RiverCruisesApp / a platform for cruise operators
RiverCruisesApp is a SaaS product that helps river cruise operators streamline tour planning and enhance passenger engagement. Operators use a simple dashboard to create rich itineraries with maps, images, historical details, and trivia, which guides can access and broadcast during the tour—saving prep time and improving the experience.
Passengers scan a QR code to access real-time features like live captions, translations, map, and bonus content such as hidden stories. A headphone mode supports noisy environments, and all tour info is sent via email after the cruise.
process.
identifying the problem
After having been on various river cruises, I wondered why the experience felt so uninspired and old-fashioned.
In some cruises the surroundings were very noisy or the microphones were malfunctioning. Other cruises overloaded passengers with fragmented information—I’d struggle to pinpoint which landmark the guide referenced before the boat moved on. I also found it difficult to remember all the information I had heard during the tour.
research
Most existing products for river cruises fell into two categories: passenger-focused apps and operator tools for bookings or itineraries.
To explore the problem further, I conducted quick interviews with two river cruise guides and looked for passenger reviews on operators’ websites. Here's what I discovered:
- Guides expressed frustration with organizing the tours and relying on microphone systems.
- Passengers struggled to listen to the narration and/or match narration to landmarks in real time.
solution & plan
The research revealed a clear gap: existing tools focused either on operators or passengers, but not both. Feedback from guides and passengers confirmed the need for a unified solution that simplifies guide workflows while enhancing the passenger experience.
After discussing these insights with a developer, we began shaping the product—outlining what to include in an MVP and what could be added later. The solution focused on combining operator efficiency and passenger accessibility through intuitive tech. Key features included tools for quick trip creation, interactive content, and real-time features like live captions, translations, and headphone mode to support different environments.
low fidelity wireframes
After defining the MVP features, I began mapping out the user flow and creating low-fidelity wireframes to explore the structure, layout, and core interactions of the platform. Here is some basic low fidelity screens:
high fidelity wireframes
mini style guide
trip management
Once a guide creates a trip, they can easily add stops by clicking "+ Add a Stop," with numbered entries to set the tour order. For each stop, guides add names, images, and narration text. Also extra facts are available, shown by numbered icons. When ready, guides press "Start" to launch the tour and connect the content to passengers’ devices.
trip session
The live tour screen equips guides with key controls: a "Show QR" button for passenger access and a "Broadcast Audio" button for narration. A timeline displays all stops with markers for current and completed locations.
The screen features two side-by-side panels, one showing the current stop’s details and another previewing the next stop, including images and an “Additional Context” section to help guides prepare.
passenger’s screen
The passenger app screen shows a "Headphone Mode" toggle option for noisy environments.
The live map shows all stops of the tour, with the current stop highlighted. The main area displays the live caption narration. Images are there for passengers to explore each stop more, in case the weather conditions are not ideal.
The passenger has also the option to change the language of the live captions and of the content generally. There is also the additional trivia about each stop.
interactive & responsive design
On the landing page, I used accordion-style sections to keep information organized and accessible. This design keeps the page tidy while letting visitors explore features at their own pace.
There are adaptations to different screen sizes for better usability. On desktop, visitors see the classic horizontal navigation bar at the top. On mobile devices, I replaced this with a simple menu icon that opens a full-screen menu when tapped.
what I've learned.
Creating desktop and mobile versions of the landing page improved my skills in responsive design
Creating consistent components, text styles, and color schemes helped me understand better the value of design systems
Initiating the design process with low fidelity wireframes before advancing to detailed designs enhanced my ability to plan layouts