1. Open or Create the trip you'd like to add the cruise to
In this example we'll create a new trip.
2. Enter the name of the trip
This can be anything you'd like and doesn't need to be related to the cruise.
3. Define the dates of the trip
These dates will be used to show the available cruises. Since cruise itineraries happen on set dates it's recommended that you define dates here.
4. Click on Create Trip
This will create the trip in Tern
5. Click on Itinerary
6. Drag the "cruise library" option to the board
Make sure you select the "Cruise library" option if you want to add an existing cruise itinerary from the Tern Cruise library. Only use the Cruise and Port Information if you are manually building a cruise that is not present in library.
Why starting from the Cruise Library matters
When you add a cruise from the Cruise Library, Tern links the ship and its data to your trip. This linkage is what allows you to search for and add cabins with photos and deck plans later.
If you create a cruise trip through AI Assist or by manually adding "Cruise and Port Information" without using the Cruise Library, the ship is not linked automatically. You will need to add staterooms, cabin details, and "Cruising at Sea" segments by hand.
For the smoothest experience with cruise trips, always start from the Cruise Library first. You can then use AI Assist to add remaining details like pricing and payment schedules.
7. You can access additional filters using the filter sidebar
Pull up the filter sidebar by clicking the filter button next to the max date field.
8. Click on Add to Itinerary
Once you've found the cruise you want to add clicking "Add to Itinerary" will add it to your trip board.
9. Click on Preview to see the itinerary
10. Click on Full Itinerary
See the ship information and details about the cruise line under the Full itinerary tab.
Port maps
Each port on your cruise has a built-in map. You'll see it in Preview and in your client's itinerary, not on the Edit Port Info screen or in the media library.
To see a port's map: in Preview, click the port to open it. The map appears below any photos you've added.
To show maps in the day-by-day view: open the trip's Overview tab and set Itinerary Style to Side-by-side. Each port then shows its map in the list. If you add a photo to a port, the photo shows instead.
With the Vertical list style (the default), ports don't show a map in the day-by-day list. Clients still see the map when they open the port.
Cruises added from the Cruise Library fill in each port's location automatically, so the map appears without any extra steps. If you build a cruise by hand, see "Showing maps on ports you add yourself" below.
See Previewing your Itineraries for more on what your client sees.
If the auto-populated cruise information is outdated
Cruise data in Tern comes from Widgety and cannot be edited directly. If the description or media is outdated, use a Custom Cruise activity instead.
Note: Leave the Cruise Ship field blank when setting up a Custom Cruise activity. Selecting a ship from the Cruise Ship field triggers auto-population from Widgety, which overwrites your custom content with the same outdated information.
Open the Itinerary tab and drag a Custom Cruise component into the itinerary.
Enter the cruise name. Leave the Cruise Ship field blank.
Enter ports and dates manually. For each port stop, choose the port in the Port Location field. The port's map only appears in the itinerary when this field is filled in.
Paste your updated description and upload your own photos.
Click Publish.
Note: Because no ship is selected, cabin data won't auto-load. Enter cabin details manually.
Showing maps on ports you add yourself
Ports from the Cruise Library get their location automatically. If you add a port with Cruise and Port Information, a Custom Cruise or AI Assist, open the port and check that Port Location is filled in. Start typing the port name and pick it from the list. Without it, the port shows no map.
How to add a night before a cruise (or change your trip dates)
Quick Summary
If your trip starts on the cruise date, Tern will not let you place a hotel night before it until you extend the trip dates. This article shows you how to change your trip dates and then place the pre-cruise hotel stay correctly. It applies any time you need to add days to the start or end of a trip.
Change your trip dates
You can change trip dates from two places. Use whichever you are already in.
From the trip overview:
Open the trip and go to the overview.
Open the itinerary editor for the trip.
Change the start date to the earlier date (for example, move it one day earlier for a pre-cruise night).
Save the change.
From the itinerary screen:
Open the trip's Itinerary.
Open the edit option for the itinerary.
Change the dates.
Select Update to apply them.
Place the pre-cruise hotel stay
Extending the trip dates adds the days, but each item still needs its own dates so it lands in the right place.
Add or open the hotel lodging item.
Set its check-in and check-out dates to the new pre-cruise night.
Confirm the cruise still begins on its original start date.
The hotel will now appear at the top of the itinerary, with the cruise starting after checkout, so the days line up in order for your client.
FAQs
Can the Tern chatbot create a trip or look up cruise sailings for me?
No. The chatbot can guide you through Tern's features but cannot create trips, look up live cruise inventory, or verify specific sailing dates. Always use the Cruise Library in Tern to search for available sailings. Any cruise details provided in chat are illustrative only and should not be treated as accurate.
Why couldn't I add the hotel night in the first place?
The hotel date fell outside the trip's date range. Tern keeps items inside the trip's start and end dates, so extend the trip first, then set the item's dates.
Do I need to update anything else after changing the dates?
Yes. Always recheck the check-in and check-out dates on each affected item so they appear in the correct order.
I added a cruise but I don't see a map on the ports. Where is it?
Port maps only appear in Preview and in your client's itinerary. They don't appear on the Edit Port Info screen or in the media library. In Preview, click a port to open it and see the map. To show maps in the day-by-day view, set the trip's Itinerary Style to Side-by-side on the Overview tab. If a port still has no map, open it and check that Port Location is filled in.
Can I make a landing page for a single client's cruise?
No. Landing pages are only available for group trips. For one client, publish the trip and share the itinerary link. It includes the ship details, deck plans, photos and port maps. See How to Share a Trip With Your Client and How They Access It.