How to follow a cruise ship
· 3 min read
In short
To follow a cruise ship, search its name on Voydar or pick it in the cruise ship tracker, which lists ships by cruise line. Its page shows the last AIS position and how old it is, its speed, the destination the crew has entered and the ports it has called at. AIS is required on all passenger ships, whatever their size, so cruise ships are among the easiest ships to follow. Follow the ship to be told when it arrives in port and when it leaves.
Find the ship
Search the ship's name in the Voydar search, or open the cruise ship tracker, which shows where each cruise ship is now, grouped by cruise line. The cruise ships page lists every cruise ship Voydar tracks.
Ship names get reused, and a ship renamed by its owner may still appear under its former name in some records. The IMO number stays with the hull for life, so check it before you follow a ship.
Where it is and where it has been
The vessel page shows the last position the ship sent over AIS and how long ago it was received, its speed and course, and its navigational status: under way, at anchor or moored. In port, a cruise ship usually shows as moored at its terminal.
The port calls list the ports the ship has actually visited, with arrival and departure times detected from its positions. The destination and ETA come from the crew and name the next port only; for the whole itinerary, use the cruise line's own schedule.
Why cruise ships are easy to follow
Under SOLAS regulation V/19, AIS must be fitted on all passenger ships, whatever their size, as well as on other ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards on international voyages, and a ship fitted with AIS must keep it in operation at all times, with narrow exceptions. Much of a cruise is spent near coasts and ports, where receivers pick the signal up within seconds.
On an ocean crossing, positions can be hours apart because coverage far from land is thin. How ship tracking works explains why.
Get an alert at each port
Follow the ship from its page and Voydar tells you when it arrives in a port and when it leaves: useful for family and friends following a voyage, or for anyone meeting a ship at the pier. A free account follows up to 5 ships and ports. On the free plan the alerts arrive by email as one daily summary, and the Voydar app for iPhone and Android can notify you on your phone when the ship arrives or leaves.
A port page lists the ships in port now and the recent arrivals, for example Southampton or Piraeus. Ferries and car carriers can be followed the same way: see how to track the ship carrying your car.
Questions and answers
- Can I see a cruise ship live?
- You see the latest position a receiver passed on, with its age. Near the coast that is usually seconds or minutes old; in mid-ocean it can be hours old.
- Is following a cruise ship free?
- Yes. Looking up any cruise ship on Voydar is free and needs no account. A free account adds following up to 5 ships and ports with alerts.
- Why is the destination different from the itinerary?
- The destination is typed in by the crew and broadcast over AIS. It names the next port, sometimes abbreviated, and it is not always updated straight away. The cruise line's itinerary is the authority for the voyage.
- Why can't I find a cruise ship?
- Check the spelling, or search the IMO number from the cruise line's page for the ship. A recently renamed ship may still be listed under its former name for a while; the IMO number finds it either way.
Try it
Put this guide to work with a free Voydar tool, no account needed.
Look up a ship
Search any vessel by name, IMO number or MMSI for its free Voydar profile: live position, identity history, ownership, inspections and sanctions.
Sources
Primary sources for the facts in this guide. Figures labelled as Voydar data come from Voydar’s own records, with their method stated next to them.
- IMO: AIS transponders (SOLAS regulation V/19)
- U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center: How AIS works
- IMO: IMO Identification Number Schemes
Published Oct 29, 2026 · For information only. Not for navigation, and not a substitute for the official sources cited.