Best 8 Cruise Trackers in 2026: Compare Ship-Tracking Apps

Introduction

MarineTraffic is a strong all-around cruise tracker for people who want live vessel locations and movement details. This roundup includes cruise-planning apps and broader ship trackers, so you can compare options for different needs. Features and availability vary by app and platform.

Quick comparison

The Shipmate apps combine cruise planning with tracking. The other options cover vessels more broadly, including cruise ships. Some have separate Android and iOS versions, so check the relevant store listing for current availability and pricing.

1. Shipmate - Cruise Tracker

Best for: Android users who want cruise planning alongside live tracking.

Shipmate - Cruise Tracker combines cruise reviews and planning tools with live ship locations and itinerary tracking. Its listing says it supports major lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, and Disney.

Cruise-line coverage and itinerary tracking sit alongside planning tools, which is handy when you’re organizing a trip and want to follow your ship’s location, too.

2. Shipmate: Plan & Track Cruises

Best for: iPhone users planning a cruise and following fellow passengers.

Shipmate: Plan & Track Cruises offers roll calls, cruise countdowns, price alerts, ship information, and a cruise ship tracker. It covers both trip preparation and cruise-related details along the way.

Roll calls set this app apart by helping passengers connect around a specific cruise. It’s worth considering if planning and meeting others on your sailing matter as much as checking a ship’s position.

3. Cruise Ship Tracker

Best for: iPhone users who want cruise-specific vessel and voyage details.

Cruise Ship Tracker follows cruise ships around the world and provides ship positions, voyage details, and port information. Its focus is cruise vessels, rather than maritime traffic in general.

Webcams are a useful extra alongside the ship and port details. They offer more context about a vessel or destination than a map location alone.

4. MarineTraffic - Ship Tracking

Best for: Android users who want a broad, live view of vessel traffic.

MarineTraffic - Ship Tracking uses AIS data to show vessel positions and movements worldwide. Its listed features include live tracking, route planning, and information about nearby ships.

One notable feature is augmented reality, which can show information about nearby ships through your phone’s camera view. MarineTraffic tracks many types of vessels, not just cruise ships, so it suits people following different kinds of traffic.

5. ShipAtlas - Vessel Tracker

Best for: Android users interested in vessel movements and port activity.

ShipAtlas - Vessel Tracker tracks vessels worldwide, including cruise ships, and provides port information and movement data. Use it to follow a vessel’s progress or check activity around a port.

Arrival and departure notifications are a key feature, while route estimates add context to vessel movements. It’s an option to consider if you’re interested in ships and ports beyond cruise itineraries.

6. ShipWhisper: Live Ship Tracker

Best for: Android users who want quick details about a ship’s current movement.

ShipWhisper: Live Ship Tracker uses live AIS data to show ships on a map, including cruise ships. Vessel details can include the ship’s name, speed, heading, destination, and movement history.

The range of movement details is the main draw. ShipWhisper doesn’t focus on cruise planning; instead, it gives you more information to understand a ship’s current position and recent progress.

7. Boat Watch - Ship Tracking App

Best for: iPhone users who want to follow and save specific vessels.

Boat Watch - Ship Tracking App uses AIS data to show vessels, including cruise ships. Search for ships and save favorites to make it easier to check on the ones you follow.

The app can alert you when a tracked vessel sets sail or arrives. That’s useful if you want updates about particular ships without searching for them on a map each time.

8. Boat Watch

Best for: Android users who want alerts for selected ships.

Boat Watch tracks boats and ships, including cruise ships. Its listed features include notifications when a tracked vessel sets sail or arrives.

Those alerts are the main reason to consider it. Boat Watch is a general ship tracker, not a cruise itinerary planner, so it’s best suited to keeping tabs on selected vessels.

How we picked these apps

We included the supplied apps with clear cruise-ship or broader vessel-tracking features. The list covers both cruise-planning tools and general AIS trackers, since people looking for a cruise tracker may need help with an itinerary, live vessel positions, or both.

We looked at live locations, voyage and movement details, ship alerts, and platform availability. The descriptions here are based on the supplied app information, not hands-on testing. Features, prices, and availability can change, so check the current store listing before downloading.

Frequently asked questions

How does a cruise ship tracker work?

A cruise tracker shows a ship’s location and movement, often using AIS vessel data. Depending on the app, it may also display details such as speed, destination, route, or nearby ports.

Are cruise ship locations always live?

Not always. AIS-based trackers display vessel data, but coverage and update timing can vary. A ship’s map position may not update continuously, so check the app’s details before relying on it for a precise arrival time.

Should I choose a cruise-planning app or a ship tracker?

Choose a cruise-planning app for tools such as countdowns, roll calls, price alerts, or itinerary tracking. A general ship tracker is a better fit if you mainly want vessel positions, movement details, or alerts. Check the app listing for current features and platform availability.

The verdict

MarineTraffic is a strong all-around option, with worldwide AIS vessel tracking, route planning, and nearby-ship information. Android users who want cruise planning and itinerary tracking in one app can consider Shipmate - Cruise Tracker. On iPhone, Cruise Ship Tracker focuses on cruise voyages and ports, while Shipmate: Plan & Track Cruises includes planning tools and roll calls.