A Glossary of Nautical Words

Traditionally, seafaring folk have quite a salty language. Pirates say “arrrrh” a lot, sailors are known for their scuttlebutt, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge was inspired by mariners to write a ridiculously long poem peppered with nautical terminology that has now seeped into our everyday language.

It’s not surprising that land-dwelling folk (like you and I) might fund ‘Ship-Talk’ a little confusing. I remember when I cruised the first time, how perplexed I was that people were milling around for some mustard! So, for your convenience, I have compiled a list of ship words and terms that will help you navigate your cruising adventure. 

Aboard: On the ship.

About: Turning the ship about. 

Aft: Rear or back of the ship. Also known as the Stern. 

Air draft: The distance from the surface of the water to the highest point on a ship. Important to see if the ship can pass under structures such as a bridge. 

All hands: When all crew are working on the ship. 

Ashore: Off the ship.

Atrium: The central passenger area, equivalent to the lobby of a hotel. You'll find the reception desk, shore excursion desk and other guest services in this multi-deck area. 

Beam: The width of a ship at its widest point. 

Berth: On a ship, a berth means a bed. In a port, it means where the ship is docked. 

Bow: Front of the ship. Also known as Forward. 

Bridge: Navigational control centre of the vessel. Manned 24 hours a day and usually off-limits to passengers. 

Bulkhead: The structural interior of the ship. 

Cabin: Also known as Stateroom or Suite. This is your room aboard the ship and has a number and category. The number starts with whichever deck it is situated. E.g. 5424 is on DECK 5. Cabin category: The type of room you have.

• Inside – no window 
• Outside or Oceanview – window or porthole 
• Balcony – private balcony attached to your cabin 
• Suite – larger cabin with separate living and sleeping area and other amenities. 

Cabin Stewards: Attendants who clean and service your room. I also refer to them as angels. 

Captain: The person who is in charge of the ship. Also known as the Master. Code Orange, Code Red: These refer to norovirus outbreaks. Code Orange refers to early stages of a reported infection. Code Red refers to a wider outbreak of norovirus, which results in the closure of pools, whirlpools and self-service dining and requires the crew to scrub down all public areas each day. 

Cruise Countdown: The exciting measure of time before a cruise. Cruiser: a passenger or guest on a cruise ship. 

Cruise-a-holic: A person who has caught the cruising bug. There is no known cure except to book more cruises. 

Cruise card: A plastic, credit card sized card issued to every passenger on embarkation day. This card will give you entry to your cabin, purchase anything aboard (linked to your account which can be settled by cash or credit car) and allow access on and off the ship. This is you ID aboard the ship.

Cruise director: Heads up the ship's entertainment staff and often emcees events. 

Cruise To Nowhere: The perfect weekend getaway! A cruise where there are no ports of call. 

Deck: Floors of the ship. Decks can have names, be numbered, or sometimes lettered. Most ships have no Deck 13! Debark: Leave the ship or vessel. Also referred to as disembark Dock: Where the ship moors. 

Draft: Depth of water required for the ship to sail without touching the ocean floor. It is measured from the waterline to the lowest part of the ship. Drinks packages: A selection of alcohol and soft drink bundles, available to purchase upfront at an extra, daily cost. 

Embark: Board the ship or vessel (YAY). 

Fantail: The rear of the ship that overhangs. First seating: The earlier of two meal services in the main dining room. The second seating is the later service. 

Fleet: The ships that sail under the same cruiseline. 

Funnel: The smokestack on some cruise ships. 

Galley: Ship’s kitchen. Gangway: Ramp or staircase you use to embark or debark from the ship. 

Helm: Where the ship’s steering equipment is located. 

Gratuities or Tips: Sometimes included in the fare or as an extra on your bill. 

Home port: The port where passengers join a ship's cruises most of the time. 

Hotel Manager: Director of all hotel operations such as housekeeping and passenger services. 

Hull: Outside shell of the ship. 

International Dateline: An imaginary line running down the Pacific Ocean that separates one day from another. 

Itinerary: Schedule of destinations and days at sea on your cruise. 

Karaoke: A must for every cruiser. If you see me, I’m usually singing “Rock The Boat.” 

Keel: The main structure of the ship. It extends lengthwise along the center of the ship's bottom. 

Knot: The measurement of a ship's speed. 1 knot = 1.852 on land. 

Lido deck: The open pool deck on a cruise ship, typically the top deck. On most ships their are higher decks often the deck with a walking track and sometimes an observation lounge.

Mid-Ship: Middle section of the ship. Also amidship. Muster: Is to assemble the passengers and crew of a ship for a safety drill. A muster drill is done at the beginning of a cruise to instruct the guests about where to go to get into lifeboats in case of an emergency. A muster station is where everyone meets. 

Norovirus: The most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans, causing vomiting and diarrhoea. To avoid it, wash your hands often and use antiseptic hand sanitiser. 

Onboard credit: OBC - Credit that is added to your onboard bill during your cruise. You can spend it on anything while on the ship or a credit on your credit card statement. 

Pitch: The forward and backward rise and fall of the ship as it moves. 

Port: Left side of the ship as you face Forward. If you remember LEFT and PORT both have four letters, you’ll never get mixed up. Port can also mean the port cities you visit on a cruise. 

Port day: When the ship stops at a port for a day. Sometimes, overnight. 

Porthole: Round window in oceanview cabins. 

Post Cruise Depression: Usually strikes the day after debark when you realise you must cook your own meals, make your own bed, there are no towel animals in your room and you cannot purchase cocktails with a plastic card. 

Promenade: A deck big enough to allow passengers to walk around. On some ships the promenade serves as a jogging path, while on others it is a public space where you might find shops or restaurants. 

Purser: Financial manager for guest services. 

Refurbishment: An update to the ship’s decor on board. May include layout changes and occasionally a whole makeover of the ship. 

Repositioning cruise: A one-way itinerary that brings a ship from one region of the world to another. 

Roll: The movement of a ship from side to side. 

Sailaway: The beginning of a cruise, when the ship leaves port. 

Sea day: Ships stays out at sea and does not make a port stop. 

Sister Ships: Ships built of the same design, owned and operated by the same cruise line. 

Shore excursion: A tour or guided activity in which guests can take part in while ashore at a port. 

Specialty Restaurant: Many ships you have the option of dining at a specialty or alternative restaurant that offers a higher end or niche dining venue, generally for an additional price, but not always. 

Stabilisers: Winglike retractable devices that extend from the sides of a ship to reduce roll and create a more stable ride. 

Starboard: Right side of the ship as you face Forward. 

Swell: the rising and rolling motion of the surface of the sea away from shore, a non-breaking ocean wave.

Tender: A small boat used to transport passengers from the ship to shore. Tenders are used when the harbor isn't deep enough for the ship to dock. Tenders may be modified ship's lifeboats or local boats used in some ports. 

Towel animal: Room stewards create towel animal in guests' cabins. Common towel animals include: swans, elephants, snakes and monkeys. And one left in my cabin during my Pacific Eden cruise that I still can’t figure out! 

Turnaround day: The day a cruise ship is docked, usually in its home port on the day of departure and the day of return. 

Upgrade: When you cabin has ben changed to a better category. Often, much praying to the Upgrade Fairy is needed. 

Wake: The beautiful and often hypnotic patterned track left in the water at the stern created by a moving ship. 

Whinger: A passenger who finds fault in everything on a cruise. Usually found lining up at guest services to complain that the coffee is too hot. 

World cruise: A cruise of many days that sails around the world. Passengers can choose to cruise the entire time or just on select one-way segments.

If I have left any important words out, let me know. Bon Voyage!