Embedded Files
Going on a cruise may make your feel like you're walking into a foreign country. Even if English is the onboard language, people are bound to be speaking Cruise-ese, a hybrid of nautical terms and cruise-specific lingo. Suddenly, your room is a cabin or stateroom, your maid is a cabin steward -- and watch out if you call the ship "a boat."
While you'll need to know many terms to become fluent in cruise speak, here are some basics -- a phrase book, if you will -- to enable you to speak with the natives on your first sailing.
Air/Sea Package: A travel package deal that includes the cruise price, airfare, and transfers between the airport and the ship.
Aft: The back of the ship is aft.
All Aboard: The ship will leave your ports of call promptly. All aboard time is generally set for 30 minutes before your cruise is scheduled to leave the port of call. Do verify this time before leaving your ship. Seriously, there are people left at port every year! (see "Pier Runners")
All-Inclusive: Some upper-tier cruise lines — Silversea, Crystal, Uniworld and others — tout their all-inclusive itineraries. It means you don't pay extra for specialty restaurants, for tipping, for drinks on board. Read the fine print, because some cruise lines cover certain costs while others don't.
Alongside: When the ship is docked beside the pier or next to another ship.
Amidship: The middle section of the ship
Anti-Rebating: Anti-rebating is a policy maintained by nearly all cruise lines that maintains a floor on pricing and prevents travel providers from engaging in price wars and client poaching. In short, the policy requires travel agents to charge the gross amount for a cruise fare when payment is made by the client’s credit card.
Astern: Toward the aft (back of the ship), or behind the ship
Back-to-back (B2B): Most often, two consecutive cruises booked for groups or individual passengers on the same ship from the same home port.
Ballast: Pumps carry water to the ballast tanks to help stabilize the ship.
Beam: A beam is the width of a ship at its widest point.
Berth - a built-in bed or bunk, as in a ship's cabin or stateroom
Bow: The front part of the ship is called the bow.
Bridge: The bridge is the location from which the captain steers the ship.
Bulkhead: The structural wall in the interior of the ship
Buoy: A floating object in the sea used for marking a channel or highlighting a hazard, for example a reef. Smaller vessels can also be moored or tied to a buoy.
Cabin steward: Cabin steward, stateroom steward, room steward, housekeeping staff – no matter what their title, these crew members are some of the hardest workers on the ship. This person cleans your stateroom and turns down the room at night. A steward can assist with minor tasks such as bringing you ice and taking your laundry to be cleaned.
Caribbean: The Caribbean is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands and the surrounding coasts. The region is southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America.
Cast Off: To release a ship from its mooring.
Category: A group of cabins categorized by type or size sold at the same fare (i.e. Inside, outside, balcony, mini-suite, suite).
Cay: (pronounced key) is a small sandy island on the surface of a coral reef. The word is used almost exclusively to refer to islets in the Caribbean. Several cruise lines land for shore excursions at private cays.
Cenote: Natural swimming holes formed by the collapse of porous limestone bedrock, revealing a subterranean world of groundwater pools. Most cave cenotes have pure, clear, fresh water, perfect for swimming and diving.
CLIA: This stands for the "Cruise Line International Association" which is the world's largest cruise industry trade association representing the major cruise lines.
Closed-loop sailing: An itinerary that begins and ends from the same port – a roundtrip cruise.
Course: The direction the ship is headed in, typically expressed in compass degrees.
COVID: Coronavirus disease. Hopefully this will be a thing of the past for this cruise.
Crew Incentives: The passenger's personal expression of thanks (tips) for the service received on board, sometimes automatically added to their account. The amount varies depending upon the type of stateroom you have booked but varies from $16-$18 per person, per day.
Cruise contract: Your booking will be subject to certain terms and conditions. These are contained in the ‘Cruise Contract’. The contract covers matters such as what happens if your cruise is delayed or cancelled. Although they tend to be full of legal jargon, it is worth reading them before booking to ensure that the terms meet your requirements – for example, if you are pregnant, you may not be able to travel or may need to provide a letter from your Doctor.
Cruise director: The emcee of the cruise who heads up the entertainment staff and might handle passenger requests and complaints.
Cruise fare: The cruise fare outlines how much each person will pay for the voyage and stipulates exactly what is included in that fare.
Cruisetour: A cruise that is preceded or followed by a bus tour, operated by the cruise line.
Cruise To Nowhere: Any cruise in which there are no ports of call; the ship embarks and debarks from the same port without making any stops in between.
Debark: To go ashore.
Deck plan: You can’t easily learn your way around a ship without first reviewing the deck plan. These illustrations show what type of staterooms are located on each deck along with the location of elevators, laundry rooms, restaurants, theaters, and shops.
Disembarkation: This is when you leave the ship at the end of your trip.
Dock - where your ship 'parks' when in port
Double occupancy: Most cruise fares are based on double occupancy. That means two people sharing one cabin.
Draft: The depth of water needed to sail so that the ship doesn't touch the ocean floor (The draft is measured from the waterline to the lowest part of the ship, usually the keel)
Duty-Free Shopping: There is no tax or duty due on goods purchased at a duty-free shop on a ship sailing in foreign waters. Passengers can purchase liquor, cigarettes, perfume, jewelry and electronics tax free. Goods for sale will depend on ship. The rules are different for air travel, where travelers can purchase goods at duty-free shops without paying tax on the items if they're on their way out of a country (usually a 48-hour window applies); U.S. citizens traveling by air are limited to $800 of duty-free merchandise.
E-Muster: Watching a video on your smartphone or stateroom TV which explains the procedures to follow during a declared emergency.
Embarkation: It’s when you board your cruise ship at the beginning of your trip.
Enrichment Lecture: Many cruise ships offer enrichment programs, which let passengers sign up for short courses for self-improvement in art, cooking, digital photography, computers and other subjects, usually taught by art instructors, guest lecturers, chefs and other experts. Enrichment programs are sometimes free, often not.
Even Keel: When the ship is balanced in the water.
Excursion: To enhance each port visit, organized shore excursions are offered by the cruise line or private excursion companies. These land based organized tours vary from sightseeing tours of the port city, to cultural events, to active pursuits. The excursions vary in length, cost, and the number of participants involved.
Fathom: Measurement of water depth (One fathom equals six feet.)
First seating/second seating: In the old days, almost all cruise ships had set dining times. You sat with the same people every night and ate your evening meal at the same time. First seating refers to the early dinnertime while second, or late, seating happens thereafter. But this sort of fixed seating arrangement has become less popular, as cruisers now tend to prefer anytime dining.
Fleet: A number of ships operating under the same ownership.
Formal Night: On longer cruises, there will be at least two formal dressing nights. These involve wearing formal suits or tuxedos for men and evening gowns for women. This dress code is not an absolute requirement although it is appreciated.
Force Majeure: The clause in a contract that exempts parties from fulfilling obligations under it in the event of such contingencies as earthquakes, war, floods or other items beyond their control.
Forward: The front of the ship.
Friends of Bill W/Friends of Dorothy: Friends of Bill W. is the code name for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings onboard. Friends of Dorothy denotes GLBT activities. You may see their activities listed on the activity schedules.
Funnel: The funnel is the smokestack on some cruise ships.
FCC: Future Cruise Credit is like a voucher for a cruise at a later date (certain restrictions may apply)
FCD: Future Cruise Deposit can be purchased while on a cruise for future cruises. You will then not need to put down a big deposit for a future cruise and provides you with some onboard credit to use on your next cruise. Beginning in April 2023 the deposit is good for one year (deposits purchased before that date are good for two years). If you do not use the FCD it will be returned to you in full.
Galley: A ship's kitchen.
Gangway: The ramp or stairway that leads from the ship to the pier, allowing passengers and crewmembers to get on and off the ship.
Gratuities: The passenger's personal expression of thanks (tips) for the service received on board, sometimes automatically added to their account. Now called "Crew Incentives". I do want to add some advice about showing gratitude towards the Princess staff that serve you on your voyage: When you get home from your cruise you will receive and email from Princess requesting you complete a survey about your past cruise. If there was staff that you would like to highlight as going above and beyond in their service or kindness to you, please let Princess know their names and where they worked. This type of recognition helps these employees advance in their careers and may produce additional rewards which they deserve.
Gross Registered Ton (GRT): A measurement of enclosed passenger space, including the space in cabins, lounges, showrooms and dining rooms. Although frequently misunderstood, GRT is a measure of volume, not weight.
Guarantee: A fare class that allows the cruise line to select your cabin location, often at a lower price point than an assigned cabin in the same cabin category.
Head: A bathroom
Helm: The helm is the area of the bridge on which the steering wheel is located and used by the crew only.
Hold: The ship's cargo area
Hotel Manager: Shipboard director of hotel operations such as housekeeping and passenger services.
Homeport: The port in which a ship is based and most often sails from.
Hull: The hull is the outside of the ship.
Itinerary: The itinerary lists the voyage’s schedule day by day, noting both ports of call and sea days.
Keel: The keel is the ship’s bottom center.
Knot: A unit of speed at which ships travel, which is one nautical mile per hour. The measurement of a ship's speed. 1 knot = 1.15 mph on land, so 20 knots = 23 mph. A unit of speed of one nautical mile (6,076.12 feet or 1,852 meters) an hour: abbreviated as kn or kt
Latitude: The distance north or south of the equator expressed in degrees
League: A unit of measurement equal to 3.45 nautical miles
Lifeboat: Small boats carried on the ship and used in case of emergency.
Leeward: The side of the ship where you’ll feel most sheltered from wind is leeward.
Lido deck: The pool deck.
Longitude: The distance east or west of the prime meridian expressed in degrees
Loyalty Program: Many cruise lines offer loyalty programs or past passenger programs that reward repeat customers. Benefits increase with frequency and perks might include shipboard credit, free laundry, get-togethers, etc.
Maître d’: Crew member responsible for the dining room.
Midship: This is the middle of the ship.
MDR: Main dining room.
Mooring: A place where a ship is tied, such as the dock when in port.
Muster Drill: A muster drill is a mandatory event held before the ship sets sail where passengers assemble in a specific location and receive instructions on what to do in an emergency. These muster drills have now been replaced with an E-Muster drill viewable on your phone or stateroom TV.
Muster Station: The muster station is the location passengers must go to during a drill or in an actual emergency. You will be required to visit your Muster Station to confirm its location prior to departure.
MUTS: Movies Under The Stars. Large poolside movie screen which movies and other entertainment during the day and each evening.
Norovirus: The most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans, causing vomiting and diarrhea. To avoid it, wash your hands often and use the antiseptic gel available around the ship. Norovirus gets wide coverage in the media when an outbreak occurs on a cruise ship, though the Centers for Disease Control points out that your chances of coming down with norovirus are much greater on land — it affects 20 million people a year in all age ranges.
Oceanview: A stateroom with either a porthole or panoramic windows.
Onboard: Located on the ship; carried or used on the vessel
Onboard Credit (OBC): A credit added to your onboard bill during your cruise. (Think of it as spending money, or as a credit on your credit card statement.) You might get it as a discount at the time of booking from your travel agent or retailer or from the cruise line as compensation for an unforeseen event. In general, onboard credits may be used toward the bar, spa, gift shop or shore excursions from the cruise line, but not gratuities. Also called a shipboard credit.
Onboard Account: Account that is opened for you at the beginning of a cruise, you will normally register a credit card so your account can be settled at the end of your cruise. All purchase on board, shore excursions, gratuities etc are added to your on board account. Most ships operate this kind of 'cashless' system
Onboard Revenue: All money spent by passengers onboard the ship, including bars, casino, spa, shops, shore excursions, specialty dining charges.
Open-jaw sailing: An itinerary that begins and ends in different ports -- a one-way cruise.
Passenger-Crew Ratio: Passenger to crew ratio indicates the number of crew members available to serve each passenger. The cruise industry is averaging a 2.5 passenger-crew ratio, meaning you’ll find 2.5 passengers for every crew member. The Sapphire Princess Ratio is 2.42. Luxury cruises have the lowest ratio – you’re paying more for better service.
Passenger Space Ratio: Gross tonnage divided by number of passengers. This measure is often equated to the amount of space onboard for passengers.
Passageway: A hallway inside the ship
Pier - a structure built out over the water and supported by pillars or piles: used as a landing place.
Pier Runners: This is an unofficial name given to those (who may have had too many libations) who can be seen running in the last few minutes hoping not to miss the ship’s departure. It is quite entertaining!
Pilot: A sailor who maneuvers ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbors or river mouths. Pilots are navigational experts possessing knowledge of the particular waterway such as its depth, currents, and hazards. Pilots become the captain of the ship when it is entering or exiting a port.
Piazza (or Atrium): An interior, multi deck, open area of a ship. Typically, the piazzas or atriums are centrally located near lifts, shops, cafes and guest services. Shipboard atriums can extended anywhere from two to ten decks or more.
Pitch: The forward and backward rise and fall of the ship as it moves
Poop Deck: It’s the enclosed space above the main deck at the aft of the vessel, despite what the name suggests the word poop comes from the Latin puppis, which was the word used to describe a doll or small image. In ancient times, seafarers placed an idol at the stern to watch over the vessel.
Port of call: A port of call is a destination on your cruise and where you’ll likely be able to enjoy shore excursions.
Port: The nautical terms for the left side of the ship. You can remember because both "left" and "port" have four letters.
Port expenses: Wherever you sail, each port of call will levy a charge based on local taxes and fees. That fee is charged to the cruise company, which then in turn charges it back to you. Cruise fares generally don’t include port expenses and other taxes and fees.
Porter: Crew member on land to help you with your luggage curbside before you embark the ship.
Porthole: A round window, often smaller than the standard picture window found in most outside cabins on older cruise ships.
Pre- or Post-: This is travel agent jargon for adding a few days to the beginning or end of your cruise for sightseeing, usually at the port of embarkation or disembarkation.
Princess Patter: Name of the daily newsletter of information of scheduled activities for the coming day on Princess Cruise ships.
Promenade: Usually the open walkway that runs almost the entire length of each side of the cruise ship. Some promenade decks encircle the ship.
Pullman bed: A bed which pulls down from the wall and folds up when not in use. Some cruise lines offer sofa beds with the same idea.
Purser: The officer in charge of financial accounting, who handles billing issues, as well as general customer service.
Refurbishment: Generally refers to an update to the décor on board, including layout changes and occasionally a wholesale makeover of the ship.
Registry: The country with a ship is registered. The ship and its crew are obliged to comply with their Registry laws. Princess Cruise ships are registered in the Bahamas.
Repositioning or repo cruise: A cruise that begins and ends in different ports as a ship moves from one cruising region to another.
Roll: The side-to-side movement of the ship
Sailaway: A sailaway has come to refer to both the beginning of a cruise vacation, when the ship leaves port (often accompanied by a sailaway party on deck), as well as departures during the cruise from scenic ports of call when passengers gather on deck to watch the ship depart.
Sailing: A sailing is a cruise. Yes, it's still called a sailing even if the ship has no sails.
Sea-Band: A knitted elasticated wrist band that can help prevent seasickness. It operates by applying pressure on an acupressure point on each wrist by means of a plastic stud. Because the bands don't contain drugs, they don't cause any of the side effects associated with anti-nausea drugs and can be used by adults and children. But not all people react favorably to Sea-Bands and some suggest they're counter-productive.
Sea day: A day in which the cruise ship does not visit a port of call and stays on the open water.
Sea legs: Although some people think it refers to the rocking feeling you feel once back on the dock, getting your sea legs actually means you can withstand the rocking of the ship while onboard. With that also comes the ability to manage any motion you may feel while onboard.
Screw: The ship's propeller
Ship Time: While the ship may be traversing through several time zones on its journey it often sets a "Ship Time" which is used while onboard and while it port. Make sure you are always aware of this, especially while on a shore excursion.
Single supplement: Cruise fares are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling solo, you will likely be charged a single supplement. Some cruise ships charge 150 to 200 percent of the cruise fare while other ships offer a small number of single cabins that don’t cost extra. Most river cruise lines are moving away from the idea of the single supplement and offer sailings that won’t cost extra for solo travelers.
Shore excursion: A shore excursion is an activity off the ship at a port of call that you can purchase as part of your itinerary.
Shorex: another name for a shore excursion.
Sister Ships: Ships built of the same design-sometimes referred to as ships owned and operated by the same cruise line. The Sapphire Princess is similar in size to other Grand Class ships in the Princess fleet which includes the Grand Princess, Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Diamond Princess, Golden Princess, Ruby Princess, and the Emerald Princess
Snuba: Snuba is one part snorkeling, one part scuba diving. It's a form of surface-supplied diving in which the swimmer uses swim fins, a diving mask, weights and an underwater breathing system.
Specialty restaurant: A specialty, or alternative, restaurant requires a nightly per person fee in addition to your cruise fare.
Stabilizers: A fin like device extending beneath the ships waterline from both sides of the ship to the front, making the ship more stable.
Starboard: The nautical term for the rights side of the boat --oops, I meant ship.
Stateroom: The passenger’s sleeping room, cabin or personal accommodation.
Stern: The back of the ship
Suite: On a cruise ship, a suite typically refers to a top-of-the-line stateroom with separate sleeping and living areas.
TA: Travel Agent
Tender: former name for "Water Shuttle" (see below)
Thruster: This is a propulsion device that is fitted either on the bow or the stern of a ship. They are smaller than the ship’s propellers and allow for greater maneuverability at lower speeds, making docking easier. Large ships can have a number of bow and stern thrusters.
Transfer: A transfer can be the bus ride from the airport to your docked cruise ship or from the cruise ship to a hotel you’ve booked through the cruise line for a post-cruise stay. If you buy your airfare directly from the cruise line, it will usually include transfers to and from the ship. If you are traveling independent, you can inquire about paying extra for the ship-sponsored transfers.
Travel Insurance: A plan you consider purchasing that protects your from certain financial risks and losses that can occur while traveling. These losses may be minor, like a delayed suitcase, or significant, like a last minute trip cancellation or a medical emergency overseas.
Turnaround Day: A turnaround day is the day that a cruise ship is docked, usually in its home port, on the day of departure and the day of return. On this day the crew disembarks passengers and all their luggage, bring on new passengers and their luggage, restock the stores with food and fuel for the upcoming cruise.
Turndown Service: After a room steward makes up a guest's room in the morning, they may return in the afternoon when the guest is absent to refresh the room, provide clean towels and perhaps leave a chocolate on your pillow, provide a corner folding of the bed blanket or leave a clever towel animal.
Underway: The act of sailing
Upgrade: A change in cabin assignment to a better category
Upper Bed: A single size bed higher from the floor than usual (similar to a bunk bed) often folded to the wall during the day.
Upper and Lower Berths: Bunk Beds.
Veranda Stateroom: Any stateroom accommodation with a private, exterior balcony.
Wait List: Not a guarantee, but the cruise line's endeavor to obtain accommodation for passengers on a first-come-first served basis when all cabins are presently sold.
Wake: The trail of water created at the back (stern) of the ship as it moves forward in the water.
Water Shuttle: A small boat that ferries cruise passengers from the ship to shore when docking isn't possible.
Wave Season: Wave season is a three-month period from early January to the end of March during which cruise lines and travel agents book a large number of cruises in the Caribbean, based on the fact that a large number of cruisers book their sailings in the early months of the year and the cruise lines offer special deals.
Windward - on the side of the ship from which the wind blows; toward the wind
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse