Cruise Terms that you need to know.

Sound like a Seasoned cruiser even if you have never been on a Cruise. Bow: The bow is the front of the ship. Bridge: The bridge is the location from which the captain steers the ship. Galley: A galley is a ship’s kitchen. On a cruise ship, there are many galleys. Gangway: The gangway is the ramp or staircase that you’ll use to embark or disembark the ship. Helm: The helm is the area of the bridge on which the steering wheel is located and used by the crew only. Hull: The hull is the outside of the ship. Keel: The keel is the ship’s bottom center. Leeward: The side of the ship where you’ll feel most sheltered from wind is leeward. Lido: Lido is an often-used term because it’s the deck where you’ll find the outdoor pools. Midship: This is the middle of the ship. Port: The left side of the ship as it’s facing forward is called port. If you have a hard time remembering that, just keep in mind that “left” and “port” both have four letters. Starboard: The right side of the ship is starboard. Stern/aft: This is the rear part of a ship closest to the casual dining Upper deck: The upper deck is typically the area closest to the entertainment, fun and outdoor deck areas. Cabin steward: Crew member responsible for the housekeeping of your stateroom. Captain: Crew member in charge of the cruise ship, responsible for the crew and passenger safety. Cruise director: Crew member who organizes for the ship’s activities and entertainment and is often the emcee for onboard events. Maître d’: Crew member responsible for the dining room. Porter: Crew member on land to help you with your luggage curbside before you embark the ship. Purser: Crew member in charge of onboard billing and monetary transactions. Knot: A unit of speed at which ships travel, which is one nautical mile per hour. Knot - A nautical mile, equal to 1.15 land miles. The word "knots" is often used as shorthand for "Nautical miles per hour. " For example, if a ship is said to be traveling at 20 knots, this would be equivalent to a speed 23 land miles per hour. Abbreviated as kn or kt. Mooring: A place where a ship is tied, such as the dock when in port. Wake: The trail of water created at the back (stern) of the ship as it moves forward in the water. Beam - The width of a ship at its widest point. Muster drill - To gather, specifically to assemble as for inspection or roll call or for a drill or practice exercise. Every cruise sailing has a muster drill before leaving the embarkation port, and all passengers are required to attend--no exceptions. Muster station - A specific location on ship to gather in case of an emergency. Assignments are based on cabin assignment. Where passengers gather for the pre-sailing Muster Drill. Stabilizers Modern cruise ships have stabilizers to keep motion to a minimum. Formal Night: An evening where the ship encourages (or in some cases, requires) passengers to wear formal attire in the dining rooms and public venues around the ship. Those who don’t wish to dress up are usually limited to the buffet or room service for dining. Gangway: The ramp connecting the ship to the port. Remember, you don’t walk the plank on a vacation — pirate ships have a gangplank; cruise ships have a gangway. Shipboard Credit / Onboard Credit: A booking incentive offered by cruise lines and travel agencies. Shipboard Credits are applied to your onboard account and can be used toward drinks, speciality dining, spa treatments, shore excursions and more. Turnaround Day: The day a cruise ship returns to its homeport to debark/embark passengers and take on supplies. Veranda: Another word for “balcony.”