Cruise Jargon Buster
Familiarise yourself with
the more commonly used ship terms.
Aft
Towards the back, rear or
stern of a ship.
Alternative Dinning
A restaurant other than the
main dinning room. In most cases it is necessary to make a reservation and
an extra charge may apply to cover gratuities.
Anchorage Port
A port in which a ship cannot
berth either because there is no quay or the dock is too small to accommodate
the ship. The ship will normally drop anchor and passengers will travel
ashore in small boats called 'tenders'.
Berth
Dock, pier or quay. Also
means 'bed' onboard ship.
Boarding Pass
Issued to passengers at
check-in as a form of identification. This pass allows you to reboard throughout
the cruise. Often in the form of a plastic card it also allows you to
purchase on-board items.
Bow
The forward- most part of the
ship.
Bridge
Where the ship's officers
navigate.
Cabins / Stateroom
Simply types of accommodation -
they vary from an 'inside' cabin with no window to an 'outside' cabin with a
window or porthole to 'outside with balcony' or even a suite.
Normally the higher the deck - the better the cabin and the higher the price.
Cashless System
Cash is not normally required
for onboard expenses. All costs are normally billed to your credit card
for payment the final morning of your cruise.
Casual Dress
Often means that men need not
where a jacket or tie but may where a sports shirt. Woman may wear
trousers, skirt or informal dress.
Children Rating
A rating given to show how
child friendly your cruise line is:
'Children Welcome',
'Children Accepted', 'Unsuitable for Children'.
Convertible Lower Beds
Either two single beds that can convert to a
double (usually king-size) or a single bed that converts to a settee.
Galley
The ship's kitchen.
Gangplank/Gangway
Narrow walk way, generally with a non-slip
surface for boarding the ship.
Gross Registered Ton
A measure of the ship's volume. The
measure is equal to 100 cubic feet of enclosed space.
Hull
The frame and body of the ship, exclusive of
masts or superstructure.
Interactive TV
Available through the cabin's TV set, to order
films, buy shore excursions, write e-mails, reserve a table for dinner, check
onboard ship account status.
Knot
Primary unit of speed, equal to one nautical
mph (=1.15 mph on land)
Muster Station
Onboard assembly point in the event of an
emergency. Normally during the first few hours of a cruise an emergency
drill will take place.
Open Seating
Allows passengers to choose to dine outside of
normal set mealtimes. Often the preserve of up market cruises, it is now
being offered on mid-market ships.
Owners Suite
Originally designated for the owners and their
guests, this is often the best suite onboard.
Port side
The left side of the ship when facing forward
towards the bow.
Passenger Crew Ratio
Often used as a gauge to measure what the
service levels might be onboard a ship. Given as the number of passengers
per crew member. A level of 1.5 would indicate a high level of service
where as the average is normally 2.5
Passenger Space Ratio
Used as a measurement of how much space is
available per passenger. The greater the passenger space ratio, the more
open the ship will feel.
|
Below 20 |
= Poor |
|
20 - 30 |
= Average |
|
30 - 40 |
= Good |
|
40 - 50 |
= Very Good |
|
Above 50 |
= Excellent |
Ships Rating
Descriptive terms used to understand the
quality of cruise line:
|
Budget |
- older ships offering value for
money. |
|
Standard |
- older ships providing above
average food and service. |
|
Superior |
- mostly new ships offering fair
sized accommodation, good
food and service |
|
Premier |
- High class ships with more space
and better service. |
|
Luxury |
- Excellent cuisine,
personal service in spacious and
elegant surroundings. |
Ship Size
Measurement based on the ships tonnage:
|
10,000 |
- Very small |
|
25,000 |
- Small, approx 1000 passengers |
|
60,000 |
- Medium, approx 2000 passengers |
|
80,000 |
- Large, approx 2500 passengers |
|
100,000+ |
- Huge, approx 3000+ passengers |
Starboard
The right side of the ship when facing
forward.
Stern
The rear of the ship.
| 
