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Glossary Of Cruise Terms

• Aft – Towards or in the rear section of the ship.
• Alleyway – Corridor or passageway.
• Alongside – When the ship is beside the pier (or another ship).
• At Anchor – When the ship is anchored offshore (as opposed to docking alongside).
• Astern – Behind the ship, beyond the stern.
• Beam – Width of the ship at it’s widest point.
• Bearing – Compass direction, expressed in degrees from the ship to a particular destination.
• Berth – This has 2 meanings – The Ship has a berth when the ship is docked in a Port. A bed in a cabin is also called a berth (as in lower berth and upper berth).
• Bow – Front or most forward port of the ship.
• Bridge – Centre of command and navigation.
• Bunkers – Fuel storage area.
• Cabin steward/stewardess – Your Cabin steward/stewardess will keep your room clean and tidy during your cruise.
• Cashless system – No need to carry cash around the ship as your boarding/swipe card can be used to make purchases on board. Only available on selected ships.
• Charts – Navigation map detailed with depth, latitude, longitude of the area being sailed in. The position is plotted on these charts.
• Colours – Ship’s emblem or Flag of nationality.
• Course – Ship’s direction (in degrees).
• Crew – Friendly crew who will look after you from the moment you step on board.
• Disembarking – To leave the ship / go ashore.
• Dock – The act of bringing the ship alongside the Quay.
• Draft – Distance from the ship’s waterline to the bottom of it’s keel.
• Embarking – To enter or come on board the ship.
• Electrical Supply – Usually it is 110 volts so you will require an American style adapter to use your electrical items in the cabin. Always ask before embarkation
• Emergency drill – A requirement of maritime law, it is compulsory for guests to attend an emergency drill. The purpose of this is to familiarise you with the safety procedures on board and the actions you must take in the event of a real emergency.
• Fathom – Distance of depth (1 fathom = 6 feet).
• Forward – Towards the front (bow) of the ship.
• Funnel – Ship’s exhaust.
• Galley – Ship’s kitchen.
• Gangway – Construction, ladder or ramp giving access to and from the ship.
• G.R.T. – Gross Registered Tonnage.
• Hull – Framework of the ship.
• Keel – Longitudinal extension of the ship’s underside.
• Knot – Unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.
• Life Boat – For use in an emergency.
• Life Jackets – 1 per person can be found in your cabin on arrival. To be used at the emergency drill and in the case of an emergency. If you are travelling with a child or infant please contact your cabin steward/stewardess to arrange these to be placed in your cabin.
• M.S. – Abbreviation for Motor Ship.
• M.V. – Abbreviation for Motor Vessel.
• Manifest – List of passengers, crew and cargo.
• Midships – In or towards the middle of the ship.
• Muster – Assemble guests and/or crew.
• Muster Station – Emergency assembly point.
• Nautical mile – 1,852 meters (10 knots = 10 nautical miles per hour = 11.5 land miles per hour)
• Pilot – Independent navigational advisor at times of entering/ leaving port.
• Pontoon – Used and lowered to the side of the ship for guests to walk on prior to getting in the tender boat to go ashore when the ship is at anchor.
• Port – This has 2 meanings – A port where the ship comes into … Quay, Dock, Berth. Onboard the ship when facing forward it is the term for the left side of the ship.
• Porthole – Circular ship’s window.
• Port Terminal – On the Dock / Quay where guests check-in and enter/ leave the port area through at each destination.
• Pullman Bed – This is a pull down bed from the wall for some of the beds in the cabins.
• Quay – Dock, pier, or berth.
• Rudder – Fin-like steering device below the waterline.
• S.S. – Abbreviation for Steam Ship.
• Satellite Navigator – The global positioning system (GPS). A system using 24 satellites to fix the ships position.
• Stabilisers – Midship there is a set of wing-shaped fins known as stabilisers lying 12 feet below the water level. The stabilisers are used to help reduce the roll (the side to side movement not the up and down) of the ship by about 50%.
• Starboard – Right hand side of the ship when facing forward.
• Stern – Aft, Back of the ship.
• Swell – The motion of the ocean depending on sea conditions.
• Swipe Cards – Used for the security on and off the ship and for the cashless system onboard for you to sign for purchases.
• Tender Boat – A boat used to get guests ashore when the ship is at anchor.

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