Aboard Map
Never get lost at sea
Deck maps and turn-by-turn directions for P&O cruise ships, working offline the whole way round
visit Aboard Map
the why
I built Aboard Map at sea, on Iona, after getting thoroughly lost on it. These ships are the size of a small town stacked vertically, and knowing which deck you want is not the same as knowing how to get there from where you are standing. The hard part is that first word, "you": GPS does not work inside a steel hull, so the phone in your pocket has no idea where it is. Every map app you have ever used starts from a satellite fix that simply is not available on board. So I solved position a different way, and used the camera: point it at the number on a cabin door and the ship tells you where you are, because those numbers are a coordinate system already, painted on every corridor. From there it is turn-by-turn to anywhere, fully offline, which out at sea is the only version that counts. It turned out I was not the only one wandering the wrong deck: two thousand people installed it in the first twenty four hours.
who it's for
P&O passengers on Iona and Arvia who want to find their cabin, a bar, or the theatre without wandering three decks in the wrong direction.
what it does
- Interactive deck maps: cabins, restaurants, bars, pools, shops, and venues
- Turn-by-turn walking directions from wherever you are to wherever you are going
- "Where am I?" camera scan reads a cabin door number to place you, no GPS required
- Works fully offline, with no signal needed anywhere on board
- Installs to your home screen like an app
- Port stop notes with local language and currency
- Free to use, with an optional tip if it saved you a walk
frequently asked
What is Aboard Map?
Aboard Map is a free navigation tool for P&O cruise ships. It gives you interactive deck maps and turn-by-turn directions to any cabin, bar, restaurant, or venue on board.Is this an official P&O app?
No. Aboard Map is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to P&O Cruises. It was built by a passenger who got lost.Which ships does it cover?
Iona and Arvia at the moment, mapped deck by deck.Does it need internet or ship wifi?
No. Once it has loaded, Aboard Map works entirely offline, anywhere on the ship.How does it know where I am?
Not by GPS: satellite positioning does not work inside a steel hull, which is why ordinary map apps are useless on board. Instead you point your camera at a cabin door number and Aboard Map reads it to place you, since the door numbers already encode deck and position. You can also search for a cabin or venue, or scan a QR code around the ship.Do I need to install anything?
No. It runs in any phone browser, and you can add it to your home screen if you want it to open like an app.Is it free?
Yes, free with no account. There is an optional tip if you found it useful.
built by
Aboard Map is a project by Ben Huss, an immersive technologist based in Somerset, UK. Founder of Immersi (VR training and 360° storytelling), CTO at Cobble (location-based audio walks), and host of The Immersive Technologist podcast.