How to tell the bridge from the lido: An essential cruise glossary

The cruise industry keeps growing and growing, and more people will take a cruise this year than ever before. When newcomers board a ship for the first time, they’ll be treated to a whole new world of travel. New foods, experiences, places...and lingo!

Like any business, the cruise industry comes with a set of terms that aren’t always easy to understand. So we’ve put together a list of some of the most common words and phrases you’re bound to hear on a cruise. Toss a few of these into your everyday conversation while aboard, and no one will mistake you for a first-time cruiser.

First, a little ship geography:

Aft: The larger, overall back portion of the ship.

Bow: The hull of the ship at the very front. If you want to do that Titanic “I’m king of the world” thing, you’ll need to head toward the bow.

Bridge: The ship’s control center housing the navigational and steering equipment. On some ships, you will be able to view this area through a window, but it is usually off-limits to passengers.

Forward: The front of the ship.

Lido: The upper pool and open sun deck areas on your ship.

Midship: The middle of the ship.

Port, or portside: The left-hand side of the ship if you are facing forward.

Promenade: The open deck around the edges of a ship, for walking or jogging.

Stern: The very back side of the ship.

Starboard: The right-hand side of the ship, if you are facing forward.

Wake: The trail of waves behind the ship as it moves through the water. Caution: the ship’s wake can be mesmerizing!

Other cruise-related terms:

Cabin: Also called a stateroom or suite (if you’re paying top-dollar), this is your room onboard the ship. Cabins labeled “inside staterooms” don’t usually have a window. Cabins labeled “ocean view” will have a porthole or window.

Cabin Attendant: The cruise line employee who cleans and services your cabin, occasionally known as a steward or stewardess.

Cruise Director: The cruise line’s public liaison with passengers. He or she will emcee events and make announcements.

Deck Plan: Your essential map to getting around the ship. This illustrated document shows which staterooms (by number), restaurants, shops, theaters and other features are located on particular decks.

Disembarkation: Your departure from the ship at the end of the cruise.

Dock: When your ship pulls into a port at a pier and allows passengers to walk off the ship via a gangway.

Embarkation: Your first boarding of the ship at the beginning of the cruise.

Itinerary: This is your day-to-day guide of your ship’s schedule. It identifies sea days as well as ports of call (including what time you’ll dock and, importantly, what time your ship departs).

Gangway: The moveable ramp or staircase used to board or exit the ship.

Muster Station: On the first day of a cruise, all passengers will be required to gather at a certain location on the ship, with their life jackets, in order to receive information in case of emergency.

Open Seating: Some ships require designated seating and fixed dining times for meals. Others offer “open seating,” which means you can dine on your own time, at any table.

Pitch: The rise and fall of the ship, from front to back, as it moves through the water.

Purser: The cruise line employee who handles all financial transactions during your cruise, located at the reception desk.

Roll: Side-to-side movement of the ship in rougher seas.

Sea Day: A day in which you are not at port, but are on the open water all day. These are good days to sit around the pool, visit the exercise center, or enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

Shore Excursion: A tour or guided activity at a port, booked through the cruise line but with a trusted third-party operator. These cost extra.

Tender: When your ship arrives at a port by anchoring off-shore. It then transports to the mainland via a small ferry.

The next time you cruise with us, use a few of these terms and you’ll sound like a salty veteran of the seas. Try something like, “Based on today’s itinerary, I see the gangway is located midship on the starboard side. I’ll just pass through the lido deck, take the stairs near our muster station, and enjoy my shore excursion!”