Know These 12 Cruise Slang Terms Before Setting Sail
Brush Up on Your Cruise Slang Before the Trip
By Cassie Bailey | Published on August 7, 2025 | Updated: February 25, 2026
You’ve found the cruise that perfectly fits your adventure personality, picked the right staterooms for you and your crew and packed all the cruise essentials. What now? As you count down the days ‘til you set sail, you’ll want to add cruise slang to your packing list. We’ve rounded up the 12 most useful terms to know before you go, so you’ll have the rundown of your Royal Caribbean ship (no, it’s not a boat!) and more.
Key Takeaways: Essential Cruise Lingo
- ● Boat: A small vessel, not the main ship.
- ● Bridge: The captain's upper deck navigational seat.
- ● Muster drill: A mandatory safety drill before departure.
- ● Tendering: Boarding a small boat to reach shore.
- ● Onboard credit: Your cruise cash for ship purchases.
- ● Seapass: An ID card for access and purchases.
- ● Gangway: The walkway for getting on or off the ship.
- ● Aft: At or near the back of the ship.
- ● Bow: The front or nose of the ship.
- ● Starboard: The right side of the ship when facing forward.
- ● Port: Left side of the ship; also, where the ship docks.
- ● Galley: The ship’s kitchen.
- ● Start planning your next cruise so you can start using your new cruise slang.
1. Boat
Let’s start with the most important stuff. Your cruise is on a ship, not a boat. A boat is what you will sometimes take to get back to your ship while tendering (more on that later!) or during some shore excursions. Boats carry far fewer people than ships, but can take you to shore for all the adventures that await.
2. Bridge
You may not notice the bridge right away, but it is vital to your vacation. This is the driver’s seat, the upper deck where the captain and his team safely navigate the ship from one destination to the next.
3. Muster Drill
Before you get started on your well-deserved R&R, all guests must take part in a mandatory drill that covers the safety procedures on board the ship. It takes place before departure on every cruise — but don’t worry, it won’t take long — and it’ll probably be the only serious part of your vacation.
4. Tendering
To begin your day of exploring, you may need to board a tender (a small boat) to get from the ship to one of your destinations. Piers around the world vary in size, and tendering is how some of the shallower places can accommodate larger ships like Icon of the Seas® — the world’s largest cruise ship.
5. Onboard Credit
This is a type of “cruise cash” you may receive as part of a special offer when you book your cruise, or credits you may purchase beforehand for friends and family. You can use these credits for nearly anything you want on the ship, from beverage packages and specialty dinners to spa treatments.
Here’s how the onboard credits work (and shopping ideas).
6. Seapass
This one-of-a-kind ID card is given to each guest before they board a Royal Caribbean ship. It’s your key to getting around: You’ll need it to get on or off the ship, to get into your stateroom and for your onboard purchases (you’ll also need it when using your onboard credit). You’ll want to have it with you wherever you go.
7. Gangway
This is a mobile walkway for getting on and off a ship while you’re dockside at a destination.
8. Aft
This term refers to the area at or near the back (or stern) of the ship. On some Royal Caribbean ships, you can find some of the most thrilling onboard experiences here, like the Ultimate Abyss℠, the tallest slide at sea.
9. Bow
The bow is the front or “nose” of the ship. It’s the point that will often lead you into picturesque ports.
10. Starboard
You probably know it is one of two sides of the ship, but which one? It’s the right side when you’re facing forward. This term came from “steer board,” since long ago, steering oars were often used on the right side of boats (simply because most people are right-handed).
11. Port
An easy tip to remember this term is that “port” and “left” both have four letters. However, it’s not just the left side of the ship; you’ll also hear “port” used to describe where the ship docks, like at the private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in The Bahamas.
12. Galley
The ship’s kitchen is where a wide array of fantastic foods — from casual pizza and burgers to upscale Italian and sushi — are prepared. Catch a glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes by reserving your spot at the Bottomless Galley Brunch!
Now that you know the lingo, start planning your cruise and explore the over 800 incredible destinations you can visit on your next vacation!
