How long until your cruise?

Enter your sail date above and the countdown updates live, down to the second. You can bookmark or share the link — the date stays in the URL, so the countdown is still there when you come back.

Most major lines open online check-in between 30 and 45 days before sailing, though it varies by line and fare type. Checking in as early as possible generally gets you an earlier boarding group.

Typically 75 to 120 days before departure for mainstream lines, and further out for longer or luxury sailings. Miss it and the booking can be cancelled automatically, so check the exact date on your confirmation.

Ship time is the time zone your cruise ship runs on — usually the departure port's. This countdown uses your device's local time, which is what you want while planning at home. Once you sail, ship time is what matters, and that is exactly what the ShipTime app tracks.