Cruise Glossary

A cabin with wider doors, a roll-in shower, and other accessibility features. There are few of them, so they sell out early; lines usually require the guest to need the features.

"Accessible cabins are limited, so if you need one, let's book it now."

Lines or ships that don't allow guests under 18, such as Virgin Voyages and Viking. Also used for adults-only areas on family ships.

"If you want no kids at all, Virgin Voyages and Viking are adults-only."

Flights booked through the cruise line itself instead of directly with an airline. If the flight is delayed, the line knows the guest is coming, and transfers may be bundled in.

"If you book air through the cruise line and your flight is delayed, they'll help you get to the ship."

The time guests must be back on the ship, usually 30 to 60 minutes before it leaves port. A guest who misses it gets to the next port at their own cost.

"Always check the all aboard time in the app or the daily planner. It's earlier than the departure time."

A fare that bundles extras like drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi, or excursions. What's included varies a lot, so always say exactly what is and isn't included.

"This cruise line includes drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities, but excursions are extra. Let me check what else."

Assigned dining means the same table and time every night. Flexible dining lets guests eat when they want. Each cruise line brands this differently (for example, Norwegian's Freestyle Cruising).

"Do you prefer the same table and waiter every night, or eating whenever you want?"

A cabin with a private outdoor space to step out onto. The most popular category for Alaska, Europe, and scenic cruising.

"For Alaska, a balcony is worth it. You can watch the glaciers from your room."

A daily price for unlimited drinks within set limits. Many lines require every adult in the same cabin to buy it if one does. Some fares bundle drinks in.

"If one of you gets the drink package, on this cruise line the other adult in the cabin usually has to get it too."

The cruise line's code for a type and location of cabin (for example, a mid-ship balcony on a high deck). Two cabins of the same type can be in different categories and prices.

"These are both balconies, but this category is midship on a higher deck, which is why it costs more."

The fee charged if a guest cancels. It grows as the sailing gets closer, often ending at 100% of the fare in the last weeks. Each cruise line publishes its own schedule.

"If you cancel inside ___ days, the cruise line keeps ___. Travel protection can help cover that."

A round-trip cruise that starts and ends at the same U.S. port. On these, U.S. citizens may be able to sail with a birth certificate and government photo ID instead of a passport, but a passport is always recommended in case the guest must fly home from a foreign port. Guests should confirm current requirements with the cruise line.

"Because this sails round trip from ___, a passport isn't always required, but I strongly recommend one in case you need to fly home early."

Connecting cabins have an inside door between them, great for families. Adjoining cabins are just next to each other with no inside door.

"For the kids, you'll want connecting cabins, which have a door between the rooms, not just adjoining ones."

The card or wearable that is the guest's room key, ID for getting on and off the ship, and onboard charge card. Ships are cashless; charges go to the onboard account.

"Your cruise card opens your cabin and is how you pay for things onboard, so keep it with you."

A cruise combined with a guided land trip before or after, like Denali in Alaska or the Canadian Rockies.

"If you want to see Denali, look at a cruisetour. The land portion is planned for you."

The ship's floor map, showing where each cabin is and what's above and below it (like a noisy pool deck or theater). CruiseDeckPlans.com has them for most ships.

"Let me check the deck plan. I want to make sure you're not right under the pool deck."

The amount paid to hold a booking. How much it is and whether it's refundable depends on the cruise line, the fare type, and the length of the sailing.

"To hold this cabin today, the deposit is ___. The rest isn't due until the final payment date."

The morning guests leave the ship at the end of the cruise, usually early. Plan return flights for the afternoon.

"You'll be off the ship in the morning, so I'd book your flight home for after about noon."

Cruise fares are quoted per person, assuming two guests share the cabin. A third or fourth guest in the same cabin usually costs less than the first two.

"That price is per person, based on two of you sharing the cabin."

The day and port where guests board the ship. Lines give check-in time windows; arriving early the day before is safer than flying in the same morning.

"I always suggest flying in the day before embarkation so a flight delay doesn't make you miss the ship."

The date the full balance is due. It's set as a number of days before sailing, and that number differs by cruise line (and sometimes by sailing length or suite level). After this date, cancellation penalties usually get much steeper.

"Your balance is due ___ days before you sail. After that, cancelling costs a lot more, which is why I'd recommend travel protection."

An evening when guests are encouraged to dress up. How formal (or whether it exists at all) depends on the cruise line.

"There are a couple of dress-up nights. On most lines it's optional, but a few expect evening wear in the main dining room those nights, so let me check this ship."

Floor-to-ceiling doors that open, with a railing but no space to step out. Common on river ships, and also found on some ocean ships.

"A French balcony opens up for fresh air and a view, but there's no space to sit outside."

A port that serves a famous city farther inland. The ship docks at the port; guests travel to the city. For example, Civitavecchia is the port for Rome, and Piraeus is the port for Athens.

"The ship docks in Civitavecchia, which is about an hour and a half from Rome, so a Rome excursion is a full day."

A daily per-person charge that goes to the crew. Most lines add it automatically to the onboard account or let guests prepay it. Many luxury and river lines include it in the fare.

"Gratuities are ___ per person per day. You can prepay them now so there's no surprise on your bill."

A measure of a ship's internal volume, not its weight. It's the usual way to compare ship size.

Rarely asked. It's useful when a guest asks, "How big is this ship compared to the last one?"

The guest books a cabin category and the cruise line picks the exact cabin later, in that category or better. It's often cheaper, but the guest can't choose the location.

"With a guarantee, you're locked into this category or better, but the cruise line picks the cabin. If you need to be midship or near family, let's pick a specific cabin."

The port a ship sails from and returns to, like Miami, Seattle, or Barcelona.

"This ship sails round trip from ___, so you'll fly in and out of the same city."

When a river ship stays docked and guests visit sights by bus, often because of water levels.

"If the ship can't sail, it may become a hotel ship and the tours go by bus."

A cabin with no window. The lowest-priced option, and good for guests who'll mostly be out of the room. Some ships have "virtual" windows.

"An inside cabin has no window. It's the best price, and it's very dark for sleeping in."

Supervised activities for kids by age group, usually included in the fare. Some lines have no kids' programs, and some are adults-only.

"Kids club is included, grouped by age, so parents get some time to themselves."

A chamber that raises or lowers a ship between water levels. River ships pass through many locks in Europe, which guests often find fun to watch.

"On the Main-Danube route you pass through a lot of locks. Guests love watching from the top deck."

When river levels are too low or too high, ships can't sail certain stretches. The line may bus guests between ships, swap ships mid-cruise, or change the route.

"River levels can change plans. If that happens, the cruise line adjusts with buses or a ship swap, which is another reason for travel protection."

When cruise lines owned by the same company recognize each other's loyalty status or share one program. Which lines do this changes over time, so check the cruise line profile.

"Because ___ and ___ are sister brands, your status may carry over. Let me check."

The large restaurant included in the fare, serving multi-course dinners.

"Dinner in the main dining room is included, and you can add specialty restaurants if you want."

Midship is the middle of the ship, forward is the front, aft is the back. Guests worried about seasickness feel the least motion midship on a lower deck.

"If you're worried about seasickness, a lower-deck midship cabin moves the least."

A step up from a balcony, with more space and a sitting area. Perks vary a lot by cruise line; some get suite-level benefits, some don't.

"A mini-suite gives you more room, but on this cruise line it doesn't include the full suite perks. Let me walk you through what you get."

The part of the cruise fare the cruise line does not pay commission on. It's already inside the price the guest sees; the guest doesn't pay it separately.

Guests rarely ask about it. If they see "NCF" on a quote, it's part of the fare, not an extra fee.

An oceanview or balcony cabin where something, usually a lifeboat, partly blocks the view. It's priced lower. Check the deck plan.

"This cabin's view is partly blocked by a lifeboat, which is why it's cheaper. Let me show you on the deck plan."

A cabin with a window or porthole that doesn't open.

"Oceanview gives you natural light and a view, but you can't step outside."

Money added to the guest's shipboard account to spend onboard. It usually can't be cashed out, and the rules for unused credit vary by cruise line.

"This offer includes ___ in onboard credit, which you can use for drinks, the spa, or excursions."

Flying into one city and home from a different city. Common on one-way cruises, like Vancouver to Seward in Alaska, or Barcelona to Rome.

"This cruise starts in ___ and ends in ___, so you'll need open-jaw flights, into one city and out of the other."

The ship stays docked overnight, so guests have evening time ashore and a second day in the same port.

"There's an overnight in ___, so you can see the city at night without rushing back to the ship."

How many guests the ship carries, usually counted at two per cabin. Actual numbers can be higher when third and fourth berths are full (school holidays).

"This ship carries about ___ guests. If you want something quieter, a smaller ship would suit you better."

The number a cruise line uses to track a guest's past sailings and loyalty tier. Adding it to a booking makes sure the guest gets their perks and earns credit.

"Have you sailed with ___ before? If you have your past guest number, I'll add it so you get your loyalty perks."

A stop on the itinerary where guests can get off and explore.

"You'll have four ports of call, plus two sea days to enjoy the ship."

A beach destination owned or leased by a cruise line, like Disney's Castaway Cay or Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay. They're popular with families and first-timers.

"This itinerary stops at the cruise line's private island. It's a great beach day with everything set up for you."

Some fares are cheaper because the deposit can't be refunded if the guest cancels (it may become a credit toward a future cruise instead, depending on the cruise line). Refundable fares cost more but give flexibility.

"This lower fare has a non-refundable deposit. If your plans might change, the refundable fare is safer."

A one-way sailing when a ship moves between seasonal regions, such as the Caribbean to Europe in spring. They're usually long, with many sea days, and often good value per night.

"This is a repositioning cruise, 14 nights with lots of sea days. It's great value if you love being on the ship."

Small ships (roughly 100 to 200 guests) sailing rivers, docking right in towns. Days are mostly port time with included walking tours. Less entertainment onboard than ocean ships.

"River cruising is all about the towns. You dock right in the center and walk off the ship."

Round-trip cruises start and end in the same port. One-way cruises start in one port and end in another, which affects flights and, for U.S. guests, travel documents.

"This is a one-way sailing, so you'll fly home from a different city than you flew into."

A required safety briefing on embarkation day showing guests where to go in an emergency. Many lines now let guests watch the video on their phone or TV and then check in at their station.

"On boarding day there's a required safety drill. It's quick, usually a short video and a check-in."

Time when the ship sails slowly past a landmark and nobody gets off, like Glacier Bay in Alaska or the Norwegian fjords.

"Glacier Bay is scenic cruising. You won't get off the ship, but it's one of the highlights of Alaska."

A full day at sea with no port stop. Good for enjoying the ship, the spa, and shows.

"There are two sea days, which is a great time to book the spa or try a specialty restaurant."

A private suite area with its own restaurant, lounge, and sundeck, only for guests in those suites. Examples: The Haven (Norwegian), MSC Yacht Club, and The Retreat (Celebrity).

"If you want luxury service on a big ship, look at The Haven or Yacht Club. You get the big-ship fun plus a private area."

A tour in port. If a cruise line tour runs late, the line waits or gets guests to the next port at its cost; with an independent tour, missing the ship is the guest's problem.

"If you book the excursion through the cruise line and it runs late, they'll wait for you or get you to the next port. Book on your own and you're on your own."

The extra a solo traveler pays for having a cabin to themselves, often priced close to paying for two. Some lines have studio or single cabins built for solo guests.

"Traveling solo, the cruise line charges a single supplement. Some ships have studio cabins made for one person that can be better value."

A cabin category near the spa that comes with wellness perks such as thermal suite access. Examples: Celebrity AquaClass and Carnival Cloud 9 Spa.

"If you love the spa, a spa cabin can pay for itself with the thermal suite access."

Restaurants that cost extra, like steakhouses or sushi bars. Some lines sell multi-meal packages; on many luxury lines they're included.

"Specialty restaurants cost extra on this cruise line, but there's a package if you want to try a few."

The top cabin level, with more space and perks like priority boarding, a concierge, or a butler. The perks depend on the cruise line and the suite level.

"Suites on this cruise line include ___. Many guests say priority boarding alone is worth it."

Government taxes and port charges added on top of the cruise fare. They're required and aren't discounted by promotions.

"The fare is ___, plus ___ in taxes and port fees, which every guest pays."

A port where the ship anchors offshore and small boats (tenders) carry guests to land. It takes longer to get ashore, and rough seas can cancel the stop.

"This stop is a tender port, so it can take a while to get ashore, and bad weather can cancel it. Guests with mobility needs should know that."

A spa area with heated loungers, steam rooms, and saunas. Usually a separate paid pass, or included with a spa cabin.

"The thermal suite is a separate pass, but it comes free with a spa cabin."

Sailing across the Atlantic between Europe and North America. Most are seasonal repositioning cruises; Cunard's Queen Mary 2 runs regular scheduled crossings between Southampton and New York.

"If they want the classic ocean-liner experience, look at a Cunard crossing on Queen Mary 2."

Coverage for cancelling or cutting a trip short, medical emergencies abroad, and delays. Plans differ in what they cover, so guests should read the plan details.

"After final payment, cancelling gets expensive, up to the full fare close to sailing. Travel protection is how you protect that."