Cruise Ship Vocabulary and Glossary
First-time cruise passengers may feel baffled by some of the cruise vocabulary on their cruise – some of the words and phrases they hear aboard.
Tips and Advice About the Language of Cruise Ships - Vocabulary and Glossary
Occasionally, when you're aboard your first cruise, it can sound like a whole new language, and sometimes the lack of translation can mean you miss out on things.
One of our visitors aboard Prow’s Edge told us that during an Alaska cruise, a lot of the passengers missed some of the sights simply because they didn’t understand the vocabulary. When the Captain announced a whale sighting on the port side, several folks looked baffled and then dashed off in the wrong direction. They missed the whales.
Of course, had they known that “port” meant the left side of the ship, they may well have made the sightings in time.
For those not familiar with the nautical terms and don’t wish to make any gaffs on their first day on board the cruise ship, here are some tips.
Remember of course, that the tub you’re sailing in is NEVER referred to as a boat, (nor a tub, of course) but a ship. And remember also that the ship is always she, and NEVER he, and NEVER, NEVER it.
THE SHIP
ship – a cruise ship is NEVER referred to as a boat - it is always a “ship”
AT THE FRONT OF THE SHIP
bow – word used to refer to anything at the front of the ship
fore / forward – more words used to refer to anything at the front of the ship
AT THE BACK OF THE SHIP
aft – word used to refer to anything at the rear of the ship
stern – another word used to refer to anything at the rear of the ship
AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SHIP
starboard – word used to refer to the right side of the ship
AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SHIP
port – word used to refer to the left side of the ship
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SHIP
midships – word used to refer to the middle of the ship
OTHER PARTS OF THE SHIP
bridge – word used to refer to the place where the captain and his officers steer the ship
brig – ship’s jail
galley – a cruise ship’s kitchen
gangway – the ramp or staircase giving access to and from the ship to shore
OTHER NAUTICAL TERMS
draft – the depth of water (from the waterline to the bottom of the ship) needed to float a ship
fathom – a measure of six feet, usually of water depth
windward – refers to the direction upwind from the point of reference.
leeward – refers to the direction downwind from the point of reference.
lee side – the side of a ship that is towards the leeward - away from the wind
ROOMS AND AREAS OF THE SHIP
purser's desk – the cruise ship equivalent of the front desk, information desk or reception onland
stateroom – the cruise ship equivalent of the room in which you sleep
cabin – another word used as the cruise ship equivalent of the room in which you sleep
berth – just to confuse you, this could refer to your bed on a boat, or the location in a port where a ship can be moored
tender – a vessel that transports passengers between the ship and shore when the ship is at anchor in a port.
STAFF AND STAFF RELATED TERMS
purser’s office / pursers desk/counter – home for the cruise line’s pursers
pursers – the mass of staff at the pursers’ desk usually referred to as “receptionists” in hotels on shore. As with receptionists, pursers take care of everything from bills to enquiries and any problems with customer service
cabin steward – more than the room maids in land hotels, individual cabin stewards take care of the cabin and guests for the entire cruise with services covering everything from breakfast service to turning down the beds at night
cruise director – the cruise ship director generally take responsibility for all the entertainment on board your cruise ship - from parties at the pool to late night entertainment in the bars
STILLMORE
And last but not least, important measurement terms are:
1 nautical mile = about 6078 feet/1.15 statute miles
1 league = 3 nautical miles
1 knot (a measurement of speed) = 1 nautical mile/hour
