Before you open the case.

Not yet. Each game needs an investigation profile prepared for the ship and sailing. Use Find My Case to see whether your voyage is Confirmed, In Validation, Waitlist, or Closed. We never call a voyage supported simply because the ship exists.

Confirmed — the ship profile and sailing edition are ready; you can reserve. In Validation — we are still preparing the profile; some sailings accept a refundable deposit, some do not. Waitlist — not open for preorder; no payment is taken. Closed — the founder allocation for that sailing is full.

Submit it for review from the finder. There is no charge and no marketing signup — we look at the ship and sailing and email you when its status changes.

The story works anywhere; the shipboard detail does not. Deck layouts, sightlines and venues are authored per ship, which is why a profile has to exist before we can call your sailing compatible.

The Missing Mariner’s Star is designed for ages 8+ and gives younger investigators meaningful clues to solve. The Last Crossing is a non-graphic murder mystery for ages 13+. We’ll recommend a title based on the youngest age band you provide.

No. Download the case before sailing and it works offline. AR is always optional, and every physical-location mission includes an app or map alternative. No clue requires entry to crew-only or restricted areas.

One is enough. The physical evidence spreads across a table and the app gets passed to whoever is reading. Parties who prefer separate devices can each install the case, though progress is kept per device rather than synced — there is no server at sea to sync through.

The Last Crossing runs 6–10 hours and The Missing Mariner’s Star 3–5, both spread across the voyage rather than played in one sitting. Chapters unlock with the shape of your itinerary: the long investigations land on sea days.

Every investigation has a graded hint ladder — the first nudge points you at the right place, the last explains what you are looking at. You can also reveal a solution outright and carry on. Hints cost points, never the story.

Venues and operating conditions can change, so every case is designed with alternatives. An itinerary change will not make the core mystery unsolvable. Always follow onboard instructions and never block walkways or disturb other guests.

Every document in the case is also narrated in the app, text scales with your device settings, and no puzzle requires colour vision alone to solve. If something in the case does not work for your party, tell us at hello@cruisemysteryfiles.com and we will treat it as a defect.

Eligible sailings can be held with a $25 refundable deposit. It is a real charge, credited toward your purchase—not an authorization hold. Final shipping and tax are calculated before the remaining balance is collected. If we cannot confirm compatibility, the deposit is refunded automatically.

Your evidence file ships to your home address before departure, not to the ship or the port. Confirmed sailings show an expected ship date when you check compatibility, timed to reach you with room to spare.

Tell us before the case ships and the deposit is refunded in full. If it has already shipped, contact us — the case is not tied to a single date, and in most instances we can re-issue the sailing edition for your new voyage.

Yes. Nothing stops you carrying both aboard, and on a longer sailing many parties do — the family case for afternoons, the murder mystery for after the children are asleep.

No. Cruise Mystery Files is an independent entertainment product and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or produced by any cruise line. Names are used only to identify voyage compatibility.

No. The compatibility finder on this site is a front-end demonstration and the sailings shown are illustrative. A production release checks availability on the server, so a sailing cannot be shown as Confirmed by a page a visitor could edit.

Reservation and review requests are used to fulfil the order and tell you about that voyage. Gameplay stays on your device — your notes, progress, accusation and rank are stored locally and never uploaded, because the app has no network access during play. For anything else, write to hello@cruisemysteryfiles.com.