Help Centre / Getting Started

Getting Started

Welcome to CruiseCtrl — the privacy-first cruising and dating app for gay and queer men, built in the EU. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to get your account up and running, from your very first sign-up to your first time going live on the Radar.

1. Create your account

Getting started takes only a few minutes. You have several ways to sign up:

During sign-up you'll also choose a display name — this is the name other users see on the grid and in chats. It doesn't have to be your real name; a handle, nickname, or first name only is fine. You can change your display name later under Settings → Profile → Basics.

You must agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy during sign-up. If you are based in the EU/EEA, you also have GDPR rights that apply from the moment you create your account.

2. The 18+ age check

CruiseCtrl is a strictly adult service. Before you can access the app, you must pass an automated age-assurance check. This is required by our Terms of Service and aligns with EU digital safety legislation.

Here is exactly how the check works:

  1. You are prompted to take a short selfie or upload a recent photo of your face.
  2. The image is submitted to Sightengine, our age-estimation processor, which uses a machine-learning model to estimate whether you are 18 or older. Sightengine performs age estimation only — it does not attempt to identify who you are.
  3. No biometric template of your face is created or stored. The photo is used only for the single check and is deleted immediately afterwards by Sightengine. CruiseCtrl itself does not retain the photo either.
  4. If the model is confident you are 18+, the check passes automatically within a few seconds and you move on.
  5. If the model is uncertain — for example because of lighting, a partial image, or an edge-case result — the photo goes to a human reviewer on the CruiseCtrl safety team who makes the call. This typically takes up to 24 hours. You'll receive an email once the review is complete.

If the check fails: you will see an on-screen explanation and an option to try again. Common reasons for failure include low image quality, sunglasses, heavy filters, or indirect lighting. Take a clear, well-lit, face-forward selfie with no obstructions and try once more.

If you believe a human review reached the wrong conclusion, email support@cruisectrl.eu and we will escalate it. We cannot make exceptions to the 18+ requirement.

For full details on how age-assurance data is handled, see our Age Assurance statement and Privacy Policy.

3. Verify your email

If you signed up with an email address (rather than Google/Apple/Facebook), we send a confirmation link to that address. Click the link to confirm your email and unlock full access to the app.

A few things to check if the email doesn't arrive:

If the link has expired (they are valid for 24 hours), tap Resend to get a fresh one. Still having trouble? Email support@cruisectrl.eu and we'll sort it out manually.

4. Setting up your profile for the first time

Once your account is created and your age check has passed, you land on the Edit Profile screen. Your profile is how other users find and recognise you — take a few minutes to fill it in well.

There are seven tabs in Edit Profile: Photos, Basics, Stats, Voice, Cruising, Health, Verify. You don't have to fill in everything right away, but the more complete your profile, the more likely people are to engage with you.

Add a profile photo

Your main (first) photo is always public — it appears on the Discover grid and map. Tap the photo placeholder to take a shot with your camera or pick one from your gallery. Photos go through an automated moderation check against our Community Guidelines: explicit content is not permitted in your main photo, but is permitted in photos 2–6 which are only unlocked once you and another user have exchanged messages.

Basics tab

Fill in your Display Name, Age, Pronouns, Gender, a short Headline (shown under your name on the grid), and a Bio. The bio has a 300-character limit — be direct, be yourself. There's no algorithm penalising bluntness here.

Stats tab

Optional fields: Body Type, Sexuality, Position, Endowment, Weight, Height. Each has a show/hide toggle — you control exactly which stats are visible on your public profile. Sexuality is hidden by default. See Profile & Account for full details on each field.

5. Navigating the app

CruiseCtrl has four main areas reachable from the bottom navigation bar:

6. Going live for the first time

Being on the Discover Radar requires you to actively check in. This is a deliberate privacy choice — you only appear to other users when you choose to, and only for as long as you set.

To go live for the first time:

  1. Tap the Check In button (on the Discover screen or in Settings).
  2. Pick your intent — this is a short label that appears under your name on the grid, like "Up for a chat", "Cruising", "Just browsing", or "Looking to meet". Choose something honest; it helps people find the right connection.
  3. Set a duration — anything from 15 minutes to 4 hours. When the timer runs out, you automatically disappear from the Radar. You'll receive a push notification a few minutes before it expires in case you want to extend.

Once you check in, your profile card appears on the grid and map for anyone within your set discovery distance. You can update your intent at any time during an active session, or check out early by tapping Check Out in Settings. See Going Live for a complete guide.

7. Getting the verified tick

The green verified tick (✓) on a profile tells other users that this is a real, age-confirmed person. Getting verified is optional but recommended — it builds trust and unlocks a few extra features.

To get verified:

  1. Go to Settings → Verification.
  2. Follow the on-screen prompt to take a verification selfie. The same Sightengine age-estimation process used at sign-up applies here.
  3. Once confirmed, your profile displays the green tick.

Being verified unlocks:

Verification selfies follow the same no-retention policy as the initial age check. See Profile & Account for more on what the tick means and Age Assurance for the full technical and legal detail.

Still stuck? Email support@cruisectrl.eu · Back to Help Centre