Have you ever wondered what a rear is? Or what starboard actually means? Nautical terms can bond us, especially if, like me, you’re new to the cruise scene.

With that in mind, I’ve compiled a complete A-Z of cruising terms to help us both find our sea legs. Consider it your essential guide to cruise ship conditions. Take a look, and soon we’ll all be speaking fluently sailor.

Cruising lingo revealed

In back
The stern of the ship, also known as the stern.

Dinner at any time
This is ideal for passengers who want a little more flexibility in their schedules. At any time, you can choose your meal time.

Bow
The front of the ship.

Bridge
No… it’s not a real bridge. Or the card game. Rather, the term refers to where the captain and crew steer and navigate the ship.

cabin steward
The member of the crew responsible for cleaning and maintaining your cabin during the cruise. Be sure to say thank you when you spot them!

Ability
The number of passengers a ship can hold.

Captain
Jack Sparrow. Just kidding – he’s the person who oversees the ship, as well as the safety of the crew and passengers.

Coastal cruise
When the ship goes along the coast for the duration of the navigation.

Crossing
A journey from port to port on the high seas. If you’re on an ocean cruise, you’re probably on a crossing.

Coastal cruise
When the ship goes along the coast for the duration of the navigation.

Crossing
A journey from port to port on the high seas. If you’re on an ocean cruise, you’re probably on a crossing.

Relaxed cruising
This dress code generally refers to a casual dress code: casual skirts and pants are allowed, but swimsuits, ripped jeans, and tank tops are not. That said, check your cruise line’s dress code – some allow denim.

cruise director
Basically the social planner of the cruise. The person who schedules the activities organizes the entertainment and acts as the ship’s master of ceremonies.

elegant cruising
Cruise lines typically up the ante for one or two nights and invite guests to don something a little more chic — think women’s cocktail dresses — for the evening.

Platform
The ship’s equivalent of floors in a building.

Dock
Where ships land, unload and embark. Usually a large platform.

expedition cruise
A small, specialized ship built to explore areas off the beaten path. Often featuring an ice-strengthened hull, this type of ship takes the daring and adventurous to remote – and usually cold – regions of the planet.

Fly-cruises
When you need to book a flight to and from the port city where your cruise departs/ends.

Difficult situation
The ship’s galley. *Yum*

Corridor
The ramp/stairs you will use to board and disembark the ship.

Tips
Extras – read food, drinks and gratuities – which are not included in your original cruise fare.

Closed off
Crew only, thank you! It’s the part of the bridge that houses the steering wheel and a whole bunch of buttons, bits and bobs that only the crew knows how to use.

Homeport
Where the ship begins the cruise journey. All aboard!

shell
The belly of the ship.

Inaugural cruise
A ship’s maiden voyage… line up for the pomp and circumstance.

Itinerary
A program of all the fabulous places your ship will visit, including all the fun shore expeditions.

pier
Basically, a dock, except that’s a little funnier to say. Piers are usually made of wood or stone and are often used to protect harbors from high tides.

Keel
The bottom in the center of the ship.

Tie
Here’s some real nautical lingo for you! A knot is the unit of speed at which your cruise takes place, equal to one nautical mile per hour.

Lee side
Too much wind ? Your hat flew off? Head to the lee side of the ship – the term for the side sheltered from the wind.

Swimming pool
The deck that usually houses the cruise’s swimming pools. The ideal place to swim and cool off.

Lining
A ship built to withstand rough seas while traveling the open ocean. There is only one ocean liner in the world: advance Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, the last of its kind.

Master of’
The crew member you will see first when you enter a cruise restaurant. Butlers are the hosts, supervisors and managers of the dining experiences aboard your cruise.

Midship
Midships (surprise surprise).

Gathering exercise
A mandatory safety drill in which crew members help passengers familiarize themselves with safety measures on board the ship, including life jackets and lifeboats.

Flightless cruises
When you don’t have to book a flight to or from the port city where your cruise departs. The opposite of Fly-cruises.

ocean cruise
Any cruise crossing the salt seas.

Ports of call
Any destination listed on your itinerary where your cruise plans to stop. Here you’ll step off the ship for shore excursions, city walks, beach days, museum visits, and more.

Trimester
The part of the boat halfway between the stern and the beam.

Repositioning cruises
When a one-way cruise switches to sailing through a new region, with an entirely new itinerary.

River cruise
All cruises run on the river.

sailing party
A huge party on deck to celebrate the start of a ship’s navigation. Take out the champagne.

sea ​​day
Day during which a ship remains at sea, with calls at ports of call. Oh, relaxation.

Boat
Also known as a ship – whatever you do, don’t call it a boat. It’s just rude.

shore excursion
It’s time to step off the ship and explore, whether on an organized excursion or on your own.

Single Supplement
A single supplement is a premium charged to people who take a room alone. However, times are changing and more and more cruise lines are removing single supplements for solo travellers.

Specialty restaurants
Many cruise lines now offer specialty dining options that are, well, special. They tend to be high-end options, often involving partnerships with world-renowned chefs such as Thomas Keller, Daniel Bouloud and Eric Lanlard, and cover charges apply.

Starboard
Ah. This one is right. Right?

Cabins
A cabin is the nautical term for your cabin or accommodation on a ship. Usually, you will have four categories to choose from: interior, sea view, balcony and suite.

Back
The back of the ship.

Offer
A small vessel used to transport passengers from the ship to the dock when the cruise ship cannot dock alongside the pier.

Theme cruise
Spice up your vacation with a themed cruise. From history and wine tasting to painting and yoga, themed cruises bring like-minded people aboard to explore both their interests and the world together.

Execution day
The changing of the guard, cruise style. It is the day when a group of passengers disembarks and another group embarks.

Upper bridge
Where you’ll find me soaking up the sun and sipping bubbles once on board.

Wake
The beautiful trail of water behind the ship as it sails.

In the wind
The side of the ship where your hat flies off in the water and, sorry to say, you’ll probably never see it again.

world cruise
Your ticket to see the world. World cruises can last three, four, nine (or more) months, taking passengers all over the world. Passengers can register for the whole navigation or reserve a segment.

Xtras
In fact, these are just extras – the term for any additional activities, meals or experiences that are not included in the overall cruise cost.

Yacht
Some cruise lines have a collection of yachts that provide guests with the most intimate cruising experiences. Because these yachts are smaller vessels, they can often take guests to more distant destinations.

Zenith
Navigation term referring to the point that connects the center of the earth, the observer and the celestial sphere in a straight line. You don’t really need to remember this one… I just needed a Z.