Maritime Terms Quiz

Maritime Terms

Abandon Ship: The third phase of a ship's emergency.
Aboard: Within a vessel.
Above board: On or above the deck.
Accommodation ladder: A portable flight.
Adrift: A vessel not under control.
Aft: The rear part of a vessel.
Aground: Touching the ground.
All hands: The entire ship's company.
Alongside: By the side of a ship.
Anchor: A hook-like object used to moor a vessel.
Anchorage: A place for a ship to anchor.
Ashore: On the beach.
Astern: Behind a vessel.
Berth: A bed, or a docking space for a ship.
Bilge: The compartment at the bottom of a ship.
Boat: A small craft or vessel.
Boatswain/Bosun: A non-commissioned officer.
Bow: The front of a ship.
Bow thrusters: Small propellers for maneuvering.
Bridge: The ship's navigational center.
Bulkhead: An upright wall within the ship's hull.
Cabin: An enclosed room.
Cabin boy: Attendant to passengers (now outdated).
Cabin steward: Responsible for guest room cleaning.
Captain: Overall in charge of the vessel's operations.
Catamaran: A vessel with two hulls.
Ceiling: Deckhead.
Chief Engineer: Responsible for mechanical operations.
Chief Housekeeper: Responsible for cleanliness.
Chief Purser: Responsible for the front office.
Clean bill of health: A certificate.
Companionway: A raised and windowed hatchway.
Corridor: An alleyway.
Croupier: A casino dealer.
Cruise Director: Organizes activities and entertainment.
Cruise Staff: Responsible for hosting activities.
Deck hand: Aides the deck supervisor.
Deck head: The underside of the deck above.
Decks: Structural parts of a ship.
Displacement: The weight of water displaced by a vessel.
Dressing down: A verbal reprimand.
Dunnage: Loose packing material.
First Mate: Second in command of a ship.
Fore/Forward: Towards the bow.
Galley: The ship's kitchen.
Gangplank: A brow used for boarding.
Gangway: An opening in the bulwark.
Grounding: Going aground.
Gunport: Opening in a turret.
Harbor: A shelter for ships from weather.
Hatchway/Hatch: A covered opening.
Helm: The wheelhouse area.
Helmsman: The person steering the ship.
Hotel Manager: Responsible for hotel operations.
Hull: The floating part of a ship.
Hydrofoil: A boat with wing-like foils.
Knot: A unit of speed.
Ladder: Stairs.
Life jacket/Mae vest: Inflatable life jacket.
Life boat: Used to rescue crew and passengers.
Life raft: An inflatable, covered raft.
Liner: A prestigious passenger vessel.
List: The vessel's angle of lean.
Maitre D': Headwaiter.
Man overboard: Fallen from a ship into the water.
Marina: A docking facility for small ships and yachts.
Master (in this context): A ship captain's license.
Mess/Mess hall: Crew eating area.
Nautical mile: A distance of 1.852 km.
Pilot: A navigator.
Pontoon: A flat-bottomed vessel, often a ferry.
Port: The left side of a ship.
Porthole/Port: An opening in a ship's side.
Provision Master: Orders and maintains ship's supplies.
Purser: A private merchant (also a ship officer).
Radio officer: Responsible for ship's communications.
Set-back: Turning the clock back by an hour.
Set-forward: Advancing the clock by an hour.
Ship's company: The crew.
Shoal: Shallow water that's a hazard.
Skipper: A captain.
Slop chest: A ship's store for merchandise.
Sommelier: Responsible for wine service.
Staff Captain: Second in command.
Starboard: The right side of a vessel.
Steerage: A lower-class passenger accommodation.
Stern: The rear part of a ship.
Stowage: Room for storing materials.
Stowaway: A trespasser on a ship.
Wall: Bulkheads.

Cruise Ship Planning and Terminology

Crossing: A voyage across water (cruise).
Departure/Embarkation Port: Where the cruise starts.
Disembarkation: Leaving the ship.
Embarkation: Boarding the ship.
Port of call: Destination on a cruise (often for shore excursions).
Shore excursion: An activity on land at a port of call.
Tender: A small boat (e.g., lifeboat).

Stateroom Types

Balcony stateroom: Has a small, personal balcony.
Interior stateroom: Located in quieter areas.
Ocean view stateroom: Has porthole or window.
Specialty stateroom: Thematic setting (e.g., family, couples).
Suite stateroom: Larger rooms (often for families).

Ship Parts and Features

Bow: Front of the ship.
Bridge: The captain's steering area.
Galley: The ship's kitchen.
Gangway: Ramp or stairs to board.
Helm: Steering wheel area (crew only).
Hull: The outer part of the ship.
Infirmary: Ship's clinic.
Keel: The ship's bottom center.
Leeward: Ship's side sheltered from wind.
Lido: Outdoor pools.
Crew Mess: Crew cafeteria.
Midship: Middle of the ship.
Port: Left side of the ship.
Starboard: Right side of the ship.
Stern/Aft: Rear of the ship.
Upper Deck: Area closest to entertainment and outdoor decks.

Dining and Dress Codes

Cruise casual: Attire for most dinner nights.
Cruise elegant: Suggested attire for evening wear.
Formal night: Formal suits/tuxedo for men, gowns for women.
Main/Late seating: Assigned schedules and seating.
Open seating: No fixed schedule or seating.

Crew Members and Duties

Cabin steward: Responsible for stateroom housekeeping.
Captain: In charge of the cruise ship.
Cruise director: Organizes activities and entertainment.
Maitre d': Responsible for the dining room.
Porter: Helps with luggage on land.
Purser: Handles billing and financial transactions.

Nautical Terms

Knot: A unit of speed.
Mooring: Where a ship is tied.
Wake: The water trail behind the moving ship.
Set back/Set forward: Adjustments to the ship's clock.

Attributes and Features

Atrium: A multi-story space.
Berth: A bed or docking space.
Magrodome: A glass skylight that may cover the pool.
Muster: A call for passengers and crew to assemble.

Purser Office Organization

Purser's desk: The front office.
Chief Purser/Front Office Manager: Handles clearances, lost luggage, and embarkation/disembarkation.
First Purser Administrator: Collects immigration docs, and oversees personnel appearance.
Second Purser Administrator: Handles guest financial transactions, and statement printing.
Assistant Purser: Reception desk for general info, issues, complaints, and transactions.
Junior Assistant Purser: Front desk receptionist.
Crew Purser: Human resources for crew (sign-on, cabin, ID, welfare).
Shore Excursion Manager: Manages shore excursions.
Assistant Shore Excursion Manager: Supports the Shore Excursion Manager.
Cruise Sales Consultant: Provides information on cruise itineraries.
Cost Accountant: Handles inventory control and reporting.
Revenue Accountant: Operates cashless systems and registers.
Service Excellence: Meeting or exceeding customer expectations.

Service Excellence and Design

Steps to Service Excellence: Knowing your guest, company culture, specific skills, and cross-functional efforts.
Elements of Service Design: Actors (staff), Location, Props, Associates (other organizations), and Processes (workflows).
Service Design Principles: Guest needs, unified experience, value creation, efficiency, user input, and stakeholder collaboration.
Service Blueprint: A visual diagram of service components tied to touchpoints.