Frequently Asked Questions

Setting up ShoreTimer takes less than 60 seconds:

• Step 1: Sync your device time with ship time (cruise ships sometimes operate in different time zones than the port)
• Step 2: Enter your All-Aboard time from your cruise daily newsletter
• Step 3: Start your session when you leave the ship - ShoreTimer will mark the ship's location

That's it! ShoreTimer will now track your time and distance, alerting you when it's time to head back.

No! ShoreTimer works completely without an account. All your data stays on your device by default.

Creating an account is optional and only needed if you want to sync your data across multiple devices (for example, if you and your travel partner both want access to the same session information).

Yes! Your first complete shore excursion session is completely free with no credit card required. This lets you experience all of ShoreTimer's features on your cruise before deciding to subscribe.

A "session" is one shore excursion - from when you leave the ship until you return or end the timer.

Yes! Approximately 90% of ShoreTimer's features work completely offline. This is essential because many cruise ports have limited or expensive internet connectivity.

Works offline:

• Countdown timer
• GPS distance tracking
• Notifications and alerts
• Meeting point timers
• Info Vault (emergency contacts, notes)

Requires internet:

• Map tile loading (but previously viewed areas are cached)
• Account sync

Meeting Point Timers are secondary countdown timers you can set for group activities during your shore excursion.

For example, if your tour guide says "Meet back at the bus at 2:30 PM," you can set a Meeting Point Timer as a reminder. You can have up to 5 active Meeting Point Timers alongside your main All-Aboard timer.

The Info Vault is a secure place to store important information you might need during your cruise, including:

• Emergency contacts - Ship's agent, cruise line emergency number
• Ship details - Ship name, berth/pier number
• Personal info - Cabin number, muster station
• Notes - Any other important information

All Info Vault data is stored locally on your device and available offline - perfect for when you need critical information without internet access.

GPS accuracy depends on your device and environment. In optimal outdoor conditions, most modern smartphones are accurate to within 5-10 meters.

Accuracy may be reduced in:

• Indoor locations
• Urban areas with tall buildings ("urban canyons")
• Areas with heavy tree cover

ShoreTimer uses your device's GPS combined with intelligent algorithms to provide distance estimates and "Leave By" recommendations. Always allow extra buffer time for your return journey.

PRO subscription unlocks unlimited sessions and includes all features:

• Unlimited shore excursion sessions
• Smart countdown timer with color-coded status
• GPS distance tracking and maps
• Dynamic "Leave By" recommendations
• Meeting Point Timers (up to 5)
• Info Vault for emergency contacts and notes
• Smart notifications
• Voyage Log history
• Full offline functionality

Both plans include exactly the same features. The only differences are:

• Monthly ($3.49/month): Flexible month-to-month billing, cancel anytime
• Annual ($14.99/year): Save 64% compared to monthly, includes a 3-day free trial

The Annual plan is ideal if you cruise regularly or have multiple cruises planned.

Subscriptions are managed through your device's app store:

iPhone/iPad:

• Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions
• Select ShoreTimer and tap "Cancel Subscription"

Android:

• Open Google Play Store > Menu > Subscriptions
• Select ShoreTimer and tap "Cancel"

You'll continue to have access until the end of your current billing period.

Refunds are handled by Apple or Google, not directly by us. To request a refund:

• Apple: Visit reportaproblem.apple.com
• Google: Visit Google Play Help

We recommend trying the free session before subscribing to make sure ShoreTimer meets your needs.

No. Your location data stays on your device. ShoreTimer uses your GPS location locally to calculate distance and provide alerts - this data is never uploaded to our servers or shared with third parties.

The only time location data leaves your device is when you view the map, which requests map tiles from OpenStreetMap (similar to how any map app works).

ShoreTimer only accesses your location when you have an active session running. When you end your session or close the app, location tracking stops.

If you enable background location alerts (optional), ShoreTimer will periodically check your location during an active session to send you "time to head back" notifications - but only during that session.

You have full control over your data:

• Delete individual sessions: Swipe to delete in the Voyage Log
• Clear all local data: Settings > Clear All Data
• Delete account (if created): Settings > Account > Delete Account
• Uninstall the app: This removes all local data

For more details, see our Privacy Policy.

Try these steps to improve GPS accuracy:

• Move outdoors or near a window
• Ensure Location Services are enabled for ShoreTimer (Settings > Privacy > Location Services)
• Set location permission to "While Using" or "Always" (for background alerts)
• Restart the app
• Wait 30-60 seconds for GPS to get a fix

GPS works best outdoors with a clear view of the sky.

Check these settings:

• In ShoreTimer: Settings > Notifications - ensure alerts are enabled
• On iPhone: Settings > Notifications > ShoreTimer - enable "Allow Notifications"
• On Android: Settings > Apps > ShoreTimer > Notifications - enable notifications
• Make sure Do Not Disturb mode is off
• For background alerts, ensure Background Location is enabled

Your free session is used when you start a timer session, not when you complete a cruise. If you started a session (even briefly for testing), that counts as your free session.

We offer this generous free session so you can fully experience ShoreTimer on a real shore excursion. If you have questions about your account status, please contact our support team.

To restore your PRO subscription on a new device:

• Install ShoreTimer from the same app store account you used to purchase
• Open the app and go to Settings > Subscription
• Tap "Restore Purchases"

Your subscription is tied to your Apple ID or Google account, so make sure you're signed in with the same account you used to subscribe.