On your cruise (and our Periscopes) you'll hear all sorts of terms you wouldn't otherwise use on a daily basis, and no, we're not talking about the lyrics Bob Marley's song "Kaya". Let's cover some of the more common (or, in some cases, just some of the more interesting) terms, especially as they relate to cruising. The list certainly isn't all inclusive, but we think it's a good start.

This is a cleat, and it isn't on our list of nautical terms for cruisers.

Aft - adj, adv towards the back of the ship

Air Draft- n the height of the ship above the water line

Beam - n the width of the ship

Berth - 1) n a bed, or area where one sleeps 2) n the area where the ship is docked 3) v to moor​

Bow - n the front of the ship

Bulkheads - n the dividing wall (or doors) separating parts of the ship

Bunker - v to load fuel onto a ship

Disembark or Debark - v to leave the ship​

Draught - n the depth of water needed to float a ship

Embark - v to board a ship

Forward - adj, adv towards the front of the ship (you can walk forward, or a room might be forward of another)

Galley - n a kitchen

Hull - n the main body of the ship

Keel - n the bottom of the ship's hull

Leeward - adj, adv, n side or direction away from the wind

Lido - 1) n the open air pool area 2) n the name of a deck or restaurant featuring an open air pool

Midship - n the middle of the ship

Moor - v to dock, tie up to shore

Muster - v to meet

Muster drill - n a requisite drill at the beginning of a sailing to convene and go over emergency procedures

Muster station - n where passengers meet in the event of an emergency​

Pilot - n a mariner from the local port that boards to help guide the ship in and out of a port

Port - adj the left side of the ship when facing forward (remember left and port both have four letters)

Port of call - n a port which a ship is visiting during a cruise

Prow - n the part of the bow that is above the waterline

Screw - n a ship's propellor

Starboard - adj the right side of the ship when facing forward

Stern - n the back of the ship

Tender - 1) v to take a small boat between ship and shore where the ship is unable to dock 2) n a small boat used for tender operations

Windward - adj, adv, n side of direction from which the win is blowing



Want to learn a bit more about the history of the term "cruise"? A Cruise By Any Other Name will enlighten you in less than two minutes!

Have you heard a term we didn't mention? Reach out in the comments below so we can cover this topic from bow to stern (or to let you know that your friend's time in the Navy may have been spent at a desk). You can also contact us on Facebook and Twitter!