| Cruise Term | Meaning |
| Aboard | On the ship |
| Aft | The back of the ship |
| All-Inclusive | All-inclusive packages usually include drinks, Wi-Fi, speciality dining and gratuities |
| Anchor | A chain that holds the cruise ship to the seabed |
| Ashore | On land |
| Atrium | The centre of the ship |
| Balcony Cabin | Cabins that have a private balcony |
| Berth | A bed |
| Bow | The very front of the ship |
| Cabin Steward | The person that cleans your room and takes care of you |
| Cabin/Stateroom | A room onboard |
| Category | The price level of a cabin based on location, size and amenities |
| Charter | A group of individuals that charter all or part of a cruise ship |
| Closed-Loop Sailing | An itinerary that begins and ends in the same port |
| Cruise Card | A card that acts as your room key, identification and method of payment |
| Cruise Director | The person who oversees the ship’s entertainment |
| Cruise Fare | The base cost of the cruise, per person |
| Cruise Terminal | A terminal that services passengers embarking and disembarking cruise ships |
| Cruiser | A passenger or guest on a cruise ship |
| Daily Planner | A daily schedule of activities |
| Debark | To go ashore |
| Deck | Each level/floor of the ship |
| Deck Plan | A map of all the cruise ship decks |
| Disembark | To leave the ship |
| Dock | A place to moor the ship |
| Dress Code | Suggested clothing to wear onboard |
| Dry Dock | The process of maintaining or refurbishing a cruise ship |
| Early Dining | First seating for dinner |
| Embark | To go aboard the ship |
| Galley | The kitchen |
| Gangway | Ramp or stairway between the ship and the shore whilst the ship is docked |
| Gratuities | A per-person gratuity charged daily to your cabin |
| Helm | The area of the bridge in which the steering wheel is located |
| Hull | The outside of the ship |
| Interior Cabin | Cabins that do not have a window |
| Itinerary | Each destination/cruise port of call you’ll be visiting |
| Keel | The bottom centre of the ship |
| Knot | A unit of speed at which the ship travels |
| Late Dining | Second seating for dinner |
| Leeward | The side of the ship where you’ll be most sheltered |
| Maiden Call | When a ship visits a destination for the first time |
| Maiden Voyage | The first voyage of a new ship or destination |
| Maître d’ | The crew member responsible for the dining room |
| Master | The person who oversees the ship; the Captain |
| MDR | The main dining room onboard |
| Mooring | A place where the ship is tied |
| Muster Drill | A mandatory safety drill that is carried out prior to sailing |
| Muster Station | An assigned emergency meeting location |
| OBC | Onboard credit; a credit added to your onboard account |
| Oceanview Cabin | Cabins that have a window or porthole |
| Open Dining | Option to dine whenever, usually between 5.45 pm and 9.30 pm |
| Open-Jaw Sailing | An itinerary that begins and ends in different ports |
| Port of Departure | The port from which your cruise ship will depart e.g. Southampton |
| Port Side | The left side of the ship |
| Porter | The crew member on land that will help you with your luggage |
| Ports of Call | Each destination you’ll stop at for the day |
| Purser | The crew member in charge of onboard billing |
| Repositioning Cruise | An itinerary that begins and ends in different ports as a ship moves from one region to another |
| Sailaway | The process of sailing away from the shore |
| Sea Day | A day at sea when your cruise ship does not visit a port |
| Speciality Dining | Dining options with an additional cost |
| Stabilisers | Technology that keeps cruise ships motion to a minimum |
| Starboard Side | The right side of the ship |
| Stern | The very back of the ship |
| Tender | A form of transport to shuttle passengers to and from land when cruise ships can’t access the port |
| The Bridge | The navigational hub of the ship |
| Wake | The trail of water created at the stern of the ship as it moves |
