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• Cabin boy: Attendant to passengers (now outdated).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.