your Carnival Cruise
- 10 Things I Wish I'd known as a Cruise Rookie
- Cruise Food That Will Change Your Life
- Top 10 Favorite Cruise Beverages
- Amazing Places You Can Visit By Cruise Ship
- Five Reasons to Take Your Family on a Mediterranean Cruise
- Top 5 Favorite Cruising Moments
- (Not So) Hidden Gems on Carnival Freedom
- The Best of Juneau, Alaska
This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.
Shop with Me Mama (Kim)
Wow, they really do have an app for everything now a days!!! Love the pictures from your cruise!
Crystal
Those are some great recommendations. I love cruising and can't wait to do it again. I will definitely be using ShipMate, especially for the countdown part to build excitement.
Melissa
Gah, I love all of your pics. Great tips!
Kimberly Grabinski
This is a great list, I have been on 1 cruise and plan on doing many more so I will keep these in mind. Your pictures are amazing and I am cracking up that your husband forgot to pack pants LOL
Nolie
Going to check out the packing app. That is the one spot I could really use a lot of help when it comes to travelling.
melinda
this last cruise I didn't even carry my ohone with me. I wanted to be unplugged as much as possible so I left it in the sage. I wish I had thought more about using it for apps and photos
Liz Mays
I like TripIt because it keeps the disorganized me organized! I need the help!
Jen
Make sure to check out Carnival's HUB app. You can use it to text your traveling companions (i.e. kids) while on the ship. I love love TripCase! On my last two trips with air travel it saved my butt with gate changes. It would notify me before the airline did.
Chelle @ Oh Just Stop Already
I haven't been on a cruise but my favorite travel app is a gas one my husband has on his phone. Makes it easier to plan when to stop so we don't get stuck in the middle of the mountains with no gas and hungry kiddos.
Emily
This is great! I never would have thought to look for cruising apps!
Lisa
I love Uber!!
Valerie Remy-Milora
We have not been on a cruise but do travel a lot since my parents live in the south of France. I've never used travel apps but there are some interesting ones on this list. We use UBER a LOT since we live in LA and well... everything is far away.
Rob
This post and ESPECIALLY the first picture is exactly what is wrong with America. In the photo above there is amazing scenery all are. Majestic mountains and wildlife galore; and what is your husband doing? Ignoring everything and playing on a smartphone. When I cruise or go on vacation I keep the cell phone locked in my safe. Sure I pull it out once or twice on the trip to check in at home or send a social media update, but to suggest that being glued to a smartphone for the duration of a trip will make it better it ludicrous. Instead, it will simply make one miss out and that which could be. Boo to this article! Put down the damn cell phone and enjoy the time with your family instead.
Stefanie Fauquet
Hi Rob— I assure you he was looking at his phone to get to his camera app. We took 1,000's of photos on this cruise, most with our phones. It was an amazing experience and we didn't miss a moment of it. One of our best vacations ever! 🙂
WestSeaDoc
All of you who post near contemporaneous pictures on instagram are advertising to the world that you are having a GREAT time but aren't anywhere near your home. Stalker apps can determine who you are and where you live and then head over to your flat to rob you at leisure. What is so special about your travels that it simply cannot wait to get home to regale and bore your friends about your trip?
Other than contact with a few trusted individuals, I"d never post anything that would let others know I am highly vulnerable to robbery... and only them so that they know where I am in case of an emergency. We are overly addicted to our little dopamine stimulating gadgets.
Dee Coffeen
Just returned from a cruise around the world. Used my IPhone for pictures and videos and they are fabulous! Will always travel with i phone and leave all that expensive, bulky camera equipment at home. We were also able to use the i phone to check our house (Nest), monitoring the in-house temperature and security. The I phone also contained all our medical info. Would not leave home without it!
olgarina molina
I smiled at your "forgot to pack my husband pants comment"..I did the same with my son..I forgot to pack his underwear on a 10 day Greek Island Cruise..that started in Rome...had to rushed out of the hotel to buy some b4 catching train to Civitavecchia...never again..doing list...now getting app....Thanx!
Susan
Always pack feminine items whether you think you will need them or not. Your body has a mind of its own sometimes. They are quite expensive on the ships.
nanci
love the Shipmate app
Lisa Deutsch Harrigan
TripIt. I organized a two long drives - 2 months San Jose to Florida and back and a month drive from San Jose to Boston and back trip using it. What is nice is it saves the old trips, which helps with the memories. Especially since I am lousy at journaling.
Gas Buddy is what everyone wants when driving. They give you the cheapest prices.
Evernote - When I do have time to journal I post to Evernote, I also store everything in there, including pdfs of tickets.
TripIt and Evernote work on all platforms, which is nice because I can use it on my phone, my tablet, my laptop, and my desktop at home. And PackPoint syncs to both TripIt and Evernote for a fee.
There are never enough travel apps. 😉
Vicky
I love this article! Great tips.. dont let the negative comments bother you. Most people take photos with their cell phones. Our phones take great photos! Disney cruise line has an app that is very helpful. I will be using it in 20 days!! So excited!
CoriC
Cruise Trip Planning is also very helpful especially for the countdown on things to do!
Michelle
Great ideas!! I've used shipmate and it was so helpful!! People who are complaining, why in the world did you read this article?? Apps can help you save time and enjoy more of your vacation if used wisely!! Go ahead and spend your time searching for things for hours or missing out on great scenery or excursions but I want to make the most of my time and enjoy my cruise to the fullest. Thank you apps and thank you, Stefanie!
Richard Svoboda
Viber is my fav app. It lets me call, text and send pics to friends and family. You must have access to wifi which is free at most bars and restaurants. You and your friends and family must sign up before the trip but it is free.
Sharon
Thank you for sharing this. Very helpful.