Here’s a list of frequently used ship and cruise terminology for your understanding

Don’t you just get confused by all this ship and cruise terminology?

It’s like a language all unto itself and I can tell you that in the beginning, I did not understand much of what these jargons meant.

I’m willing to bet that you don’t understand much of these words too so I have gone ahead and compiled a list of the more frequently used cruise terminology and their associated meanings for you.

Here goes,

Port of Call: The destinations featured in your cruise; in other words, the places that your ship will visit

Stern or Aft: This is the back or rear of the ship

Bow or Forward: This is the front section of the ship

Cabin or Stateroom: This is your room onboard the ship

Interior Cabins: These are the lowest level cabins with no window or view

Ocean View Cabins: These are located above interior cabins and carry a window or porthole view. These windows/portholes cannot be opened.

Suite: A large cabin or stateroom that has sectioned bedroom and living areas, bathroom and a balcony. Unlike some stateroom categories, suites can be found located all over the ship, having no set location.

Knot: Speed unit at which the ship travels

Gangway: The passageway used to board the ship

Tender: Just another name for lifeboat, also used to transport passengers off the ship to shore

Porthole: The window area of your stateroom

Mustering: A safety drill that is carried out before the start of every cruise

Ship Launch: The launch refers to the first time that the ship goes into the water

Maiden Voyage: This is the first voyage of the ship

Departure Port: This is the place at which you board the ship and start your cruise

Fleet: The number of ships that belong to a cruise liner

Vessel: Just another name for ship

Theme Cruise: Cruises that cater to a particular activity, hobby or life style

Berth: There are two meanings for berth: One is the amount of passenger beds found in cabins and the other refers to the area where the ship docks or park; also known as Quay, or Pier

Shore Excursion: Activities that you can engage in at your port of call

Crusietour: A cruise and land tour combination. Many cruise lines such as Princess now offer cruisetours as part of their vacation packages

Cruise Fare: This is the amount of money you pay for your cruise. On many cruise lines, some elements on your ship may be exempted from your cruise fare such as spa treatments, dining at specialized restaurants etc.

Cruise and Stay: A holiday combination that is part cruise and part stay over at a land based hotel. Most cruise lines offer cruise and stay packages either pre or post cruise

I hope you find this information on ship and cruise terminology helpful. It’s always my pleasure providing relevant information to you!

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