Aft

Toward the rear of the vessel.

Alleyway

Any passageway on the vessel

Beam

Cabins above the waterline

Berth

A space to anchor/moor the vessel, a build-in bed

Bow

Forward or front part of ship.

Blast

The sound of the ship’s whistle

Bridge

Navigation and command center of the vessel.

Bulkhead

Upright partition (walls) used to divide various sections of the ship into rooms.

Cabin
Officer and/or crew quarters (see also Stateroom).

Course
Direction the ship is sailing.

Crew Area
Crew access only.

Crew Bar
Located in the crew area of the vessel only. It is a social gathering place where crew interact with each other (have a good time, that is!).

Crew I.D.
Usually a laminated card used as a means of identification the ship's company on board and while in port.

Crew Mess
Dining facilities for non-officer crew members.

Cruise Staff Department
Handles the day-to-day passenger activities and social events.

Customs
Government officials responsible for regulating goods, services and supplies into a country.

Customs Manifest
Document listing all personal goods of crew members.

Daily Program
Passenger program outlining the day to day activities of all events and ship information.

Deck
Floor.

Deck Department
Responsible for the overall operation and navigation of the vessel.

Disembark/Debark
Leave the vessel.

Dock
The structure such as a pier in which the vessel ties up when in port.

Draft
Measurement in feet from waterline to lowest point of ship's keel.

Dry Dock
Vessel is completed removed from the water to institute repairs to the keel.

Embarkation/Embark
To go aboard the vessel.

Fire Doors
Special doors located throughout the ship that close after a command from the bridge; they are fire retardant.

Food & Beverage Department
Handles the day-to-day operations of food supplies, food regulations and management of the galley.

Fore and Aft
Front and back of the vessel, refers to the entire vessel.

Galley
Vessel's kitchen.

Gangway
Platform or ramp for embarkation and disembarkation to a dock or tender used for convenience and security.

Helm
Vessel's steering wheel.

Hotel Department
Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the passenger facilities and related departments.

Immigration
Government officials responsible for granting citizens permission to or restricting entry to a country.

Keel
The bottom portion of the vessel submerged in water.

Knot
One nautical mile per hour (6,080.2 ft) as compared to land mile of 5,280 ft.

Leeward
Side of the vessel or island that is protected from the wind.

Letter of Employment
A written document from the company as proof of employment.

Lifeboat
Small boat carried on the vessel and used in case of emergency.

M.V. – motor vessel

M.S. – motor ship

Muster Station
A place to assemble passengers and/or crew during a lifeboat drill.

Open Seating
Free access to unoccupied tables in the dining room, as opposed to assigned seating.

Port
To the left, facing forward of the bow.

Port-of-Call
Country, island or territory the vessel visits.

Purser's Office
The central administrative office on board for passengers as well as crew members.

Registry
The country in which the vessel is registered.

Roll
Sway of the ship from side to side.

Salary
Because length of contracts on board vessels vary from month to month, quoting a monthly salary instead of yearly is the standard in the maritime industry.

Sign-On
Start of a contract.

Sign-Off
End of a contract.

Slops
Crew store managed by crew members offering everything from snacks to toiletries.

Starboard
To the right, facing forward of the bow.

Stateroom
Passenger quarters.

Stem
Extreme bow of the vessel.

Stern
Rear of the vessel.

Stowaway
Illegal passenger.

Tender
Small vessel used to transport passengers and/or crew or supplies to and from shore when ship is at anchor. Most large ships carry their own tenders, which are maintained as lifeboats in case of an emergency.

USPH
United Stated Public Health. Sets the standard for public health and quality food control on board vessels entering United States territory.

Watertight Doors
Special doors that seal off sections of the ship in case of flooding.

Weigh Anchor
To raise anchor in preparation for departure.

Wet Dock
Repairs made without removing the vessel from the water.

Windward
Facing into or the direction towards the wind.