Cruise Line Apps

Since people of every age rely on their cell phones for all sorts of news, it’s just natural that a cell phone would be the tool of choice for cruise line passengers that are looking for up to the minute information once onboard the ship.   Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have their own smartphone apps to help passengers navigate their floating cities, check menus, and make reservations for dining, on-board entertainment, and spa services as well as review the ports of call. Here’s what’s coming in the near future.

Major cruise lines such as  Norwegian Cruise Line’s next generation app, Cruise Norwegian, offers booking capabilities pre-cruise and eliminates wait time at the pier via mobile e-docs. You can even pull up driving directions as you head to the pier. Friends and family can stay connected on board

using the app, which features unlimited onboard calls and messages for a one-time fee of $9.95. Groups can organize meet ups and share their favorite photos with everyone in their party with group messaging through the app. Those wishing to check-in with loved ones back home can make calls through the Cruise Norwegian app for a nominal fee of $0.79 per minute for outbound calls to nearly every country in the world. I love knowing it will be easy and affordable to contact family when I’m away. Also, before disembarking the ship, guests using the app can track and review their onboard purchases, as well as view helpful disembarkation information including immigration and Easy Walk-off details. This version of the app will be available fleetwide by the end of 2018.

Royal Caribbean Cruises is updating their smartphone app, called Excalibur, with new features that will let guests complete the check-in process before arriving at a ship. Upon arrival, cruisers then will be able to walk right on the vessel without stopping at a desk if they have their phone in a pocket. The app will pair with a facial recognition system at the pier to verify their identity as they head to the gangway. That’s amazing! And how cool is it that passengers can also track their luggage on the app from the time it arrives at the pier until it is delivered to their rooms. Once on board, the app also will serve as a room key. If the passenger is carrying their phone, their room doors will unlock as they approach them. By the end of 2018, Excalibur should be active on half the company’s fleet, and across the company’s entire fleet by the end of 2019.

Isn’t technology wonderful?