Common Cruise Ship Terms

Here are the most commonly used ship-related words you may hear while on your cruise.

• Aft – at or near the back (the stern) of a ship
• Atrium – the center area of a cruise ship. Typically, it’s open for several stories (decks).
• Berth – a built-in bed or bunk in a ship’s cabin or stateroom
• Bow – the very front of the ship
• Bridge – where the navigational control center is located
• Cabin – also known as a Stateroom or Berth
• Captain – the person who is in command of a ship
• Disembark – to get off a ship
• Embark – to get on a ship
• Forward – the front, or near the front, of a ship
• Gangway – the ramp or walkway that connects the ship to the dock for embarking and disembarking
• Knot – a unit of measure for speed of a ship or boat. (1 knot = 1.15 miles per hour)
• Leeward – the side of the ship that’s out of, or away from, the wind
• Muster – to assemble together on the ship, usually for roll call, inspection, or the required life boat drill
• Muster Station – the appointed location on a ship to assemble; assigned based on stateroom location
• Nautical – having to do with sailors; navigation (by ships or boats)
• Port – the left-hand side of the ship as a person faces forward
• Port-of-Call – stops on a cruise itinerary
• Purser – a ship’s officer who is responsible for all money and transactions
• Starboard – the right side of the ship while facing forward
• Stateroom – also known as a Cabin or Berth
• Stateroom Steward – the person who maintains the cabins or staterooms during a cruise
• Stern – the very back (aft) of the ship
• Tender – a boat that carries passengers from a ship to the shore when the ship cannot dock directly in port, usually due to shallow waters
• Windward – the side of the ship that’s toward the wind (it’s the windy side)