Reference
Cruise glossary
A reference list, not an article. These are the cruise terms used elsewhere on SnapVoyages, defined plainly. Each entry has its own anchor, so a term can be linked directly — for example /glossary#tender.
A
- Aft
- Towards the back of the ship. Cabins far aft tend to feel more movement and are further from midship lifts.
- All-aboard time
- The time by which passengers must be back on board in a port, normally set earlier than the departure time. Missing it is at the passenger's own cost and risk.
B
- Berth
- Either the quayside position where a ship ties up, or a bed in a cabin. Berth availability is one reason large ships can only call at certain ports.
- Bridge clearance
- The vertical space under a fixed bridge. On rivers it limits vessel height and can change with the water level, which is why river vessels are built low.
C
- Cruise area
- A recurring itinerary pattern inside a region, such as the Western Mediterranean or the Inside Passage. The level at which itineraries are actually built.
D
- Disembarkation
- Leaving the ship at the end of the voyage, normally in groups over a few hours on the final morning.
- Draught (draft)
- How deep the hull sits below the waterline. Together with length and beam it decides which ports, channels and locks a ship can use.
E
- Embarkation
- Boarding at the departure port, usually within an assigned check-in window on sailing day.
- Expedition cruise
- A voyage to areas with little or no port infrastructure, using small ice-capable or shallow-draught vessels and going ashore by small boat. Itineraries are plans, not promises.
F
- Fly-cruise
- A cruise reached by flying to the departure port, sometimes sold as a package with flights and transfers, sometimes not.
- Forward
- Towards the front of the ship. Far-forward cabins feel pitching most.
G
- Gangway
- The ramp or stairway between ship and shore. Its gradient changes with tide and berth, which affects step-free access.
- Gateway port
- A port that functions as the main entry point to a region, with the air links, terminals and hotel capacity to start and end voyages.
- Gratuities / service charge
- A daily per-person amount most lines apply for onboard service. It may be prepaid, added on board, or included in the fare depending on line, fare type and market.
- Guarantee cabin
- A fare that buys a cabin category rather than a specific cabin. The line assigns the actual cabin later.
I
- Ice class
- A certification that a hull is built to operate in defined ice conditions. Relevant to polar expedition voyages.
- Inside cabin
- A cabin with no window, normally the smallest and least expensive category.
- Itinerary
- The published sequence of ports, sea days and timings for a voyage. It can change for weather, safety or operational reasons.
K
- Knot
- One nautical mile per hour, the unit ships use for speed.
L
- Lock
- A chamber that raises or lowers a vessel between water levels. Locks set the maximum dimensions of river vessels and add time to a route.
M
- Maiden voyage
- A ship's first revenue sailing after delivery.
- Midship
- The middle of the ship, lengthwise. Motion is felt least low down and midship — a matter of geometry rather than brand.
- Muster drill
- The mandatory safety briefing held at or near the start of every voyage, showing passengers their assembly station and procedure.
O
- Oceanview cabin
- A cabin with a fixed window or porthole that does not open, and no outdoor space.
- One-way itinerary
- A voyage that ends at a different port from where it began, requiring two separate travel arrangements to and from the ship.
- Open-jaw
- A travel booking that flies into one city and out of another — the usual pattern for a one-way cruise.
P
- Port of call
- A port the ship visits during the voyage, as opposed to the port where the voyage starts or ends.
- Port fees and taxes
- Charges levied by ports and governments per passenger. Sometimes shown inside the advertised fare, sometimes added at checkout.
R
- Repositioning cruise
- A one-way voyage moving a ship between regions at the change of season, typically with more sea days and fewer ports than a normal itinerary.
- River cruise
- A voyage along a single navigable inland corridor. No sea days; locks, bridges and water levels govern what is possible, and vessels usually tie up inside the city.
S
- Sea day
- A full day under way with no port call, caused by distance between ports. Onboard programmes are fullest on sea days.
- Shore excursion
- An organised activity in a port, sold by the line or booked independently. Usually an extra cost, though some expedition fares include ashore activity.
- Shore power
- A shoreside electrical connection that lets a ship shut down engines while alongside. Available at a limited but growing number of ports.
- Single supplement
- The extra amount a solo traveller pays because fares are quoted per person assuming two share the cabin.
- Stabiliser
- A retractable fin that reduces roll while under way. It reduces perceived motion but does not remove pitching.
- Suite
- A larger cabin with a separate sitting area, on many lines bundled with a service tier such as priority boarding or a dedicated restaurant.
T
- Tender / tender port
- A small boat used to carry passengers ashore where the ship anchors offshore instead of docking. Tendering adds time and can be cancelled in poor sea conditions.
- Turnaround port
- A port where one voyage ends and the next begins on the same day, with a full change of passengers.
Z
- Zodiac
- The inflatable boat used on expedition voyages for landings and coastal cruising where no port exists.
Definitions describe general industry usage. Individual cruise lines apply some of these words differently, and their own definitions govern your booking. Longer explanations live in Before you book.