Inspector Raoul Dusentier is invited on a cruise by wealthy businessman Niklos Karaboudjan, expecting a relaxing week at sea. However, his host is murdered on the second day, and as a policeman on board, Dusentier sets out to find suspects. With each person having a motive for the murder, the game follows the tradition of Agatha Christie.
Cruise for a Corpse is a graphic adventure game with a point-and-click interface. You progress by talking to people about relevant subjects and collecting clues, which appear in cupboards and drawers that were previously empty. The clock advances in ten-minute-steps, informing you of your progress, and the protagonist moves around the ship, allowing different people to be talked to at different locations.
The game features Delphine Software's Cinematique interface, which reached "Evolution 2". The command menu is now context-sensitive, with a mouse cursor changing appearance when over an interesting object. Left-clicking brings up relevant verbs, such as opening and searching cupboards or picking up keys. Right-clicking accesses the inventory, and polygonal characters add to the game's visual charm.