There's an entirely different language at sea that you may know nothing about.

Just like pilots, cruise lines have a robust list of code words and abbreviations to communicate and eliminate misunderstandings. For example, you may hear "Alpha," "Bravo," "Oscar," or "Echo" while on board. 

You shouldn't immediately rush to your muster station and frantically throw on a life jacket. Instead, these terms help to relay important information to crew members, such as man overboard incidents and medical emergencies. 

For example, "Alpha" is a popular code word to indicate a medical emergency. Typically, the word is repeated, then followed by a specific location, such as Deck 11, Portside, Aft. This lets the appropriate crew members know where to respond without causing unnecessary panic among passengers. 

"The codes are used when notifying crew from various departments who are needed quickly. It is quicker and causes less concern among the passengers. If the passengers need to be notified, there will be a plain language announcement," says Don Goldstein, a retired Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Other codes serve different purposes. "Bravo," for instance, is used by Royal Caribbean to signal a fire or other serious emergency, while "Oscar" indicates an active man overboard situation.

Not all cruise lines have the same code words, either. For example, rather than using "Oscar" to signal a possible man overboard situation, Disney Cruise Line uses "Mr. M.O.B." 

Similarly, they use "Operation Brightstar" to tell the crew about medical emergencies, and "Red Party" to disclose the location of an onboard fire. Funny enough, "Winnie" is used when someone has an accident in the pool!

Goldstein adds that other common code words used aboard cruise ships include "Kilo, Kilo, Kilo," which requests all crew to report to their emergency stations. 

"Zulu, Zulu, Zulu" (or "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie") is another commonly used code word that indicates a security threat or possible fight or disturbance on the vessel. 

So, what should you do the next time you hear a secret code word on a cruise ship? Stay out of the way. Although you may know what's going on, you don't want to get in the way of crew members performing important — and sometimes lifesaving — duties. 

In many cases, crew members may restrict access to certain areas to limit foot traffic and prevent possible interference during urgent situations. 

For example, multiple cruisers reported that Deck 7 and Deck 8 were closed during a man overboard incident on Norwegian Getaway. 

"If passengers hear a code call, they should stay away from the area mentioned in the call unless part of the call is directed at passengers or guests. For instance, if guests hear 'Alpha, Alpha, Alpha, Deck 7, starboard side stairwell 3,' they should stay away from the forward starboard stairwell on Deck 7," Goldstein explains. 

"If any action by passengers is desired or required, the announcement will specifically say so."

Read more: Cruise worker reveals the secret emergency codes you never want to hear on a ship

Despite their nearly two-decade reign as the builders of the world's largest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean doesn't think the future of cruising is based solely on going bigger and bolder. 

That might seem hard to believe with ships like Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas — not to mention the cruise line's recent order for sixth and seventh Icon Class vessels — but the key to building lasting loyalty goes far beyond sheer size. 

Today's cruisers are drawn to brands they not only trust, but also ones that make their vacation experience better before even setting foot on board. 

Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, acknowledged this during the company's Q1 earnings call on April 30, 2026, stating that technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have shaped the way they operate — and how guests experience their vacations.

"Disruptive technology and AI have been embedded in our business for years, particularly in the areas that require complex, real-time decision making at scale," Liberty explained. 

"As these technologies advance rapidly, we are continually discovering new ways to accelerate their integration throughout our ecosystem, making it easier for us to deliver amazing experiences and for guests to keep vacationing with us across our digital booking channels."

For starters, they've noticed that guest engagement has undergone a fundamental shift since 2019, highlighting a growing preference for digital interactions. 

Liberty continued, "Digital penetration of bookings has more than doubled [since 2019], with most of that growth coming through our app. Monthly active users for the app are five times higher than 2019 levels, with adoption over 90% confirming mobile as a way guests increasingly plan and manage their vacation."

More than half of the company's onboard revenue is booked before embarkation day, with the vast majority of pre-cruise purchases made digitally. 

As such, guests are engaging earlier, planning more intentionally, and personalizing their vacations in ways that weren't possible years ago. 

"Our focus is on a unified intelligence layer that delivers seamless, relevant experiences and supports meaningful enhancements throughout the vacation journey, from dreaming and booking to onboard experiences and service to post-cruise engagement. What differentiates us in this space is not access to tools, but the combination of a deep understanding of our guests," said Liberty. 

They don't plan on scaling back, either

According to Liberty, the way they're using AI is highly intentional, ensuring that they can measure performance and react to guest feedback. 

As an example, the cruise line's yield management models are AI-based. In other words, the programs study close-in demand, how it's marketed, and how the company prices it. 

Not only that, but through predictive modeling, Royal Caribbean has been able to reduce food waste by around 50% and even forecast demand, Fortune reported. They can, for instance, predict how many hamburgers should be cooked every 15 minutes. 

They also believe that AI makes the cruise planning process seamless and more personal to reduce friction, improve the experience, and present relevant options of value to the guests. 

On a similar note, AI isn't meant to replace the hard work that employees invest in shaping the guest experience. When used correctly, it is a tool that can make their workplace experience better and provide even more value — both for employees and consumers.

"We are in the early innings [of AI], and as we develop the capabilities further, it reinforces a flywheel that compounds over time. We also continue to make meaningful progress and other strategic initiatives," he added during the Q1 earnings call.

Read more: Royal Caribbean's AI push helps explain why cruises cost more

Competing with Disney World

Instead of viewing other cruise lines, such as Carnival, Norwegian, or MSC, as its competition, Royal Caribbean has increasingly positioned itself against land-based vacation giants, such as Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and the dozens of all-inclusive resorts scattered throughout the Caribbean. 

"Our performance reflects consistently strong execution by our teams and the compelling value proposition and differentiated experiences our brands offer consumers who continue to prioritize experiences," Liberty remarked. 

"The consumer backdrop remains healthy, and demand for our vacation experiences continued to be strong across our portfolio."

Read more: I spent two days in Disneyland Paris, and it reminded me how much better cruises are

Imagine sailing on a cruise ship where robots move alongside talented performers, help clean hard-to-reach windows, and even scrub the hull underwater. 

Royal Caribbean has found a way to use technology to add to the overall entertainment experience and improve efficiency.

"We have always been acutely focused on delivering the best possible experience using technology... We are constantly trying to innovate and improve it," says Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International, in a recent YouTube video.

Enter collaborative robots, AKA cobots. These cobots aren't tucked away in a back room like traditional industrial robots that purposely work behind the scenes. Rather, they work side by side with crew members to enhance every part of the cruise experience. 

Here's a look at how Royal Caribbean uses robots aboard its newer cruise ships. 

Cobots help create immersive and unforgettable shows

"We've been working with robots for years at Royal. Obviously, on the Quantum Class ships, we have these amazing robots on [a] gantry with these giant 7x4-foot LED screens. We thought, okay, how can we bring those into the mix again?" explains Alex Marchant, Senior Director, Entertainment Creative & Strategy at Royal Caribbean.

In addition to the impressive robots in Two70, robots have been integrated into the enclosed AquaTheaters aboard Icon Class ships. 

On Icon of the Seas, for example, there are four robots located on the three-meter upstage area that help to set the scene. 

(Credit: Royal Caribbean International / YouTube)

They aren't just props or something there for street cred — though they certainly do wow the audience. Instead, they serve as a point of connection for a lot of the show's signature pieces and are just as important as the entertainers. 

"It isn't our classic AquaTheater. It is truly kind of the reboot and reimagination. And the robots being integrated into it is an amazing transformation of our AquaTheater experience," remarks Jay Schneider, Senior Vice President, Chief Product Innovation Officer at Royal Caribbean. 

In the Royal Theater, Royal Caribbean continues to evolve the entertainment experience with advanced features, such as a giant LED wall, six motorized platforms that move dynamically, and side stages with additional LED screens.

"[O]ur visual for the audience has just grown immensely. The audience is not going to know what's hit them," Marchant boasts. 

Cobots also help keep cruise ships running smoothly

Other robots help keep the ship running smoothly. This makes operations more efficient and sustainable for crew and guests. For example, aboard Star of the Seas, robotic cleaners help keep the ship clean. 

"We do not want to decrease crew members; we want to increase their productivity and their interaction with the guests. And that's the whole idea of getting the robots on board to help them... We wanted to add to the quality of our work, and [the robots] offer us that," explains Johanita Jacobs, Senior Director, Housekeeping Operations at Royal Caribbean. 

When the robots were added on board, every area of the ship was mapped and assigned a QR code, which tells the robotic cleaners — named Bob and Betsy — what duty is expected of them in different places. 

(Credit: Royal Caribbean International / YouTube)

Jacobs also confirmed that robotic cleaners will be coming to all Icon Class ships, and she can see them potentially being added to new developments in the future. 

Something else innovative aboard Icon Class ships is the use of underwater hull-scrubbing robots. 

"We have our hull scrubbing vessel [robots] on board Icon Class. This underwater robot is like a drone, and it has brushes... [to] scrub the hull. Keeping the hull clean is everything to do with fuel consumption and efficiency," says Rob Hempstead, Captain of Star of the Seas. 

(Credit: Royal Caribbean International / YouTube)

Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President, Maritime, added that keeping a hull as clean as possible is essential for the ship’s performance and sustainability. 

Since nearly half of the ship’s energy is used for propulsion — and 80% of that energy is spent overcoming friction with the water — a clean hull can significantly reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact.

Read more: Technology that changed cruises: 5 of the best uses of tech on Royal Caribbean today

Cruise ship internet was stereotypically slow, but Royal Caribbean has adopted a new generation of technology to make it the fastest yet.

On Star of the Seas, guests can purchase an unlimited internet package that provides high speed wifi to use during their cruise.

This ship is different from other ships in that it employs equipment capable of delivering up to 10Gbps in satellite internet.

All of Royal Caribbean's ships are serviced by Starlink internet, which provides high speed internet.  It's been a game changer ever since the cruise line switched to Starlink in 2022.

Star of the Seas is going one step further with a Starlink Community Gateway, which can deliver "10Gbps of symmetrical throughput," meaning it can supply up to 10Gbps for both downloads and uploads. 

Starlink shared the news on X, indicating the next-gen technology is available on the brand new cruise ship that began service in August.

Royal Caribbean reportedly spent $1.25 million to place gateways around the ship that can relay data back and forth with the orbiting Starlink satellites in space and terrestrial internet infrastructure.

Why this matters to cruisers

Having reliable internet on a cruise ship has been a top priority for many cruisers for quite a while, as cruise lines compare themselves to land resorts but often are nitpicked by customers for slower internet.

The internet speeds with the normal Starlink service on Royal Caribbean ships has been more than adequate, but this Community Gateway product has the potential to offer internet speeds on a ship that would be even faster than what's available at home or a resort.

More guests expect to be able to step on a cruise ship and use the internet onboard the same way they would on land.

With symmetrical 10Gbps speeds, it would easily allow for more bandwidth to be offered to customers and that means less waiting for things to load.

The potential for faster speeds is what this could offer.

Throttling?

Even with Starlink, cruise lines have typically throttled guest connections, regardless of the available bandwidth.

What this means is if a ship has access to a certain amount of bandwidth, each guest is limited to a certain fraction of it.

"Cruise lines are throttling guest usage so end users are not necessarily reaping the bandwidth benefits," wrote Scott Sanders of The Disney Cruise Line Blog on X as he shared his experience with Starlink.

We think the rationale for throttling is so that no single person uses more than their share of bandwidth. But the caps tend to make large file transfer and video streaming sometimes problematic.

Throttling could also be a cost cutting move. Making available enough bandwidth for guests to experience better speeds may require a higher cost. As an example, Starlink posted on its website that the Community Gateway costs $75,000 per Gbps per month.

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, alluded to how expensive satellite internet is last year when he publicly talked about it at an event.

"We got to pay a ton, a ton, a ton of money for WiFi," he explained.

"I sign the invoices when they come in [and] every time I see them I'm like, oh my God." Mr. Bayley said he cringes whenever he sees the yearly bill. 

He couldn't remember the exact amount the cruise line pays each year but reiterated that "it's huge."

The good news is Starlink has a major advantage over traditional satellite internet that preceded it because it has low latency.  This means the connection responded much faster, so there's less waiting for something to happen.

Cruise ship internet has never been cheap, but there's a new option that seeks to make it easier and simpler to have internet access at sea.

While Royal Caribbean sells its own internet service to passengers that's powered by Starlink, wireless carriers are getting in on the game too.

Earlier this year, AT&T expanded its International Day Pass plans to include over 400 cruise ships.

Available to AT&T subscribers, it offers a simple way to be get the internet on your cruise ship. Turn your phone on while on the ship and do something with it (call, text, use data) and your 24-hour International Day Pass begins and you will be charged a $20 per day, per device daily fee.

I was curious how well the service worked, so I accepted an invitation by AT&T to field test their service.  AT&T gifted me a Samsung S25 Ultra along with their service so I could see how well it worked.

I brought the device on three different ships across different regions to see how it worked in different facets:

• Ovation of the Seas in Ensenda, Mexico
• Independence of the Seas in Northern Europe
• Silver Dawn in Denmark & Norway

I wanted to see how well it performed compared to the Voom packages, and if it was truly as good as they claim.

It just works

As soon as I turned my phone on in any of the places I visited, the connection kicked on and I was ready to use the internet.

I think this is one of its top advantages, as you don't have to really do anything in advance.  

Plus, you can cherry pick which days you want to use it.  Turn it on on days you need it, and leave it off on days you don't.

Royal Caribbean only sells unlimited packages for the duration of your cruise.  It does sell a 24 hour pass online, but it's $29.99 per pass.

Royal Caribbean discounts its internet packages when purchased pre-cruise, and you can often get very good prices.

For an 8-night Independence of the Seas cruise, I paid $167.92 for a one device internet package, which came out to $20.99 per day.

Surprisingly fast speeds too

The biggest question I had was how fast would it be, as Voom has been incredibly reliable and fast enough on ships.

I ran speed tests on all the ships I sailed on using Fast.com.  Internet speed tests aren't everything, but it's the best standard I could come up with.

In every test case, the AT&T speeds worked just as fast as Voom.  I might see one out do the other, but truly it was always a negligible difference.

In both cases, there would be the occasional intermittent outage where the internet connection drops, but it would come back.

In my testing, I found the speeds to work quite well, and good enough for the needs I had.  

Something else nice about the AT&T package is I could activate my phone's hot spot and let my kids tether to the device, thus extending the value of the daily cost.

There is one caveat to AT&T, and that is it provides 500MB of high speed data, and then you're throttled for the rest of that day. Every day you get the 500MB of high speed to start with.

I think most people won't run into that cap, but it's worth noting if you plan to stream movies or do a lot of video work.

You can use it on land too

One advantage I saw with AT&T over Voom was that also worked on land and at sea.

According to AT&T, if you’re traveling at sea and on land on the same day, you’ll be charged a fee of $20 per day that includes both locations.

This means you get to use the service while on a shore excursion, whereas the cruise line option doesn't offer that.

It's a very seamless option and I think this is one of the most compelling reasons to try it. 

I was impressed how well the wireless package worked

I expected the Voom package to perform better, but was surprised when it was about the same.

AT&T's offering is perfect for someone that needs to use the internet from their cruise ship on certain days, but not every day.  I think that's a great selling point for someone who doesn't want/need to buy the ship internet for the duration of their cruise.

Plus, it's super easy because you just activate your phone's cellular connection and you're all set. I think Voom is easy to use, but I'm always surprised by the line of people on the Royal Promenade seeking assistance at the Voom desk.

Cruise ships have evolved over the years, including how technology has been leveraged to make the guest experience better.

I've always admired how Royal Caribbean has leaned into tech to bring more choices and make the cruise better overall. Some are quality of life improvements, while others add a different dimension to fundamentally alter what it's like onboard.

Plus, some of the tech we see on cruise ships are undeniably fun. Royal Caribbean's primary focus is creating memories for families, and if tech can help that along, it's a win-win for cruise line and passenger.

I came up with my list of five of the best cruise ship experiences that are possible because of Royal Caribbean's use of tech onboard.

Faster internet

It's amazing how far cruise ship internet has come in just the last few years, but we finally have reliable and fast WiFi on Royal Caribbean as we do on land.

Cruise ship internet is not new, but it had been traditionally slow, expensive, and disappointing.

A few years ago, Royal Caribbean struck a deal with Starlink to bring true high speed internet on ships that would be similar to what we have on land.

It took a little ironing out, but when I sail on Royal Caribbean ships today, I no longer cringe when I open my web browser to see how long it will take to load.

The reality is reliable internet access is a must-have for most passengers, simply from a casual communication standpoint.  While some people conduct work on ships, most just want to be able to stay in contact with friends, check social media, or keep up with what's happening around the world.

Shows with robots

Royal Caribbean's best implementation of technology that improves a traditional experience is Two70 on its Quantum Class ships.

Two70 is a theater at the very back of the ship, but you'll quickly notice there's much more to this area than its location.

Within this amazing theater space are screens attached to robot arms that can move, swivel, and dance to match the performers and music.

Each of these roboscreens is programmed individually so it can move in sync or independently of the others.

According to Royal Caribbean, at the time of their development, it was the most complex robotics project that was happening outside of Mars.

Behind them are windows that transform into a 100 foot wide, 20 foot tall, screen known as Vistarama. Vistarama's 12K resolution is nearly twice that of any IMAX screen.

When you see the shows in here, it's easy to get lost in the spectacle of everything happening.

Royal Caribbean adopted the robot idea and put it on its Icon Class ships within the Aquatheater venue.  

There are 4 six-axis robot cast members on Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas. They can do more than hold up a screen. They can even assemble and disassemble stage equipment.

The performers are still the focus of each show, but the venue adds a dimension to the experience that is sure to wow its audience.

Mobile check-in

I don't think Royal Caribbean gets enough credit for how easy it is to check-in for a cruise and then subsequently board the ship.

The cruise line has progressively worked on improving its check-in process to get guests from "car to bar" in a matter of minutes.

The secret sauce for this has been the development of the Royal Caribbean app.

The app makes check-in as easy as checking into a hotel or flight, and quickly takes you through the process.  The more you do in the app, the less necessary to do inside the cruise terminal.

There's even an express boarding option that rewards those that complete all the steps within the online check-in process with a faster way to get onboard.

One thing I hear from our readers consistently is how much better check-in is on Royal Caribbean compared to other cruise lines. Royal Caribbean has optimized their check-in and boarding process so there's far less standing and waiting.

Elevators with less waiting

Among the 14 specific advances Royal Caribbean came up with just for Icon of the Seas, the most noticeable and enjoyable one is how much better the elevators are.

Destination elevators were a must for a ship as big as Icon of the Seas.  Royal Caribbean built the world's largest cruise ship, and they knew elevator wait times were a pain point on other ships.

The elevators on Icon Class ships use an optimization algorithm to assign elevator cars.

Instead of pressing a button to wait for an elevator, guests push a button for which floor they want to go to and are assigned an elevator.

The result has been exactly what it sounds like: less time waiting for an elevator. This means you can get to where you want to go and keep the fun going.

While elevators may not be the most exciting or tantalizing aspect of a cruise, technology has clearly solved a long-standing problem.

Immersive dining unlike anything else

While it's still in its infancy, I think Royal Caribbean used tech to come up with a game-changing idea.

Royal Railway at Utopia Station is an immersive dining experience that combines the two things people love about cruising: food and destination.

More than just another specialty restaurant, guests are transported to different time by entering a classic train station to board their train.

You dine in a train car that looks and feels like the real thing, along with a story that you're part of.

Royal Caribbean's top priority is delivering an unforgettable family vacation that creates memories, and this is all but guaranteed to do that.

As you dine, you see from the digital windows scenery going by, you feel the rumble of the train in your seat, and interact with the performers and waiters during your meal.

Technology is what makes all of this possible, but it's not the focal point.  It's symbolic of the evolution of how tech is used onboard from "hey, look at this shiny thing" to a supportive means that improves the experience.

Using your cell phone on a cruise ship is a big mistake because of costly roaming fees, but there's a new trend looking to reverse it.

Two of the largest wireless carriers in the United States have announced new plans that cover cruise ships and provide coverage in a similar way to being on land.

Day passes have become very popular for consumers, as they offer an instant option to call, text, or use data in a foreign country without crazy high roaming fees later.

Traditionally cruise ships have not been covered under such plans, and consumers who have used their phone on a cruise have come home to bills in the thousands of dollars.

This year we've seen two new approaches to how you can use your phone at sea without incurring those kind of issues.

It's an interesting new offer that could change how you stay connected on a cruise vacation.

International Day Pass from AT&T

AT&T rolled out a brand new option to cover cruise ships on March 16, with its International Day Pass that covers up to 400 ships, in addition to the 210+ land destinations and select airlines it already covers.

If you try to use your phone at sea, it will cost you $20 per device for 24 hours.

If you happen to be using it on land and on your ship on the same day, then it's $20 per device for 24 hours.

There is no additional line discount, all lines are charged $20/day.

This allows you to use your phone like you would at home.

You can sign up before you leave for this day pass, or if you try to use your phone on the ship, you'll automatically get it added once you try to use your phone at sea.

Cruise Daily Pass from Verizon

Verizon has a $20 per day offer as well, known as Cruise Daily Pass.

It offers unlimited data, talk and text.  The data component is 0.5GB of high speed data, and then unlimited data at 3G speeds for the remainder of the session.

If you disembark the ship during a Cruise Daily Pass session, you’ll pay applicable rates for the country you’re visiting.

Text “CRUISE” to 4004 before or at the start of your cruise to add a daily pass to your line. 

Making it easier to stay connected

Whether someone accidentally leaves their phone on during their cruise or purposefully wants to be able to use their phone on a cruise like they would at home, there are a lot of people on any cruise that would want phone coverage on a cruise ship.

Phone and texting at sea has largely been available for years, albeit at a higher cost.

WiFi calling has made it much cheaper and easier to use, but getting WiFi calling set up is cumbersome for those unfamiliar with the deep settings on their phone.

If you want to briefly use your phone for a few emails, calls or texts, buying a ship WiFi package is overkill and costly.

The flexible alternative: Royal Caribbean's Voom

In lieu of a wireless carrier's plan, you could get an internet package on your Royal Caribbean ship and use that on your phone.

Thanks to WiFi calling features, you will still be able to call or text during your cruise. In my experience, some automated text messages sometimes don't come through when using WiFi calling, but it generally works just fine.

The real advantage of Royal Caribbean's internet packages are the data speeds.

Because Royal Caribbean uses Starlink internet, the data speeds can be just as fast as being at home. It's unlimited data during your cruise, and you can use the internet interchangeably between devices and share access, which is something a wireless day pass won't offer.

I cannot comment on the speeds offered by either AT&T or Verizon, but Voom speeds are quite fast because of the Starlink technology.

You can make your cruise so much easier with a few helpful apps.

As a traveler who’s visited 12 countries and countless cities, I’ve had to build up my toolbox from the ground up.

From Google Maps to Airbnb, a variety of modern apps and websites have been created that help travelers with everything they need. When you have the right tools by your side, your experiences will become much easier and incredibly rewarding.

It takes trial and error (and sometimes some embarrassing mistakes!) to find all the best apps and websites to help you out along the way.

Some of these apps aren’t well-known but they can save you a lot of time, money, and energy.

To make sure you’re not missing out on any tools, here are the top 8 apps I recommend every cruiser use.

1. Airalo

International travelers are familiar with the feeling of stepping foot in a foreign place and desperately searching for WiFi.

Cruise ships don’t stop in one place for long, and this can leave cruisers at a disadvantage when it comes to phone connectivity on land.

When you’re visiting a country for only eight hours or so, it doesn't make sense to find a store and waste money buying a physical SIM card for your phone that you’ll throw away the next day.

Airalo provides a simple solution. The app allows you to purchase eSIMs for a selected amount of days so that you can connect to data on your trip.

While it depends on the region and offers available, you can usually choose between 7 days, 15 days, 30 days, and 365 days.

The eSIM uploads directly to your phone, and you can activate it immediately! The app is free to download, and you get 5% cashback with each transaction you make.

The best part is, these eSIMs are extremely affordable. Most 7-day packages are under $5.

With Airalo, you will never again have to find strange cafes to sit in while you download maps or Google search for what to do next.

Read more: Royal Caribbean WiFi: Guide to Internet at sea

2. Been

What Goodreads is to readers, Been is to travelers. 

Been is an app that allows you to track the places you’ve visited, lived, and wish to travel to.

Been tracks how many countries you’ve visited and calculates what percentage of the world you’ve been to.

When you update your map with a location, that location lights up in color. You can edit your map to display your countries in many different ways.

The app also allows you to share an image or video of all the places you’ve visited.

It’s an exciting way to craft your travel bucket list and remember all the places you’ve been.

While the app is free, there is a premium version you can upgrade to.

The premium version is $2.29 and allows you to update specific cities and airports, compare your profile with friends, and add more visualizations to your map.

3. WhatsApp

Americans may not be familiar with WhatsApp, but it’s useful in almost every other country.

WhatsApp is a secure messaging platform that many use for texts and calls. It works without data, just on WiFi, so it’s a great option for travelers.

It is a free app that connects your contacts using your phone number.

When traveling abroad, you’ll find that many hotels, tours, and other locations offer a WhatsApp number to contact them.

For example, when my Mediterranean cruise ended in Barcelona, I ordered a shuttle service to get me to the airport in time for my flight home.

However, the driver was 20 minutes late, and the only contact number listed was a WhatsApp number. 

If I didn't have the app downloaded and set up, I could have been delayed even more in contacting them and getting on the road.

Before you leave for your cruise, just download WhatsApp and you’ll be one step ahead.

4. Tripit

Cruising often involves organizing several different methods of travel.

You may have to fly to your cruise ship, and then get onboard. You will have to enter different ports of call and find transportation to your tourist destinations.

It’s a lot to organize—but TripIt can help. TripIt is an app that organizes all your travel plans into one place.

The best part is that you can forward your travel receipts and plans directly to [email protected], and the app will automatically add them to your profile.

You can even share your plans with others inside the app or in a text or email.

All these features are free to use, but the pro version—which costs $48.99 a year—automatically invites others to your trips and tracks your loyalty programs and rewards.

TripIt is the most simple and efficient way of organizing your trip.

5. Royal Caribbean

If you cruise Royal Caribbean, you definitely need to have the app downloaded.

The Royal app is your key to the entire cruise vacation.

Before the cruise begins, you can use the app to check in, plan your arrival time, and make pre-cruise purchases like dining, shore excursions, and WiFi.

YYou will also complete your safety briefing on the app by watching a series of short videos.

Once you’re onboard, you also have access to maps of every deck, a daily Cruise planner, and your own personal calendar.

It’s an indispensable tool throughout your cruise, from finding out what dining venues are open to seeing the dress theme for the night.

In-app messaging also allows you to communicate with guests who are linked under your booking, or who have your full name. 

The app is completely free to use, even if you do not purchase Royal Caribbean WiFi. Free WiFi onboard will allow you to use the app 24/7.

6. Xe Currency

How many dollars are in a euro again? Why does this item cost thousands of yen?

When you use Xe Currency, you won’t have to memorize the exact conversation rates.

This app automatically displays the most updated exchange rates for as many currencies as you need.

It’s also a method of sending money directly to bank accounts or mobile wallets.

To save yourself the headache of memorization, or the embarrassment of opening a calculator at every purchase, you should use Xe Currency.

7. CruiseMapper

If you’ve ever wondered where a cruise ship is at this moment in time, CruiseMapper is a great app to download.

There are many free cruise ship tracking apps available online.

CruiseMapper is one such free version, but it does display ads on the bottom of the screen.

The app takes you to a world map that displays ships sailing all over. Arrow icons indicate ships that are currently sailing, while dots are ships that are docked at port.

You can click on each icon to explore the ship or search by ship/port to find a specific one.

Whether you’re curious about someone else’s voyage or checking up on a familiar ship, CruiseMapper is a great way to track a cruise ship’s location.

8. My Cruise

If you’re trying to get younger kids used to the idea of cruising, My Cruise is a game that can help.

My Cruise is a free mobile game where you can control all the parts of creating a luxury cruise vacation. You will work to build a cruise ship, developing restaurants and staterooms. 

You can even set sail, visit different ports of call and collect passengers.

It’s a fun game with calming music and a cute art style, also making it a relaxing option for adults who love to cruise!

Did you know it’s possible to track a cruise ship’s live location?

Thanks to modern technology, you can instantly find out where any cruise ship is in the world. 

You may not have realized that tracking a cruise ship is possible, but I'm certain you've felt the urge to try.

Maybe you felt curious about a friend’s voyage or concerned about a loved one’s safety. You found yourself wishing that you could know exactly where in the world they are.

Or perhaps you’ve already disembarked from a favorite vessel, and are checking up on its current location.

Whatever the reason for your curiosity, checking a ship’s location is a straightforward process.

This guide will explore various methods and technologies available for tracking the movements of cruise ships all over the world.

Read on for your comprehensive guide to tracking a cruise ship’s live location.

How does it work? 

Vessel tracking mainly depends on a technology called the Automatic Identification System (AIS).

Ships larger than 300 tons are required to carry and use AIS.

AIS is essentially a vessel tracking system used by ships to broadcast their position, speed, and course. 

The system uses a vessel’s GPS system or internal systems to gather the ship’s movements. Then, the information from the AIS unit is transmitted in the background.

Programmable information includes the vessel’s name, destination, and Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires ships to use AIS so that other ships and coastal authorities can receive relevant information about their position. This enhances maritime safety and navigation.

Most modern vessels use a combination of land-based AIS data, satellite AIS relays, and land-based, very-high frequency radios (VHF) line-of-sight equipment. 

These systems allow online trackers to receive the information that lets you track a cruise ship online.

However, you may not receive all of this data online for free. 

Satellite AIS receivers are very expensive, meaning you will probably have to pay to access this information.

That means that most ship trackers available for free will only be completely accurate when the ship is close enough to shore for a land-based receiver to pick up the transmissions.

However, even free options can give you an idea of where your favorite cruise ship might be.

Online tracking websites

Several websites offer live tracking of cruise ships online. These websites make it convenient for anyone with internet access to monitor the movements of vessels around the world.

Users can view information on vessel locations by cruise line, type of cruise, or simply by looking at a world map.

Or, you can search for a particular ship by entering the name, International Maritime Organization (IMO) number, or Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number of the ship to view its current position on a map.

Cruise Mapper

Cruise Mapper takes you straight to a world map, where you can choose from a list of vessels, or search for the exact ship on the top middle.

Arrow icons display ships currently sailing, while dots represent ships that are docked at port.

To the left of the screen, you can select from several options of cruise lines, choosing which ones you want to view or hide.

When you find a ship you’d like to track, you can view more information by clicking on the ship’s icon.

A window on the left will display details about the cruise, such as weather, passengers, current speed, and itinerary.

Marine Vessel Traffic

Marine Vessel Traffic is a website that displays tracking information for all types of ships, from cargo to fishing to submarines.

You can view cruise ships specifically by selecting “passenger” on the top menu labeled “Map selector.”

Below the Map selector, options for cruise lines appear. Clicking on a particular line’s logo pulls up the tracking information for that specific fleet.

The world map will reveal all the cruise ships currently sailing. As you drag your mouse over each ship icon, the name of the ship and its cruise line will appear.

Ship Cruises

Ship Cruises also displays an interactive menu with options to filter by cruise line. You can also filter by the type of cruise, making it easy for you to track river cruises or ocean sailings. Docked ships are marked by a small green dot, while ships en route have a larger green arrow.

To view information on a particular ship, click its icon and then select “details.” 

This takes you to a separate page where you can view position, itinerary, map, and weather.

My Ship Tracking

My Ship Tracking has a more visual focus, with several map options. You can add or remove filtered layers, such as weather or vessel size and age.

To find a certain ship, type its name into the search bar at the top right.

There is also the option for you to save particular vessels into your own fleet that is displayed on the map. You must create a free account or log in to activate this feature.

Mobile applications

If you’re on the go, or prefer to use a phone, mobile apps also offer convenient ways to track cruise ships.

Most of the popular ship tracking websites mentioned above also have mobile apps available for download on IOS and Android devices.

Similar to the websites, these apps allow users to access live ship routes, positions, and weather.

A simple search on your App Store also provides a variety of ship-tracking apps, such as MarineTraffic, MyShipTracking, Boat Watch, Cruise Mapper, or Cruise Finder.

No tracking with the official app

Many major cruise lines have their own websites and applications that provide information on each ship’s whereabouts.

Royal Caribbean’s app and website do not have any live tracking features for their cruise ships.

However, you can visit the website for general upgrades on travel information here.

If you have a cruise booked, you will also receive any important upgrades by email or on the mobile app.

If you’re attempting to track a friend or family member’s cruise, you can always look up the ship’s itinerary by name and date, and make an estimate based on the time of certain scheduled arrivals.

Related articles

Have more questions about the technology of cruising? Check out these blog posts:

• Intelligent automation will make Royal Caribbean's next cruise ship as efficient as it is fun
• Where does the poop go on a cruise ship?
• 4 futuristic ideas Royal Caribbean has for cruise ships
• How do cruise ships float?
• 10 Ways Cruising Has Changed in the Last 30 Years

Royal Caribbean is experimenting with a new chat bot that can answer some basic questions customers might have before they get on a ship.

We spotted a new chatbot on select pages of the Royal Caribbean website that provide an option to engage with and get answers.

A customer service chatbot is a bot that uses AI and machine learning to answer basic customer questions via a business messenger. For example, you could ask "how do I book a cruise" or "when can I check-in for my cruise?".

Chatbots use existing knowledge base articles to help answer customers’ questions. They can recognize and answer multiple forms of the same question and can be trained to give instant responses using your preferred voice and tone.

Chatbots are a popular mechanism for ecommerce sites to get answers to customers 24/7 on topics that are very commonly asked. AI chatbots have really risen to prominence since 2020, providing 24/7 support, and automatically resolving questions without any human intervention.

The chatbot is in a pop up that appears on select pages of the Royal Caribbean website, such as the frequently asked questions section. It is not available on the Royal Caribbean app.

If you opt to click on the "Chat with us" pop-up, the Virtual Agent greets you with the option of inquiring about an existing booking or if you have no booking.

The chatbot allows you to type your questions and it will try its best to find you an answer.

Testing out the chatbot

I was curious as anyone to know how helpful the chatbot could be, so I fed it some questions that are commonly asked in Google searches.

Below you'll see the question in bold, followed by the chatbot's response.

How much do you tip a cruise waiter?

As of September 7th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guest’s SeaPass account on a daily basis. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories. Gratuities are shared among dining, bar, culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience.

Read more: Tipping on a cruise ship: what you should and shouldn't do

Can I bring a 12 pack of water on Royal Caribbean?

Yes, guests are allowed to bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles, or cartons per stateroom.

Read more: What food or drinks you're allowed to bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Do I need a passport or birth certificate to take a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Yes, as a US citizen, you will need a valid US passport book that is valid for at least 6 months after your cruise ends to board a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. If you are sailing from a US homeport, an official US state-issued birth certificate is also accepted. Guests age 16 and older who present an official US state-issued birth certificate will also need to provide a valid driver's license or government-issued picture ID.

Read more: Passport card vs book: Which should you choose?

Do I need a Covid test to enter US after a cruise?

Vaccinations, face masks, and pre-cruise testing are no longer required to sail, with the following exceptions: transpacific sailings ending in Australia (pre-cruise testing & vaccines required), cruises from Australia (vaccinations, face masks and pre-cruise testing required), and the Ultimate World Cruise (vaccination required).

Can you split a drink package on Royal Caribbean?

I'm afraid I don't have an answer for that at the moment.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Drink Package guide

Will my phone work onboard a Royal Caribbean ship?

Yes, Royal Caribbean works with cellular networks to provide the ability to connect your device through "cellular at sea". These roaming rates to utilize your device are determined by your cellular provider. Prior to your sailing, it is recommended to contact your cellular provider for more information on these rates and special packages available. Additionally, another option for staying connected without utilizing your cellular data is connecting to VOOM, the fastest internet at sea. VOOM allows guests to stay connected via wifi, with a variety of packages to choose from.

Read more: Cellphone Use Onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise

Where can I smoke on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

For the comfort and enjoyment of our guests, our ships are designated as non-smoking; however, we recognize that some of our guests do smoke. To provide an onboard environment that meets all needs, we’ve designated certain areas of the ship as smoking areas. Smoking is permitted in designated outdoor areas, must be properly disposed of, and never be thrown overboard. We’ll have visible signage posted in areas where smoking is permitted, and ashtrays that are provided for use. Cigar and pipe tobacco are limited to designated outdoor areas and Cigar Bars. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase, possess, or use tobacco on sailings beginning in U.S. ports. For sailings beginning in all other ports, the minimum age is 18 years old.

Where can I eat on embarkation day at the start of a Royal Caribbean cruise?

On the first day of your Royal Caribbean cruise, you can enjoy a meal at our different available venues before heading to your stateroom.

I've been assigned My Time Dining, what does this mean?

My Time Dining is one of the options you’ll get to choose from when you book your cruise. Unlike traditional dining — where a dining time is assigned to you — guests who opt for My Time Dining can eat in the Main Dining Room anytime they like during dinner hours, according to availability. Reservations are strongly recommended. My Time Dining uses the same menu as traditional seating. The wait staff will have your table ready for you so can avoid a delay in seating. If you would like a specific waiter or table, they are more likely to be able to accommodate your request with advance reservations (however, please note this is based on availability). Guests who have signed up for My Time Dining will have their SeaPass card designated with the dining room and deck number. They will be seated in one of the main dining rooms. There will be a My Time Dining check-in desk at the entrance to the dining room with wait staff to greet guests. My Time Dining is now a choice within the booking process. When making a reservation you will be offered “My Time” or traditional dining times* (i.e., 5:30 pm 8:00 pm). *Traditional dining times may vary by ship and itinerary.

Read more: What you need to know about Royal Caribbean's My Time Dining

Ship ratings feature added

In addition to the chatbot, you can now find cruise ship ratings for all of Royal Caribbean's cruise ships.

In visiting any of the ship landing pages, you'll find at the bottom a list of ratings.

In fact, there's a lot of reviews listed for each ship.

For Wonder of the Seas, there were 51,409 reviews. Ovation of the Seas has 27,366 reviews. Mariner of the Seas has 37,647 reviews.

Moreover, the reviews don't seem to be filtered, if at all. There were as many glowing positive reviews and one star negative reviews.

Read more: Why you can't trust online reviews of cruise ships

In case you're wondering, here's how the fleet stacks up based on average review score:

4.7 Stars

• Allure of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas

4.6 Stars

• Adventure of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Serenade of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas

4.5 Stars

• Anthem of the Seas
• Brilliance of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Grandeur of the Seas
• Jewel of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Radiance of the Seas
• Vision of the Seas
• Voyager of the Seas

4.4 Stars

• Enchantment of the Seas
• Rhapsody of the Seas