NUVI ON THE HIGH SEAS

Which maps need to be loaded into the nuvi for a cruise? What covers the Caribbean, transatlantic. and especially my upcoming South America around the Horn?

You can get a free world base map to add to a SD card for your nüvi. Without it you will just see the outline of islands and countries. The free map does not have POIs and detailed roads but it does have towns and major roads.

Follow the guidelines at this thread:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/15809

Wow ghayman!

I have found your site invaluable for tips on using my Garmin.

This is a new one on me. I never thought of taking my Nuvi on a cruise. Great idea!

It's also a great way to find you way back to the ship after a day of shopping or sightseeing in town. (Assuming you mark where the ship is docked.)

I called Garmin support and complained that the world map base that I downloaded from their site wouldn't work on a Mac. Then I was told to just keep zooming out, and sure enough, the world base is already loaded into all the nuvis. It worked on both the 350 and the 270. No idea what happens ashore, but will sure find out next cruise.

Here is the thread for putting the base map on with a Mac. The base map that is installed on my nüvi was very limited. The base map described on the thread is much more detailed. You will need to install it on a SD card and leave it in the slot as the map will not fit along side your current nüvi map.

Follow the instructions described here for Mac users:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/16777

I followed your instructions to the letter, but the new world map was not recognized using the card reader. I finally let the card mount on the computer through the 350 nuvi and transfered the file that way and, Hooray, everything worked. I then formatted another sd card on the reader, and made a duplicate of the card that was in the nuvi. I put this the 270, and, again success. Both units show all the maps and there is much more detail as you said it would be. Many thanks, I'm sure the trip will be much more enjoyable thanks to you.

not all nüvis have a World Basemap with roads. The free one that I loaded on my 200 has major roads and I used it while in the Caribbean. I tried loading it on my 255, but that didn't work. It turns out the 255 comes with a worldwide basebase with major roads.