cruise line defined

Royal Navy Ship HMS Trent Seizes Cocaine Worth £40 Million In The Caribbean Sea

Seafarers Hospital Society Launches Pilot Project To Support Women At Sea

Hydrocell Launches The First Hydrogen-Powered Boat

Indian Port Workers Call Off Strike After Agreeing To New Wage Settlement

What is a Cruise Ship?

A cruise ship is a luxury vessel that is used to take passengers on a pleasure voyage in a journey that is as much a part of the experience as the various destinations on the way.

In contrast to an ocean liner that transports passengers from one point on the globe to the other often across the oceans, a cruise ship or a cruise liner as it is known by most, takes the people on board to a round trip that is of varied duration, from a single day to possibly a week and culminates at the originating port.

This is a very refreshing mode of enjoyment and recreation, which relaxes the mind and replenishes energies to a great extent.

History of Cruise Ships

The present-day form of cruising can be traced back to the beginning of the twentieth century when transoceanic travelling was at its zenith.

The only mode of transport was the ships so the different companies that were in this business offered the best services to compete in the market.

These ocean liners with luxurious services offered what came to be known as line voyages. But because of the long journey, which at best would be no less than four days, there had to be huge storage for fuel and other necessities and that didn’t leave much room for luxuries.

With the advent of jet aeroplanes in the latter half of the last century, there was a shift in passenger preference and the long sea voyages were left for only the ardent sea fans.

Related Reading:

• How Are Cruise Ships Powered?
• How Do Cruise Ships Get Fresh Water?

The Advent of Cruise Ships

This situation was ideal for the launch of a cruise ship. It needed something strikingly different and exciting to bring back the interest of the people to sea voyages and this is where these trips gained popularity.

Considering the fact that the journey is relatively short with many stoppages at exotic locations, the ships are designed accordingly, thereby making more room and utilizing that space for an open design that exudes extravagance. It would be appropriate to liken a cruise ship to a floating hotel complete with a hospitality unit amongst other crew members.

Facilities on Cruise Ships

The facilities onboard these cruise liners include great dining services. Some liners offer open-air dining on the deck, whereas, there are others that have expensively designed dining halls with mouth-watering recipes to leave a long-lasting impression on the passengers.

In addition to this, there are casinos, fitness centres, spas, cinemas, and some ships even have a Broadway-like theatre. These cruise ships also boast swimming pools, hot tubs, lounges, libraries, gyms and clubs.

To put it in a nutshell, they pamper the passengers with the best of hospitality and services that can be imagined with some of the choicest natural views along the sea.

Over the last decade, cruising has become an integral part of the tourism industry contributing over $25 billion yearly to this booming sector. The major bulk of the business as expected comes from the North American and European regions but the other areas like the pan pacific are also catching up.

You might also like to read:

• Top 10 Largest Cruise Ships in 2021
• Top 10 Most Expensive Cruise Ships in 2021
• Engineering Department Onboard Cruise Ships – A Detailed Guide
• Titanic vs Modern Cruise Ship: How Ships Have Evolved 
• Video: Why Are Cruise Ships White?

Disclaimer : The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

About Author

Marine Insight News Network is a premier source for up-to-date, comprehensive, and insightful coverage of the maritime industry. Dedicated to offering the latest news, trends, and analyses in shipping, marine technology, regulations, and global maritime affairs, Marine Insight News Network prides itself on delivering accurate, engaging, and relevant information.

Read More Articles By This Author >

Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction

Daily Maritime News, Straight To Your Inbox

Sign Up To Get Daily Newsletters

Join over 60k+ people who read our daily newsletters

By subscribing, you agree to our  Privacy Policy  and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Leave a reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Marine Insight Daily Newsletter

" * " indicates required fields

Marine Engineering

Marine Engine Air Compressor Marine Boiler Oily Water Separator Marine Electrical Ship Generator Ship Stabilizer

Nautical Science

Mooring Bridge Watchkeeping Ship Manoeuvring Nautical Charts  Anchoring Nautical Equipment Shipboard Guidelines

Explore 

Free Maritime eBooks Premium Maritime eBooks Marine Safety Financial Planning Marine Careers Maritime Law Ship Dry Dock

Shipping News Maritime Reports Videos Maritime Piracy Offshore Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) MARPOL

• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Definition of cruise

 (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

Definition of cruise  (Entry 2 of 2)

• gad (about)
• galavant
• kick around
• knock (about)

Examples of cruise in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cruise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Dutch kruisen to make a cross, cruise, from Middle Dutch crucen , from crūce cross, from Latin cruc-, crux

1651, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

1696, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cruise

• adaptive cruise control
• booze cruise
• cruise control
• cruise liner
• cruise missile
• cruise ship
• radar cruise control

Dictionary Entries Near cruise

Cite this entry.

“Cruise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cruise. Accessed 30 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of cruise.

from Dutch kruisen "to cruise, move crosswise," from early Dutch crūce "cross," from Latin crux "cross" — related to cross , crucial

More from Merriam-Webster on cruise

Nglish: Translation of cruise for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of cruise for Arabic Speakers

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day, mise-en-scène.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Plural and possessive names: a guide, 31 useful rhetorical devices, more commonly misspelled words, why does english have so many silent letters, your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, popular in wordplay, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, it's a scorcher words for the summer heat, 7 shakespearean insults to make life more interesting, birds say the darndest things, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), games & quizzes.

145 Cruise Ship Terms and Meanings

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive compensation when you purchase via my links at no cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

If you’re new to cruising, you may have noticed there’s a whole world of cruise ship terms and meanings. If it’s your first cruise, it might take a minute to get the hang of the cruise lingo.

We’ve put together a handy glossary of essential cruising vocabulary you need to know before you step on board.

Table of Contents

Cruise Ship Terms

Ship terminology.

Ship: A ship is not a boat. Ships are large vessels intended for ocean or deep water transportation of cargo or passengers.

Cruise Ship: Cruise ships are large passenger vessels whose primary purpose is to transport passengers on leisurely vacations.

Ocean Liner: Their primary purpose is to transport cargo or passengers across seas. For a more in-depth article, visit our cruise ship vs. ocean liner comparison .

Sister Ship: Two or more ships of the same class or nearly identical design. For example, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are sister ships.

Deck: A platform or section on a ship. Where buildings have floors, ships have decks.

The Bridge: The main control center of the ship. From here, the captains and officers have control over the entire operation of the vessel.

Itinerary: A sailing schedule with the route and destinations you will visit. The itinerary is viewable before you book but may change due to unexpected events or weather.

Atrium: The main lobby of the ship. Most cruise ship atriums are three or more decks high, and the location you first step onto a cruise ship. The atrium is the hub of the vessel, where you’ll often find elevators, stairs, photo booths, and the guest information desk.

Purser’s Desk: Often referred to as guest services, this is where guests can inquire about anything related to billing or ship information.

Deck Plan: A map of the cruise ship’s decks. Most ships have deck plans on each floor to help passengers find their way around the boat. Deck plans are incredibly important for navigating your way around the ship, especially for your first few days on board.

Lido Deck: The lido deck refers to the pool deck on a cruise ship. The name comes from the Italian word “lido,” which refers to a public outdoor swimming pool or beach. Accordingly, the cruise ship lido deck is home to one or more swimming pools, hot tubs, bars, and restaurants.

Gangway: A gangway is a narrow walkway used by passengers and crew to get on and off the cruise ship.

Muster Drill: The muster drill is a mandatory safety drill completed before sailing. The drill prepares guests for safe evacuation in the event of an emergency and familiarizes passengers with life vests, escape routes, and lifeboats. By law, the muster drill must be performed within 24 hours of departure.

Muster Station: Muster stations are where guests and crew meet in cases of emergency. The muster station is where you will find life vests and your assigned cruise ship lifeboat .

Daily Planner (cruise compass, bulletin, or newsletter): The daily planner goes by many names. It is where you will find the day’s scheduled activities. Many cruise lines have dedicated apps that allow passengers to see the day’s schedule from their devices.

Sailaway: Sailaway is the period of time that your cruise ship departs the cruise port. Cruise ships often host a Sailaway party to celebrate the cruise’s start.

Sailaway Party: Cruise lines often host a Sailaway party on the first night of the cruise to kick off the vacation. The party is generally located on the main pool deck or atrium with drinks, live music, and dancing.

Sea Day: A sea day is a full day when the ship doesn’t visit a port. Most cruises of a week or longer contain one or more sea days. But, they are by no means boring. On sea days, the cruise line will host plenty of scheduled events. If that’s not for you, you can simply relax by the pool.

Cruise Card: On most cruise ships, you’ll receive a cruise card that provides access to your stateroom and acts as a form of ID and payment around the vessel. The keycard eliminates the need to carry cash or credit cards around the ship.

Ocean Medallion: Ocean Medallion is a smart technology offered by Princess Cruises. Ocean Medallion replaces the traditional keycard with a wearable device. The wearable provides all of the same functions as a cruise card with several additional benefits.

Pier Runners: A name for passengers who are late to the cruise ship. You’ll find these unfortunate passengers running to the gangway as they race to make it onto the boat before the ship departs. Tip: Make sure you get back to the ship before the all-aboard time. The cruise ship will leave you behind if you’re late.

Lanyard: A lanyard is a common accessory used by cruise ship passengers to attach a cruise card. It’s both convenient and an excellent way to minimize the risk of losing your cruise card.

Rum Runners: Rum runners were people who, during the time of prohibition, traveled by sea to other countries to transport alcohol back to America. Today, a rum runner is a term used to describe a container used to sneak alcohol onto a cruise ship.

No Sail Order: In March 2020, the CDC introduced a no sail order that paused all cruise ship travel within the US. The no sail order was a temporary measure enacted to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Cruise with Confidence: When cruising resumed following the Covid-19 pandemic, cruise lines introduced flexible cancelations policies. For most cruises, passengers could cancel up to 48 hours pre-cruise and receive full credit for a future cruise.

Warm Lay Up: During the period of suspended sailing, cruise lines could quickly bring a warm lay-up cruise ship back to service. These ships had reduced crew levels, fuel, food, and other essential items but were ready to return to service with short notice.

Cold Lay Up: A cold layup refers to a cruise ship that is fully shut down. Cruise lines shut down many cruise ships to save on costs during the no sail order. Ships in cold lay-up require more time to be brought back into service.

Funnel (or Stack): The funnel (or stack) refers to the exhaust on a cruise ship. It functions similarly to a chimney on a home and is used to expel engine exhaust. Most cruise ships have several funnels; however, typically, only one or two are functional (the rest are for aesthetics.)

Onboard Credit: An onboard credit is applied to your account and can be used on the ship to make purchases, such as drinks at the shop or souvenirs in the shops. Cruise lines and travel agents often offer onboard credit as an incentive to book, where you’ll receive a set dollar value when you book by a specific date.

Duty-Free: Duty-free refers to items that don’t have taxes. Duty-free purchases often must be declared when you return to the cruise terminal. If you are visiting from another country, you may need to declare duty-free items upon re-entry to your home country.

Godmother (or Godfather) : The Godmother (or Godmother) serves as a spokesperson for a cruise ship. As a tradition, the chosen individual is responsible for christening the ship and bestowing good luck to the new vessel.

Crossing: When a cruise ship sails across a large body of water. Examples include the Atlantic crossing, where a cruise ship may sail from Europe to America.

Double-Dip: When cruise-goers sail on back-to-back cruises. Sometimes one cruise just isn’t enough.

Maiden Voyage (Inaugural Sailing): The first sailing for a new cruise ship, or after a long pause (such as during repairs).

Dress Code: Cruise lines have dress codes that passengers must follow. Luxury cruise lines have strict policies, while most mainstream cruise lines allow casual wear at all times, except for formal nights.

Formal Night: Formal night is a traditional cruise ship experience where passengers dress up for a night of elegance. Some cruise lines have relaxed formal night dress codes , while Norwegian and Virgin don’t have any.

Planning Your Cruise

Embarkation: Embarkation is the process of passengers and crew members getting aboard a ship.

Embarkation Day : The first day of your cruise. It is one of the most exciting times of cruising, and the day you first step foot on the cruise ship.

Port of Departure: The port where your cruise ship will depart.

Disembarkation: The process of exiting the cruise ship. Often the saddest day of the cruise.

Port of Call: A port where your ship will stop.

Shore Excursion: An organized activity or event that passengers can attend in port. You can book shore excursions through the cruise line, a private tour company, or an independent tour operator.

Tender (Water Shuttle): There are some cruise ports where cruise ships can’t directly dock, usually because of a protected coral reef or the ship’s size. At these ports, the cruise ship will anchor a few minutes away from the port and shuttle passengers by tender boat.

Booking Terms

Onboard Booking: You can book your next cruise while on the ship of your current cruise. Cruise lines offer incentives to passengers to encourage onboard bookings. The incentives are one of the best ways to save money booking your next cruise. And, if you booked your current sailing through a travel agent, you can request that your booking is transferred to the agency.

Cruise Fare: This is the basic cost of the cruise. The cruise fare covers the cost of standard meals, accommodations, activities, and more. Many cruise lines offer basic wifi and drink packages bundled with the cruise fare.

Deposit: When you book a cruise, many cruise lines require a deposit to secure the booking. Each cruise line has different refund rules, and you may be unable to recoup the deposit if you cancel.

Final Payment: As the sailing date approaches, you will be required to make the final payment. The final payment is typically due within 70 to 90 days of the sale date. However, as policies vary, it’s always best to check with the cruise line.

Cruise Contract: You will be asked to sign a cruise contract when booking a cruise. The contract includes a set of terms and conditions that apply to passengers and the cruise line. The agreement is where you will find the refund policy, final payment date, and cancellation terms.

Gratuities: Gratuities, or tips, are customary on cruise vacations . Cruise lines charge gratuities on a daily, per-person basis. Most major cruise lines have automatic gratuities split among the hardworking staff, except bartenders and spa staff. If you don’t pay the gratuities in advance, they are charged to your onboard account and paid at the end of the cruise. Bartenders and spa staff receive tips through the gratuities charged on drinks, drink packages, and spa treatments.

Pre-paid Gratuities: Pre-paid gratuities are paid in advance of sailing. Paying in advance makes it easier to budget and plan for a cruise.

Solo Supplement: Most cruise ships charge a fee for solo bookings in regular staterooms. The added fee is known as a solo supplement. When a solo traveler books a cabin, the cruise line misses out on additional revenue from having two people in a stateroom.

All-Inclusive: All-inclusive cruises are great if you prefer to have all your expenses known before sailing. The all-inclusive definition varies by cruise line but typically includes gratuities, wifi, and a basic drink package.

Drink Package: Most cruise lines offer drink packages that entitle guests to order unlimited drinks. Drink packages typically have rules such as price limits and drink restrictions. If you don’t want to purchase the drink package, you can still purchase individual drinks from the bars, lounges, and restaurants.

Online Check-In: Before embarking, cruise ship passengers can complete online check-in and print any required documents.

Cabin Terminology

Cabin: Your room onboard the ship.

Stateroom: Another term for your room on the ship.

Interior Stateroom: This is a cabin located on a ship’s interior. Interior cabins don’t have windows (portholes) or balconies.

Oceanview Cabins: A cabin with a view of the ocean through a porthole or large window.

Balcony Cabins: As the name suggests, this is a stateroom with a balcony.

Suites: The largest and most luxurious cabin category on a cruise ship. Passengers who book suites often receive additional perks such as a butler, private lounge, bonus loyalty points, and free specialty dining.

Guarantee Cabin: This refers to booking a cabin category without choosing a specific room location. These cabins are lower priced, but with the drawback of having the location assigned by the cruise line. If you’re not picky about the location of your stateroom, guarantee cabins on cruise ships are a great way to save money on your cruise vacation.

Obstructed View Stateroom: You may have an ocean view or balcony cabin, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have unobstructed ocean views. Obstructed view staterooms have an object, such as equipment or a lifeboat, in the direct view of your window or balcony. These staterooms cost less than those with unobstructed views.

Veranda: Veranda is another word term used to describe a balcony. The word originates from the Hindi varandā, but it is related to the Spanish baranda, meaning “railing.”

French Balcony: French balconies are located on the interior of an outside-facing stateroom. They are often a result of modifications to older cruise ships or added as a lower category cabin. Though termed a balcony, it’s more of a wall-to-wall open window.

Virtual Balcony: Virtual balconies are wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling screens providing the illusion of a balcony for interior staterooms. They project real-time video of the outside, so your virtual balcony displays precisely what you would see from a real balcony.

Virtual Porthole: Like a virtual balcony, a virtual porthole projects real-time outside video. They provide interior cabins with the feeling of a porthole. Despite sounding tacky, they provide an extraordinarily realistic view.

Pullman Bed: Pullman beds are like little bunk beds where the top bed pulls down from the ceiling or wall above the main bed, accessible by a ladder. If you book with three or four people to a cabin, your cabin may have a Pullman bed.

Double Occupancy: Double occupancy indicates two people booked in a stateroom. The advertised cruise fare is often based on the double occupancy rate. Additionally, cruise lines often use double occupancy as the measurement of passenger capacity, as it is unrealistic that every stateroom would be booked at maximum capacity (e.x. two passengers staying in a cabin that could hold four.)

Single Occupancy: Most cruise lines charge a single occupancy rate to solo cruisers. The single occupancy rate adds a solo supplement. The total cruise fare for single occupancy is often near the cost of booking two people in a cabin.

Solo Cabins or Studio Cabins: Some cruise ships have staterooms dedicated to solo travelers. Solo cabins or studio cabins are comparably smaller than typical cabins, but they are cheaper as they forgo the solo supplement. The best cruise lines for solo cruisers feature solo staterooms.

Triple and Quad Cabins: As the name suggests, triple and quad cabins can accommodate three or four passengers.

Towel Animals: One of my favorite memories from cruising as a child is returning to the cabin and finding a beautiful towel animal on the bed. Room stewards often create cute towel creations to put a smile on your face. You’ll usually find them on family-oriented cruise lines .

Types of Cruises

Charter: People or tour operators may book out an entire ship to host a special event.

Repositioning Cruise: A sailing occurs when a cruise ship transfers to another part of the world. For example, a cruise ship offering Caribbean itineraries may reposition to the Mediterranean for two months. Repositioning cruises are often cheaper than regular itineraries as cruise lines look to fill the vessel to earn revenue from an expensive voyage.

World Cruise: As the name suggests, a world cruise offers an extensive itinerary that sails around the globe and visits several continents. World cruises may last anywhere from two to twelve months.

Canal Cruise: A type of cruise that sails through a canal. Popular canal cruises such as the Panama canal take passengers on a unique voyage through several ship locks.

Barge Cruise: The smallest-sized cruise ship available. They usually consist of six to sixteen people. The cruise acts as a floating hotel able to traverse very shallow and narrow waterways.

Expedition Cruise: Expedition cruises offer sailings to the most remote locations in the world. These cruises emphasize the journey, adventure, and experience with a special focus on adventurous shore excursions.

River Cruise: A river cruise is sailing along inland waterways. In our opinion, river cruising is totally underrated. We love the calmness of river sailing, intimate ships, and uniqueness of itineraries. If you’ve only sailed on ocean cruises, you should definitely take a look at river cruising.

Day Cruise: A cruise that sails for a limited number of hours and does not include an overnight stay. Day cruises are typically limited to media and press tours.

Transatlantic: A cruise that sails across the Atlantic. Before airplanes, transatlantic sailings were the only transportation between Europe and North America. The ocean liner Queen Mary 2 regularly sails traditional transatlantic voyages from South Hampton to New York.

Cruise to Nowhere: A cruise itinerary that consists only of sea days before returning. They are typically only a few days long and don’t call in any ports.

Closed-Loop Cruise: A closed-loop cruise starts and ends in the same port . For example, a voyage that departs and returns to Miami, Florida, is an example of a closed-loop cruise.

Open-Jaw Cruise: An open jaw cruise starts and ends at different ports. Passengers embark at one port and disembark in another. For example, a voyage that departs Seattle, Washington, and arrives in Ketchikan, Alaska, is an open-jaw cruise.

Cruise Ship Dining Terminology

Assigned Seating: Many cruise lines provide assigned tables in the main dining room. The assigned seating is usually dinner-specific.

Early and Late Dining: Some cruise lines with assigned seating split dining times into two seatings. The first and second seating is often referred to as early and late dining.

Open Dining (or Open Seating): Many cruise lines offer open seating, whereby passengers may eat in the main dining room without a specified time for seating. Norwegian Cruise Line only offers open dining, which they call Freestyle dining. Other cruise lines, such are Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, provide passengers with the option of set dining times or open dining. While open dining offers more flexibility, you may need to wait in line for an empty table.

Specialty Restaurants: Specialty restaurants refer to alternative dining choices that aren’t included in the base cruise fare. Specialty restaurants offer an intimate dining experience with a better culinary experience. The ship charges the meal to your onboard account when eating at a specialty restaurant.

Maitre d’Hotel (Maitre d’, for short): The Maitre d’ is in charge of the restaurant on the ship. This person greets customers, supervises the restaurant staff, and ensures that the experience meets the highest quality standards.

Captain’s Table: As the name suggests, the captain’s table is a chance to enjoy dinner with the ship’s captain.

Ship Crew Member and Staff Terms

Captain: The ship’s captain holds the ultimate command and responsibility of the vessel. In addition to steering and navigating the boat, the captain is responsible for the safety of all passengers and crew.

Cruise Director: You’ll often find the cruise director leading activities around the ship. During your sailing, the cruise director acts as the face of the cruise, and it’s their job to be friendly and outgoing.

Cabin Steward or Cabin Attendant: The cabin steward is responsible for cleaning and maintaining your stateroom. These crew members work hard to keep your room tidy and clean for when you return.

Deckhand: The deckhand is responsible for maintaining the exterior of the ship. They are responsible for general cleaning and maintenance of the deck areas and ship gear. They are also the ones responsible for loading and unloading supplies and equipment.

Bosun (Boatswain): A bosun is the highest-ranking, non-officer role in the deck department. Among their responsibilities, a bosun supervises deckhands, coordinates work, coaches staff members, maintains ship appearance, and overseas the mooring and anchoring operations.

Purser: The purser is responsible for handling the ship’s finances. Specifically, the chief purser oversees the staff who manage money, passenger accounts, and guest services.

Porter: The porter is responsible for helping passengers with their luggage. They are employed by the port authority, not the ship.

Passenger-Crew Ratio: The ratio of the number of passengers to the crew. The ratio gives a quick feel for the quality of service on board a cruise ship. In theory, the lower the ratio, the better the service. A ratio of 1:1 (a ratio only seen on luxury ships) means that there is one crew member for every passenger on board the vessel. Ratios of 3:1 are considered good.

Cruise Terminal: The building where you check-in for your cruise and board your ship . Like how airplanes have airports, cruise ships have terminals or cruise ports.

Port: A maritime facility with loading areas for ships to load and unload passengers and cargo.

Home Port: The primary cruise port for a ship. The home port is the port where the cruise ship begins most cruise itineraries.

Cay (Pronounced “kay” ): A small, sandy island with a low elevation on the surface of a coral reef.

Marina: A dock or basin that provides mooring services for small boats and yachts.

Dry Dock: A dock that can be drained of water to allow for construction, maintenance, and repair work on ships.

Shipyard: A facility where ships are built and repaired.

Navigational Terms

Port: When facing towards the front (bow) of the ship, the port is on your left. If you face the back of the boat (aft), the port is on your right.

Starboard: When facing towards the front (bow) of the ship, the starboard is on your right. If you face the back of the boat (aft), the starboard is on your left.

Insider Tip

If you need help remembering port and starboard, check out our article: How to remember port and starboard on a cruise ship .

Bow/Forward: The front of the ship.

Stern: The rearmost part of the exterior of the ship.

Aft: The rearmost part of the interior of the ship.

Prime Meridian: Prime meridian is the earth’s zero of longitude (0º), which passes through Greenwich, England. Together with the anti-meridian, they divide the earth into two hemispheres.

Nautical Twilight (Nautical Dawn): Nautical twilight begins in the morning when the sun’s center is between 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. During nautical twilight, the stars and horizon are visible, even on moonless nights, allowing sailors to take reliable star readings for navigational purposes.

Celestial Navigation: Navigation by observing the sun, moon, and stars. Before advancements in technology, celestial navigation was the primary method for sailors.

Nautical Terminology

Midship: The middle of a ship or boat.

Overall Length: The length of a ship from bow to stern.

Beam: A measure of the width of a ship or boat.

Gross Tonnage: A measure of a ship’s overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is determined by dividing by 100 the contents, in cubic feet, of the vessel’s enclosed spaces.

Wake: A moving ship generates a tace on the water’s surface. The frothy white water trailing a moving vessel is called the wake. Watching the ship wake as you sail away from the port can be mesmerizing.

Berth: The term berth has a dual meaning. The first is a name for a bed on a ship. The second is a space where a vessel may be moored.

Helm: The helm is the position from which the captain steers the vessel. It also refers to the lever or wheel that controls the rudder on a ship.

Hull: The main body or structure of a vessel. The hull includes the bottom, sides, and deck of the ship. The watertight hull is how cruise ships float .

Porthole: A small exterior window on a ship. Portholes are usually circular.

Mast: On a sailboat, the mast is a pole rising vertically from the hull, which serves to support the sail. There is only one mast on a small sailboat, but larger boats have several.

Mainsail: The largest and most important sail on a boat. On a square-rigged vessel, the mainsail is the lowest and largest sail on the mast.

Boom: The boom is a thick pole that extends at a 90-degree angle from the mast. It anchors the bottom of the sail and provides sailors with greater control and maneuverability.

Rudder: The rudder is an underwater verticle blade positioned at the vessel’s stern. It is controlled at the helm and is the primary method of steering. When the captain turns the wheel, it rotates the rudder. As the rudder rotates, the vessel’s head turns in the same direction.

Mooring: Refers to a permanent structure to which a ship can attach.

Docking: The act of mooring a ship at a dock.

Latitude: A geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position on the earth’s surface. Latitude lines run in parallel lines from east to west. When looking at a globe, latitude lines are horizontal. The latitude angle ranges from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles.

Longitude: A geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position on the earth’s surface. Latitude lines run in parallel lines from north to south. When looking at the planet, longitude lines run vertically.

Equator: The equator is a latitude circle dividing the earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres. It is located exactly halfway between the North and South poles. The equator’s location is at 0 degrees latitude.

Flag Country: The country where the ship is registered. You can quickly identify the ship’s flag country by looking at the ship’s stern, where you’ll usually find a flag and the country’s name.

If you are curious about why cruise ships have a different flag country, check out our article: Why do cruise ships sail under foreign flags?

Knots: Knots are a unit of speed used by ships and are short for nautical miles per hour. One knot is equivalent to 1.15 land miles per hour. Cruise ships have cruising speeds of around 22 knots .

Provisions: Refers to supplies needed on the ship

Lock: A device used to raise and lower ships between stretches of water at different levels.

Zodiacs: Small inflatable boats used for water bases shore excursions. Zodiacs are named after the company that invented them. The inflatable boats were created in the 1930s for the military but are now commonly used in tourism.

Stabilizers: Stabilizers are fin-like devices mounted to the ship’s hull beneath the waterline. They help counter the roll of a vessel due to waves or wind and provide a smoother ride for passengers.

Anchor: A heavy object attached to a rope or chain used to keep a vessel stationary.

Galley: The galley is another name for the kitchen of the ship. Many cruise lines offer tours of the galley, which provide a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world hidden from passengers.

Cruise Industry Acronyms

OBC (Onboard Credit): Onboard credit can be used like cash for purchases on the ship. You might receive onboard credits as an incentive offered by a travel agent or cruise line.

GTY (Guarantee Cabin): An abbreviation for guarantee cabin (see the definition above for guarantee cabins).

FCC (Future Cruise Credit): Future cruise credits work little like store credits. Cruise lines offer FCCs in place of refunds which can be redeemed when booking a new sailing. Always read the fine print as they almost always have expiry dates.

TA: Short for a travel agent.

Cruise Industry Organizations

CLIA: The Cruise Line International Association is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association based on the number of passenger ships operated by CLIA members. Among other responsibilities, the CLIA’s focus is to set standards for cruise lines and represent the interests of the cruise industry. According to their website , “CLIA is the global organization that fosters our members’ success by advocating, educating, and promoting the common interests of the cruise community.”

NOAA: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association is part of the US Department of Commerce. Their responsibilities include “daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce.”

Marcello De Lio

Trending now

Cruise Tourism

The cruise industry is a modern phenomenon but it rooted from the early years of the 19th century. As travel by ship was the only means to travel overseas. The Duke of Bridgewater was initiated to start water transport services from Manchester to London in 1772. His boat was used to carry passengers as well as goods.

In 1815 steamboats were developed and used to carry passengers and goods. To launch first cruise ship the credit goes to the king Charles IV of Sweden when he started his personal cruise ship in 1821 . In 1824 the first commercial cruise ship was started under the flag of Ireland. Gradually, steamship excursions became so famous and it resulted in the introduction of modern age cruise lines.

In 1938 the Peninsular and Orient steam was launched first long distance steamship services from India to the Far East. This company is still operating and has a good grasp of the cruise market. The Cunard ship company followed the P&O company and began regular services to the American Continent in 1840.

During the 2nd half of the 19th century, Britain dominated the cruise industry. However, this dominance has decreased in the later century with the advent of the substantial emigrant from Europe and the steady growth of US visitors to Europe.

Thomas Cook (the father of travel agency business ) stimulated the British tourists to visit North America. In 1866 he succeeds to operate first steamship excursion tour to the USA.

In the modern age, UK started first transatlantic lines ‘Titanic’ in 192 which was sold to the Newfound-land Islands in 1913. Second important cruise line ‘Queen marry’ was started in 1934 . It had 2000 passengers capacity along with 1100 crew members. It offered every facility for passengers such as comfort, safety, and entertainment. It was considered one of the great ocean liners.

In 1938 another larger sister ship Queen Elizabeth was launched by the same company. During the Second World War, these ships were used to carry British troops but after the war, their main business was to carry passengers across the Atlantic.

The year 1958 was the turning point in the steamship travel, as commercial jet aircraft has ended the dominance of steamship. By 1970’s steamship travel was only a curiosity. Due to less demand, high fuel prices and long duration of the journey all these resulted in the closing of many cruise company. Even many ship companies went bankrupt.

During 1980’s some large ships were converted into luxury liners, offering holidays to travelers who have money and time. Many cruise lines have taken the place of scheduled liner services.

The cruise industry is currently the fastest growing segment in the world tourism market and all tour operators now include cruises in their tour package.

Definitions of Cruise Tourism

The cruise tourism is an increasingly important part of the employment structure of advanced industrial nations as well as developing economies. Many of the cruise industries key players have made a significant contribution to the economic growth and development of the nation such as Star Cruises, Holland and American line Deluxe cruises. Crystal Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and so forth.

Cruise tourism provides and offers food, beverage, accommodation, recreational, casino, shopping, and other services to the tourist. It is like an informal industry which makes an arrangement of various services i.e., cruise packages and combines these with air travel to attract the potential customer.

The cruise package includes a plenty of facilities designed to meet the specific requirement of passengers – such as accommodation, food, beverage, deck games, swimming pool, yoga classes, quiet lounges, sheltered dock, library, casino, disco films.

Many cruises include special interest themes – like astronomy, yoga, meditation, sequence dancing, classical music and many more.

Cruise Tour Package

A cruise tour package may be defined as a systematically planned return journey with entertainment and recreational facilities on board, and shore excursion. In other words, the cruise package is a pleasure an all-inclusive trip by boat or ship for specific days, to specific days, to specific destinations, and with a set price.

Cruises packages may be designed and planned for an individual group, families, FITs, business executives, honeymooners, and special interest tourists. Of course, these cruise packages are designed for cruise passengers. However, these could not be segregated from air travel and land arrangement.

Types of Cruise Tour Packages

If we see the cruise packages offered and marketed by tour operators and travel agencies , we find similar as well as more ingredients in cruise packages such as port handling charges, airport taxes, visa processing charges and so forth. Therefore, the elements or components of a cruise package may vary from tour company to company, destination to destination and from region to region.

On the basis of above discussion actual cruise industry environment the following main cruise packages are offered by cruise liners:

• Incentive Cruise Packages
• Group Packages
• Family Packages
• Business Cruise Package
• Honeymooners Package
• Special Interest Cruise Package
• Fly Cruise Package

Types of Cruise

Since the introduction of the first cruise in 1821, numbers of cruises came in the cruise industry. Some of them are still operating in the industry while others which were not attracting clients discarded from the industry. Thus, the following typology is based on sales, marketing and working conditions of the cruises:

Volume Cruise

As the name indicates, volume cruises concentrate on volume turnover. That is why these are called mass market cruises. 65 percent of all cruises are volume/mass market cruises. These cruises are very popular in the Caribbean sea, Asia Pacific and South East Asia.

In such cruises, accommodation and other services are comparable to the star hotel. Generally, these cruises emphasized two things i.e. Turnover and short-term passenger itinerary. These are further divided into three sub-categorized:

• Short term cruises – Normally two to five days.
• Standard cruises – For one-week duration.
• Large cruises – Duration is from the week to two weeks.

Premium Cruises

Premium cruises are the second largest segment of cruise industry accounting for mere than 40 percent of all cruise revenues. The duration of this cruise varies from one week to three months.

Due to this, these are known as upscale cruises. Their product and services are equivalent to its class resort, and hotel. Royal cruise, Star Cruises, Princess Cruises, Panama Canal Cruises are offering premium cruise service.

Luxury Cruises

Luxury cruises occupied a meager percentage of the cruise market. It may be due to its high-quality product and services and it focuses on long-haul itineraries for exotic destinations. These cruises are meant for elite people. The duration of itinerary may range from 6 months to 12 months.

In spite of high prices, these cruises are more popular among the tourists and honeymooners. Luxury cruises are operated by the Royal Caribbean cruises, Crystal Cruises, and Star cruises etc.

Specialty Cruises

These cruises are launched to cater the demands of specific interest passengers, such as newly married couple, whale watching, oceanography,   scuba diving. The quality of products and services is comparatively low as other cruises. The duration of these cruises is very less but depending on the package.

Presently, there is more than 150 cruise ship with 90,000 cabins world over . The largest cruise lines is Royal Caribbean cruises liner (RCCL) with nine ships and have a capacity of 15,000 births. The Star Cruises is the 2nd largest cruise lines having five ships with 7000 births capacity. Followed by Deluxe cruise lines, Crystal Cruises, Radisson seven seas cruises, Seabourn cruises, Silversea cruise and princes cruises etc.

Significance of Cruise Industry For Tourism

The tourism industry in many countries of the world has been profoundly helped by the cruise sector to shape the tourism product and to satisfy the sophisticated travelers.

The relationship between the cruise industry and tourism industry is, therefore, a highly complex subject involving a mixture of socio-economic factors, technological factors, market pressures, government policies, management attitude ad tourist expectations.

The following points can be perceived pivotal for the significance of the cruise industry:

• Evolving cruise as a vacation option.
• Realizing the competitiveness.
• Development in MICE destinations.
• Image Conscious.
• Increasing the size of the cruise market.
• Alliances and Networking.
• Shifting tourist demands.
• Re-structuring ownership.
• Labor flexibility and Employment.
• Boom-bust cycles and tourism.

Process for Development of Cruise Tour Package

The development of air transportation and improvement in their technology in so far as safety, speed economy, and comfort are concerned to have admittedly hurt the cruise industry. However, steamship travel remains as today’s transportation of pleasure, relaxation, and comforts with service comparable to country’s best hotels and resorts.

The cruise industry is now a resort or hotel activities that must be promoted as floating hotel/resort, not for just vacation at sea but a romantic interlude, wedding anniversary, mind-dazzling, nightlife, resort cruise, and a pleasure of meeting new people.

Many thousands of rupees are spent annually by the cruise companies to promote their products and services directly or, through the tour operators and travel agents but a crucial question remains unanswered. What should be included in the cruise package? How it is to be marketed? What will be the core ingredients? In many cases, tour operators failed to find the right mix of cruise package for their clients.

Standard Components of Cruise Tour Package

Cruise packages are developed to all clients such as honeymooners, nature lovers, students, adventurers, fitness/health conscious, sport minded, music lovers, special interests and education professional etc. Thus, a cruise company has to consider a wide spectrum of market demands.

Therefore, the components of a cruise package will vary from client to client and company to company. However, the following main components or ingredients can be drawn from the cruise packages offered by the most cruise companies and tour operators:

• Air travel or land arrangements.
• Cruise segments Accommodation Food and beverage Entertainment and recreation Deck games Swimming pool Health clubs Casino Films Music-dances Entertainment facilities for children Quite lounges Sheltered decks
• Special Interest Theme Cricket Bridge Astronomy
• Education Library
• Other activities

Process of Cruise Tour Package Development

Developing cruises trips/tours, working with some other players; formulating effective marketing, managing and determining cost and price are the activities that are not easy to handle for the cruise company. However, if the manager approaches in a planned and systematic way, tour designing will become a simple, and easy task.

Cruise Tour Itinerary

A well-planned cruise tour itinerary identifies embarkation points, ports of calls, types of cabin, cruise facilities, meal services, shore excursions, tipping, and other services. Gradually, the cruise itinerary combined with air travel and land arrangement to make it more attractive and effective.

However, individuals needs cannot be overlooked. Thus, in developing cruise tour itinerary, tour planners/cruise planners normally considered the market forces, cruise industry environment, and cruise reference tools. Moreover, a cruise planner keeps in mind the following facts while designing cruise itinerary:

• Name of the Cruise
• Sailing date
• Destinations
• Port of Embarkation
• Port of Termination
• Client choice client budget
• Legal formalities

Types of Cruise Tour Itineraries

Cruise tour itineraries are broadly categorized in the following types:

• Short duration itineraries
• Medium-haul – Short and long duration itineraries (7 night, 10 nights and above)
• Long haul – Medium duration itineraries (7 months)
• Transatlantic and Round the world itineraries ( 6 to 12 months)

Cruise tour itineraries are not limited only to sea but river cruise itineraries can be developed. The main rivers of the cruise are Amazon, Mississippi, Yangtze Kiang, Hung He, Nile, and the Rhine, etc.

Determination of Cruise Tour Package Coast and Price

Determination of cost and price of a cruise tour is one of the most difficult tasks of a cruise manager/planner. What should be the exact cost? What should be the right margin? These are the two important question which a tour planner has to face.  Total price must be perceived by the passenger to be reasonable.

The cruise planner must ensure about the cost. Thus, before determination of the cost of a cruise package tour planner considers the following factors:

• Length of Tour
• Types of accommodation
• Type and quality of facilities
• Position of cabin
• Density of ship
• Date of travel
• Govt. Policy
• Competitive forces
• Seasonality

A typical cruise package includes accommodation cost, meal cost, recreational and entertainment cost, activities for children and teenagers, port taxes, shore excursion cost, and airfare may also be a part of total cost. Thus, at first glance, it may seem an expensive package, but we must understand the cost represents not only the accommodation, Food, and transportation but also entertainment together with other services and opportunities to visit a foreign port.

Cruise prices vary among cruise companies, depending on various factors and quality of product and services. More importantly, price depends on the selection of itinerary and standard of qualities. In cruise, segment price is not the main criteria but the quality of services is important.

Thus, a cruise package must create value for money to repeat clients. Generally, cruise companies adopt a mix of pricing strategies such as:

• Cost-oriented pricing
• Market-oriented pricing
• Product line pricing
• Competitive or seasonal pricing

Cruise Tour Sales and Marketing

The selling of cruise tour ticket is substantially different from the selling of airline ticket. One of the most important features relating to this is that the airline industry is well organized and regulated as compared to the cruise industry. Today, selling cruises are becoming more easier and profitable than ever.

Due to competition, the cruise companies are offering more discounts and other promotional incentives to the passengers. Besides 15 percent commission, more incentives are offered to the tour operators or travel agencies by the cruise companies.

There is a minimum procedure involved in selling and booking cruise package. Like other means of transportation, cruise liner issue the ticket, and provide other information through cruise brochure such as accommodation, entertainment, travel insurance, foreign currency, travel tips, and so forth.

Thus, successful selling and booking steamship cruise requires knowledge of both passengers and cruise on which client will have the product services, comforts, and entertainment. Tour operators need certain information to book a cruise package about the client such as:

• Name of clients
• Duration of tour
• Date of sailing
• Cabin choice
• Meal option
• Entertainment and Recreational activities
• Address with e-mail and telephone no
• Other information which is mere relevant

After obtaining required information, tour operator negotiates with cruise lines/companies. He has various options – i.e. to select a cruise for any age group. A long cruise “ Round the World ” takes long-range planning while shorter cruise can be booked with 3 to 5 days or shorter notice.

Tour operators or a travel agency follow a well defined and designed procedure for booking a cruise. The process may vary from company to company and point to point, but it includes all most following steps:

Cruise Ticketing

Preparation and issue of cruise ticket is the last step in the process of cruise reservation. The cruise ticketing is mostly done by the cruise companies or by the tour operators/travel agencies who are authorized to hold stock and issue the ticket.

A cruise ticket is a legal contract between the cruise line and passenger, entitling him/her or groups, at a stated price, to travel and avail cruise facilities specified – i.e. cruise products or services during a set time. Thus, the acceptance of cruise ticket means acceptance of those terms and conditions which contained in the passage contract ticket.

A cruise ticket document includes or conditions the following items:

• Staterooms, inside, outside
• Food and Beverage
• Dining room seating
• Sports deck
• Entertainment
• Social life
• Children’s corner
• Teenager rooms
• Port of cell
• Date of issue
• Agent validation No.
• Address of tour operator

A passenger who misplaces his/her ticket may be denied the right to board, to use cruise products or services, and even maybe denied a refund.

• Food & Drink
• How to Plan
• Shore Excursions
• Onboard Activities
• What to Expect

Ocean Lingo: Glossary of Cruise Ship Terms

By Carnival Cruise Line

If you’re a newbie to cruising culture, take a few minutes to learn the cruise ship lingo. Knowing the language both on board and on shore will make you feel more at ease on your very first cruise . We’ve compiled a list of the most essential terms for you to be familiar with before you step on board.

From knowing the ins and outs of stateroom design to understanding cruise ship nautical terms, you’ll be ready to hit the waves with confidence.

Planning Your Cruise

• Crossing: A voyage across the water – in other words, a cruise is a crossing. For example, if you take a cruise to Europe , you can depart from New York and cross to ports of call, including Northern Ireland .
• Departure port/embarkation port: Both of these terms refer to the port or location where your cruise begins and ends . Carnival has many departure ports in the United States. For example, you can cruise to the Western Caribbean from the departure port of Mobile, Alabama .
• Disembarkation: This is when you leave the ship at the end of your trip.
• Embarkation: It’s when you board your cruise ship at the beginning of your trip.
• Port of call: A port of call is a destination on your cruise and where you’ll likely be able to enjoy shore excursions. For example, if you take a cruise to Mexico , you can depart from one of three ports in California and visit multiple ports of call in one trip, including Cozumel , Costa Maya and Mahogany Bay .
• Shore excursion: A shore excursion is an activity off the ship at a port of call that you can purchase as part of your itinerary. For example, if you cruise to The Bahamas , you can take a shore excursion in Half Moon Cay. You may want to book the educational Stingray Adventure shore excursion there that allows you to interact with the sea creatures.
• Tender: Also called a lifeboat, a tender is a small boat that takes you from the ship to shore when the cruise ship anchors in a harbor.

Stateroom Speak

Even before booking your cruise , you’ll want to know the types of staterooms that are available to ensure a comfortable trip. Whether you’re cruising solo or with a group, this list helps you choose the right stateroom for your needs.

• Balcony stateroom: This room has a small, personal, outdoor balcony. A balcony stateroom is recommended when taking a cruise to Alaska , for example, so you don’t miss any unexpected wildlife or glacier sightings.
• Interior stateroom: Located in less active spots on the ship, interior staterooms are comfortable for sleepers who prefer a quiet place to curl up after a day of fun and activities.
• Ocean view stateroom: An ocean view stateroom with a porthole or window lets you gaze out at ocean vistas and ports of calls.
• Specialty stateroom: This has a thematic setting that caters to families, couples or solo guests. Specialty staterooms include Cloud 9 Spa staterooms located next to the Cloud 9 Spa Family Harbor staterooms are next to the Family Harbor Lounge, a great escape when traveling with kids .
• Suite stateroom: Larger rooms that are ideal for family cruises . These suites give everyone in your group ample room to stretch out.

Cruise Ship Terminology

It pays to understand cruise ship terms and definitions so you don’t wander around too much during your vacation. Although, while on board, you’ll never be truly lost. You can find a deck plan of each vessel so you can get to know it before your trip in the comfort of your home. Until then, here’s a crash course in ship architecture.

• 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.

Dining Discussions

• Cruise casual: This is what you can wear most nights at dinner. For men, that includes slacks, khakis, jeans, dress shorts and collared sport shirts. Women wear casual dresses and skirts, pants, capri pants, dressy shorts and dressy jeans.
• Cruise elegant: This is the one or two nights on a cruise where it’s suggested you wear evening wear to dinner in the main dining room and some other restaurants. For men, that means dress slacks, dress shirts and sport coats (optional). For women, it’s cocktail dresses, fancier pant suits or skirts. In restaurants, such as the Steakhouse , you will be required to wear tasteful attire.
• Formal night: There are two formal, or elegant, nights on longer cruises. Elegant nights mean formal suits and ties or tuxedos for men and evening gowns for women. It’s not required to dress formally, yet formal attire is welcome.
• Main seating/late seating: This means there’s an assigned schedule and seating for passengers in the main dining rooms.
• Open seating: There’s no fixed schedule and no seating arrangements for dining with open seating.

Crew Member Chatter

Who wouldn’t want to be a crew member on a cruise to Hawaii ? Here are some of the cheerful faces you’ll meet on board:

• 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.

Nautical Lingo

Knowing nautical terms in the cruise ship world is important when you’re underway (which means moving through the ocean). You may hear the captain discussing knots with another crew member.

• Knot: A unit of speed at which ships travel, which is one nautical mile per hour.
• 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.

It’s perfectly fine if you forget your cruise-speak and just say “meet me at the room,” instead of stateroom, or “where’s customer service?” instead of asking to see the purser. On a Carnival cruise, you can just be yourself and learn at your leisure. Once you have your first cruise under your belt, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a seasoned cruiser with insider tips of your own.

Note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining options may vary by ship and destination.

Related articles

What to expect.

https://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships.aspx

• Daily Crossword
• Word Puzzle
• Word Finder
• Word of the Day
• Synonym of the Day
• Word of the Year
• Language stories
• All featured
• Gender and sexuality
• All pop culture
• Writing hub
• Grammar essentials
• Commonly confused
• All writing tips
• Pop culture
• Writing tips

Advertisement

verb (used without object)

• to sail about on a pleasure trip.
• to sail about, as a warship patrolling a body of water.
• to travel about without a particular purpose or destination.
• to fly, drive, or sail at a constant speed that permits maximum operating efficiency for sustained travel.

cruising along the highway enjoying the scenery.

Taxis and police cars cruise in the downtown area.

Let's cruise over to my house after the concert.

• Informal. to go about on the streets or in public areas in search of a sexual partner.

verb (used with object)

patrol cars cruising the neighborhood; to cruise the Caribbean.

• to move slowly through or visit (a street, park, bar, etc.) in search of a sexual partner.
• to make sexual overtures to; attempt to arouse the sexual interest of.
• to inspect (a tract of forest) for the purpose of estimating lumber potential.
• the act of cruising.
• a pleasure voyage on a ship, usually with stops at various ports.
• Tom Thomas Cruise Mapother, 4th, born 1962, U.S. film actor.
• intr to make a trip by sea in a liner for pleasure, usually calling at a number of ports
• to sail or travel over (a body of water) for pleasure in a yacht, cruiser, etc
• intr to search for enemy vessels in a warship
• intr (of a vehicle, aircraft, or vessel) to travel at a moderate and efficient speed
• informal. intr to search the streets or other public places for a sexual partner
• an act or instance of cruising, esp a trip by sea
• CruiseTom1970MUSFILMS AND TV: actor Tom. original name Thomas Cruise Mapother. born 1962, US film actor; his films include Risky Business (1983), Top Gun (1986), Jerry Maguire (1989), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), War of the Worlds (2005), and Valkyrie (2008)

Other Words From

• cruising·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cruise 1

Example Sentences

Such tests might be useful, say, to screen school children or cruise ship passengers.

Meanwhile, Cruise still has its eyes set on public deployment, which is where the expertise of Raman comes in.

That all came after Cruise had already scrapped its plans to launch a robotaxi service in 2019.

Cruise also began focusing more on hardware earlier this year.

Cruise Director of Government Affairs Prashanthi Raman Earlier this year, before the world blew up, Cruise received a permit in California to begin transporting passengers.

These skills are particularly needed when, as in the case of the AirAsia flight, the airplane is at cruise altitude.

Nerd Cruise By Adam Rogers, Wired What 800 Nerds on a Cruise Ship Taught Me About Life, the Universe, and Snorkeling.

He told the court he called the retired captain to see exactly where he lived so he knew when to sound the cruise ship horn.

More than 150 passengers on a California cruise ship came down with norovirus, continuing a trend that happens every year.

It also has a close association with cruises and cruise ships.

And Jack come home from a long cruise, with prize-money in his pockets, was as ostentatious as any nouveau riche.

And every boy made a dash for the camp to secure anything he might need on a cruise down the bay.

In his first cruise he was out forty-five days, and in that time he captured fourteen vessels and 166 prisoners.

Then, his mother coming in, he proceeded to tell about their "cruise," and the sad fate of his bundle.

Earth-closets are a delusion; you cannot get earth, nor even sand, when on a cruise, and there are other serious objections.

Related Words

Definition of 'cruise'

It seems that your browser is blocking this video content.

To access it, add this site to the exceptions or modify your security settings, then refresh this page.

cruise in British English

Cruise in british english, cruise in american english, examples of 'cruise' in a sentence cruise, word lists with cruise, cobuild collocations cruise, trends of cruise.

View usage for: All Years Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

Browse alphabetically cruise

• cruise a highway
• cruise control
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'C'

Related terms of cruise

• boat cruise
• cruise fare
• cruise line
• cruise port
• View more related words

Wordle Helper

Scrabble Tools

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Score: 0 / 5

• Access the entire site, including the Easy Learning Grammar , and our language quizzes.
• Customize your language settings. (Unregistered users can only access the International English interface for some pages.)
• Submit new words and phrases to the dictionary.
• Benefit from an increased character limit in our Translator tool.
• Receive our weekly newsletter with the latest news, exclusive content, and offers.
• Be the first to enjoy new tools and features.
• It is easy and completely free !

A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Lingo You Should Know

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: August 29, 2020  - Last updated: January 23, 2023

On your first cruise, you’ll find that seasoned cruisers often tend to speak in cruise lingo. It’s a mix of nautical terms, cruise slang, and abbreviations that might send your head spinning if you’re unfamiliar.

But you’ll probably even encounter some unfamiliar cruise lingo before you set foot on the ship! When you’re booking a cruise, you’ll see lots of these cruise terms when you’re choosing an itinerary and picking your stateroom.

Let’s go over some cruise terminology you’ll want to know before you book your cruise, and what words you’ll want to be familiar with once you’re on board.

Terms you should know when booking a cruise

All-inclusive: a policy where all food, drinks, and entertainment are included in your cruise fare. Luxury cruise lines tend to be far more all-inclusive than mainstream cruise lines. Some luxury lines include airfare, shore excursions, and gratuities as part of the fare.

Read more: Which Cruise Lines Are All-Inclusive?

Balcony:  Sometimes called a verandah, a balcony is a private outdoor space attached to a stateroom. Most balconies face out to the water, but some large ships have interior balconies facing public areas.

Back-to-back: (Often written BTB or B2B) is the cruise term for booking two or more sailings in a row on the same ship.

Booze cruise: A slang term for a very short cruise sailing where many passengers’ primary objective is to drink a lot of alcohol. Some cruisers looking for a short relaxing getaway are often shocked that they’ve inadvertently booked a rowdy booze cruise.

Read more: Pros and Cons of Taking a Short Cruise (2-5 Days)

Closed-loop sailing:  A roundtrip itinerary that begins and ends in the same port. For ships sailing from United States ports, closed-loop sailings often have more relaxed rules that the cruise lines need to follow compared to cruises that begin and end in different ports.

Read more: Why Do Most US Cruises Have to Stop in a Foreign Port?

Cruise to nowhere : A short voyage in which a cruise ship leaves the embarkation port, sails in international waters for several days, then returns to the embarkation port without stopping at another destination. Cruises to nowhere are somewhat popular in Europe and Australia. The US banned this kind of cruise for foreign-flagged ships in 2016.

Cruisetour: A land-based excursion, usually by coach, that cruisers can take before or after a voyage.

Double occupancy: A policy requiring that a minimum of two cruise fares must be paid for a stateroom. Solo travelers booking a double occupancy cabin must pay a single supplement, often 100% of the fare, to book that room.

Expedition cruise: Sometimes called an adventure cruise, expedition cruises often visit far-flung locations like Alaska, Antarctica, or the Galápagos Islands. Ships are generally smaller and purpose-built. Expedition cruises offer more active excursions like hiking, kayaking, and nature walks, and enrichment lectures focus on the destination’s culture, history, and wildlife.

Read more: What Is an Expedition Cruise (and Why You Should Consider One)

French balcony: Although not technically a balcony, a French balcony is the term for a large sliding glass door that opens to the outside, but doesn’t have seating space. French balconies are often found on river cruise ships.

Gratuities: Tips paid to cruise ship staff by passengers. Gratuities for service crew accrue daily (often called automatic gratuities or autograts), and can be pre-paid or settled at the end of the cruise. Specialty dining and drink packages also include gratuities, so there’s no need to tip extra.

Read more: Tipping on a Cruise Ship: What You Need to Know About Cruise Gratuities

Guarantee stateroom: A fare class where cruisers are assigned a cabin from unallocated inventory before sailing. Cruisers will receive a stateroom assignment in the cabin category they paid for, or one in a higher category.

Read more: What Is a Guarantee Stateroom on a Cruise (and Should You Book One)?

Interior:  Also called an “inside cabin”, an interior is a stateroom that’s located away from the hull of the ship, in the ship’s interior. Inside cabins don’t have windows to the outside, although some newer ships might include a virtual window or a window to the interior of the ship.

Read more: Is an Interior Cabin Right for Your Cruise?

Loyalty program: A free plan that gives perks and discounts to repeat cruisers on the same cruise line. Cruise line loyalty programs often have several tiers, with more valuable perks offered to passengers who have sailed many times.

OBC: Onboard credit issued as a perk for booking a cruise, or as compensation for a negative event during the voyage. OBC can be used on the ship to pay for items in the ship’s stores, shore excursions, and specialty dining.

Obstructed view: A window or balcony that’s blocked by an object, usually a lifeboat. Obstructions can partially or completely block a window.

Ocean view:  A stateroom with a porthole or window facing the ocean.

Open-jaw sailing: A one-way cruise itinerary where the embarkation port and disembarkation port are not the same.

Port fees: Charges from the cruise port to the cruise line, which are passed on to the passenger at booking. Some ports charge more than others, so port fees can be adjusted if stops on the itinerary are canceled or changed.

Pullman bed: A bed that pulls down from the wall or ceiling of a stateroom to allow higher occupancy in a room. Cabin stewards set up and stow Pullman beds if anyone in your cabin will be using them.

Repositioning cruise: Sometimes called a repo cruise, repositioning cruises take ships from their seasonal home port to their home port for the next season. Repo cruises are generally long sailings with lots of sea days, and are often sold at bargain prices.

Shoulder season: The time period at the beginning and end of the busiest season for cruises in a given area. Cruise fares in the shoulder season can be significantly cheaper than in the peak tourist season.

You may also like: What is the Cheapest Month to Cruise?

Single supplement: The fee that solo cruisers must pay to book a double-occupancy stateroom. It’s usually 100% of the cruise fare, but some cruise lines slightly discount the supplement.

Stateroom: Also called a cabin, a stateroom on a cruise ship is a passenger’s on board accommodation. Staterooms can vary in size from tiny interior cabins to massive owner’s suites with several bedrooms and living areas.

Studio: Sometimes called a solo cabin, studios are small staterooms on some cruise ships that can accommodate a single cruiser. Studio cabins are an economical way for solo cruisers to travel, as a single supplement isn’t required.

Suite:  Larger accommodations on a cruise ship, often with separate living and sleeping rooms. Many cruise lines extend perks to suite guests, like private dining rooms, priority lines, or even butler service.

Theme cruise: A chartered cruise that appeals to a particular audience. Theme cruises for fans of a musical group or style are the most common, but other types of theme cruises center around health and wellness, or crafts. LGBTQ+ cruises are also a popular theme for chartered sailings.

Check out my list of Sweepstakes You Can Enter to Win a Free Cruise to find out how you could win tickets on a theme cruise!

Transfer: The term for coach transportation between the cruise ship and the airport or a hotel you booked through the cruise line before or after a cruise. Transfers are also often included with pre- and post-cruise shore excursions and cruisetours booked through the cruise line.

Mini-suite: Also called junior suites, mini-suites are a type of stateroom that’s usually a bit larger than a balcony cabin but smaller than a full suite. Mini-suites have a separate living space set off from the sleeping area by a partial wall or a privacy curtain. Guests in mini-suites usually don’t share in the added perks that suite guests enjoy, but some cruise lines offer special fare classes for this type of stateroom that allow you to enjoy some of the benefits.

Virtual balcony/virtual porthole: A high-definition screen mounted on the wall of an inside cabin to simulate the look and feel of a balcony or window. The screen shows a real-time feed from the exterior of the ship.

Wave season: The three-month period from January through March when cruise lines typically offer the best deals of the year.

Read more: How to Save Money on Cruises

General cruise ship terms you should know

All-aboard: The time all cruisers need to be aboard the ship on embarkation day and after each day in port. These times are listed in the daily planner, as well as on signs as you exit the ship. All-aboard time is always in ship’s time, which may differ from local time.

Bunkering: A ship’s term for refueling in port. Marine fuel is known as “bunker”, a term that most likely comes from the place a ship’s fuel is stored: the fuel bunker.

Charter: When a company or group books the entire ship (a full charter) or a large amount of cabins (a partial charter). Groups often book charters for theme cruises or corporate retreats.

Crossing:  A cruise across an ocean, such as a transatlantic or transpacific voyage.

Cruise card: A credit card-sized plastic card that each cruiser receives at check-in, linked to your onboard account. The cruise card serves as your boarding pass each time you return to the ship. As cruise ships are an almost cashless environment (except for in some casinos or if you want to give someone an extra tip), cruise cards are used to pay for everything around the ship from purchases in the shops to drinks at the bar.

Daily planner: A newsletter delivered to cruisers each day. The daily planner details times and locations of the next day’s activities. The planner also provides a weather report, port information, and any important announcements cruisers need to know. Each cruise line calls the daily planner by a different brand-specific name. Some cruise lines offer paperless planners via a smartphone app.

Departure port or embarkation port:  The port where your cruise begins.

Disembarkation:  The process of exiting the ship. You’ll sometimes hear this called “debarkation”. Most cruisers only use this term to refer to leaving the ship at the end of a cruise, but it technically can refer to any time you leave the ship.

Disembarkation Day: The last day on board the ship, when passengers leave at the end of a cruise. Disembarkation day isn’t a full cruise day—passengers generally need to disembark in the mid-morning at the latest.

Dry dock: A structure that’s flooded to allow a ship to float in, and is then drained once the ship is in position. This allows workers access to parts of the ship that are usually underwater to perform maintenance. Often when you hear that a ship “just came out of dry dock”, it means that major maintenance or refurbishments were just completed.

Embarkation: The process of entering the ship. Most cruisers only use this term to refer to boarding the ship at the beginning of a cruise, but it technically can refer to any time you come aboard the ship.

Embarkation Day: The day that passengers board the ship at the beginning of the cruise.

Read more: How to Have the Best Embarkation Day on a Cruise

FCC: an abbreviation for Future Cruise Credit, FCC may be used in lieu of cash to pay for all or part of a future cruise. FCC is issued if a sailing is canceled and the cruiser opts to not receive a cash refund of their fare. Cruise lines may also award FCC due to a major customer service issue.

Future Cruise Deposit: Similar to FCC, Future Cruise Deposits can be used to pay for part of a future cruise fare. These deposits can often be purchased at a heavy discount during a sailing to apply to another cruise.

Godmother: The honorary protector of a ship who blesses and officially names the vessel before its inaugural sailing. Traditionally the role of a well-known female, today some cruise ships have godfathers. Notable cruise ship godmothers and godfathers include Queen Elizabeth, Oprah Winfrey, activist Malala Yousafzai, and rapper Pitbull.

Read more: What Is a Cruise Ship Godmother (or Godfather)?

Itinerary: The list of ports visited on a cruise.

Muster drill: Also called the safety drill or lifeboat drill, the muster drill is a mandatory safety demonstration that all cruisers must attend. It’s usually held on the afternoon of embarkation day.

Open tender: The time when any guest can go ashore at a tender port of call (see “tender ports” below) without a ticket. Open tender generally happens after all passengers with tender tickets have left the ship, although later tenders will often take guests who didn’t pick up a ticket prior to tendering.

Pier: A fixed structure that allows a cruise ship to dock in a port. Passengers can disembark at a pier and walk directly ashore without tendering.

Pier runners: The slang term for cruisers who are late getting back to the ship for all aboard. Pier runners are generally seen frantically running toward the ship. Spotting (and heckling) them is a favorite pastime of some cruisers.

Read more: 35 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise

Port of call:  Any destination on a cruise where the ship stops and lets passengers off for the day. Usually just called a port.

Private island: An exclusive destination that only cruise ship passengers can visit. Some cruise ship private islands are entire islands, and some are private sections of an island.

Read more: 12 Amazing Cruise Line Private Islands to Visit in 2021 and Beyond

Sea day: A day on a cruise itinerary when the ship doesn’t stop at any port.

Ship: The cruise vessel you’ll be traveling on. Call it a “boat” at your own risk! (This might be the #1 way to be identified as a new cruiser.) Boats are nautical vessels that can be carried by a larger boat or ship. Examples include lifeboats and tender boats.

Ship’s time: The time zone that the ship’s operations use on any given day. This is often local time, but not always! For example, a ship might visit several ports that are in close proximity to one another but in different time zones. To avoid switching in and out of time zones, the Captain might choose not to change to local time.

Shore excursion:  Sometimes abbreviated as “shorex”, a shore excursion is an activity at a port of call booked with the cruise line, a tour company, or as a DIY activity.

Stabilizers: A set of fins or rotors on ocean-going ships that reduce a ship’s rolling motion from waves or wind.

Tender: A smaller boat that ferries passengers from the ship to the shore (and back) when the cruise ship anchors in a harbor. Passage on tender boats is always free of charge, but guests without cruise line excursions often need to pick up a tender ticket or wait until open tender to secure a spot on a boat.

Tender port: Ports of call with shallow harbors (or limited piers for cruise ships) often force ships to anchor offshore and ferry passengers in on tenders.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Tender Ports on a Cruise

Zodiac: An inflatable, rigid-bottomed boat used to transport expedition cruise passengers away from the ship.

Read more: What Is a Zodiac Boat on an Expedition Cruise?

Helpful cruise terms for around the ship

Aft:  The rear part of a ship. The opposite end of the ship from forward. Also used to specify which way you’re walking on a cruise ship, e.g. “Head aft and you’ll see the main pool.”

Atrium: The central part of a ship’s interior, with an open floor plan. A ship’s atrium often spans several decks and is where you’ll find guest services, shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Forward: The front section of the ship. The opposite end of the ship from aft. Also used to specify which way you’re walking on a cruise ship, e.g. “Head forward and you’ll see the library on your right.”

Bow:  The very front of the ship. Bow is pronounced to rhyme with “cow”—not like the word that refers to a ribbon tied in a fancy knot.

Bridge:  The location where the captain or officers command the ship.

Deck: Although today’s mega cruise ships can often feel like enormous resorts where you could easily forget that you’re even at sea, you’re still on a ship. Although you might be tempted to tell your family “Meet me at the pool on the seventeenth floor”, seasoned cruisers don’t call the levels on the ship “floors”. They’re decks. That pool? It’s on Deck 17. Or just say “Meet me on the Lido in an hour”.

Duty-free: Shops on board a cruise ship that sell products without having to collect local import taxes. Alcohol, tobacco products, and cosmetics are popular duty-free items.

Galley:  A kitchen on a cruise ship.

Gangway: The ramp or stairs that you use to embark or disembark the ship.

Hull:  The outer waterproof covering of the ship, from below the lowest open decks to the keel. A cruise ship’s hull is made of welded steel panels.

Keel:  The bottom center line of a ship, running from bow to stern.

Leeward:  The side of the ship that’s most sheltered from the wind. This side can vary based on the direction of the wind and the direction a ship is sailing. The opposite of windward.

Lido:  Also called the pool deck, the Lido is the deck where you’ll find the outdoor pools, sun loungers, and live entertainment.

Midship:  The middle area of the ship between forward and aft.

Muster station: A meeting point for guests and assigned crew in case of an emergency. Muster stations are assigned by cabin location, and are usually located on open decks near the lifeboats.

Port:  The left side of the ship as you face forward.

Promenade deck: A deck designed for walking in a circular path around the perimeter of the ship. Promenade decks traditionally were open decks, but today’s cruise ships sometimes have them partially or fully enclosed.

Starboard:  The right side of the ship as you face forward.

Read more: Port vs Starboard: Which Side Is Better on a Cruise?

Stern: The aft-most section of a cruise ship.

Windward: The side of the ship that’s least sheltered from the wind. This side can vary based on the direction of the wind and the direction a ship is sailing. The opposite of leeward.

Dining and Entertainment terms on a cruise ship

Captain’s table : The table where the Captain eats dinner, often with senior officers and invited guests. Passengers are sometimes invited to join by formal invitation, and this is considered to be quite an honor.

Captain’s party: Usually held on the first formal night of a sailing, the Captain’s party or ball is open to all passengers. During the party, which is often held in the atrium, guests will have the opportunity to chat and take photos with the Captain and officers. Often, complimentary Champagne or sparkling wine is served.

Resort casual:  The general dress code on many of today’s cruise ships, especially in the main dining rooms. It usually includes trousers and capris, casual dresses and skirts, polos or dressier tops, and dressy jeans. Some cruise lines have specific rules around shorts, sleeveless tops, or t-shirts, so check with your cruise line for their specific rules.

Formal attire:  For cruise lines that have formal nights, this is the dress code in the main dining rooms on these evenings. Dress code varies by cruise line, but many passengers wear cocktail dresses or longer gowns, a blazer, suit, or tuxedo.

Formal night: On more traditional cruise lines, there are often one or more evenings each week when formal attire is required in the main dining rooms. Formal nights often take place on sea days, and are announced in the daily newsletter.

Friends of Bill W . : The cruise ship term for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting on board.

Friends of Dorothy: The cruise ship term for LGBTQIA+ meetings and activities on board.

MDR: The main dining room (or dining rooms) on a cruise ship.

Read more: What New Cruisers Don’t Know About Cruise Food & Drinks

Seating: On cruise ships with assigned dining times, there’s often more than one set dinner time. These times, known as seatings, are spaced several hours apart.

Served buffet: A style of buffet where each guest indicates which dishes they’d like to have, and crewmembers place their servings on a plate. Served buffets are popular on luxury cruise lines, although mainstream cruise lines will offer served buffets during times of increased risk of disease transmission.

Open seating:  On cruise lines that allow guests to eat dinner on their own schedule, at least one dining room will have open seating. Passengers don’t need to make a reservation or dine at a specific time.

Sailaway party: On embarkation day, the cruise director and entertainment staff host a party, often on the Lido deck, to celebrate leaving port and the beginning of the cruise. Sailaway parties often feature live music and dancing.

Specialty restaurant: A dining venue on a cruise ship that offers elevated cuisine and service for an extra fee. Specialty restaurants often serve food from a specific region, like Italian, French, or Japanese. Or they may specialize in seafood, BBQ, or steak dishes.

Terms for cruise ship employees

Butler: Some cruise lines employ butlers, generally for suite guests, who pick up where cabin stewards leave off. Butlers can pack and unpack your luggage, make dinner reservations, take care of laundry service, and arrange in-suite dinner or cocktail parties.

Cabin steward:  A crew member responsible for cleaning your stateroom, setting up beds, and delivering items like ice and extra hangers. Stewards are often excellent sources of information, especially for new cruisers and guests who are new to the cruise line.

Captain:  The cruise ship Captain holds the ultimate responsibility for safe transportation of the ship, passengers, and crew. They direct the ship’s navigation and make decisions to avoid hazards, especially those due to weather conditions. The Captain also socializes with passengers, notably at Captain’s table dinners and at the Captain’s party.

Crew: Service employees on the ship including waitstaff and cooks, bartenders, and cabin stewards. Skilled maintenance workers like carpenters, electricians, and plumbers are also considered crew.

Cruise director:  The staff member who organizes entertainment and activities on a cruise ship. A cruise director usually takes on the role of Master of Ceremonies during events and parties, and spends time mingling with guests to make sure everyone’s having a good time. Cruise directors also oversee the entertainment staff on board.

Dance Host: Sometimes called a “gentleman host”, male dance hosts are available on some of the more traditional cruise lines to dance and converse with unattached female cruisers. Dance hosts aren’t technically employed by the cruise line, but receive free or heavily discounted fares in exchange for their service.

Head Waiters: Although service levels in cruise ship restaurants are often impeccable (even on mainstream cruise lines), the Head Waiter in the MDR and in specialty restaurants is there to ensure service runs smoothly and guests enjoy the experience.

Maître d’:  A cruise ship Maître d’Hôtel (usually abbreviated as Maître d’, and pronounced “may-truh-DEE”) is in charge of operations for one or more restaurants on a cruise ship. Cruise ship passengers with dietary restrictions can usually speak with the Maître d’ to ensure kitchen and waitstaff comply with those needs, but sometimes the Head Waiter takes care of that function.

Officers: Employees on a cruise ship who oversee the safety, navigation and mechanical aspects of the ship. Officers report directly to the ship’s Captain.

Porter:  A baggage handler that takes your checked luggage on embarkation day and delivers it to the ship. Porters often aren’t cruise line employees, and they rely on tips (generally $1 to 2 per bag).

Purser:  The Purser on a cruise ship is the staff member in charge of guest billing and all monetary transactions on board.

Purser’s desk: Traditionally, the Purser’s desk is the place where guests can ask questions about charges to their on board account. Today, what used to be called the Purser’s Desk is generally called Guest Services, Passenger Services, or the Reception Desk. Cruisers can still ask questions about their onboard accounts, along with other general questions. If you have a problem with your cruise card not working, or you need to check the lost and found, this is where you need to go.

Staff: Cruise ship employees in upper-level positions including cruise directors, assistant cruise directors, entertainers, retail workers, and spa technicians.

Nautical terms cruisers should know

Knot:  The unit of speed used by ships. One knot is equivalent to one nautical mile per hour. In the 16th century, sailors used a rope with knots tied at intervals in a length of rope to measure speed. As the ship moved forward, the line of rope rolled out behind the ship. The number of knots that went over the ship’s stern during a period of time was used to calculate the speed.

You may also like: How Fast Do Cruise Ships Go?

Mooring:  A permanent structure to which a ship is tied, such as a pier when in port.

Wake:  The waves created by a ship as it moves through the water. The wake is seen as a churning trail of water at the stern of a ship.

What’s your favorite cruise lingo? Are there any cruise terms I should add to the glossary? Let me know in the comments below!

Liked this post? Pin it for later!

• Recent Posts

• Carnival Cruise Line Salutes Military Women During Inaugural Fleet Week in Miami - May 10, 2024
• Holland America’s Culinary Teams Will Be Alaska Seafood University Certified - May 9, 2024
• Carnival’s Celebration Key Construction Empowering Grand Bahamian Workforce - May 8, 2024

Related posts:

• 00800 0310 21 21 1-855-577-9489 1-877-288-3037 1-877-288-3037 1-877-474-2969
• | NCL Travel Blog">11-Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog
• | Norwegian Cruise Line">14-Day Authentic Alaska - Northbound Cruise Tour | Norwegian Cruise Line
• | Deck Plans | Norwegian Cruise Line">14-Day Authentic Alaska - Southbound Cruise Tour | Deck Plans | Norwegian Cruise Line
• | Norwegian Cruise Line">20-Day Transpacific from Tokyo (Yokohama) & Alaska | Norwegian Cruise Line
• | NCL Travel Blog">11 Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog
• View All Results
• Preferences
• Latitudes Rewards
• Special Offers
• Personalised Recommendations
• Make reservations before you cruise
• 1 (current)

* Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings.

Never Miss a Cruise Deal

Get the latest cruise deals and holiday specials sent straight to your inbox.

Explore Your Cruise Holiday

2024 - 2025 Mediterranean & Greek Isles Cruises

The All-New Norwegian Viva

Up to € 300 Free Airfare Credit

Aloha, Hawai’i

Bring out your Aloha spirit with this two-part journey through the Hawaiian Islands. Come along as we trek atop volcanos, surf infamous waves, indulge in authentic cuisine, snorkel through crystal-clear waters and immerse in the local culture.

The NCL Difference

No timetables. No stipulations. Just award-winning entertainment and diverse dining options from the only cruise line built for versatile holidaying.

Get More with Free At Sea

Enrich your cruise vacation with up to 5 Free Offers with Norwegian's Free At Sea promotion. Choose from Free Unlimited Open Bar, Free Specialty Dining, Free Shore Excursions, Free WiFi and Free 3rd & 4th Guests.

Enrich your cruise vacation with up to 5 Free Offers with NCL's Free At Sea promotion. Choose from Free Beverage Package, Free Specialty Dining Package, Free Shore Excursion Credits, and more.

NCL's Free at Sea

Enjoy the most inclusive cruise holiday with Free at Sea. Upgrade your cruise and a lot of extras will be included: Premium Beverages, Speciality Dining, Shore Excursions discount, and more. Plus, enjoy Airfare Credits on select cruises.

Enjoy the most inclusive cruise holiday with NCL's Free at Sea. Upgrade your cruise and choose from offers, like Open Bar, and Speciality Dining, to customise your holiday to any destination, any time of year. Plus, enjoy Airfare Credits on select cruises.

Holiday Your Way

Our award-winning ships are designed for you to enjoy as you choose whilst cruising to beautiful destinations around the world. Add a wide range of superb dining options and spectacular entertainment and you'll experience your best holiday ever.

Feel Like a Change of Scenery?

Experience a once-in-a-lifetime moment you will never forget whilst witnessing the icy-blue glaciers and unique wildlife of Alaska. Walk through Greece's enchanting, sun-bleached streets, or find your own paradise in a secret beach in The Caribbean. Our award-winning ships are designed for you to enjoy as you choose whilst cruising to the most beautiful destinations around the world. No matter where your dream holiday takes you, feel free to cruise your way.

Feel Free to Let the Outside In

Top Destinations

• Alaska Cruises
• Bahamas Cruises
• Bermuda Cruises
• Caribbean Cruises
• Europe Cruises
• Extraordinary Journeys
• Hawaii Cruises
• Mexican Riviera Cruises
• Panama Canal Cruises

Meet The Fleet Built for Freestyle Cruising

Setting the standard, breaking the mould, the newest ships at sea, choose your own adventure.

Dine, dance, laugh, and relax with onboard activities, premier entertainment, and unforgettable shore excursions.

Onboard Dining

Food for any taste. at any time..

Enjoy a four-course meal and a great bottle of wine. Or grab a burger hot off the grill. With no fixed dining times or pre-assigned seating, you can follow your mood, not a timetable .

See The Spectacular

Discover Local Treasures

Raise A Glass

Go Out On A Limb

For premium support please call:

• Subscriptions
• Entertainment
• Home & Garden
• Lighter Side
• Online Classes
• Science & Tech

Cruises are making a post-pandemic comeback. Here's how the industry is changing to meet demand

For some people, it takes only one cruise to hook them for life.

That was the case for Stewart Chiron, who loved his first cruise so much he made a career out of it.

"It was a weekend cruise, and that was 326 cruises ago," he told Scripps News.

Known as "The Cruise Guy," Chiron started a cruise-exclusive travel agency 35 years ago.

"Cruising is an incredible way for people to connect, get together, to experience different cultures, different destinations," he said.

But the pandemic's impact on cruising numbers was enough to make even him uncertain about the future.

In 2019, 29.7 million people took cruises. In 2020 and 2012, 5.8 and 4.8 million took cruises, respectively.

RELATED STORY | Carnival cruise ship rescues 2 men stranded in the Gulf of Mexico

"With the pandemic hitting, the cruise industry completely shut down," Chiron said. "The ships were all anchored or docked somewhere around the world. I mean, it was a Herculean feat trying to get the crew back to their homes."

However, recent data from Cruise Lines International Association shows an epic comeback. Last year, the number of people taking cruises climbed to 31.7 million, a 6% increase from 2019. Its data is also forecasting 34.7 million passengers for next year, and nearly 40 million by 2027.

"The industry, I mean, they're shocked by how far out people are booking," Chiron said. "They've never been in a better book position at this time of the year for the next following years."

And the industry is putting in the infrastructure for that demand. According to the recent Cruise Ship Index, 15 new cruise ships are set to enter service next year, adding nearly 40,000 guest berths to the market. The industry is also expected to hire over 20,000 new crew members in 2025.

Cruise ships have also gotten much bigger. The industry campaign group Transport & Environment says the world's biggest cruise ships have doubled in size since 2000, which is raising environmental concerns.

RELATED STORY | Video shows Coast Guard rescuing pregnant woman from Disney cruise

According to a report from The New York Times , a single cruise ship docked for one day emits as much exhaust as 34,400 idling semitrucks.

"They have to keep their engines running in order to keep power on the ship while they're unloading passengers and cargo, and then of course loading passengers and cargo on the back end. Of course, that produces emissions," said Phil Ambrose, senior project manager at Seattle City Light.

That is why ports like Seattle's are investing in shore power, with which instead of idling on diesel while in the port, cruise ships can plug into a city's electric grid just like an electric car in a garage.

"Shore power is really important for the maritime industry as a whole," Ambrose said.

Right now, Seattle is working toward getting all of its piers equipped with shore power, and will with the completion of its Pier 66 project by the end of this cruising season in October.

While CLIA data says that 46% of cruise ships are capable of plugging into shore power, only 35 ports worldwide have shore power capabilities. That's 3% of ports; so although the industry is growing, the infrastructure to sustain it has further to go.

Advertisement

In Other News

Doctor charged in matthew perry's death released on $50,000 bond, expected to plead g…, cheryl burke weighs in on 'dwts' artem chigvintsev’s’ domestic violence arrest, warren buffett turns 94 today. his secret to longevity coca-cola, candy and a life o…, labor day gas prices on track to reach lowest level in 3 years, the mediterranean diet may reduce your risk of covid-19: study, 35 classic sausage and potato recipes that are pure comfort, human remains found under missing california couple’s neighbor’s home following his a…, cuba faces uphill battle as oropouche virus spreads, white sox approach mlb record for losses, draw sympathy from surviving 1962 mets, us open 2024: frances tiafoe defeats ben shelton in thrilling 5-set us open rematch, australia sweats under record triple-digit heat — in the heart of winter, storm slowly heads toward japan's capital, leaving mudslides and broken bridges in it…, related articles.

Silver Ray cruise ship review: A modern yet classic luxury ship for foodies and explorers

Editor's Note

Silver Ray is a cruise ship designed to appeal to both classic and modern luxury travelers. Whether you love it or not will depend on your definition of luxury at sea and whether you can find your happy place on board.

On the old-school side of things, the ship still embraces Silversea Cruises ' commitment to fine dining, all-inclusive beverages, a tuxedoed butler in every suite (all cabins are suites) and attentive-yet-formal service. Silver Ray's design aesthetic is understated luxury. In most public areas and suites, the decor is elegant and rich but not cutting-edge or designed to wow. (There are a few exceptions.)

On the modern side, the ship has traded formal afternoon tea and a classic-style pool deck for restaurant menus that reflect today's culinary trends in Italy and France, a resort-inspired sun deck with an offset pool facing the ocean and a craft cocktail bar outside a high-tech demonstration kitchen. The ship's physical layout, which embraces light-filled spaces by placing venues and elevators along the sides of the ship rather than in the center, is revolutionary but won't be everyone's cup of tea.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

I was on board for five days during a preview sailing before the ship set sail on its maiden voyage, so I could not ask any actual Silversea guests how they felt about Silver Ray, though it is identical to the 2023-debuted Silver Nova . While guest demographics will vary — a weeklong summer Mediterranean cruise will always attract a different crowd from a 70-night South America voyage — my take is that the ship's amenities can appeal to both the retiree crowd and middle-aged and even millennial affluent travelers.

You just need to know which menus to choose and which spaces to make your own.

Overview of Silver Ray

The 728-passenger, 54,700-ton Silver Ray is small by today's megaship standards, but it's packed with 10 restaurants and eight bars and lounges, a demonstration kitchen for cooking classes, a spa and fitness center, and two levels of sun deck with a pool and hot tub.

Fares are all-inclusive , so all drinks, most restaurants, standard Wi-Fi and crew gratuities are included in the price of your cruise. Certain fares also include airfare and port transfers; you can pick how inclusive you want to go.

The luxury cruise ship has an especially high space-to-passenger ratio. Silver Ray is about 34% bigger than Silversea's previous class of ships — Silver Muse, Silver Moon and Silver Dawn — but it holds only about 22% more passengers. Executives claim that if every passenger during a sold-out cruise were on the pool deck, they'd still have plenty of space to themselves. Even the smallest suites are large, with huge bathrooms, walk-in closets, full living areas and plenty of space to walk around.

With 544 crew members, the ship also has a crew-to-passenger ratio of 1:1.3, which leads to a high level of service on board. Crew members make a point to learn your name and preference, and every suite is attended to by a formal butler .

What sets this ship (and its sister Silver Nova) apart from other luxury ships is what the line refers to as its asymmetrical design. That means that many key elements of the ship are offset from the center. For example, instead of putting the standard elevators in the middle of the ship with corridors to the left and right, Silver Ray has two all-glass elevator banks on the exterior of the ship, with one on the port side and the other on the starboard side. The pool is not in the middle of the sun deck, but placed on the starboard side; the infinity-style hot tub, one deck up, is on the port side. So is the ship's smokestack — it's not centered as it would be on every other ship you've sailed. All of the deck chairs are oriented toward the sides of the ship rather than facing in toward a central pool.

Combine these elements with the ship's extensive use of glass windows, and the result is an abundance of spaces with sea views. When you're in the pool, you're looking out to sea or at the port where you're docked. When you're riding the elevator, you're staring at the world beyond your ship.

These design changes follow from Silversea's commitment to delivering an immersive destination experience for its passengers. Instead of cocooning in a shipboard world (like you might on some of sister cruise line Royal Caribbean's attraction-laden cruise ships), Silver Ray encourages guests to explore the world beyond the vessel. The aim is to accomplish this predominantly with food through the line's Sea And Land Taste program. S.A.L.T. has many elements, including hands-on cooking classes at S.A.L.T. Lab, regionally inspired meals and craft cocktails at S.A.L.T. Kitchen and S.A.L.T. Bar, and shore excursions that introduce participants not only to local flavors but to the people who produce them.

The ship was also built to be more energy efficient. Its snub-nose hull design alone reduces fuel needs by 15%. It's a hybrid vehicle which uses liquefied natural gas power but also has batteries built in. The ship has also eliminated most single-use plastics. You won't find disposable water bottles on board, but you will find reusable ones in your cabin, as well as bottle-filling stations throughout the ship.

Silversea executives hope that Silver Ray's modern style will attract younger guests, but Silversea passengers are generally affluent retirees. Children are welcome, but there are no spaces dedicated to them. However, if a higher-than-normal number of kids are sailing, the ship's activities staff will transform a small room off the tender-boarding area on Deck 2 into a play space and lead the young cruisers in games and age-appropriate activities.

Related: The best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

What I loved about Silver Ray

I stayed in the smallest suite — and it was still huge.

My Deluxe Veranda Suite was not the lowest-category room, but only because of its central location. It was still the smallest-sized suite on board. Even so, it was enormous, with a whopping 357 square feet of space, including the 56-square-foot balcony. Consider that many megaship balcony cabins are around 200 square feet, and mine was nearly double that size.

The extra space was especially appreciated in the bathroom, with its wide glassed-in shower (I didn't bang my elbows against the wall once!) and generous floor space that could easily accommodate two people getting ready at once. Both the desk and the sofa were full-sized, with plenty of space to sit or store items. A walk-in closet had all the drawer, shelving and hanging space I could need, and a separate vanity area meant I did not have to put on makeup on top of my laptop.

The ship's design brings light into every space

I appreciated Silversea's use of glass everywhere to bring views and light into spaces that don't always have them. The sauna and spa pool in the Otium Spa have floor-to-ceiling windows for sea or port views while you relax. Thanks to an entire back wall of windows, I could watch the sunset during my Chef's Table dinner at the S.A.L.T. Lab cooking class and dining space. Even waiting for an elevator is pleasant because you can look outside through the glass exterior walls.

I loved the views for days I could get on the pool deck. The way the pool bar is oriented, you can see through to the sea beyond no matter which side you're sitting on. And, of course, it's lovely to gaze out to sea when you're floating in the pool or sitting in the hot tub. (If I come back on vacation, I would take my Kindle to the Orangerie, curl up on a plush, oversized patio chair and face the ocean while I read.) I also loved the alfresco dining and drinking spaces of the Marquee Restaurant and Dusk Bar. I didn't want to be anywhere else when the weather was nice.

Related: 7 extremely decadent things you can do on a luxury cruise vacation

What I didn't love about Silver Ray

Navigating the ship is harder than it should be.

The asymmetric design has unintended consequences. It makes the ship more difficult to navigate than I'd expected.

The ship has a frustrating number of dead ends; often, I'd go one way around a stairwell and end up at a wall. I could never figure out which way was forward or aft, and often would walk through a bar or lounge only to realize I was going the wrong way and have to retrace my steps. (Lest you think I just have a bad sense of direction, I can tell you that I mastered the world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, in just a few days.)

I was completely mystified about which way to turn toward my suite when I exited the elevator banks. It should have been easy because there were large photographs at each entrance, but I got confused because no matter which photo I was at, my cabin was to the right. It took a few days for me to realize that the two elevator banks are on opposite sides of the ship, not the same side as it would be in a symmetrical design with two corridors, not one, of rooms on each deck. The positioning of the elevator banks made me confused about forward and aft on other decks, as well.

Not related to the ship design but also unnecessarily confusing in cabin hallways is that the room numbers are misaligned. They do go up by twos if you're just looking at the odd or even side of the corridor. But because numbers aren't skipped when there's a suite on one side of the hallway and not on the other, the cabins across from each other don't match. For example, I was in cabin 8022 and the cabin across the hall was not 8021 but 8039. If I wasn't paying attention and was looking at the odd-numbered side, it was easy to walk right by my cabin.

To top it all off, you can't find deck plans on your in-cabin TV or informational tablet, nor does Silversea hand out little cards with the decks marked. You can find the layout of each floor on the wall by the elevators, but that doesn't help you know whether you're at the correct elevator bank for your destination on another deck.

Service was uneven

Service is never 100% up to speed on a shakedown cruise, but its unevenness was especially noticeable because attentive service is a hallmark of Silversea.

Every suite has a butler, and I've never gotten a great one on Silversea. My interactions with my butler on Silver Ray were always awkward. One morning, we had agreed he was going to set up the Otium shower experience (with candles and scented shower bombs), but I called twice to request it and he never picked up or called me back. Another time, when I was running late and asked him to pick up my laundry from the launderette, his response was passive-aggressive; first, he said he couldn't do that for me, then said he would make an exception just this once, leaving me uncertain as to whether I'd put him on the spot somehow.

But also, I never saw him in the hallway (my room stewards on Carnival — a much less pricey line — have always been more friendly, attentive and present), whereas butlers for my friends' suites would materialize out of nowhere to open their doors for them whenever they returned to their suite.

In addition, the reception desk staff not only did not know the answers to most of my questions but also had trouble understanding what I was asking. I imagine this would be a liability when you have demanding, paying passengers on board who will get frustrated and impatient easily.

On the other hand, sometimes the service was simply too much. At the buffet, there was always someone hovering at my elbow, asking to take my plate or escort me to my seat. Yet it took a long time for them to bring me tea or notice that my water needed refilling.

I realized that Silversea's formal style of service might simply not be my cup of tea. I prefer the friendliness of Viking or Carnival crew members, even if they don't provide all the services Silversea's crew does (or is supposed to). Still, I found the service lacking compared to its reputation, and I hope the staff will be able to work the kinks out after a few more sailings.

Silver Ray cabins and suites

Every cabin on Silver Ray is a spacious suite with a private balcony, palatial bathroom, walk-in closet and separate sleeping and living areas. Given that the smallest suite is a generous 357 square feet (megaship cabins are commonly smaller than 200 square feet), you won't feel cramped in any suite on the ship. That said, I toured some of the larger suites, including the top Otium suite, and while they are sizable, they don't have the wow factor of a Royal Caribbean Loft Suite or Regent Seven Seas Cruises Regent Suite .

Unlike older Silversea ships, where there are suites on nearly every deck, Silver Ray consolidates all its guest rooms on decks 6 through 9.

I stayed in a Deluxe Veranda Suite, which is different from the Classic, Superior and Premium Veranda Suites mainly by location. The Deluxe Veranda Suites are centrally located, while the Classic and Superior are farther forward and back. The Premium suites are either midship or at the very back of the ship with wake-facing balconies.

The layout of my balcony suite is the standard cruise ship one. The bathroom is just to one side as you enter, backed up to the closet, with a sleeping area then a living area then the balcony. But Silversea enhances that basic design with its own luxury touches.

The first thing I noticed when I stepped inside was how spacious the room was. It didn't have that tight, everything-squeezed-together feeling you sometimes get when you first enter a cruise ship cabin. The corridor from the door into the sleeping area is wide, with enough room for a mirrored vanity across from the bathroom door. Don't get so distracted by your gorgeous face in the full-length mirror behind the vanity that you miss the mirrored doors that hide a narrow cupboard with useful shelving and a pull-out laundry hamper.

All suites on Silver Ray have a walk-in closet with both half- and full-height hanging closets, large open shelves and drawer space. In the Veranda Suites, the entrance is angled to give more space between the closet and the bed. In the closet, you'll find thick Italian cotton terry cloth robes and slippers, an umbrella, a soft throw blanket, sewing kit, shoe mitt and lint brush. The safe is hidden in a drawer; I searched and searched for the number pad to set a code, only to discover that it lights up only when you touch the "enter" button on the lid of the safe.

The queen-sized bed, which can be split into twins, has cool soft sheets and a duvet that feels silky on my skin every time I slide into bed. Apparently, the mattresses are custom-made for Silversea.

Ask your butler to show you the pillow menu, which is not a piece of paper but a box of mini pillows; you can choose from a selection of five down, hypoallergenic and memory foam pillow options. (Honestly, they were all nice and I'm not sure I could tell the difference.) You can even ask for an extra-soft mattress to replace the standard one.

The bed is flanked by marble-topped nightstands with three open shelves, bedside lamps and reading lights, and a U.S. 110-volt, European 220-volt, USB-A and USB-C plug on each side. A phone is set on one of the nightstands.

The living area is separated from the sleeping area by a curtain you can pull across should you have a third guest sleeping on a sofabed. The sofa can fit at least three people and has a movable ottoman to seat a fourth or to prop your feet on. A marble-topped table is wide enough for in-room dining and is set with real orchids and a basket of fresh fruit.

Across from the sofa, the desk area, also marble-topped, is wide. Here, you'll find a phone, more outlets (U.S., European and USB) and a tablet with ship information and settings for your suite's lighting. My butler would leave the tablet on my bed at night to indicate tomorrow's schedule was now available; call me old school but I miss the paper newsletters.

The desk has four drawers, one with divided sections and another with leather padding to protect your delicate belongings. A minifridge is stocked with soda, beer and water, and you can request to have your favorite drinks added. (You could also ask for a bottle of complimentary liquor or wine from your butler, but it won't be set up for you when you arrive.)

Above the desk is a large TV that can swivel to orient toward the bed or toward the couch. In addition to live TV and a large movie selection, it has interactive elements for viewing your onboard bill, dinner and shore excursion reservations, messages and other ship information. Additional shelving includes a cabinet with a bottle opener-corkscrew and glassware.

My 56-square-foot balcony had two upright metal-and-mesh chairs and a small round drinks table that didn't strike me as overly luxurious.

My bathroom was huge; it was bigger than my master bathroom at home (which, notably, is small). It has a spacious glassed-in shower with a rain showerhead and wand; select Veranda Suites across categories come with bathtubs. The bench in the shower is a nice touch for storing toiletries, or for shaving or washing while seated.

In the shower, you'll find a clothesline and full-size bottles of Silversea's own Otium brand of shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I have curly hair and never use cruise ship-provided hair products, but know that you can request high-end Bulgari or allergen-free Sebamed toiletries from your butler if you prefer those brands.

The long marble-topped bathroom vanity has a wide sink with two faucets (instead of two separate sinks), two deep drawers with sliding dividers (one contains the hair dryer) and four glass shelves. The bathroom is stocked with bar soap, Otium body lotion and liquid soap, makeup remover pads and wipes, cotton buds, a loofah bath pad and shower cap. The outlet in the bathroom is for shavers only. Two hooks and a full-length mirror are set on the back of the door, so if you hang your towel up, you can no longer check your reflection.

As I said, all suites come with a butler to service them, as well as a room attendant who will clean your cabin daily. Butlers can help you unpack and bring you special treats like truffle popcorn when you want to watch an in-room movie, hot chocolate to enjoy on the balcony, or a shower bomb for an aromatherapy shower without trekking to the spa. A friend even asked her butler to bring her Champagne and caviar daily at 5 p.m., and this request was happily fulfilled.

As I mentioned previously, I didn't feel that having a butler enhanced my cruise when he mostly brought me room service. I could have asked him to make dinner reservations or shore excursion changes for me. But those desks never had long queues, so it was simpler to talk to those folks directly than explain a complicated request to my butler. Call me a control freak, but I like to unpack and pack my suitcase myself — another job my butler would have happily undertaken.

If you want even more space in your suite, you have several options, ranging from 528-square-foot Medallion Suites (essentially a wider version of the Veranda Suite with extra lounge space and actual walls to divide up the room) to the two 1,326-square-foot Otium Suites. These top suites are located at the aft corners of Deck 6 and 7 and feature an in-suite library, spacious living and dining areas, a huge marbled master bathroom, and two balconies, one with a Jacuzzi tub and padded outdoor lounge furniture.

For family groups, Silver Ray offers connecting cabins, both between like-category cabins and between larger and smaller suites.

Only Veranda and Silver Suites come in wheelchair-accessible versions. Accessible cabins mainly have showers, but a few also have tubs. They feature wider doors and floor space to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters. All areas of the suite are accessible without a need for ramps.

Related: 7 compelling reasons to book a luxury cruise

Silver Ray restaurants and bars

Book a long cruise if you wish to try all of Silver Ray's restaurants because the ship certainly has more options than I could try in a five-night trip. With Silver Ray's debut, Silversea has updated the menus of longtime favorites, La Dame (French) and La Terrazza (Italian), to include more modern dishes, as well as old standards. In addition, the line's S.A.L.T. program (which stands for Sea And Land Taste) brings the culinary experience from your cruise region on board with two dining options tailored to the ports of call, a bar and cooking classes and lectures.

Cruisers familiar with other luxury lines might be surprised to find that several of Silver Ray's restaurants come with hefty cover charges. Never fear — you'll still get a high-end dining experience with the included venues.

Restaurants

Silver Ray's two main complimentary dining rooms are located side by side on Deck 3. Atlantide is the more traditional restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, while S.A.L.T. Kitchen offers regionally inspired menus for dinner only. These restaurants are where you'll want to go for that classic three-course cruise ship meal. Unfortunately, I was unable to eat in these venues on my sailing, other than a christening dinner in Atlantide with a special one-time menu.

If you're in the mood for a leisurely, waiter-served breakfast, Atlantide will serve you all the eggs and omelets, pancakes, waffles, pastries, cereal, yogurt and fruit you can eat. Hours are limited, so check the schedule before you go.

For lunch, Atlantide offers a small menu of starters, entrees and desserts. You might start with a Nicoise salad or scallop ceviche, enjoy beef tenderloin medallions or a vegetable biryani for your main course and indulge in a chocolate mille feuille or fruity meringue for dessert.

The dinner menu is more robust, with starters followed by vegetarian, fish and meat options for your main courses and a dessert menu that includes a cheese course, gluten- and sugar-free desserts, ice cream and sorbet, as well as a selection of tarts, pastries and other treats.

The S.A.L.T. Kitchen menu is divided into two sections. Part of the menu showcases dishes from your cruise region and stays the same the entire voyage. The other part changes daily to reflect the cuisine of that day's port of call. For example, the day we were docked in Cadiz, Spain, the menu featured Spanish dishes such as tortillitas de camarones (shrimp fritters), pollo a la canilla (chicken with rosemary potatoes and garlic mushrooms) and baked figs made with locally produced sherry.

Aft on Deck 4 is La Terrazza, the restaurant you'll likely frequent the most. It serves as the ship's buffet venue for breakfast and lunch with indoor and outdoor seating.

Breakfast features all the standards: a bread and pastry counter; hot dishes like pancakes, eggs and breakfast meat; fruit, yogurt and muesli; even a congee station. You can also request eggs cooked to order from your server.

At lunch, you'll find a make-your-own salad bar plus premade salads, meats and cheeses, and a selection of breads. Hot dishes range from fine meat-based entrees (lamb chops, lobster tails, filet mignon, herb-crusted chicken) to vegetarian dishes such as a vegetable stew or Indian aloo gobi. You'll also find a carving station, pizza and an impressive spread of seafood and sushi. Your waiter will inform you about the pasta of the day. The large dessert spread includes a pudding (or other scoopable option), small cakes and pastries, and five flavors of ice cream and sorbet.

Gluten-free dishes are marked.

I enjoyed the one breakfast and lunch I ate at La Terrazza, though service at breakfast was slow and I had to wait longer than expected for my tea and my eggs, given how few guests were dining at the same time. The servers and I also had different ideas about how to approach a buffet; I wanted to make a plate and then find a seat, but they preferred to escort me to a table, which I then had to leave to get my meal.

In the evening, La Terrazza becomes a sit-down Italian restaurant with a two-part menu. The Quintessence Menu features the restaurant's historically most popular dishes, such as gnocchi with Parma ham, fresh pasta with tomato sauce and fried eggplants and stuffed calamari. The Adventure Menu showcases modern Italian cuisine, including a leek and goat cheese risotto and a grilled sea bass with stuffed cabbage and anchovy prosecco sauce. You can mix and match dishes from both venues.

Desserts include the fan favorite affogato (gelato with an espresso pour-over), a cheese plate, tiramisu and a gelato and sorbet menu.

Forward of La Terrazza is Kaiseki, Silver Ray's Japanese restaurant. Come for lunch and you can gorge yourself on sushi and sashimi (as well as beef bao buns and two types of ramen) for free. In the evening, you'll pay $80 per person for a six-course Omakase menu or a la carte dining. The menu includes a tempura shrimp and vegetable platter, enoki mushroom soup, wagyu beef steak served with a grilled lobster tail and chicken katsu.

Silversea's longstanding date night restaurant, the French La Dame, received a menu update in time for Silver Ray's debut. The regular menu highlights traditional French dishes made with expensive ingredients. For $160 per person, you can indulge in foie gras terrine, leek and potato soup with truffle shavings and caviar, lobster and cognac bisque, pan-fried dover sole, filet of grass-fed Limousin beef and a salted caramel souffle.

If that sounds too rich for your liking, you can opt for the new signature degustation menu, created in partnership with chef Jean-Luc Rabanel, who specializes in plant-forward "green cuisine." The menu is not vegetarian but it emphasizes quality produce as the star of most dishes.

The seven-course meal will leave you feeling more than satisfied because you consumed a lot of food and wine, not because the dishes are exceptionally rich. You can taste reasonably sized portions of a mille-feuille of mushrooms with seared duck foie gras, seabass cooked with artichokes and fennel, rack of lamb with creamy polenta and Provencal vegetables, and a pavlova with goat cheese and watermelon and tamarind jam. Each course is paired with wine, either from the complimentary menu or from the premium menu for an upcharge of $90 (wine) to $140 (Champagne) per person.

My degustation meal was delicious, especially since I'm always searching for more vegetables in cruise ship dishes. However, for $160 a head, you'll get more bang for your buck ordering all the lobster and caviar dishes from the regular menu.

When you need a break from formal dining and heavy multicourse menus, Silver Note on Deck 5 is your antidote. The intimate supper club is one of the few onboard restaurants with a bar in it because it's half meal, half entertainment. A pianist and jazz singer entertain while you dine on Mediterranean small plates. The dishes are innovatively styled and presented and appeal to more curious palates. If you prefer a plate of meat with a side of veg, stick to Atlantide.

The Silver Note menu is divided into six sections with music-themed names, but there aren't obvious starters and mains. Pick and choose three to four of your favorites — plus dessert! — and request them to be served in any order you like. I giggled when the tuna ceviche I ordered arrived in a sardine can and my chocolate Black Swan dessert came styled like a swan with chocolate neck and wings. Do not miss the beef tenderloin tournedos, which were soft and buttery, unlike my more chewy lamb.

The new venue on this class of ships (it debuted on Silver Nova), Marquee is the place to be when the weather is warm and sunny. The open-air restaurant is located on the pool deck, Deck 10, and is gorgeous, with blossoming trees sprouting from the seating areas and a lattice-style covering above your head. Sea views abound.

Marquee changes its menu personality based on the time of day. In the morning, it serves lighter fare, such as an acai bowl, pumpkin pancake, avocado on sourdough toast and the more adorable "rainbow mosaic" of five sweet and savory bites on whole wheat brioche (think peaches and cream cheese and prosciutto with fig chutney).

At lunch, you have a choice of two menus. Spaccanapoli serves Neopolitan-style pizza, and the ship has the proper pizza oven to satisfy all the Italians on board. The Grill menu has all your lunchtime favorites: burgers, hot dogs, steak sandwiches and fish-and-chips among them. But you'll also find poke bowls, pumpkin and chickpea salad, falafel wraps, and a grilled fish of the day. Go as heavy or light as you like. I split a pizza with a friend, and we each ordered a salad starter; it was the perfect alfresco lunch.

Marquee was my favorite of all the restaurants on board due to the beautiful alfresco location and wide-ranging menu of both hearty and light dishes.

In the evening, Marquee transforms again to serve its signature "hot rocks" meals. Pick your favorite high-quality protein — prawns, filet mignon, prime rib-eye steak, New York Strip steak, lamb chops — and you'll receive it raw ... with a hot stone to cook it on. You can also order a signature pizza or cooked-for-you items from the grill. Most passengers enjoy the novelty of the cooking experience at this fan-favorite restaurant, but you can also ask your server to handle the meat for you so you don't over or undercook your dinner.

Also new on Silver Ray is an expansion of the S.A.L.T. dining experience with the Chef's Table, which takes place in the S.A.L.T. Lab on Deck 10. The cooking stations are transformed into 18 place settings for an 11-course meal, with cocktail and wine pairings, again celebrating the cruise region of your sailing.

A chef emcees your meal, explaining the highlighted ingredients and their relevance to your cruise region's food culture. Our chef, German, was funny and engaging and added a lighthearted spirit to a lengthy three-hour meal. The Chef's Table is a great choice for meeting your fellow food enthusiasts, though the U-shaped seating area means you can only really converse with folks to your immediate left and right. It's an intriguing dinner option for cruisers looking for a meal that's modern and inventive; traditional cruise diners should splurge on La Dame instead.

Reservations are only taken on board and the cost is $180 per person, making it the most expensive dining experience on the ship.

You do not need reservations for Atlantide, Chef's Table, lunch at Kaiseki, or breakfast and lunch at Marquee and La Terrazza. You will want to make reservations for La Dame, Silver Note, the Chef's Table and dinner at Kaiseki, Marquee and La Terrazza.

Silversea takes in-room dining to new heights, with both an extensive room service menu and special Otium in-suite dining experiences. Order a meal to your room, and you won't be eating off a tray. If you're not in a suite with a dining table, your butler will place a special table-topper on your coffee table to expand it into a larger dining surface, spread it with a white tablecloth and lay out place settings as if you were eating in a restaurant. Allow 40 minutes for orders to arrive.

The breakfast menu is a full one, with all your breakfast breads and pastries, yogurts and fruit, but also eggs, meats, pancakes and other hot items.

The all-day menu features starters (vegetarian spring rolls, Caesar salad, beef empanadas), wraps and sandwiches (club sandwich, tuna wrap, tandoori vegetable roti), mains (pasta, burgers, butter chicken) and dessert (creme brulee, fruit plate). You'll even find a children's room service menu with chicken nuggets, fish fingers, spaghetti with meat sauce, hot dogs, pizza and ice cream sundaes among the offerings.

Of course, you can order Champagne and caviar to your room at any time. However, you cannot order off the Atlantide menu for in-suite dining; you must stick to the official room service menus.

The options continue with the Otium nibbles and comfort food that your butler can also deliver to your cabin, perhaps to enjoy on your balcony. The nibbles include a selection of chocolates or macarons and truffle popcorn (perfect for a relaxing movie night) and special hot chocolates and Otium cocktails (both alcoholic and non). The comfort food menu is only available from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is decadent; you could indulge in foie gras mousse, lobster ravioli, truffled potato croquette and a salted caramel mousse.

Related: Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The 10 best meals you can have at sea

All but the most premium of drinks are included on Silver Ray, so the ship has a convivial culture centered around its many bars. Each has its own menu of signature drinks, though, of course, you can order your favorites around the ship. Look to the last page of each menu for interesting nonalcoholic cocktails.

In the evenings, many of the bars play host to the ship's musicians. On my cruise, a pianist, violinist and saxophone player made the rounds.

You might not notice Deck 3's The Shelter on your first day on board because this Champagne bar is tucked away in a corner that you won't pass through if you aren't trying to find it. However, it's the closest bar to the main restaurants, Atlantide and S.A.L.T. Kitchen, so is ideal for a pre- or post-dinner drink. You can taste a variety of fine Champagnes by the glass here.

The hub of the ship is the Deck 4 Arts Cafe, the coffee bar situated midship along a major thoroughfare and next to the Reception and Shore Excursions desks. It was one of my favorite spots to grab a quick bite. You'll find not only coffee and tea drinks but healthy infused waters, smoothies, parfaits and pastries at breakfast and small sandwiches, scones and small desserts in the afternoon. A small business area with two computer stations and a printer is also in this area.

Fans of Silversea's waiter-served afternoon tea on its older ships might be disappointed to learn that it is not offered on Silver Ray (or sister Silver Nova). Instead, you can order tea, scones and treats every afternoon at the Arts Cafe, but you won't get white-glove service or an artful presentation of goodies.

Immediately above the Arts Cafe on Deck 5, Dolce Vita is a popular spot for pre- or post-dinner drinks and a menu of classic drinks. A waiter might even stop by with pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres.

All the way forward on Deck 5 is the Panorama Lounge, with indoor and outdoor seating. It's open from the afternoon into the evening, and there's always something going on here, whether midday bingo, cocktail hour music or a late-night DJ. It's got a fun drink menu, as well.

The Connoisseur's Corner cigar lounge is next door if you need a drink and a smoke; an outdoor cigar smoking area is adjacent. A DIY bar features complimentary drinks, but you can also order premium whiskeys, cognacs and cigars for an extra fee.

Restaurant Silver Note, also on Deck 5, has a small bar where guests who are not dining there can enjoy a beverage and live music. The cocktail menu here leans into the 1920s prohibition-era vibe. Between the dinner crowd and the live music, Silver Note is loud; it's not the bar for easy conversation.

The drinks are flowing on Deck 10 with four bars. The pool bar has all your refreshing sunny day drinks, like pina coladas, but the Dusk Bar is a lovely spot to enjoy a sundowner or aperitif and gorgeous wake views. Just note that one corner is the smoking area. Personally, I loved the vibe of the Dusk Bar and wished I could spend each evening there.

The Observation Lounge loses some of its impressiveness on a ship with tons of glass and sea views everywhere, but it does double duty with a collection of games and a self-serve coffee and tea bar. It's a lovely spot to while away a sea day afternoon when the weather is cool or rainy.

If you want something stronger than coffee, you'll need to meander over to the adjacent S.A.L.T. bar just outside the S.A.L.T. lab. It specializes in craft cocktails inspired by the ports of call on your itinerary, which means the drink menu here might change a few times during the course of your cruise. If you like trendy drinks made with the most current cocktail techniques and a more intimate vibe than a large lounge, the S.A.L.T. bar will be your go-to spot.

Silver Ray activities

My preview cruise on Silver Ray did not have a typical schedule, but you can expect activities like trivia, arts and crafts, guest lectures, and shuffleboard or golf putting competitions on deck.

Silver Ray's signature space is the resort-inspired pool area on decks 10 and 11. The ship's asymmetrical design is most evident here, where the ship's only pool is off to one side of the ship rather than in the center. It's surrounded by loungers, all oriented to face the sea rather than the pool. An infinity-style hot tub is above on Deck 11 port side.

You might be surprised at how light and airy the pool deck feels but not know why. It's because the only thing above the pool is the sky, rather than an oval deck above closing in the space. The deck 11 lounge area runs down the middle of the deck, over the pool bar, instead.

Adding to that resort feel are some shady outdoor lounge areas where you can read or chat in the fresh air, even when a splash and a tan aren't your top priorities. I especially loved the Orangerie area, forward of the pool deck, with a faux orange tree surrounded by cushy seating and double day beds.

A jogging track circles half of Deck 10 between the pool and the Dusk Bar. (The glass elevators mean no wraparound promenade on Deck 4.) Mixed in with the sunbathing areas are a series of games (golf putting, giant chess and tic-tac-toe) at the very front of Deck 11.

The Otium Spa on Deck 5 forward keeps the ship's sea-view theme going with floor-to-ceiling windows in the two-room fitness center, salon and thermal areas. Treat yourself to a massage, facial, wrap or scrub. The Otium experiences are the ultimate treat; let someone massage you into bliss for 100 minutes, though expect to pay hundreds of dollars for these top-end treatments.

To counteract that splurge, you can enjoy the ship's thermal areas for free. Both the men's and women's dressing rooms have complimentary steam rooms and dry saunas; in between is a shared spa pool. Both the pool and the sauna have windows, so you can watch the world go by. Complimentary scrubs are available; rub them on your body before you get into the steam room, then enjoy your super-soft skin once you've showered off.

The fitness center is impressive for a small ship, with plenty of treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes; a collection of free weights and resistance machines; and a room for exercise classes, with both in-person and digital options on a large-screen TV. You won't find bottles of water, but you will find a water bottle filling station.

The Venetian Lounge on decks 4 and 5 is a full two-story theater, unlike the one-deck, cabaret-style show lounges you'll find on older Silversea ships. Entertainment will be a mix of song-and-dance shows by the ship's onboard performers, guest entertainers and local acts brought on board when the ship stays late in port. Other lectures and events also take place here.

If you haven't parted with enough money yet, you can go on a shopping spree at the ship's boutiques on decks 4 and 5 adjacent to the Venetian Lounge. The shop on Deck 4 sells sundries, Silversea logowear, some regional items and children's gifts, while the Deck 5 boutiques sell high-end perfumes, purses, resortwear and jewelry. The lifelike mannequins posed around the shops might cause you to do a double-take when you first glimpse them — you're not the only person to have that reaction.

A tiny casino across from the Deck 5 shops is easy to miss, but you can also get rid of excess cash (or perhaps win some shopping money) at the few gaming tables and slots open when the ship is at sea.

On the other end of Deck 5, an adorable little library has the cutest Instagrammable reading nooks. Below it, on Deck 4, just outside of Kaiseki is a photo gallery of art by renowned photographer Steve McCurry, who partners with Silversea. You'll find his photographs in other corridors, as well.

Like libraries? There's a hidden one within the Observation Lounge on Deck 10. Look for the door on your lefthand side as you round the corner toward the back of the ship. Inside is a gorgeous wood-paneled room with comfortable seating and a ceiling lit to resemble a starry sky.

A Silversea beverage manager told me that the library will soon feature a mystery cocktail experience. Hidden within the regular books you can borrow will be special hollow books with an empty glass and a mini cocktail menu inside. You'll bring the book back to the adjacent S.A.L.T. bar to get your drink made.

Silver Ray's culinary focus and S.A.L.T. program extend to onboard activities as well. Deck's 10 S.A.L.T. Lab is a demonstration kitchen with 12 work stations that can be shared by two people and gorgeous prep spaces and flat-screen TVs to watch the chefs work. An onboard chef will lead hourlong cooking classes that introduce guests to recipes of the cruise region. We made Portuguese tarts and a trifle with egg custard, and our chef instructor was sassy and fun. Classes are complimentary but you must sign up in advance.

Take your treats out the glass doors of the lab to some alfresco dining tables just behind.

In addition, passengers can attend S.A.L.T. food-and-wine-oriented talks by onboard and guest lecturers to learn more about the culinary culture of the places they're visiting on vacation.

Silver Ray does not have a kids club, though its activity staff will put on kids programming on itineraries with a higher-than-usual number of children. They use out-of-the-way spaces on the ship, such as a little room off the tender boarding area on Deck 2 or the forward sun deck area on Deck 11 with the outdoor games.

The ship might not always cater to young cruisers, but it does employ gentleman hosts on longer sailings to accompany single ladies to dinner and dancing in the evenings. The line clearly knows and understands its core demographic.

Related: 5 best Silversea Cruises destinations

Silver Ray itineraries and pricing

Silver Ray will spend its summers in the Mediterranean and its winters in the Americas. The ship debuts in Europe and will sail five- to 12-night Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises through the fall. It will then cross the Atlantic and sail around South America, including an epic 71-day round-South America cruise from late January to early April 2025.

The ship will return to the Mediterranean for the summer of 2025, crossing back to Fort Lauderdale at the end of November 2025. In winter 2025-2026, Silver Ray will explore the Caribbean and Central America before returning to Europe in early April 2026.

Fares start at $4,800 per person, based on double occupancy, for port-to-port fares (no flights) or $6,700 for door-to-door fares (flights and transfers included) for a six-night Mediterranean cruise in 2025 in a Classic Veranda Suite.

A seven-night South America cruise starts at $4,300 (port-to-port) in a Deluxe Veranda Suite in January 2025. (Door-to-door fares are not available for this cruise, and lower-category cabins are waitlisted.)

An 11-night Caribbean cruise in December 2025 starts at $5,800 per person (port-to-port) or $7,000 per person (door-to-door) in a Classic Veranda Suite.

What to know before you go

Required documents

Most of Silver Ray's itineraries depart from overseas ports, so guests will need a valid passport to travel. It's your responsibility to check if the countries you're visiting require an additional visa or that your passport is valid for three to six months beyond your visit.

You will also need to fill out preboarding documents online before your cruise.

Silversea's all-inclusive fares cover all crew gratuities, and tipping is neither expected nor required. The only exception on board is spa treatments, where an 18% gratuity is baked into the price and you are not asked to tip extra.

You should also bring cash to tip luggage porters and tour guides in port.

All passengers can access the ship's Wi-Fi for free. Passengers in Veranda Suites receive unlimited standard internet (basic browsing, messaging and emailing) on one device and passengers in higher-category suites get unlimited premium internet access (streaming and video calling) on multiple devices. You can upgrade one device for $29 a day, or you can purchase a package at a discount. On my five-night sailing, I paid $145 to upgrade from standard Wi-Fi on one device to premium Wi-Fi on four for the duration of the cruise.

Silversea cautions that it might restrict certain sites for bandwidth reasons.

Carry-on drinks policy

All drinks are complimentary on Silver Ray, with the exception of the most expensive wines and liquors. However, if you are particular to certain brands, you can bring on board an unlimited amount of wine and liquor, both on embarkation day and in ports of call, and you do not have to pay a corkage fee.

Smoking policy

Smoking is only permitted in select locations on Silver Ray. Guests may not smoke in public areas, suites or private balconies. The only locations on Silver Ray where passengers may light up are in the Connoisseur's Corner cigar lounge and the outdoor space adjacent to it, and on the port side of the outdoor Dusk Bar. Cigar and pipe use is only permitted in the Connoisseur's Corner.

You have two options for doing laundry on Silver Ray. You can take the lazy vacation option and pay for the ship's laundry team to wash, press or wet clean your clothes. Leave your dirty clothes for the butler who will whisk it away and return your items impeccably folded.

Or, you can take the economical, self-service route and do your own washing and ironing in the ship's complimentary launderettes, found in suite corridors near the forward stairwells on decks 6, 8 and 9, and aft on Deck 7. Detergent is available, as are ironing boards and a utility sink. Don't believe the time the machine tells you your wash will take; it was off by a factor of two when I did laundry on board.

Passengers in the higher-category suites (Medallion and up), as well as select Venetian Society loyalty program members, receive complimentary laundry service.

Electrical outlets

Suites feature 110-volt (U.S.), 220-volt (European), USB-A and USB-C outlets both by the beds and by the desk.

The onboard currency is the U.S. dollar regardless of where Silver Ray is in the world. The ship operates on a cashless system. You will use your cruise keycard to pay for all purchases, and then receive a final bill at the end of the cruise. You can pay that bill with a credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) that you've registered with the ship or with cash.

You can request a cash advance on board, but will be charged a 2% fee on the amount.

Drinking age

The minimum drinking age on Silver Ray is 21. The ship's crew can also refuse to serve alcohol to anyone they deem excessively inebriated or a danger to others on board.

Pack for your cruise like you would for a stay at a high-end resort. During the day, you'll want casual outfits suitable for the day's weather and activities, including appropriate cover-ups for swimwear and comfortable shoes for walking. Guests tend to be stylish and elegant even when dressed casually.

In the evening, after 6 p.m., guests should adhere to Silver Ray's posted dress code, though casual attire is permitted in outdoor venues. The dress code falls into two categories:

Elegant Casual: Think date-night dress. Women will want to pack casual dresses or blouses to pair with skirts or nice trousers. Men should wear slacks and open-collared shirts; jackets are optional.

Formal Optional: On these nights, passengers can stick with Elegant Casual attire or take their attire up a notch; however, men are expected to wear a jacket indoors. Ladies may wish to don cocktail dresses, evening gowns or dressy pants suits, while men should consider a tuxedo or dark suit with a tie.

When dining in La Dame, men are required to wear a jacket, regardless of the evening's dress code. Also, after 6 p.m., passengers should refrain from wearing jeans, shorts, sneakers or flip-flops indoors.

Crew members will enforce the dress code. If you do not feel like dressing up, you can order complimentary room service or dine in the ship's outdoor restaurant, Marquee.

Bottom line

Silver Ray is a ship with the potential to appeal to a wide swath of luxury travelers. Older travelers who prefer the classic cruise dining experience, formal service and an evening spent chatting over drinks with a pianist or violinist playing in the background will find all of that on board. Younger (or young-at-heart) explorers will gravitate toward the more edgy dining venues and modern menus, craft cocktails at the S.A.L.T. Bar and the resort-style pool deck. Anyone looking for a high-end cruise experience will appreciate Silver Ray's spacious cabins and views for days as they travel the globe.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

• Israel-Gaza War
• War in Ukraine
• US Election
• US & Canada
• UK Politics
• N. Ireland Politics
• Scotland Politics
• Wales Politics
• Latin America
• Middle East
• In Pictures
• Executive Lounge
• Technology of Business
• Women at the Helm
• Future of Business
• Science & Health
• Artificial Intelligence
• AI v the Mind
• Film & TV
• Art & Design
• Entertainment News
• Destinations
• Australia and Pacific
• Caribbean & Bermuda
• Central America
• North America
• South America
• World’s Table
• Culture & Experiences
• The SpeciaList
• Natural Wonders
• Weather & Science
• Climate Solutions
• Sustainable Business
• Green Living

Three months into their global cruise, they've not left Belfast

Passengers on a round-the-world cruise have been left stranded in Belfast for three months after their voyage was beset by delays.

Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey arrived at Queen’s Island in the Northern Ireland capital to be outfitted before it was scheduled to leave on 30 May for the first leg of a three-year cruise.

But the ship has still not left yet thanks to problems with its rudders and gearbox.

Florida resident Holly Hennessey is among those on board to have "hunkered down" and made the city their unexpected home.

Travelling with her cat, Captain, has meant the self-proclaimed "cruise addict" has been unable to leave Belfast while waiting for the ship to be ready.

Passengers are allowed to spend time on the ship during the day, but must disembark in the evenings.

"We can spend all day aboard the ship, and they provide shuttle buses to get on and off," Ms Hennessey said.

"We can have all of our meals and they even have movies and trivia entertainment, almost like cruising except we're at the dock."

Despite enjoying the sights, the damp weather has been a shock for the US native.

"I've never had so much use for my umbrella in my life, and I carry my raincoat everywhere I go."

Passengers on the cruise were given the option of buying their cabin outright rather than paying a daily rate for their room like a traditional hotel.

It allows them to remain onboard beyond the Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey's initial three-year tour.

"I want to stay just as long as I am able,” she said. “I have always wanted to live on a ship, and it will be a dream come true for me."

Villa Vie Residences' website states that the cost of buying a cabin can range from $99,999 to $899,000.

Ms Hennessey’s cabin has space for a double bed, small living area with room for the cat and a balcony.

"Villa Vie is a community and a real community has pets,” she said.

The company says they are trying to do everything they can to "relieve the anxiety" of passengers by planning trips and other cruises or putting them up in hotels.

Angela and Stephen Theriac lived in Nicaragua and have made the most of their wait.

Since May they have travelled by train around Spain, taken weekend trips to England, and visited Greenland.

"We are travellers, and we want to make the most of the place we are in,” said Ms Theriac.

“We keep teasing we will apply for residency here in Belfast."

Her husband Stephen says they have settled in with the locals.

"We have eaten in every restaurant and had a Guinness in every pub,” he said.

“It is just all part of our adventure."

7 Times Cruise Ships Made (Big) Waves

Dr David Austin, from Georgia in the United States, says he has "stopped counting down" the days until the ship launches.

"The payoff of seeing the world in this fashion is too great to feel too disappointed with each delay announcement," he said.

“I was committed, having sold my house right before my arrival, and I’ve stayed committed to this adventure with every delay."

CEO Mike Petterson said that he expects the ship to launch by the end of next week.

"We're not focused on the next days or weeks, we are focused on the rest of our lives and what this company will do for the residents and the industry," he said.

Mr Petterson explained that Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey is the first "affordable" residential cruise ship.

"When you're the first at doing something, you will run into hiccups, but we're definitely getting there, and although we are late, we will launch," he added.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides
• Labor Day sales

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Passengers bought berths on a 3-year cruise. Months on, the ship is still stuck in Belfast

Northern ireland delayed cruise.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin gave up life on land to become seaborne nomads on a years-long cruise.

Months later, the couple has yet to spend a night at sea. Their ship, the Odyssey, is stuck in Belfast undergoing repair work that has postponed its scheduled May departure for a 3 ½-year round-the-world voyage.

Bodin said Friday that they have enjoyed their pit stop in the Northern Ireland capital, but “when we’d visited every pub and tried and every fish and chips place and listened to all the places that have Irish music, then we were ready to go elsewhere.”

“We’re ready to set sail, for sure,” added Canen.

Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey is the latest venture in the tempest-tossed world of continuous cruising.

It offers travelers the chance to buy a cabin and live at sea on a ship circumnavigating the globe. On its maiden voyage, it is scheduled to visit 425 ports in 147 countries on seven continents. Cabins – billed as “villas” — start at $99,999, plus a monthly fee, for the operational life of the vessel, at least 15 years. Passengers can also sign up for segments of the voyage lasting weeks or months.

Marketing material, aimed at adventurous retirees and restless digital nomads, touts “the incredible opportunity to own a home on a floating paradise,” complete with a gym, spa, putting green, entertainment facilities, a business center and an “experiential culinary center.”

But first, the Odyssey has to get out of the dock.

It’s now at Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the doomed RMS Titanic was built more than a century ago.

Villa Vie Residences’ marketing manager Sebastian Stokkendal said the company had been “humbled by the scale of what it takes to reactivate a 30-year-old vessel from a four-year layup.”

He said that after work on the rudder shafts, steel work and engine overhauls, the ship is almost ready to depart.

“We expect a very anticipated successful launch next week where we will head to Bremerhaven, Amsterdam, Lisbon, then across the Atlantic for our Caribbean segment,” he said in an email to The Associated Press.

In the meantime, the company has been paying living expenses for about 200 passengers. They are allowed onto the ship during the day and provided with meals and entertainment, but can’t stay overnight. The cruise line has paid for hotels in Belfast and in other European cities for those who want to explore more of Europe while they wait.

Passenger Holly Hennessey from Florida told the BBC she can’t leave Northern Ireland because of her shipmate – her cat, Captain.

She said that at first “I thought I’d go home, or the ship sent some people to the Canary Islands. And then I found out that because I have my cat with me, I can’t even leave.”

“I want to thank Belfast for being so welcoming to all of us,” she said.

Bodin and Canen – a Swede and an American who met when both lived in Hawaii -- have used the time to travel to Italy, Croatia and Bodin's hometown in Sweden, where they are awaiting news of the Odyssey.

Canen plans to run her Arizona-based auto-glass business from the ship. Bodin, a carpenter, is running a YouTube channel documenting the couple’s temporarily stalled journey.

Built in 1993 and operated under different names by several cruise lines over the years before being becalmed by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Odyssey was bought by Villa Vie Residences in 2023.

The residential cruising business has proved a troubled one. MS The World, launched in 2002, is currently the only vessel of the type in operation. Another venture, Life at Sea, canceled its planned 3-year voyage late last year after failing to secure a ship.

Canen and Bodin put down a deposit on Life at Sea – they got their money back – and also gambled on Victoria Cruises, another stalled venture from which they are still seeking a refund.

But they are undeterred.

“We might be crazy, stupid, naive or resilient,” Bodin said. “I don’t know, you can put any label on it that you want.”

Lawless reported from London.

Recommended Stories

Best credit cards for cruises for september 2024.

Ready to set sail? Make sure you have one of these best credit cards for booking cruises in your wallet first.

Bryce Harper admits he's been dealing with elbow, wrist injuries amid power downturn

The Phillies MVP hasn't hit a homer since Aug, 9.

'The Rings of Power' returns for Season 2, and so do its critiques. What fans and critics are saying about the new episodes.

Three new episodes of the Tolkien series dropped Aug. 29 on Prime Video — and already, strong opinions are rolling in.

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore still not under contract 7 months after promotion: Report

Sherrone Moore will reportedly make his debut as Michigan's full-time head coach without a contract.

Clippers C Ivica Zubac agrees to 3-year, $58.6 million extension: Report

Zubac has quietly been one of the NBA's better centers over the past few years.

US Open 2024: Frances Tiafoe defeats Ben Shelton in thrilling US Open rematch

The veteran took the All-American rematch at the US Open.

Judge denies Media Matters’ motion to dismiss X’s not-libel lawsuit

A Texas judge turns down Media Matters for America's request for a dismissal of X's lawsuit.

You can't escape Sabrina Carpenter online, even if you tried

Sabrina Carpenter is inescapable online. With an upcoming MTV VMAs performance and a tour on the way, expect to see even more from her.

Investors are already valuing OpenAI at over $100B on the secondaries market

OpenAI is in talks to raise a new round of funding at an eye-popping $100 billion-plus valuation, sources told The Wall Street Journal this week. It turns out investors have already proven they are willing to value the company that high to get on OpenAI's coveted cap table. Multiple companies that track or facilitate secondaries deals -- where investors buy shares from existing investors, not directly from the company -- have seen investors pay prices that indicate an over $100 billion valuation.

California AI bill SB 1047 aims to prevent AI disasters, but Silicon Valley warns it will cause one

Outside of sci-fi films, there's no precedent for AI systems killing people or being used in massive cyberattacks. A California bill, known as SB 1047, tries to stop real-world disasters caused by AI systems before they happen. It passed the state's senate in August, and now awaits an approval or veto from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of cruise in English

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

• They're going on a cruise round the Med.
• They've just set off on a round-the-world cruise.
• Do you dream of a luxury skiing vacation or a Caribbean cruise?
• age of sail
• ocean-going
• They are cruising off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
• Thousands of spectators watched the tall ships cruise the Detroit River.
• After launch , the probe will cruise for 6 months before intercepting the comet beyond Earth's orbit .
• The car is more fuel efficient because the engine can run on just three of six cylinders when cruising.
• A guy cruised up in a convertible and offered me a lift .
• He goes cruising the streets looking for places to rob .
• Our department is doing all the work while the rest of the business is cruising.

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Related word

Cruise | intermediate english, translations of cruise.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

skip out on something

to avoid doing something that you should do; to leave someone when they need your help

It’s not really my thing (How to say you don’t like something)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• English    Noun Verb
• Intermediate    Verb Noun
• Translations
• All translations

To add cruise to a word list please sign up or log in.

Add cruise to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.