5th August 2022

Are you new to cruise and absolutely baffled by the terminology? Or maybe you have already been on a few cruises and still smile and nod when others may mention a term you're not familiar with? Fear not! We're here to teach you your afts from your asterns and your pitches from your ports.

A

Aboard = used to refer to being or doing something on the ship

About = turn the ship around

Add-On = an additional charge to the cruise fare this can refer to drinks packages, shore excursions, airfare, transfers, land tours, or any additional item not included is the base cruise fare

Aft = the back of the ship

Ashore = on land - the opposite of aboard

Astern = Toward the back of the ship or behind it

B

Back to Back = Two cruises in a row, the ship may dock to let passengers off and new ones on, but you will stay on the ship

Balcony Cabin = These are cabins which will have doors extending into a balcony with seating. Also referred to as verandahs. 

Beam = the width of the ship at its widest point - usually the middle

Berth = a bed on a ship, or where it is docked

Boat = repeat after me, it's not a boat, it's a SHIP! 

Bow = the front part of the ship

Bridge = the location of the ship where the Captain and crew control the navigation system

Bulkhead = structural wall of the ship

C

Cabin = a passenger room on the ship, some cruise lines refer to these as 'staterooms'

Cabin Steward = the person in charge of looking after the cabin during your cruise

Category = the are several different categories within a cabin type, these are based on location, size and amenities included

Cruise Card = on most cruises, your card acts as your room key, ID and also a method of payment on board, as ships operate a cashless system. Some cruises now use wristbands with a chip instead.

Cruise Director = the head of the ships entertainment staff 

Cruise & Stay = a cruise which has a pre or post-hotel stay (or both!) Flights are usually included too. 

Cruise Tour = a tour or excursion operated by the cruise line

D

Deck = each different level of the ship

Deck Plan = a map of the cruise ship

Disembark = when you leave the ship to go ashore

Dinner Seating = most ships offer two sittings at dinner, an early and a late one and you can choose this when you book

Dock = where the ship is moored

Double Occupancy = cruise pricing is always displayed as two people to a cabin unless otherwise stated

Draft = the depth of water needed for a ship to sail without touching the ocean floor

Dress codes = not all ships have one, but some do have dress codes for specific events or dinners

E

Embarkation = when you board the ship

eMuster = The deal you board the ship will perform a safety drill called a 'muster' so you know what to do in an emergency. Due to the recent covid pandemic, these moved online and via an app or an email video, and a lot of cruise lines have kept them like this.

F

Fantail = the rear overhang of the ship

First Seating = The earlier of the two dinner sittings in the ships dining room

Fleet = a collection of ships under the same cruise brand

Forward = the front of the ship

Formal Night = a tradition on some cruise lines to get very dressed up for dinner - this can vary from cruise line so don't be afraid to ask!

Funnel = the ship's smokestack

G

Galley = the ship's kitchen

Gangway = The ramp or stairway from the ship to the shore whilst docked.

Gratuities = tipping is customary on a cruise. A per person fee is charged to your cabin on most major lines, but a lot include this fee

Gross Registered Ton = GRT is a measurement of enclosed passenger space - like cabins, lounges and dining rooms. Open space is not included

Guarantee = a guarantee cabin (GTY fare code) is usually the best-priced cabin in the category you are booking, but you will usually not get a cabin number until a couple of weeks before you sail. If you are fine about where you a located on the ship, they are often a great way to save some money and you can sometimes be upgraded to a higher category

H

Helm = the steering equipment in the bridge

Hold = ship cargo area

Hotel Manager = looks after ship hotel operations, like housekeeping and passenger services

Hull = the outside shell of the ship

I

Inside Cabin = also known as an interior cabin. They not have a window, porthole or balcony and are located in the internal corridor section of the ship

K 

Keel = the main structure of the ship that extends lengthways

Knot = measurement of speed 

L 

Lido Deck = the largest pool deck (some cruise lines have several!)

M

Main Dining Room = the ship's main restaurant

Maiden Voyage = the first voyage of any new ship 

Maiden Call = the first port of call on the ship's maiden voyage

Master = the Captain of the ship

Mini-Suite = usually the lowest grade of suites on a ship - it bridges the gap between a full suite and a balcony

Muster = to assemble the passengers and crew

Muster Drill = a mandatory event where passengers assemble in a specific location and receive instructions on what to do in an emergency. Typically occurs on the first day of a cruise, but is often done online now

Muster Station = each cabin is given a muster station, this is very important to know as in case of an emergency, this is where you will gather to be accounted for and to get into a lifeboat

O

Oceanview Cabin = also known as an outside cabin, these will have a porthole or square window that looks out to the water

Onboard = located on the ship or to be used on the ship

Onboard Booking = booking your next cruise while still onboard your current cruise. Onboard booking is done to receive benefits and discounts not offered at other times

Onboard Credit = also referred to as onboard spend and abbreviated to OBC, this is a credit added to your onboard account to spend on what you would like

Open Seating = a dinner seating where tables are not assigned

P

Passageway = hallway inside a ship

Passenger Space Ratio = The number of gross registered tons divided by the total passenger capacity

Passenger to Crew Ratio = number of passengers divided by the number of crew members

Pitch = the rise and fall of the ship as it moves

Picture Window = not actually a picture, but a large square window

Port = the left side of the ship as you face forward

Porthole = a round window on a ship

Port-of-Call = a port that the ship will anchor or moor at and passengers can disembark

Pre-paid Gratuities = you can pre-pay these to avoid being charged extra onboard

Promenade = open deck that circles the ship

Pullman Bed = similar to bunk beds, these beds pull down from the wall to accommodate extra passengers in a cabin. They are usually tidied away in the day by your crew steward. 

Purser = the financial or administrative manager for guest services

Q 

Quad = cabin that will sleep 4 people

R

Repositioning Cruise = also known as a repo cruise, these cruises are one-way where a ship moves to its new home port, for example, Miami to Barcelona. These offer great value and usually lots of sea days, so great for passengers who enjoy their days at sea

Roll = side-to-side movement of the ship

S 

Sailaway = the point that the ship leaves its port. There is often a sailaway party on embarkation day

Sea Day = a full day at sea with no port of call

Second Seating = the later dinner seating in the main dining room

Single Supplement = the extra charge a solo passenger might have to pay to have a double occupancy cabin to themselves. 

Sister ships = Ships built to the same specification as each other, within the same fleet

Shore Excursion = a tour or guide activity at a port of call

Stabilisers = the retractable arm midship at the water line, that is extended in rough seas to reduce the ships roll

Starboard = the right side of the ship if you are facing forward

Stateroom = another word for cabin

Stern = the back end of a ship

Suite = the largest class of stateroom which will feature separate living and sleeping areas.

TA = short for travel agent! 

Tender = a small boat to transfer passengers from the ship to shore, they are used when the harbour is not deep enough for a ship to dock

U 

Upgrade = a change in cabin to one of a higher grade or category

Upper berth = similar to a pullman, a bed folded into the wall

V

Verandah = a private balcony 

W 

Wake = the tracks in the water created by a moving ship

Windward = the side of the ship that the wind is blowing on

World Cruise = a longer cruise which circumnavigates the globe, this is often broken down into sectors if you don't want to do the whole thing. 

Have we missed something? Still some terms you're not familiar with? Email us and we'll add them to the list!