Glossary

AFT/FORWARD

The back of the ship is aft and the front of the ship is forward.

AHOY 

The traditional greeting onboard ships. The term originated as a Viking battle cry!

AT ANCHOR

When ships drop anchor for tender services to operate, usually out of port.

ASHORE

On land.

BEARING

The direction the ship is heading in.

BERTH

The ship’s placement at a dock and also the bed in your cabin.

BOW/STERN

The front part of the ship is the bow. The back of the ship is the stern.

BRIDGE

The command centre at the bow (front) of the ship. All the steering and navigation equipment are here.

CABIN GRADES 

The ships different types of accommodation based on size, location and amenities.

CABIN STEWARD

The person who cleans your cabin and turns down the room at night.

CRUISE CARD 

Used to identify you and acts as the cashless system for buying onboard. It also gives you access to your cabin.

CRUISE DIRECTOR

The Master of Ceremonies for the cruise who heads up the ships entertainment and social events.

DECKS 

The different floors on a ship.

DISEMBARKATION

The process of passengers leaving the ship.

EMBARKATION 

Checking-in and getting passengers on board. This is normally done in stages.

GALLEY

The ship’s kitchen.

GANGWAY

The ramp or stairway that leads from the ship to the pier, allowing passengers to get on and off the ship.

GRATUITIES/TIPS

Tips are common on ships. Policies vary depending on the cruise line.

HOMEPORT

Where a cruise ship is based for the season.

INSIDE CABIN

Inside staterooms without windows (porthole) or balconies.

ITINERARY

A list of the destinations (ports) you will visit.

KEEL

The spine of the ship which runs from bow to stern.

KNOT

Refers to a nautical mile and is the measurement of ship’s speed.

LEEWARD/WINDWARD

Leeward is the side of the ship protected from the wind, Windward is exposed to it.

LIDO DECK

The pool deck, hot tubs, deck chairs, splash pools and the pool bar are here.

LIFE JACKETS

Your buoyancy jacket that keeps you afloat in the unlikely event of an emergency.

MIDSHIP

The area halfway between bow and stern.

MUSTER DRILL/MUSTER STATION

A muster drill is a mandatory event where passengers assemble in a specific location and receive instructions on what to do in the unlikely case of an emergency. The muster station is the location passengers must go to during a drill or in an actual emergency.

OBC/ OBS

Onboard credit or spend – a credit added to your onboard account for you to spend on board using the ship’s cashless buying system.

ON BOARD ACCOUNT

The cashless system used on board to make all your purchases and paid at the end when checking out.

PILOT

Brought on board to provide local expertise when a ship is entering or leaving a port.

PORT/STARBOARD

The nautical terms for left (port) and right (starboard). You can remember because both “left” and “port” have four letters.

PORTHOLE

A round window found in most outside cabins.

PORT OF CALL

A port at which the ship anchors or berths to allow passengers to disembark.

PROMENADE DECK

Where passengers can stroll around the ship.

PULLMAN BEDS

Extra foldaway bunk beds that allow more than 2 passengers to share a cabin. PURSER The officer in charge of financial accounting, who handles billing issues, as well as general customer service.

REPOSITIONING CRUISE

A one way cruise that begins and ends in different ports as a ship moves from one region to another. These cruise types are usually cheaper and have more at sea days.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY

Single cabins, or one person occupying a double cabin.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

A single supplement is applied when one person occupies a 2 person cabin.

SHORE EXCURSIONS

Your onshore trips organized by the ship or an independent operator.

SUITE

The ship’s largest cabin class with separate sleeping and living spaces.

TENDER

A small boat that ferries cruise passengers from the ship to shore when docking isn’t possible.

THEME CRUISE

A cruise arranged around passengers common interests – wine, food, music etc.

TRADITIONAL DINING

Passengers usually have the option of first (around 6.30pm) or second (around 8.30pm) sittings in the Main Dining Room and will be allocated the same table for the full cruise.

TRANSFERS

Transportation to and from your airport or hotel.

TRANSATLANTIC

A cruise that crosses the Atlantic Ocean.

UPGRADE

When you are given a cabin of a higher category.