Ship Lingo
Do you speak "Shipster"? Familiarize yourself with the lingo you’ll be hearing on Hallmark Christmas Cruise!
aft
Adverb
1. towards or near the back of the ship
My cabin is all the way aft so I can be closer to the Great Outdoors.
assembly station
Noun
1. a specific location on ship to gather, based on stateroom assignment.
2. the place you’ll meet before we set sail as part of the ship’s regular Safety Briefing.
You’ll find your assembly station location printed on your room keycard.
berth
Noun
1. a built-in bed or bunk, as in a ship's stateroom
The room steward is so awesome having the berth set up for turn down.
bow
Noun
1. the very front of the ship
I wanted to yell, “I’m king of the world” from the bow of the ship, but guests aren’t allowed out there.
bridge
Noun
1. the navigational control center, where the captain steers the ship
I fancy myself a sea captain, so I took a tour of the bridge. It was a lot more complicated than I thought.
deck plan
Noun
1. an overhead diagram of the cabins and the public rooms
I got really turned around and couldn’t find my cabin, so I took a look at a deck plan, and made it home safely.
debarkation
Noun
1. the day you have to get up to get off the ship
2. the process of saying goodbye to our guests as they all leave the ship
Debarkation is the saddest part of the trip, I don't want to say goodbye to all of my new friends.
dock
Noun
1. the place where your ship 'parks' when in port
I was the first one off the ship and onto the dock when we got to port.
forward
Adverb
1. Toward the front of the boat.
My cabin is all the way forward so I can be closer to the Stardust Theater.
gangway
Noun
1. The area that allows you access on and off the ship
I made it to the gangway just in time!
knot
Noun
1. a unit of nautical speed equal to one nautical mile per hour
I couldn’t feel the ship moving because we were only going 20 knots.
midship
Noun
1. the middle of the ship
I made sure my cabin is located midship, so I can be in the middle of everything.
muster
Verb
1. to come together or assemble aboard ship for inspection, roll call or an emergency
I watched the ship’s crew muster for a safety drill.
pier
Noun
1. a structure built out over the water and supported by pillars or piles used as a landing place.
I got really excited and started running down the pier to the beach.
port
Noun
1. the left-hand side of a ship as one faces forward; opposite of starboard.
We remember port vs. starboard with this: The words "port" and "left" both have four letters.
port of call
Noun
1. regular stopover(s) on a cruise itinerary
starboard
Noun
1. the right side of the ship while facing forward
My cabin is on the starboard side of the ship.
stateroom
Noun
1. a guest cabin
I got turned around and tried to get into the wrong stateroom.
stateroom steward
Noun
1. the person who takes care of guest cabins and service aboard a ship.
My towel animal was adorable, so I made sure to thank my stateroom steward.
stern
Noun
1. the very back of the ship
I love watching the waves from the stern