Cruise Lingo: A Guide to Ship Terms

Are you new to the world of cruising? Spend a few moments getting acquainted with the terminology used on cruise ships. Familiarity with the language, both on the ship and at the ports, will help you feel more comfortable on your inaugural cruise. We’ve curated a list of key terms you should know before boarding.

From understanding the layout of staterooms to grasping nautical terminology, you'll be set to embrace your adventure on the seas with assurance.

Preparing for Your Cruise

• Crossing: A journey over the water; essentially, a cruise is a crossing. For instance, you can embark on a cruise to Europe from New York, making stops at various ports like Northern Ireland.
• Departure port/embarkation port: These terms denote the location where your cruise begins and concludes. Dinogo offers several departure ports across the United States. For example, you can set sail to the Western Caribbean from Mobile, Alabama.
• Disembarkation: This refers to the process of leaving the ship once your journey is complete.
• Embarkation: This is the moment you board your cruise ship at the start of your adventure.
• Port of call: A port of call is a stop on your cruise where you can enjoy various shore excursions. For example, if you embark on a cruise to Mexico, you can start from one of three ports in California and visit multiple ports during your trip, such as Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay.
• Shore excursion: A shore excursion is an off-ship activity at a port of call that you can include in your itinerary. For instance, on a cruise to The Bahamas, you might opt for a shore excursion in Half Moon Cay, like the educational Stingray Adventure where you can interact with sea creatures.
• Tender: Also known as a lifeboat, a tender is a small vessel that transports you from the ship to the shore when the cruise ship is anchored in a harbor.

Understanding Staterooms

Before you book your cruise, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the various types of staterooms available to ensure a pleasant journey. Whether you’re traveling alone or with others, this guide will help you select the perfect stateroom for your preferences.

• Balcony stateroom: This room features a small, private outdoor balcony. It’s a great choice for a cruise to Alaska so you won’t miss any wildlife or glacier sightings.
• Interior stateroom: Situated in quieter areas of the ship, interior staterooms offer a peaceful retreat for those who enjoy a calm environment after a day filled with activities.
• Ocean view stateroom: With a porthole or window, an ocean view stateroom allows you to enjoy breathtaking views of the sea and ports of call.
• Specialty stateroom: This type features a unique theme catering to families, couples, or solo travelers. Specialty staterooms include Cloud 9 Spa rooms adjacent to the Cloud 9 Spa and Family Harbor staterooms located next to the Family Harbor Lounge, perfect for traveling with children.
• Suite stateroom: These spacious accommodations are ideal for family cruises, providing ample space for everyone to relax.

Terminology for Cruise Ships

Understanding cruise ship terminology is beneficial to prevent unnecessary wandering during your getaway. Even if you do find yourself a bit lost on board, you can easily access a deck plan of each ship to familiarize yourself with it from the comfort of your home. Until then, here’s a quick overview of ship terminology.

• Bow: The bow refers to the front section of the ship.
• Bridge: The bridge is where the captain navigates the vessel.
• Galley: A galley is the kitchen on the ship, and there are multiple galleys on a cruise ship.
• Gangway: The gangway is the ramp or staircase you use to board or exit the ship.
• Helm: The helm is the part of the bridge where the steering wheel is located, used exclusively by the crew.
• Hull: The hull is the outer structure of the ship.
• Keel: The keel is the central bottom part of the ship.
• Leeward: Leeward refers to the side of the ship that is most sheltered from the wind.
• Lido: Lido is a commonly used term for the deck that features the outdoor pools.
• Midship: This term describes the middle area of the ship.
• Port: The left side of the ship when facing forward is called port. A handy way to remember this is that both “left” and “port” have four letters.
• Starboard: The right side of the ship is known as starboard.
• Stern/aft: This refers to the rear section of the ship, which is closest to the casual dining areas.
• Upper deck: The upper deck is generally where you’ll find the entertainment and outdoor recreational areas.

Dining Etiquette

• Cruise casual: This attire is acceptable for most dinners. For men, this includes slacks, khakis, jeans, dress shorts, and collared shirts. Women can opt for casual dresses, skirts, pants, capri pants, dressy shorts, and stylish jeans.
• Cruise elegant: On one or two evenings during the cruise, it’s recommended to dress up for dinner in the main dining room and certain other restaurants. Men should wear dress slacks, dress shirts, and optional sport coats, while women are encouraged to don cocktail dresses, elegant pant suits, or skirts. In restaurants like the Steakhouse, tasteful attire is required.
• Formal night: Longer cruises typically feature two formal nights. These elegant evenings call for men to wear suits with ties or tuxedos, and women to dress in evening gowns. While formal attire isn’t mandatory, it is certainly welcomed.
• Main seating/late seating: This indicates a designated schedule and seating arrangement for guests in the main dining areas.
• Open seating: Dining with open seating means there are no set schedules or seating assignments.

Conversations with Crew Members

Who wouldn’t dream of being a crew member on a cruise to Hawaii? Here’s a glimpse of the friendly faces you’ll encounter on board:

• Cabin steward: The crew member responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and order of your stateroom.
• Captain: The crew member who oversees the cruise ship and ensures the safety of both crew and passengers.
• Cruise director: The crew member in charge of organizing activities and entertainment on the ship, often serving as the emcee for various onboard events.
• Maître d’: The crew member who manages the dining room operations.
• Porter: A crew member stationed on land to assist you with your luggage before you board the ship.
• Purser: The crew member responsible for managing onboard billing and financial transactions.

Maritime Vocabulary

Understanding nautical terminology is essential while you’re at sea (which means navigating the ocean). You might overhear the captain talking about knots with another crew member.

• Knot: A measurement of speed for ships, equivalent to one nautical mile per hour.
• Mooring: The location where a ship is secured, such as the dock while in port.
• Wake: The trail of water left behind at the stern of the ship as it moves through the ocean.

Feel free to skip the cruise lingo and simply say, 'let’s meet in our room,' instead of using 'stateroom,' or ask, 'where’s customer service?' instead of inquiring about the purser. On a Dinogo cruise, just be yourself and enjoy learning at your own pace. Once you’ve completed your first cruise, you’ll be on the path to becoming an experienced cruiser with your own insider knowledge.

Please note that onboard activities, excursions on land, and dining choices may differ depending on the ship and the destination.