Roundup of Cruise Apps

The cruise sector has a fair sampling of apps to please owners of iPhones, iPads, iTouch, and Android devices. All of the products I have reviewed were for Apple products. I have written two apps so far that are available on iTunes, so I have first-hand knowledge about the process and I can find commendable features in all the products that I reviewed.

If you have any suggestions about apps I should try, let me know.

Cruise Travel Apps

Some of my favorite apps don’t sell cruises, they represent a way to interact with the brand. A good example is:  Crystal Cruises “The Storyteller” app

Besides my own photo showcase apps, I am a big fan of Crystal Cruises new photo app that allows users to take a photo and upload it to the Crystal Cruises Facebook page.

The concept is that cruise passengers sailing on a Crystal cruise will use the app to share photos depicting their Crystal Cruises story. When the iPhone is connected to wifi, photos can be forwarded to the photographers Facebook timeline, the Crystal Cruises’ Facebook fan page or even to a friend via a printed postcard. A video with step-by-step app instructions can be viewed on Crystal’s website and Facebook page.  The application is compatible with 3GS, 4, and 4S iPhones and newer iTouch devices. Read my review of Crystal’s app.

Cruise Review Apps by CruiseBuzz

Photo showcase review apps by CruiseBuzz

The concept behind the Cruise Review series of apps is to create a photo tour of cruise lines in their element. Most of the apps are free and they are written by your friends here at CruiseBuzz.

 

Ship Mate

With a growing list of 11 cruise apps and counting, these apps offer deck, itinerary and offshore excursions for Carnival, Celebrity, Costa Cruises, Holland America, MSC, Princess, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean.  Available for both Apple and Android markets.  The cost is $1.99.

 

Rounding out the list

Cruise Cam charges less than $2.00 to access an app that links to webcams installed on nearly 100 ships of a dozen different cruise lines. There is also the ability to look at the webcams from over 150 ports  from around the world.

Cruise Finder, by iCruise is a free app with a summary of itineraries for every major cruise line including deck plans, and a search function for cruise deals.

Cruise Radio Live is app from Mac Y Marketing featuring content from Cruise Radio. The app connects users to cruise information, which includes access to the weekly Cruise Radio shows.

Celebrity Xplorer,  by Celebrity Cruises, Inc. This app is free and displays information about the ships, itineraries, onboard amenities, and stateroom diagrams.

Norwegian iConcierge app provides access to information about shore excursions, restaurant information with menus, onboard review of shipboard account,  general information about onboard services, and  daily activities highlights. Currently this app is for cruise passengers booked on Norwegian Epic.

 

Royal Caribbean International the official app from Royal Caribbean International is like a mobile version of their cruise brochures. Users can  search for cruises, get details about destinations and access special offers.

SeaDream has come out with an app that Luxury cruise line,  SeaDream Yacht Club offers information about there two ships. Available for both Apple devices in iTunes or for download onto Android.

Viator is worth a free download to access ideas about what to do in ports. The Viator app has a comprehensive list of tours in more than 150 countries worldwide. Now that the Viator website is selling shore excursions, I predict that we will see them listed on the app shortly.