Seaya helps cruisers connect before and after they sail

Cruise ships bring together travelers from around the world, creating opportunities for connections that can last long after the voyage.

For Christian Rios’ daughters, some of the best souvenirs from a cruise are the friendships they bring home.

His oldest daughter, Roxy, took her first cruise at 6 months and 3 days old. Her younger sister, Gigi, has also grown up traveling by ship, and the girls have friends in places as far apart as Finland, England and South Africa.

Those friendships sparked a question: What if they could see which cruises their friends had booked and connect with them?

That idea became Seaya, an app designed to help cruisers connect before departure, make plans while aboard and stay in touch after returning home.

Rios, who developed the app, saw an opportunity to bring travelers from different cruise lines into one community. Cruise line apps provide practical information, such as deck plans, excursions and schedules, but he wanted to create a place centered on the people taking the trips.

“Something that is really missed within the cruise industry is that social layer, and that’s what we’re trying to fill,” Rios says.

Launched in April, Seaya recently surpassed 1,500 downloads, according to Rios. The app is free to use and supports sailings from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, Virgin Voyages, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.

After creating an account, users select their cruise line, ship and sailing date. They can join a conversation with other Seaya users who have added that same sailing, offering a chance to introduce themselves, ask questions and arrange activities before boarding.

As the app builds its audience, users can also connect with the broader Seaya community to share cruise updates and exchange advice.

The possibilities range from finding dinner companions to comparing ideas for a port visit or gathering a group for a favorite game. On a trans-Atlantic cruise last year, Rios encountered someone hoping to organize a game of Ultimate Werewolf. Without a way to reach fellow passengers beforehand, getting people together proved difficult.

For solo travelers, making those introductions early could ease the uncertainty of stepping aboard alone. Rios recalls sailings where only one person showed up for a gathering for solo passengers.

“Being able to have those opportunities to connect ahead of time, we’re trying to give everybody their opportunity, whether it’s their first cruise or their thousandth cruise, to maximize the time they get to enjoy on the ship,” he says.

Passengers with an internet connection can continue using Seaya on board to make plans. After the trip, they can message friends, share experiences and view upcoming cruises on one another’s profiles — the feature that first interested Roxy.

Rios says users must be at least 13. The app combines automated content moderation with human oversight, and he hopes eventually to introduce ticket verification so membership in a sailing’s group can be tied to an actual booking.

For Rios and his wife, the venture represents a substantial personal commitment. He says they sold their home in April to help fund continued development after more than two years of work on the app.

Their enthusiasm comes from experience. Rios estimates he has taken 40 to 50 cruises, and the family tries to sail four to six times a year. Exploring different cruise lines gives them fresh ideas for Seaya, including a possible virtual version of the door decorating popular among passengers.

The goal is to help more people find the connections that have made cruising such a meaningful part of his family’s life.

“I love being on a ship,” Rios says. “When you’re on a cruise, it’s like all your worldly problems go away, and you can just be in that moment.”