Ready before the ship leaves signal behind.

Start with a reliable connection on shore

Install Ahoy There from Google Play before sailing. Open the app, allow the nearby permissions it explains and visit the port destinations on your itinerary. If you want separate offline maps, download those from your chosen map provider at the same time.

Preparation matters because cruise internet can be expensive, congested or unavailable at exactly the moment a family is trying to organise. A few calm minutes at home are worth more than hurried setup in a terminal queue.

Give every participating phone a normal practical check too. Charge it, confirm there is enough free storage for the guides and selected attachments, and pack the charging cable or power bank you already trust. Offline preparation is most valuable when the device itself is ready for a long port day.

Agree the group details face to face

Choose a memorable group name and four-digit passkey, then enter the same details on every compatible Android phone. Share them directly with the people travelling together. A private group is lightweight shared access, not an identity check, so do not publish the passkey.

Test one ordinary message while the group is together. That confirms the phones have the app, the same room details and the required permissions. It also gives everybody a chance to recognise the chat screen before a busy sea day.

Prepare each cruise stop in My Trip

Use the Port catalogue to find the embarkation ports and destinations on the sailing. Review whether the ship is likely to dock centrally, use a shuttle or tender ashore, then save the places and plans that match the time and energy available.

The included and owned complete guides remain useful offline once on the phone. Public web previews help with discovery and comparison; the app carries the richer decision detail into the port day.

Use local features within their real limits

On board, Ahoy There can exchange local group content when compatible devices have a genuinely ready path through local Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth. It does not need an Ahoy There internet chat server, and on-device games do not need a remote game service.

A ship remains a difficult radio environment. Steel, distance, doors, crowds and phone settings all affect results. Use the app to make ordinary coordination easier, while relying on agreed meeting points and official ship communication for anything urgent or safety-related.