Seasoned cruisers know everything there is to know about ships, shores, stewards and seating plans, but to the cruising newbie, it can take a while to find your terminology sea legs – not to mention the Lido deck. Here’s a ready reckoner to help you embark on your dream holiday with as little confusion as possible.
Aft
The back portion of the ship.
The back of the ship is known as aft. All-inclusive
A cruise fare that does not charge extra for specialty restaurants, tipping or drinks.
Alternative restaurant
Some cruise fares cover the regular dining rooms and buffets, but you must pay extra for alternative or specialty restaurants.
Atrium
The central passenger area, similar to the lobby of a hotel. There is usually a reception desk and shore excursion desk. And it’s usually pretty spectacular.
Berth
Your bed. (It also means a ship’s allotted place at a wharf or dock.)
Bow
The very front of the ship.
Bridge
This is the room or platform that acts as the control centre of the ship. It is usually staffed by an officer of the watch or an able seaman while the ship is under way.
Cabin
Your room on board the ship.
A towel-art elephant to keep you company in your cabin.Captain’s table
A special dinner with the ship’s captain and other guests, offered by some cruise ships.
Charter
Some organisations take over or charter a cruise ship to run themed cruises or conferences.
Crossing
A cruise itinerary that crosses the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.
Cruise contract
This contains all the fine print about what’s expected from passengers, and what to expect if cancellations or delays occur. It’s important to read the terms and conditions.
Cruise director
This person is responsible for fun! They organise all the entertainment on board, send out daily newsletters about all the activities, and might even appear on the cruise ship TV channel. You’ll also see them acting as the MC at shows, and they may even grab the mic for a song or two.
Decks
The floors of the ship – take a look at the deck plan to learn your way around.
Pick a deck, any deck ...Enrichment programs
These workshops won’t make you rich, but you may gain some skills in cooking, photography, art and more.
Forward
The area near the front of the ship.
French balcony
A set of glass doors leading on to a ledge with a railing, much smaller than a full balcony.
Funnel
The smokestack on some cruise ships.
Galley
The ship’s kitchen, which produces an extraordinary amount of food. A galley tour is great fun.
Gangway
The ramp or staircase where you board and disembark the ship while docked.
Handwash
OK, so we all know what handwash is, but it’s worth noting you’ll find hand sanitisers all over the boat and you are advised to use them regularly, especially before entering dining venues.
Some ships base themselves in Venice for Mediterranean cruising.Home port
The port where a ship is based.
Inside cabin
A cabin in the middle of the ship, with no view of the sea.
Itinerary
A complete, day-by-day listing of ports of call and sea days.
Lido
The open pool deck, usually on the top deck.
Limited view
A cabin with an obstacle, such as a lifeboat, between you and the water.
Midship
The middle of the ship.
Muster station
This is the meeting point during an emergency or evacuation. There will be a safety briefing when you board.
Onboard credit
A credit added to your onboard bill – it’s like free spending money.
Shout yourself a drink with your onboard credit.Open seating
It used to be that cruise ship passengers had designated seating and meal times. Nowadays many ships have moved to open seating, so you can dine whenever and wherever you like.
Port
The left side of the ship when facing the bow.
Porthole
A small, round window, usually on lower decks.
Port of call
A destination where the cruise ship stops and passengers can go ashore.
Posh
It was once believed that POSH stood for Port Out, Starboard Home, which indicated the best cabin positions for ships between England and India. While it has been widely disputed, I’m with Grandpa Potts (from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) – it’s the posh, posh travelling life for me!
Promenade
This deck often contains a path so people can walk or jog around the ship. Sometimes it’s a place for shops and restaurants.
Purser
The purser can answer questions and handle complaints, as well as handling all the money transactions. Find them in the main lobby at the information desk.
Repositioning cruise
This is a one-way voyage that moves a cruise ship from one home port to another. For example, several ships will leave Australian waters in April and May to reposition to Asia and the northern hemisphere.
Roll
This is the side-to-side movement of the ship in rougher seas. Cruise ships these days have advanced stabilising technology to combat this.
Hit the Lido deck on your sea day.Sea day
A day when the cruise ship stays at sea, and does not visit a port of call. Don’t worry – there’s plenty of onboard entertainment.
Single supplement
Some cruise lines will charge extra if you are travelling solo. This is because cruise fares are usually based on double occupancy.
Stabilisers
These retractable devices extend from the side of a ship to reduce roll.
Starboard
The right side of the ship when facing the bow.
Stateroom
A posher way of saying cabin.
Stern
The very back of the ship.
Steward
The housekeeper who maintains cabins. They’re a good starting point for questions and special requests.
Suite
A cabin with separate sleeping and living areas.
Tender
A smaller boat that takes passengers to shore when the cruise ship cannot dock at a port of call.
Wake
The white trail of waves left by the passage of the ship.
