Privacy Policy

Overview

CruiseStar is built around your cruise log, your friends, and your ship communities. This policy explains, in plain language, how we handle information when you use https://cruisestar.org and our mobile apps (together, the "Service").

We don't sell your personal information. We collect only what's needed to run the features you use, and we try to give you meaningful control along the way.

By using the Service or creating an account, you agree to this Privacy Policy.

What others can see

CruiseStar is a social app at heart. When you rate ships, write reviews, join chats, or add friends, other members may see that activity according to how the product works — for example your username, profile photo, reviews on ship pages, and messages in groups you've joined.

Some ship pages may also show community ratings to visitors on the web. Where settings are available, you can limit how much of your activity non-friends see; overall score averages on ship pages may still reflect ratings you've saved.

Your account & profile

To sign up, you provide basics like a display name, username, and email (or sign in with Google or Facebook, which share profile details according to your choices there). You may add a profile photo and update your name in settings.

We keep your ratings, reviews, hearts, sailed marks, trophies, friend connections, alerts, and chat participation linked to your account so your log stays yours across devices.

How we use information

In short, we use information to run CruiseStar, personalize your experience, and keep the community usable:

• Show your log, profile, and social activity to you and to others as the app is designed to work.
• Power ship pages, search, chats, roll calls, notifications, and friend features you opt into.
• Send service messages and, where permitted by law or with your consent, CruiseStar news, recommendations, guides, and promotional updates. You can change email categories or unsubscribe at any time.
• Keep the Service secure, reliable, and fair — including addressing spam, abuse, and broken experiences.
• Understand which parts of the app people use so we can fix bugs and improve the product.
• Respond when you contact support or when law requires it.

Your choices

You're in control of several parts of your experience:

• Update your display name, photo, and notification preferences in Settings.
• Turn push notifications on or off and choose push categories in Settings.
• Choose email categories, turn email off, or use the unsubscribe link included in every promotional email. Operational account and order messages are managed separately.
• Decline contact access — invite features will fall back to the normal share sheet on your phone.
• Revoke device permissions anytime in iOS or Android settings.
• Request access, correction, or deletion by emailing [email protected] from your account email (we may verify it's you).
• California and EEA/UK residents have additional rights described under Regional notices below.

Optional features

Some capabilities only run if you turn them on:

Information we collect automatically

Like most apps, CruiseStar receives some technical information when you use it — for example your device type, app version, general usage patterns, session timing, and sign-in status. This helps us authenticate you, keep sessions stable, diagnose crashes, and understand feature adoption.

We may also log signals related to community safety — such as when content is reported or moderation actions are taken — so we can respond to issues in chats and reviews.

When information is shared

We share information in a limited set of situations:

• With other CruiseStar members, as part of normal social and chat features.
• With infrastructure and analytics partners that host and operate the Service on our behalf, under confidentiality and security obligations.
• With sign-in providers you choose (Google or Facebook) during authentication.
• When required by law, to protect users and the Service, or in connection with a business transfer, always subject to protections consistent with this policy.

How we protect information

We use industry-standard safeguards for an app of our size — including encrypted connections, access controls, and secure cloud hosting. No online service can promise perfect security, but we work to reduce risk and respond to issues when they arise.

How long we keep information

We retain information while your account is active and as needed to provide the Service, comply with law, and resolve disputes. If you delete content or close your account, we delete or anonymize personal data within a reasonable period, except where we must keep limited records for security, legal, or backup purposes.

Service providers & partners

We rely on established providers to operate CruiseStar — including cloud hosting, authentication, databases, file storage, analytics, and push delivery (such as Google Firebase and related Google services). Optional sign-in through Google or Facebook is governed by those companies' policies as well.

Ship reference material may come from Wikidata and Wikipedia under their licenses. App distribution through the Apple App Store and Google Play is subject to those platforms' terms.

Where data is processed

Information is primarily processed and stored in United States (Google Cloud / Firebase). If you use CruiseStar from another country, your data may be transferred to the United States and other locations where our providers operate. Where required by law, we use appropriate safeguards for cross-border transfers.

Regional notices

Contact & data requests

CruiseStar is responsible for personal information processed through the Service.

Privacy: [email protected] · Legal: [email protected] · https://cruisestar.org

Updates to this policy

We may revise this policy occasionally. The current version always lives at https://cruisestar.org/privacy with the date at the top. Meaningful changes may be surfaced in the app. Continued use after an update takes effect means you accept the revised policy.