Cruise Lingo 101

Posted January 3rd, 2008 at 4:48 pm in Cruising Q & A

Cruise Ship Terms -The Language Of Cruising

If you have ever been to a foreign country, one where the language was totally alien to you, you will appreciate how knowing just a few words about ships and cruising will have you speaking like a cruise veteran in no time – without having to consult a language dictionary!

Here are some of the basic terms of cruising:

Berth: A fancy word for where the ship parks/It's fascinating to watch a cruise ship maneuver in and out of a harbor from the top deck.

Bow/Stern: Front and rear of the ship, respectively/You want to visit both ends while at sea, porpoise love to race and frolic off the bow and at night the ship's wake churns up luminescent plankton, leaving a turquoise trail in the ocean.

Gangway: The passageway where you board/Here is where the excitement really mounts after months of anticipation – you can feel the buzz of excitement in the air.

Stateroom: Your accommodations onboard – just like a resort hotel, but afloat/And so cozy!

Tender: A small vessel that transports people from ship to shore/It's sometimes difficult to leave the comfort of the ship when in port but the crew makes it easy, so get out and absorb some of the local culture – besides, the shopping is great!

Cruise Ship: A large, seaworthy… just kidding! You already knew that one.

More About Cruising

Embark: To get on the ship. Getting off is called disembarking/You will be amazed at how efficiently the crew organizes both.

Excursion: Activities, tours or entertainment offered in each port/Again, your cruise staff will look after you to make sure you enjoy each port of call.

Knot: A unit of speed that equals one nautical mile an hour/Sometimes at sea it seems like you are flying, it's so smooth and you hear nothing but the ocean breezes, but in reality you are cruising at a modest 15-20 knots.

Mustering: The safety drill conducted before every cruise/It's a mandatory drill that is about safety and it's over quickly.

Ports: The cities, towns and islands the ship (and you) will be visiting/Some so beautiful as seen from your ship that it's hard to believe that you are really there!

Cruisetour: A combination cruise vacation and land tour/One way to extend your cruise vacation is by combining land excursions with your cruise package. The cruise lines organize these with local ground operators and can run from two hours to all day.

Cruise Lingo 101 Courtesy of: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines