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Cruise ships have their own language and rituals, which first time cruisers can find extremely confusing! Here's an A to Z guide to cruise-speak.
Aft: The rear of the ship. Bow thruster: Special engines that allow the ship to be maneuvered sideways, for example, when positioning alongside the dock. Cashless cruising: All ships nowadays operate a cashless system. You register your credit card at check-in and charge everything from drinks to spa treatments to internet access onto your cruise card. Dorothy, Friends of: When you see Friends of Dorothy on the daily cruise newsletter, it means an informal gathering during which gay men and women can meet one another. Similarly, Friends of Bill W or Friends of Dr Bob is a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. Excursions: Book these online beforehand, or when you board the ship. Think hard before booking one for every day - you'll need a break from sightseeing occasionally and besides, the cost mounts up. Forward: The front end of the ship, or towards the front. Galley: The nautical term for a kitchen. Hygiene: You'll find strange machines outside the dining room dispensing alcohol gel for hand washing. This is an attempt to reduce the likelihood of Norovirus on the ship. Norovirus can, and does, occur anywhere, but if it comes on board a ship, it can spread rapidly and cause a lot of misery. Internet: Most ships offer internet cafes. Expect to pay about $0.50 a minute. Some have WiFi set up, which means you can use your own laptop in the public spaces. Jargon: It's a ship,not a boat; a deck, not a floor; and a cabin or stateroom, not a bedroom! Left is port, right is starboard, the front of the ship is the bow and the rear is the stern. Kids' clubs: Usually excellent on a cruise ship and included in the price. Princess, NCL, Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises, Carnival and Cunard have the best. Lifeboat drill: A compulsory exercise during the first 24 hours of the ship's departure, during which all passengers are briefed on emergency procedure. Master: Another word for the Captain, who is Master of the vessel. Nautical miles: the unit of measurement of distance at sea. One nautical mile equals 1.15 statute miles. Opening hours: The shops on a ship don't open until the ship is in international waters, so don't rely on being able to buy anything until after sailing time on the first day. Photographers: Snapping your picture when you least want it, embarking the ship after a long journey. There’s no obligation to buy, though. Queueing: Long lines are inevitable on big ships. Expect queues to build up when disembarking for excursions, particularly in tender ports; to check out on the last day; at check in; and sometimes, at the entrance to the dining room before dinner. Rolling and pitching: When the ship rolls, it moves from side to side. When it pitches, it rocks forwards and backwards. A combination of the two can lead to motion sickness. All ships nowadays are fitted with stabilisers, fins that jut out below the waterline, to reduce the rolling motion. SOLAS: SOLAS stands for Safety of Life at Sea and is an international convention governing how ships are built and operated. Tips: Tips are usually not included in the cruise fare (except on Silversea, SeaDream Yacht Club and some British ships) and you are expected to offer them on the penultimate night. Budget around $12 per person per day to meet the recommended amount. United Nations: Most big ships have around 40 nationalities present among their crew and it helps if passengers show some cultural sensitivity, particularly if things get stressful. Veranda cabin: A cabin with a private balcony, available on all new ships. Wheelchairs: Ships have varying degrees of wheelchair access but most contemporary ones are (and have to be by law) very good. Book a disabled access cabin well in advance as they go fast, X-Ray: Don't be surprised if your hand baggage is X-rayed every time you board the ship. This is a security measure. Young at heart: The average age of cruisers is falling all the time and lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess, Carnival, EasyCruise, Ocean Village and SeaDream Yacht Club all attract a younger market. Zzzzz… for a good night’s sleep, book a cabin away from the nightclub, the lift shafts, and on a diesel-powered ship, the stern (the back), which may have more vibration.
The copyright of the article Cruise Guide for Beginners in Cruise/Island Vacations is owned by Sue Bryant. Permission to republish Cruise Guide for Beginners in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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