This doesn't really work with iOS devices. You need to have an android or better a travel router.

How do you get through a portal on a travel router?

The steps are as follows

1. Turn on travel router

2. Connect to its network

3. Go to travel router's admin page (192.168.8.1 or similar)

4. Click buttons and join the Hotel/Cruise/Flight WiFi

5. Go to neverssl.com (or google.com or whatever)

6. See the captive portal of Hotel/Cruise/Flight and follow instructions.

In other words, for the portal, it is no different than using your phone. The extra step is logging into the admin portal and having the router join the public wifi first.

Ok, so once connected any client can authenticate at the portal page.