sea cruise meaning

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• What to Expect

Ocean Lingo: Glossary of Cruise Ship Terms

By Carnival Cruise Line

If you’re a newbie to cruising culture, take a few minutes to learn the cruise ship lingo. Knowing the language both on board and on shore will make you feel more at ease on your very first cruise . We’ve compiled a list of the most essential terms for you to be familiar with before you step on board.

From knowing the ins and outs of stateroom design to understanding cruise ship nautical terms, you’ll be ready to hit the waves with confidence.

Planning Your Cruise

• Crossing: A voyage across the water – in other words, a cruise is a crossing. For example, if you take a cruise to Europe , you can depart from New York and cross to ports of call, including Northern Ireland .
• Departure port/embarkation port: Both of these terms refer to the port or location where your cruise begins and ends . Carnival has many departure ports in the United States. For example, you can cruise to the Western Caribbean from the departure port of Mobile, Alabama .
• Disembarkation: This is when you leave the ship at the end of your trip.
• Embarkation: It’s when you board your cruise ship at the beginning of your trip.
• Port of call: A port of call is a destination on your cruise and where you’ll likely be able to enjoy shore excursions. For example, if you take a cruise to Mexico , you can depart from one of three ports in California and visit multiple ports of call in one trip, including Cozumel , Costa Maya and Mahogany Bay .
• Shore excursion: A shore excursion is an activity off the ship at a port of call that you can purchase as part of your itinerary. For example, if you cruise to The Bahamas , you can take a shore excursion in Half Moon Cay. You may want to book the educational Stingray Adventure shore excursion there that allows you to interact with the sea creatures.
• Tender: Also called a lifeboat, a tender is a small boat that takes you from the ship to shore when the cruise ship anchors in a harbor.

Stateroom Speak

Even before booking your cruise , you’ll want to know the types of staterooms that are available to ensure a comfortable trip. Whether you’re cruising solo or with a group, this list helps you choose the right stateroom for your needs.

• Balcony stateroom: This room has a small, personal, outdoor balcony. A balcony stateroom is recommended when taking a cruise to Alaska , for example, so you don’t miss any unexpected wildlife or glacier sightings.
• Interior stateroom: Located in less active spots on the ship, interior staterooms are comfortable for sleepers who prefer a quiet place to curl up after a day of fun and activities.
• Ocean view stateroom: An ocean view stateroom with a porthole or window lets you gaze out at ocean vistas and ports of calls.
• Specialty stateroom: This has a thematic setting that caters to families, couples or solo guests. Specialty staterooms include Cloud 9 Spa staterooms located next to the Cloud 9 Spa Family Harbor staterooms are next to the Family Harbor Lounge, a great escape when traveling with kids .
• Suite stateroom: Larger rooms that are ideal for family cruises . These suites give everyone in your group ample room to stretch out.

Cruise Ship Terminology

It pays to understand cruise ship terms and definitions so you don’t wander around too much during your vacation. Although, while on board, you’ll never be truly lost. You can find a deck plan of each vessel so you can get to know it before your trip in the comfort of your home. Until then, here’s a crash course in ship architecture.

• Bow: The bow is the front of the ship.
• Bridge: The bridge is the location from which the captain steers the ship.
• Galley: A galley is a ship’s kitchen. On a cruise ship, there are many galleys.
• Gangway: The gangway is the ramp or staircase that you’ll use to embark or disembark the ship.
• Helm: The helm is the area of the bridge on which the steering wheel is located and used by the crew only .
• Hull: The hull is the outside of the ship.
• Keel: The keel is the ship’s bottom center.
• Leeward: The side of the ship where you’ll feel most sheltered from wind is leeward.
• Lido: Lido is an often-used term because it’s the deck where you’ll find the outdoor pools .
• Midship: This is the middle of the ship.
• Port: The left side of the ship as it’s facing forward is called port. If you have a hard time remembering that, just keep in mind that “left” and “port” both have four letters.
• Starboard: The right side of the ship is starboard.
• Stern/aft: This is the rear part of a ship closest to the casual dining
• Upper deck: The upper deck is typically the area closest to the entertainment , fun and outdoor deck areas.

Dining Discussions

• Cruise casual: This is what you can wear most nights at dinner. For men, that includes slacks, khakis, jeans, dress shorts and collared sport shirts. Women wear casual dresses and skirts, pants, capri pants, dressy shorts and dressy jeans.
• Cruise elegant: This is the one or two nights on a cruise where it’s suggested you wear evening wear to dinner in the main dining room and some other restaurants. For men, that means dress slacks, dress shirts and sport coats (optional). For women, it’s cocktail dresses, fancier pant suits or skirts. In restaurants, such as the Steakhouse , you will be required to wear tasteful attire.
• Formal night: There are two formal, or elegant, nights on longer cruises. Elegant nights mean formal suits and ties or tuxedos for men and evening gowns for women. It’s not required to dress formally, yet formal attire is welcome.
• Main seating/late seating: This means there’s an assigned schedule and seating for passengers in the main dining rooms.
• Open seating: There’s no fixed schedule and no seating arrangements for dining with open seating.

Crew Member Chatter

Who wouldn’t want to be a crew member on a cruise to Hawaii ? Here are some of the cheerful faces you’ll meet on board:

• Cabin steward: Crew member responsible for the housekeeping of your stateroom.
• Captain: Crew member in charge of the cruise ship, responsible for the crew and passenger safety.
• Cruise director: Crew member who organizes for the ship’s activities and entertainment and is often the emcee for onboard events.
• Maître d’: Crew member responsible for the dining room.
• Porter: Crew member on land to help you with your luggage curbside before you embark the ship.
• Purser: Crew member in charge of onboard billing and monetary transactions.

Nautical Lingo

Knowing nautical terms in the cruise ship world is important when you’re underway (which means moving through the ocean). You may hear the captain discussing knots with another crew member.

• Knot: A unit of speed at which ships travel, which is one nautical mile per hour.
• Mooring: A place where a ship is tied, such as the dock when in port.
• Wake: The trail of water created at the back (stern) of the ship as it moves forward in the water.

It’s perfectly fine if you forget your cruise-speak and just say “meet me at the room,” instead of stateroom, or “where’s customer service?” instead of asking to see the purser. On a Carnival cruise, you can just be yourself and learn at your leisure. Once you have your first cruise under your belt, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a seasoned cruiser with insider tips of your own.

Note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining options may vary by ship and destination.

Related articles

What to expect.

https://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships.aspx

New to cruising? Here are all the terms you need to know

If you're new to cruising, you may feel like your fellow passengers are speaking in an insider, secret language, exchanging words and phrases that stump you. Fortunately, TPG can keep you from getting lost in translation with this handy glossary of cruise lingo. Take a peek and you'll know your berth from a beam in no time.

The ship and nautical terms

Aft: The rear (stern) area of the ship. When you select a cabin, you can pick one in that's aft, midship or forward.

Atrium: The splashy main entrance and lobby of the ship. If you sail Norwegian Cruise Line , you may know this spot as the Centrum.

Beam: Refers to the ship's width at its widest point. This is important since it's the measurement that will tell a captain if a vessel can transit tight spaces.

Bow: The very front of the ship.

Bridge: The bridge is usually on a high deck and forward. It's where the captain and officers navigate the ship. It's command central and usually off-limits to passengers with the exception of small cruise lines such as Windstar Cruises and Uncruise Adventures that offer specific times when you can stop by the bridge to ask the officer and his or her team questions.

Bulkhead: Partition walls in strategic places on the ship to prevent the spread of fire or flooding.

Dry dock: When a ship is at a shipyard or other location to be refurbished or have technical upgrades made.

Forward: Toward the front of the ship.

Funnel: The smokestack at the top of the ship. Most cruise lines paint their logo on the side of the funnel.

Galley: The ship's kitchen. Megaships like Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas may have more than one galley.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruising with Royal Caribbean

Gangway: This is the removable ramp or steps that passengers use to board or disembark the ship.

Grand staircase: Many posh ships, such as Oceania's R-class ships, have a grand staircase in the atrium. It's a fabulous spot for photographs -- especially when you're all dressed up. You could use the shot on next year's holiday card!

Helm: The ship's wheel (or remote control navigation) and steering apparatus make up the helm.

Hull: The watertight body of a ship.

Keel: A bow-to-stern structural support that runs along the bottom of the ship. You'll often hear about a ship's keel-laying ceremony , which kicks off a major construction milestone.

Knot: Indicates the speed of a ship in nautical miles.

Lido deck: Old-school cruisers use this term to denote the pool deck.

Lifeboat: Every cruise ship carries smaller boats that can be used by passengers in case of emergency. Most often, these are separate vessels from the ship's tenders (see that term below).

M.S.: Means motor-sail, a type of ship. If you sail Windstar Cruises , you're likely already familiar with the term M.S.Y., which indicates motor-sail-yacht. Wind Surf, Wind Spirit and Wind Star are all motor-sail-yachts.

Midship: The middle section of the ship. If you're worried about getting seasick, book a cabin on a low deck at midship so you're close to the vessel's fulcrum point, where you'll feel less movement.

Mooring: A mooring is a physical structure to which a ship can be secured. Examples include piers, wharves, jetties, quays and anchor buoys.

Muster station: A designated location on the ship where each passenger must report for muster drill, a practice run in case of an actual at-sea emergency. Your muster station is printed on a map on the back of your cabin door and is listed on your cabin key card. The location could be in an interior bar or theater or on an open deck.

Panamax: A ship that's the right width to sail the Panama Canal. Anything larger than a Panamax vessel cannot transit the canal.

Port side: This refers to the left side of the ship as you face forward.

Porthole: An oval or round window. It's sealed shut so water can't get in, but it does provide light and a limited view to the world outside.

Promenade: The open-air walkways that usually span the entire length of both sides of the ship.

S.S.: Stands for "steam ship."

Skiff: These are shallow, flat-bottomed open boats used for expedition exploration. They are favored since you can execute wet landings on beaches and transit shallow bodies of water. They also help travelers get close to glaciers and rock formations. You may also hear people call them Zodiacs, but that's actually a brand name for this style of boat.

Stabilizers: Stabilizers, which sometimes look like wings on the sides of the ship, are retractable tools that can be deployed in rough seas. As the name infers, they stabilize the ship to provide a smoother sail.

Starboard: Refers to the right side of the ship as you face forward.

Stern: The rear end of the ship.

Tender: Small motorized boats that the cruise ship carries. They are deployed on port days and are used to ferry passengers from ship to shore.

Wake: If you've ever taken a cruise, you've probably photographed the ship's wake: It's the turbulence the ship causes in the water that creates a trail, not unlike an airplane's contrail.

Cabin intel

Balcony (veranda): Cruise ship cabins come in all types, including "balcony." It means the stateroom has a private balcony (shocker!) which is sometimes called a veranda.

Category: Ships can have several or many categories of cabins. This can mean inside, porthole, oceanview, balcony and suite varieties. And, one type of cabin can even have multiple categories. For example, inside cabins at the front of the ship, midship and aft can be in different cabin categories.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship

Double occupancy: Most cruise fares are priced as double-occupancy, meaning two people sharing a cabin. If you book that cabin by yourself, you will often be charged a single supplement of up to 100% of the cruise fare. Alternatively, you can book a cabin meant for a solo traveler. Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean both offer them, as do a lot of river cruise lines. Or, look for a low or waived "single supplement" fare.

Inside: Inside refers to a cabin that has no porthole, window or balcony.

Junior suite: Not a true suite, but a cabin that has a bit more room than a traditional oceanview or balcony. The bedroom and living space are usually separated by a curtain or other movable partition. (See "suite" for more information.)

Obstructed view: You'll see this note on some deck plans showing cabin locations. Obstructed view means you don't get a full line of sight through your cabin's window. You may be able to see part or all of a ship's tender that's stored outside your window. On Celebrity Edge and Apex, some rooms have views obstructed by part of the mechanism of the Magic Carpet.

Outside: When you book an "outside" cabin, you're getting one that includes a window.

Pullman (Murphy) bed: This type of bed pulls down from the ceiling or wall. It's a space-saving way to add another sleeping area to a cabin.

Spa cabin: Many cruise ships offer incredible spa facilities. To leverage those services, some ships dedicate an entire category of cabins to the spa. These cabins -- often located on the same deck as the spa -- often have upgrades such as rainfall showerheads in the bathroom and select perks packaged in the cruise fare, such as access to the spa's thermal suite.

Suite: A true suite means the bedroom and living area is separated by a permanent wall.

Related: What it takes to get concierge or lounge access on a cruise ship

Upper/lower berths: This can refer to bunk beds with the upper referring to the top bunk and the lower referring to the bottom bunk.

Virtual porthole/balcony: Some inside cabins have a virtual porthole or window, which is a screen that shows a live stream of what's going on outside. You'll find these on certain Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line ships.

Cruise director: This is the person in charge of all the ship's social activities and entertainment. He or she is the MC for most events on board. Many cruise directors are highly trained musicians or entertainers.

Maitre d': This person holds court over an onboard restaurant and supervises the waitstaff and sommeliers. The maitre d' can assist you in making reservations and getting the specific table, waiter or waitress you prefer.

Porter: Shoreside, porters are the people who ferry your luggage from shore to ship, and vice versa.

Purser: The purser is usually found at the reception desk and is in charge of all onboard accounts and guest relations.

Sommelier: The terms sommelier and wine steward are interchangeable. This refers to the trained crewmembers who have an encyclopedic knowledge of wine. He or she can suggest the perfect wine to pair with your meals. Sommeliers also often host wine tastings on board and share their love of winemaking.

Steward: Each cabin is assigned a specific steward that tends to the room and its occupants throughout the cruise. Your steward will make sure your stateroom is set up correctly upon your arrival and will take care of daily cleaning and maintenance.

Dining terms

MDR: Stands for the Main Dining Room. The restaurant usually also has a specific name, such as the Sunrise Dining Room and Sunset Forward Dining Room on Carnival Sunshine.

Main seating/late seating: The Main Dining Room usually offers two sittings at dinnertime: main (also known as first or early seating) and a second, or late, seating.

Captain's or officers' table: Each evening in the Main Dining Room, the captain and other officers host tables. It's an honor to be invited to dine at one of these tables. Members of the cruise line's loyalty program are often invited and the cruise director may also recommend passengers for seating at one of these tables.

Related: A beginner's guide to cruise line loyalty programs

Open seating: Open seating means passengers can select where and when they want to eat, and with whom, instead of sticking to a strict early or late seating.

Specialty restaurant: Also known as alternative dining, specialty restaurants -- such as Cagney's Steakhouse aboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships — are smaller dining venues than the MDR. You'll usually pay a per person surcharge or order a la carte off the menu.

Related: 5 reasons you should splurge on cruise ship specialty restaurants

Dress codes

Cruise casual: Most cruise lines have basic dress codes. For daytime, passengers can usually wear casual clothing such as T-shirts, shorts, jeans and sundresses. While you can wear a swimsuit at the pool deck, throw on a cover-up when in other parts of the ship.

Cruise elegant/country club casual: On some cruise lines, they've gotten rid of the formal night but still have a slightly dressier standard for dinner. it's called cruise elegant or country club casual. Women generally wear dresses, blouses and skirts or slacks while men can wear collared shirts and slacks. Suitcoats aren't required but can be worn if desired.

Formal night: Usually once per seven-night cruise or twice on a two-week voyage, it's when the cruise line asks passengers to dress up for dinner. That usually means a black-tie affair, with tuxedos or dark suits for men and gowns or cocktail-style dresses for women.

Onboard events

Captain's cocktail party: Nearly ever cruise itinerary kicks off with a captain's cocktail party and/or dinner. The gathering gives the captain a chance to introduce himself or herself, the officers and pivotal crew members. At the cocktail party, it's customary to receive a free glass of Champagne and appetizers. If the cruise line still has formal night, the event is often paired with the first one of the cruise. So, passengers get dressed up to enjoy the festivities.

Friends of Bill W: A fathering of Alcoholics Anonymous members. Watch the daily cruise planner for meeting times and places.

Friends of Dorothy: A gathering of LGBTQ cruisers. Watch the daily cruise planner for meeting times and places.

Sail-away: Stay topside as the ship departs its embarkation port. The cruise director and band are usually at the pool deck entertaining guests and the drinks start flowing. The sail-away from some home ports, such as Miami and Venice, are particularly beautiful.

Berth: This word is used in two ways in the cruising world: Berth can be the pier at which your ship docks. Or, it can refer to the beds in a cabin. For example, if a cabin sleeps three, it has three berths.

Dock: These structures are built next to the water and provide space for ships to tie-up to load and unload passengers.

Home port: The ports from which a cruise ship embarks and disembarks. For example, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral are all popular home ports in Florida where ships from many cruise lines depart on itineraries on a regular basis.

Pier: A pier is built with pillars or pilings over the water and is the place where ships moor.

Port of call: A ship's itinerary is made up of ports of call: The places the ship will stop so passengers can explore. Most cruises are a mix of sea days and days in port.

Shorex: This is an abbreviation for "shore excursion" and indicates the activities you can take part in on shore. You can purchase shore excursions directly from your cruise line or arrange them on your own.

Tender port: Some ports do not have facilities for cruise ships to dock. In those cases, they are called "tender ports" and that means you'll board the ship's tender (smaller boat) to transfer from ship to shore.

Transfers: Usually motorcoach transportation from the airport to the cruise terminal and vice versa at the beginning and end of your cruise. You can purchase these transfers from your cruise line.

Cruise-specific terms

Air/sea: Cruise lines offer air/sea, or fly/cruise, packages that include both your flights to and from the ship as well as the cruise itinerary itself. Transfers between the airport and cruise ship are also usually included in the price.

All aboard: The time when all passengers need to be on board the ship before it sets sail. Ships don't wait for passengers in most circumstances so don't miss your all aboard time!

Back to back: This refers to two or more cruise itineraries that you book "back to back." It's a way to create a longer cruise vacation and see more ports of call. Most cruise lines offer a discount on the second itinerary in a back-to-back booking.

Charter: Cruise ships are the perfect venues for family reunions and corporate gatherings. You can charter an entire ship or just part of it. Sometimes you'll notice gaps in a cruise ship's schedule. Many times, it's because the ship has been chartered and there are no cabins available for anyone outside of that group.

Crossing: Crossings refer to sailings across oceans. Cunard's transatlantic crossings between Southampton, England, and New York City, are legendary.

Cruise contract: Before you book any voyages, carefully read the fine print in the cruise contract. It lists the various rules and regulations, including what recourse, if any, you have when things go wrong.

Cruise documents: About two weeks to 30 days before boarding your cruise ship, you'll receive your cruise documents. The paperwork includes your cruise ticket, airline tickets and hotel confirmations (if you booked them through the cruise line), pre-cruise and shore excursion information and luggage tags. Be sure to download this information from your online account. In most cases, you cannot board the ship without this paperwork in hand.

Cruisetour: This refers to a cruise and land tour package. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line both offer cruisetour packages to Alaska so you can see the best of the state by sea and land.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises

Disembarkation: Departing the ship on the last day of the cruise.

Doc dancing: When your cruise documents arrive via mail, courier or your email inbox, many cruisers do the "doc dance" to show their excitement that their cruise will begin shortly.

Embarkation: Boarding the ship for the first time at check-in.

Godmother: Every ship has a godmother who is installed at a ceremony that coincides with the brand-new ship's inaugural voyage. This person, usually a woman, christens the ship and wishes it a lifetime of good luck and special sailings. Godmothers are usually celebrities, royalty or industry executives.

Inaugural voyage: This is the big celebration every brand-new ship has when it first sets sail. It's not necessarily the ship's very first sailing, but it's the one at which a big deal is made and where the godmother christens the ship.

Lanyard: Many cruisers like to stash their cruise card (key to their cabin and method to charge items to their onboard account) on a lanyard. A strap hangs around your neck with a plastic pouch at the bottom to keep your cruise card easily accessible.

Maiden voyage: This is a "first" for the ship. It can be a brand-new ship's very first voyage or a ship can make a "maiden call" on a port it has never visited before.

Repositioning cruise: Repo, or repositioning cruises, happen at the beginning and end of a regional cruising season. It's when the ship repositions from one home port to another. For example, a ship may spend the winter cruising out of Miami for Caribbean itineraries. In the spring, the ship repositions to Barcelona to sail out of that home port for Mediterranean voyages all summer long.

Sea day: A day at which the ship doesn't stop at a port of call. It stays at sea all day and night.

Segments: Longer voyages, like world cruises, are often broken up into shorter "segments." This makes it possible for cruisers to book just part of a longer itinerary.

Turnaround day: This is the day one cruise itinerary ends and another begins. Turnaround days are tough on the crew since they need to see every passenger off the ship safely, clean and prep the ship for the next batch of passengers, and welcome them on board. It's a very long and busy day for the crew.

Upgrade fairy: The upgrade fairy visits passengers on occasion. This is when the cruise line calls you (or your travel agent) to offer an upgrade. They are usually paid upgrades but the discounts make them very attractive.

Waitlist: Sometimes, an entire cruise itinerary or the cabin category you're interested in will sell out. If you want to be notified when cabins become available, ask to join the waitlist. If someone cancels the trip and a cabin opens up, the cruise line will contact travelers on the waitlist.

World cruise: Many cruise lines offer three- to four-month-long itineraries that span the entire globe.

Pricing and the bill

All-inclusive: You'll see the term "all-inclusive" used often in relation to cruise fares. It means "everything's included." However, read the terms since that's usually not quite true. Mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line generally include accommodations, all meals in the main dining room and buffet (as well as other free restaurants), nonalcoholic beverages and entertainment. Extras like wine and booze, spa treatments, specialty (for-fee) restaurants and shore excursions still cost extra.

Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line

Future cruise credits (FCC): If you had to cancel or postpone a cruise due to coronavirus, you're probably very familiar with future cruise credits. These are vouchers with a dollar value that the cruise line gives out in certain circumstances, such as when an itinerary is canceled. Cruisers who receive an FCC can rebook on another ship and itinerary of their choosing.

Chit: The "chit" is the bill of sale you'll sign onboard cruise ships when you make a purchase. That could mean buying a drink at the bar, paying for a T-shirt in the boutique or signing up for a shore excursion. On truly all-inclusive lines like Regent Seven Seas Cruises or The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Club, you'll never sign a chit since nearly everything is included in your cruise fare.

Related: The ultimate guide to The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Guarantee (GTY) cabin: You'll sometimes see GTY fares. This means you can book the cabin category but not select the actual cabin number as you normally would. You are guaranteed a cabin in that category but, if it sells out, you will be upgraded to the next available cabin type. Read this for a complete explanation of cruise cabin guarantee fares and when you should -- or shouldn't -- book one.

Onboard (shipboard) account: At check-in, the ship will open an onboard account for you, and you'll provide a credit card. Charges will be added to this account throughout your cruise. At the end of the voyage, you'll receive an itemized bill. If you're fine with it, the total will be charged to the credit card on record.

Onboard credit: Cruisers love onboard credit (OBC), which is also known as shipboard credit. It's basically money that's deposited into your onboard account that you can spend during your cruise on things like alcohol (if drinks aren't included in your cruise fare), shore excursions and specialty restaurant fees. Cruise lines often lure passengers to book cruises with the promise of OBC. Travel agents also often reward clients by giving them a certain amount of onboard credit to thank them for booking a cruise through their agency.

The Ultimate Cruise Lingo Glossary – 85 Terms You Need to Know

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Cruise vocabulary, jargon or lingo – if you’re going on a cruise, you’ll want to be familiar with the cruise terminology

Are you getting ready for your first cruise? Through the planning process, you may have noticed that there’s a whole world of cruise vocabulary, nautical terms or “cruise lingo”.

This handy glossary of cruise terminology includes some of the new terms and acronyms used in the cruise industry today. These are some of the most common cruise phrases and words you’ll be hearing as you plan your cruise, as well as when you board your cruise ship.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

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A Cruise Lingo Tip You Must Know

Before we get started, here’s the most important piece of advice I can give you, when it comes to talking like a cruise pro.

Don’t call a cruise ship a boat.

Cruisers might have different opinions about which cruise lines are the best, cruise line dress codes , and the do’s and don’ts of cruise gratuities , but there’s one thing all cruisers agree on…

Don’t call a cruise ship a boat. Trust me on this 😉

About Cruise Lingo and Cruise Lifestyle

Cruising is a lifestyle unto it’s own, and cruisers really do have their own lingo and cruise terminology. Nautical terms are often used, and cruisers love it!

New cruisers can be left scratching their heads.

Words and acronyms such as Aft, Muster drill, Starboard, OBC and MDR, may seem like a mysterious cruise language. However, in this cruise lingo glossary, I’ll go over all the cruise jargon need to know.

You’ll be chatting like a seasoned cruiser in no time!

Cruise ship vocabulary

You’re on a ship, not a boat. A boat fits inside a ship, and not the other way around. Fellow cruisers won’t hesitate to correct you sternly if you get this wrong.

Try and get used to this one quickly,  just trust me on this…

Below you can hear Celebrity Cruises Captain Kate , explaining this point in her navigational report.

Your room is called a cabin. While hotels have rooms, ships have cabins.

3. Stateroom

Sometimes a cruise cabin will be referred to as a stateroom.

Your cruise ship will have many decks. While hotels refer to floors, cruise-ships refer to decks.

5. The bridge

The bridge is the navigational hub of the ship.

The person in command of the ship.

7. Cruise Director

Think Julie McCoy :-). Your cruise director, among other duties, will act as Emcee, heading up most major entertainment events on the ship. On larger ships you’ll see assistant cruise directors and other activities staff also leading main activities.

8. Itinerary

Your cruise itinerary refers to each destination/cruise port of call you’ll be visiting.

9. Port of departure

This is the port from which your cruise will depart (ie. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Vancouver, Barcelona etc.)

10. Cruise terminal

Just like airplanes have airports, cruise ships have cruise terminals or cruise ports. There are safety and boarding procedures to be aware of.

Recommended:   11 Cruise Boarding Tips You Need to Know

11. Ports of call

You probably remember this one from “The Love Boat”. I know I do! This is individual destination where you will stop at for the day. Examples of cruise ports or ports of call on a Caribbean cruise include Cozumel , St. Thomas , Grand Cayman and so on.

12. Shore excursion

This is an organized activity you may choose to do when in a port. You can book a shore excursion through your cruise line or on your own with a private vendor or tour company. Examples include a snorkeling or sightseeing excursion.

A cruise ship will usually arrive at a large dock when it arrives at the cruise port.

There are some cruise ports where cruise ships cannot access the land directly and dock, due to coral reefs and other reasons. In these cases your ship will tender a few minutes away from the port, and shuttle passengers in by tender boats.

As an example, Grand Cayman is a tender port at this time, but it looks like a new dock will be built in a couple years.

15. Stabilizers

Modern cruise ships have stabilizers to keep motion to a minimum.

The ship’s anchor is impressive. Along with the chain, the anchor holds to the sea bed to keep the ship from drifting at sea.

The super large kitchen where literally tons of food is cooked and prepared. You can actually do a galley tour while on your cruise if you’re interested.

18. Dry dock

When a cruise ship goes into dry dock, it’can be to receive routine maintenance, or to be refurbished. the ship can be out of service for weeks or longer.

19. Charter

Groups will sometimes charter a cruise ship, to host a special event.

Cruise Ship Terminology – understanding common areas of the cruise ship

The atrium is a large central public area usually spanning 3 or more decks. Often very beautiful, it will be the central hub of the ship’s interior.

21. Port side

The left side of the ship, as you face forward, is referred to as port side .

Tip: An easy way to remember – LEFT has 4 letters and so does PORT

22. Starboard side

The right side of the ship as you face forward is the Starboard side.

23. Forward

The front section of the ship.

The back section of the ship is called the aft. The aft or wake view is a favorite for many cruisers.

25. Purser’s desk

These days, the purser’s desk is often referred to as guest or passenger services. However many avid cruisers enjoy the nautical language and will continue to use the term “purser’s desk”. Usually this is located in the atrium.

26. Mid-ship

Generally said in reference to the preferred cabin location . Most cruise passengers will prefer a mid-ship cabin, rather than one that is forward or aft. This area has an advantage of having more stability in general.

Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner

Regular price: $27 now just $17.

Cruise Cabin Terminology

When booking a cruise, you’ll notice that there are several different stateroom options. Below are the most common cabin options.

27. Interior staterooms

Inside or interior cabins are staterooms which include all the basics, however do not have a window.

Related:  15 Best Tips for Cruising in an Inside Cabin: cabin organization and more

28. Oceanview Cabins

Cabins with a window or porthole are ocean view cabins.

29. Balcony cabins

Balcony cabins , sometimes referred to as Veranda cabins, include a private outdoor space outside your cabin.

Related:   7 Best Reasons to Book a Balcony Cabin

30. Guarantee cabin (GTY)

This refers to an unassigned cabin any type of cabin (inside, ocean view, balcony) . The cruise line will assign the cabin at any point before the cruise.

Often, guarantee cabins will be priced lower, so this can be a great value if you’re not picky about the location of your cabin.

31. Pullman bed

If you have more than 2 passengers in your cabin, you may have pullman beds for 3rd and 4th passengers. They are like bunk beds that come out of the wall or ceiling. They will be tucked back into the ceiling or wall during the day if you like.

32. Double occupancy

The cruise fare will be based on double occupancy as a standard, and this is what you will see as an advertised price.

33. Single occupancy

When cruising solo, most of the time you’ll be paying a single occupancy rate, which can be almost the cost of 2 people in a cabin (you won’t pay taxes twice).

34. Solo cabins – Studio cabins

If you’re cruising solo, look for cruise ships that have studio cabins intended for solo travelers.

35. Triple and Quad Cabins

Some cabins can accomodate 3, 4 or more passengers in one cabin, referred to as triple or quad cabins. These are most popular with young families cruising together .

Read next:   Worst Cruise Ship Cabins to Avoid

Back to the Cruise Ship

36. Deck plan

A map of all the cruise ship decks.

37. Lido deck

The Lido Deck is the public pool deck, often on one of the top decks of the cruise ship. There may be more than one pool, hot tub and outdoor seating.

38. Gangway

The gangway is elevated walkway you will use to board your ship, usually covered, but not always.

The very front of the ship.

The very back of the ship.

The beautiful white trail of waves visible at the very back of the ship. My favorite spot on the ship to realx and take it all in. Please let me know in the comments if this is your favorite as well – if not, where is?

Cruise Lingo you need to know for the first day of your cruise and beyond

42.   Embarkation day

The first day of your cruise and the best day in a cruiser’s life 😉

Recommended reading to prepare for your cruise embarkation day – 25 Cruise Embarkation Day Tips Straight from the Pros

43. Muster drill

The muster drill is a mandatory safety drill which is done prior to sailing. Note, it’s not “mustard” drill, as you just may hear from other passengers.

44. Muster station

Your assigned emergency meeting location. You’ll likely meet here for your muster drill, but don’t worry, cruise ship crew will help to guide you.

45. Daily planner

Different cruise lines use different terms for their daily newsletter of information scheduled activities (Cruise Compass, Princess Patters, Today, Freestyle Daily). Many cruise lines now have this information available on their app.

46. Sailaway

The period of time that your Cruise Ship actually sails away from the shore. Often there will be a Sailaway party on the top deck, however some cruisers enjoy it from their own balcony.

47. Sailaway Party

Check your daily planner for information. Generally the Sailaway party will be at the main pool and will include some drinks, a DJ or band playing and some dancing.

48. Sea day

A day at sea is when your cruise ship is not visiting a port, but sea days aren’t boring ! There will be plenty of activities to choose from if you don’t want to simply relax by a pool.

49. Cruise Card

On most cruise ships, you’ll be given a cruise card which will act as your room key, ID and your method of payment when on your cruise.

50. Ocean Medallion

Ocean Medallion is a relatively new cruise ship technology available on Princess Cruises . Instead of a cruise card, the medallion serves like a cruise card, but also does much more.

You can read about our recent Ocean Medallion experience here .

51. Room steward or cabin attendant

Sometimes mistakenly called a room “Stuart”, the person who cleans your room twice a day (amazing!) and really takes care of you and your cabin mates is called a room steward or a cabin attendant.

52. Dress code

Cruise lines have suggested dress codes , ranging from very casual to more formal.

53. Formal night 

A tradition on many cruise ships, the formal night is a night to dress up. Check your cruise line’s dress codes for suggestions. Some cruise lines have relaxed the dress codes a bit, including Celebrity Cruises which now has Evening Chic , rather than formal.

54. Early dining and late dining

Early and late dining are basically a first and second seating, which some cruise lines with an option of assigned dining will have. This is for a main dining room and not a buffet.

55. Open dining

Open dining is offered on many cruise ships. In some cases, a cruise line will offer both open and set dining. It can go by different terminology including Anytime Dining on Princess , My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean, Select Dining on Celebrity .

To note, some cruise lines offer only open dining, such as Norwegian Cruise Line which is Freestyle dining.

56. Specialty restaurants

This usually refers to the dining in an alternative restaurant that is not included in your cruise fare and is often a more intimate or higher culinary experience. An example of this would be Celebrity Cruises Tuscan Grille .

57. All Aboard

The ship will leave your ports of call promptly. All aboard time is generally set for 30 minutes before your cruise is scheduled to leave the port of call. Do verify the all aboard time before heading off for an excursion in the cruise port.

All joking aside, there are people at cruise ports every year – and you don’t want it to be you.

58. Towel animals

You just may find towel animals in your cruise cabin. These are the super cute towel creations made by your room steward, available on some cruise lines (usually family orientated ones).

We’ve had many years of enjoyment when our kids were young, even miss them a little bit these days.

59. Pier runners: This is an unofficial name given to those (who may have had too many libations) who can be seen running in the last few minutes hoping not to miss the ship’s departure. It is quite entertaining!

60. Roll call

A roll call may be set up for your cruise by yourself or other cruise passengers. Basically, this is a group of people who chat online before a cruise, and may have some gatherings set up once on board.

Read more:   5 Reasons Why You Should Join a Cruise Roll Call

61. Disembarkation

The saddest day in a cruiser’s life is the day that you need to disembark and the cruise is over.

Wondering about how disembarkation day really works?   21 Cruise Disembarkation Tips You Need to Know

62. Onboard booking

Booking your next cruise on board can give you some awesome benefits and is one of the best kept secrets for saving money while booking a cruise . For those that book with travel agents, don’t worry, the future cruise consultant will transfer it to the agency (request if they don’t offer).

Tip: Check to make sure about the terms and conditions and find out if future cruise deposits are refundable if that’s important to you.

Booking a cruise – terms to know

63. Cruise fare

This is the base cost of the cruise, per person

64. Deposit and Final Payment

When you book a cruise, if you’ve booked early you’ll be making a deposit which will secure your booking. As you get closer to sailing (usually about 70-90 days pre cruise), your final payment will be due.

Terms and conditions may be different on various cruise lines, however the details will be on your own reservation.

65. Cruise contract

When booking a cruise, you’ll be agreeing to a cruise contract. The cruise contract includes the terms and conditions that cruise passengers agree to.

66. Online check-in

Before your cruise, passengers are asked to complete an online check in and print out cruise documents to sail.

67. Gratuities

Gratuities or tipping is customary on a cruise. A per person service fee or gratuity will be charged daily to your cabin, on most major cruise lines.

Recommended:   Cruise Tipping Guidelines and Etiquette

68. Prepaid gratuities

When booking your cruise, you can prepay your gratuities , and avoid thinking about additional expenses on a cruise .

69. Lanyard

A lanyard might be used by cruisers to hang a cruise card around the next for convenience. This is one of the most popular cruise accessories in our list of travel essentials .

70. Rum Runners

A type of container used to conceal alcohol brought on a cruise, that isn’t allowed. For more on other items that are prohibited, read this next:  33 Banned Items You Can’t Bring on a Cruise 

Recommended:   10 Things NOT to pack for a cruise

Cruise Start Up Terms

Along with some major changes on cruise ships, we have seen new cruise line policies the have resulted in more cruise lingo – more words and explanations we just don’t know.

71. Cruise with Confidence

The major cruise lines introduced a flexible cruise cancellation policy, during this time, should people decide to cancel a cruise up to 48 hours pre-cruise. When cancelling, in most cases passengers will receive a credit which can be used towards a future cruise.

There are some terms and conditions to be aware of, so always read the fine print.

72. Muster 2.0

A new technology that would allow muster drills to be done using a new app, rather than in a large gathering. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises came out with this new technology as cruises resume. Several cruise lines are using a form of emuster as well.

The Cruise Line International Association is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association. It represents the major cruise lines, which have suspended cruises leaving from the United States until the end of October .

74. No Sail Order

A no sail order was put into effect by the CDC in March 2020. For cruises to resume, it was imperative that the CDC lift the no sail order . This is lifted and cruisers have resumed with strict guidelines for safety and health.

75. Warm lay up and cold lay up

As cruises are suspended, we hear the terms “warm and cold lay up” of cruise ships.

Warm lay up refers to when a cruise ship has reduced levels of crew onboard, and costs for fuel and other items are reduced. However, the cruise ship is kept in a condition as to be able to be brought back to service relatively quickly.

A cold lay up is a prolonged period of time when the cruise ship is shut down as much as possible to reduce cost. It takes longer for ships to be brought back to service and is a more complicated process.

76. NEW Safety and health protocols

The cruise lines have adopted new safety and health protocols to ensure safe cruising for passengers and crew.

Cruise Lingo Acronyms

It’s quite common to hear people who cruise a lot speak using these acronyms. You may even see these abbreviations in cruise facebook groups and pages, or on cruise forums .

Here is an explanation of the most common cruise acronyms, so you’ll be fluent in cruise lingo of all sorts.

Main Dining Room

On board credit – extra cash credit on your cruise account that you can use on the ship for most purchases. Sometimes this is added as a promotion by the cruise line or your travel agent.

This refers to a back to back cruise, meaning one cruise and then another cruise one after the other. Some cruisers may even do a B2B2B (3 cruises in a row)

The abbreviation for a guarantee cabin (see above in cruise lingo glossary)

Future Cruise Credit – when booking a future cruise onboard

A TA is short for travel agent

Avid Cruiser Lingo

83. Cruisebug

After a first cruiser, it’s not uncommon for a new cruiser to love it so much that they feel an immediate calling to book again and cruise more often. Often, this is referred to as catching the cruisebug.

84. Cruise addict

It’s said that cruising is the healthiest addiction and a vice many are happy to have! If you’ve cruised and now you’re constantly on the lookout for all the cruise info you can find and really just want to book cruises, congrats! You are now a cruise addict!

85. Cruiseaholic

Another word for someone who is addicted to cruising!

Recommended:   30 Best Gifts for Cruisers (that are unique too!)

86. Thallosphile (n)

A lover of the sea , someone who loves the sea, ocean.

87. Post-cruise blues

So, the post-cruise blues is real! One possible remedy is booking another cruise when onboard, but it’s still tough to leave that amazing cruise ship life!

Do you suffer from Post-Cruise Depression?

How To Know if You Have Post-Cruise Depression (a fun read)

*Ultimate Cruise Travel Planner*

Over the last year, I put together a 47 page cruise travel planner that has everything you need as you plan and get ready for your cruise.

If you could use cruise packing lists, to-do checklists, shore excursion forms and more, you’ll love the Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner .

Plus, for a limited time, it’s $10 off. Hope you enjoy!

See details here: Ultimate Cruise Planner -What’s Included

Related and Popular Posts:

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23 Essential Things to Pack in Your Cruise Carry-On Bag

What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise

Worst Cabins to Avoid on a Cruise

Recap: Cruise Lingo Glossary – 85 Cruise Terms You Need to Know

In this post, we went over 85 cruise terms that are important to know when you’re booking a cruise, as well as when you’re on a cruise ship. This list of “cruise lingo” should help to navigate the world of cruise language.

If you’re a new cruiser I hope the information has been helpful. If you’re a seasoned cruiser, I hope it was a fun read!

Is there a cruise term that you think should be added? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.

Happy cruising!

P.S. If you’ve enjoyed this, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-)! Please share it with a friend, on Facebook or save for later on Pinterest. Thanks so much!

Let’s connect:

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18 Comments

You missed out Rum Runners. Those cheapskates that think its clever to smuggle on alcohol rather than buy on board in various containers. This may be a Carnival thing but its creeping on the better lines.

You’re right – I completely forgot that one and it’s now totally in the cruise lexicon, right? For better or for worse, lol!

I’ll add it in. Thanks for taking the time to comment :-)!!

by the way what happens to the “Rum Runners” when caught?

Hmmmm,good question. I actually have heard that any alcohol will simply be confiscated, but I’ve never used them so I can’t say for sure.

I love the drinks on board, so I just drink those 🙂

Thanks for taking the time to comment Lebo.

I really like your blog/page. The information in it is very good. I am a member of the Princess Cruise forum and what I have done is when I have come across something interesting or information I didn’t know I take notes on it. That’s how I’ve learned many of the items here. I would add TA – which is travel agent may seem too simple But I see TA all the time. I liked your comment about if you don’t know something ask a fellow cruise passenger or staff person on board. Since I am a solo travelor that really helped me. I would also add to tips for new cruisers is to be respectful of their fellow travelors and also all staff they encounter onboard (which includes room stewards, wait staff and everyone else they encounter).

Hi Charles,

Great points! TA is one I overlooked and you are so right. I agree completely with respect for passengers and crew – I hope most are.

I really appreciate you reading my blog and taking the time to leave a comment!

All the best,

This is great, but I would have liked a short, printable list, as well.

Glad the list was helpful. Thanks for your suggestion as well. This may be something that I’ll work on doing in the future.

I love your cruise blog. I have the cruise bug bad. PCD is bad in me on disembarkation day. I have only cruised with NCL and when onboard I buy as many CruiseNext Deals as I can. Many times you buy one and get on free, and on balcony and higher you can use two. To me free money off my cruise. NCL has past guest deals and when on bourd I book it. Thus even getting a better deal. I will triple dip looking for a past guest and a Latitudes Reward program. Earn point for every cruise night, Point for Suite, point booking 9 mounts in advance, and point for a Latitudes insider offer. Next cruise I will earn many points per day. That gives you free laundry, free dinners, free bottles of wine at dinner, and hopefully one day a free cruise… I would like to do a B2B2B. Do you have to get off the ship? Only word I would add is RESPECT. Respect yourself not making a scene if something not right. For you are the lesser for it. Hopefully one day we will meet up on a cruise ship. Your friend Russell

Thanks Russell for your kind words and your great tips! I have the same sentiments on disembarkation day – it’s the worst :-(.

For a B2B, you do have to get off the ship (although I hear sometimes not if customs come on), but it’s a pretty good process as passengers are grouped together and passed through quickly.

Would be great to meet you on a cruise one day!

Yes a printable list of the terms would be very helpful. Tyvm for your time to help fellow cruisers!!

Thanks Deborah for your comment. I’ll definitely look into creating one, especially since it’s been suggested a couple of times.

Best to you,

We too had a stressful private tour in Turkey, going to Ephesus. We made it back by the skin of our teeth, but the traffic on he way back through Izmir was heavy and slow. All your tips about not being a pier runner are very apt! Thank you. Jim and Norita Nickerson

Hi Jim & Norita,

Wow I would have been stressed as well. We loved Ephesus but did a morning tour only so were back early. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Not only do I find your newsletters fun AND helpful but ditto your You Tube videos. I have been addicted to cruising since 1959. Wish I could afford to feed my addiction more frequently. Going on an 11 day Caribbean cruise on Rotterdam VII in December.

Thanks so much Jim! I’m so glad that you enjoy my emails and videos & appreciate you taking the time to comment.

Don’t we all just wish we could cruise a little more? Your Caribbean cruise sounds absolutely amazing – enjoy every minute!

I enjoy your work … 2 more often overlooked terms: bunkering and along-side … bunkering of course is the re-fueling process … along-side is the captain’s term for bringing a ship to a full stop at a future pier (“we’re expected to be along-side at 7 am in Fort Lauderdale”) …

Thanks for sharing these!

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to sail about on a pleasure trip.

to sail about, as a warship patrolling a body of water.

to travel about without a particular purpose or destination.

to fly, drive, or sail at a constant speed that permits maximum operating efficiency for sustained travel.

to travel at a moderately fast, easily controllable speed: cruising along the highway enjoying the scenery.

to travel about slowly, looking for customers or for something demanding attention: Taxis and police cars cruise in the downtown area.

to go or travel (often followed by over ): Let's cruise over to my house after the concert.

Informal . to go about on the streets or in public areas in search of a sexual partner.

to cruise in (a specified area): patrol cars cruising the neighborhood; to cruise the Caribbean.

to move slowly through or visit (a street, park, bar, etc.) in search of a sexual partner.

to make sexual overtures to; attempt to arouse the sexual interest of.

to inspect (a tract of forest) for the purpose of estimating lumber potential.

the act of cruising.

a pleasure voyage on a ship, usually with stops at various ports.

Origin of cruise

Other words from cruise.

• cruis·ing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby cruise

• cruelty-free
• cruise control
• cruise missile
• cruiserweight
• cruise ship

Other definitions for Cruise (2 of 2)

Tom Thomas Cruise Mapother, 4th , born 1962, U.S. film actor.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cruise in a sentence

Such tests might be useful, say, to screen school children or cruise ship passengers.

Meanwhile, cruise still has its eyes set on public deployment, which is where the expertise of Raman comes in.

That all came after cruise had already scrapped its plans to launch a robotaxi service in 2019.

cruise also began focusing more on hardware earlier this year.

cruise Director of Government Affairs Prashanthi Raman Earlier this year, before the world blew up, cruise received a permit in California to begin transporting passengers.

These skills are particularly needed when, as in the case of the AirAsia flight, the airplane is at cruise altitude.

Nerd cruise By Adam Rogers, Wired What 800 Nerds on a cruise Ship Taught Me About Life, the Universe, and Snorkeling.

He told the court he called the retired captain to see exactly where he lived so he knew when to sound the cruise ship horn.

More than 150 passengers on a California cruise ship came down with norovirus, continuing a trend that happens every year.

It also has a close association with cruises and cruise ships.

And Jack come home from a long cruise , with prize-money in his pockets, was as ostentatious as any nouveau riche.

And every boy made a dash for the camp to secure anything he might need on a cruise down the bay.

In his first cruise he was out forty-five days, and in that time he captured fourteen vessels and 166 prisoners.

Then, his mother coming in, he proceeded to tell about their " cruise ," and the sad fate of his bundle.

Earth-closets are a delusion; you cannot get earth, nor even sand, when on a cruise , and there are other serious objections.

British Dictionary definitions for cruise (1 of 2)

/ ( kruːz ) /

(intr) to make a trip by sea in a liner for pleasure, usually calling at a number of ports

to sail or travel over (a body of water) for pleasure in a yacht, cruiser, etc

(intr) to search for enemy vessels in a warship

(intr) (of a vehicle, aircraft, or vessel) to travel at a moderate and efficient speed

(intr) informal to search the streets or other public places for a sexual partner

an act or instance of cruising, esp a trip by sea

British Dictionary definitions for Cruise (2 of 2)

Tom. original name Thomas Cruise Mapother. born 1962, US film actor; his films include Risky Business (1983), Top Gun (1986), Jerry Maguire (1989), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), War of the Worlds (2005), and Valkyrie (2008)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Sea Cruise by Frankie Ford

Songfacts®:

• This rollicking song was written by Huey "Piano" Smith, a popular New Orleans piano player who wrote the song "Rockin' Pneumonia." He recorded the original version in New Orleans with Gerri Hall. The song is driven by the "Oo-ee, oo-ee baby" chorus before the title line comes in: "Won't you let me take you on a sea cruise?" Surprisingly, there are no other nautical references in the lyric, although the rhythm infers the rocking motion on a boat.
• 19-year-old Frankie Ford was brought in to record a younger sounding, more commercially successful vocal track than the blues-based original. It worked, as the song became a hit.
• The song was originally recorded by Huey Smith and the Clowns, but Frankie Ford's lead vocal replaced Huey Smith's while the group was on tour. Smith was furious when he heard the finished product. It was credited to Frankie Ford with Huey "Piano" Smith and The Clowns.
• The idea of the bells and the horns came from Ace Records' management. The producers and musicians were aghast as the sound effect horns were in a different key than the song's real horn section.
• Ford re-wrote some of the lyrics so he could get a songwriter credit. Smith really got screwed on this one.
• Herman's Hermits cover version was a hit at the peak of the first British Invasion. >> Suggestion credit : Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for above 3
• This was one of many songs used as a nickname by ESPN announcer Chris Berman. He used it for a baseball player: outfielder Jose "Won't You Let Me Take You On A Sea" Cruz.
• More songs from Frankie Ford
• More songs with bodies of water in the title
• More songs containing sound effects
• More hit songs originally recorded by other artists
• More songs from 1959
• Lyrics to Sea Cruise

Comments: 8

• Barry from Sauquoit, Ny Per: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm Frankie Ford, the "New Orleans Dynamo" of swamp pop, died Monday (September 28th, 2015) at the age of 76 after what was termed a "lengthy illness"... He was born in Gretna, Louisiana, near New Orleans, and lived there all his life. Entering show business at an early age, he competed on Ted Mack's "Amateur Hour" on radio as a child and appeared in many local shows. Frankie started a group in high school featuring himself as vocalist and pianist and came to the attention of the owner of Ace Records, who offered him a contract. "Cheatin' Woman" was his first record and became a regional hit but the follow-up, "Sea Cruise" (originally the B-side of "Roberta") landed him at #14 in early 1959... Though four other chart tunes on Ace and Imperial Records failed to get any higher than #72 and a stint in the Army further de-railed his career, Frankie's position as an oldies staple was already assured... He appeared in the movie "American Hot Wax" in 1978 and was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2010... May he R.I.P.
• Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On March 23rd 1959, Frankie Ford performed "Sea Cruise" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'... At the time the song was at #24 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; fourteen days later on April 6, 1959 it peaked at #14 {for two non-consecutive weeks - after its first week it fell to #15 ("The Tijuana Jail" by the Kingston Trio was at #14), the following week Mr. Ford moved back into the #14 position for it's second and final week} and spent 17 weeks on the Top 100... He had four* other Top 100 records; "Alimony" {#97 in 1959}, "Time After Time" {#75 in 1960}, "You Talk Too Much" {#87 in 1960}, and "Seventeen" [#72 in 1961} Mr. Ford, his given name is Francis Guzzo, he was adopted at an early age, will celebrate his 76th birthday this coming August 4th {2015}... * All five of his Top 100 records are available on You Tube.
• Susan from Atlanta, Georgia I didn't realize Johnny Rivers had covered this song. It makes sense, since he flew so high with "Rockin' Pneumonia" and it was written by the same person. I saw Johnny in concert on my birthday a few years ago -- a truly awesome event. I've loved his music since "Summer Rain" in the late '60s.
• Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On May 2nd 1971, Johnny Rivers' covered version of "Sea Cruise" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #98; it stayed on the chart for 4 weeks, peaking at #84... As already stated, the Herman Hermits also covered it; in the U.S.A. it was the B-side of "Just A Little Bit Better", which reached #7 on the Top 100 in 1965... Mr. Rivers, born John Henry Ramistella, will celebrate his 72nd birthday this coming November 7th, 2014 and Peter 'Herman' Noone, born Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone, was also born in November; he will turn 67 years old on Nov. 5th, 2014.
• Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, Ca johnny Vincent and his company ACe Records made some cool records..the story behind this one as I am reading it on this website is a strange one.
• Memphis "piano" Joe from Los Angeles, Ca I made a piano instrumental version of "Sea Cruise" - you can hear it at www.jwdirect.net just scroll down to "Track 2" Your fellow Sea Cruise fan, Memphis Piano Joe (search my name at YouTube)
• Walter from Antwerp, Belgium The horn arrangement was later copied by The Clash in 'Wrong 'Em Boyo' (1979), in itself a cover of a rather obscure rock steady track by Jamaican group The Rulers.
• Rick from San Juan, United States In one of the many memorable scenes from the 1978 movie "American Hot Wax", Frankie lip-syncs "Sea Cruise" while in the recording studio making a hit record. Fantastic film. Too bad it's still not available on DVD.

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Man On the Moon R.E.M.

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Streets Of Philadelphia Bruce Springsteen

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Peg Steely Dan

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When "Baby Love" reached the top spot, The Supremes became the first Motown act with two #1 hits on the Hot 100.

Suddenly I See KT Tunstall

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Definition of 'cruise'

Video: pronunciation of cruise

cruise in American English

Cruise in british english, cruise in british english, examples of 'cruise' in a sentence cruise, word lists with cruise, related word partners cruise, trends of cruise.

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Escape to Sea

CARIBBEAN & THE BAHAMAS

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SHIPS DEPARTING FROM THE U.S.

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YOUR OWN PRIVATE ISLAND

 Featured on all MSC Cruises departing from U.S. Ports

Exclusive to MSC Cruises guests, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve was designed to show our appreciation of the environment and ensure we are doing our part to take care of our planet, all while giving you a slice of paradise.  With docking right on the island, you can walk straight off the ship and onto 2 miles of white sand beaches where chairs, umbrellas and cabanas await to help you sit back and relax beside crystal blue waters. Explore.

Take part in a choice of shore excursions for all interests and activity levels. By day, kayak through crystal-blue waters, snorkel among coral with colorful marine life, or opt for a scuba dive or jet ski tour to kick up the action. At night, end the day with a Sunset Champagne Cruise, a beachside stargazing stroll, or a unique glow paddle boarding adventure in the lagoon.

Enjoy casual oceanfront dining full of flavorful options from traditional barbecue favorites to authentic Bahamian dishes. With 10 classic beach bars to choose from, a cold beverage is always within reach. Below are a few favorites to top your list.

Springer's Bar : Make your way to this authentic Bahamian bar with a laid-back atmosphere. Seakers Food Court : Head for the traditional barbecue buffet, serving Caribbean and American classics from burgers to salads and an array of kid-friendly and grab-and-go choices. Lighthouse Bar :  Take in the views with a refreshing cocktail and live music beneath the iconic lighthouse. Beach Shack Food Trucks : Conveniently located throughout the island, here you’ll find beach favorites from hot dogs to lobster rolls.  The Smiling Fish : Cool off with soft-serve ice cream with a choice of toppings, or savor a specialty drink from the full-service coffee bar. Did you know?   You can use your drink package on Ocean Cay.

Cheers to that!

Treat yourself to the ultimate pampering experience at The Spa at Ocean Cay, where you can relax and unwind with a soothing cabana massage.

Indulge in the spa’s line of biodegradable and eco-friendly skincare products while surrounded by the relaxing sounds of gentle waves and ocean breezes.

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MSC Cruises

Disappointing photos show what it's actually like to go on a cruise

• I took a seven-day voyage on one of the largest cruise ships in the world , my first cruise ever. 
• I found the reality of cruising didn't match my expectations from social media and promotional ads.
• I spent much of my time battling crowds, waiting in lines, and sitting on hot tour buses.

I booked my first-ever cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas in April 2022. The seven-day Caribbean voyage on a mega-ship took me round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to port stops in Honduras, Mexico, and the Bahamas. I expected breathtaking views of the world between relaxing swimming and sunbathing sessions.

But my experience didn't quite meet my expectations.

Instead, I sunbathed in a loud, crowded pool area when I was lucky enough to find a chair. I spent more time waiting in lines than I had anticipated, and I saw much of the world from behind other people's heads.

Here's an overview of the most disappointing aspects of my cruise, from getting to the port to sailing across the region

The disappointment started before I was even on the cruise.

Since I don't live near my cruise's departure city, my trip began with a flight and a budget hotel room near my departure port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

When I arrived at my port city's airport, I waited 45 minutes for a hotel shuttle to pick me up.

This was the first of many crowded bus rides during my trip. Looking back, I wish I had called a cab — especially since the next morning, I piled into a hot bus with several other cruise guests as I headed to the port.

There was a long line to get inside the cruise terminal, and I should have known by this point that I'd stand in many more lines during my cruise.

Inside the cruise terminal , there was another long line to get through security. While I waited, I chuckled to myself as I read signs that said, "Adventure begins here."

Once aboard the ship, I was excited to view the ocean as we sailed away, but I was blocked by tall, thick glass and couldn't find a place to stand.

My obstructed view of the ship leaving Fort Lauderdale made me feel as frustrated as standing behind tall patrons at a concert. 

The ship was so large that I got lost several times during my stay.

But I found the maps on each floor to be helpful.

As I explored the ship, I was surprised that even a mega-ship could feel overcrowded.

While people seemed to enjoy themselves, many communal decks looked and felt like crowded malls.

The outdoor decks had 19 pools, plunge pools, and whirlpools accessible to guests. These spaces were crowded throughout the day. And even though there were rules against saving chairs with towels, I saw plenty of people doing it, so finding a spot to relax was stressful.

A Royal Caribbean representative told Business Insider crew members might remove items from lounge chairs after 30 minutes. Still, they must also consider families and groups who may be in the pool or going to the restroom when enforcing rules like these and must use their best judgment.

There were crowds and lines virtually everywhere I went.

From the buffet to activities like water slides and mini-golf, I felt like I spent more time waiting in line than enjoying the ship. For example, I waited in line for three hours to play a round of laser tag that was less than 20 minutes long. 

At port stops, I waited in lines to go through security every time I left and returned to the ship. I found this less annoying than the other wait times since it made me feel safer.

The lines continued at each port, crowded with others excited to begin their tours.

I often had to battle through crowds just to find signs for my excursions.

It was exciting to explore new places at each stop, though some of this exploration was from the window of another hot bus.

A Royal Caribbean representative told BI the cruise line worked with local tour operators for its excursions, so air conditioning standards varied.

And when I was finally doing the cool thing I booked, like walking across a suspension bridge amid the treetops, my view was sometimes blocked once more by everyone else who booked the tour, too.

I hoped to capture an empty image of this majestic jungle bridge, but it wasn't possible without losing my tour crew. 

According to a crew member I overheard, roughly 5,000 other people were aboard the ship, so I understand why the cruise felt so crowded.

I think that if I were to book a less crowded cruise next time, I might enjoy it more.

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Meaning of cruise in English

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• They're going on a cruise round the Med.
• They've just set off on a round-the-world cruise.
• Do you dream of a luxury skiing vacation or a Caribbean cruise?
• age of sail
• ocean-going
• under sail idiom
• They are cruising off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
• Thousands of spectators watched the tall ships cruise the Detroit River.
• After launch , the probe will cruise for 6 months before intercepting the comet beyond Earth's orbit .
• The car is more fuel efficient because the engine can run on just three of six cylinders when cruising.
• A guy cruised up in a convertible and offered me a lift .
• He goes cruising the streets looking for places to rob .
• Our department is doing all the work while the rest of the business is cruising.

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• MSC Cruises

All In vs. Escape to Sea Rate

By sbd78 , August 16, 2019 in MSC Cruises

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Just wondering if there is any advantage to booking the "all in" rate that includes drinks and wifi vs. booking the "escape to sea" rate and adding drinks and wifi a la carte? A little background, this is for a Caribbean sailing out of Miami and we will likely purchase the easy drink package and basic internet regardless. Doing the math, it doesn't appear that "all in" saves any money vs. a la carte. Just wondering if there is anything I'm missing? Thanks!

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The all in includes the easy drinks package and standard wifi where as the escape to sea rate is just the cruise only so you would need to add the easy package and the standard wifi just be aware that it is cheaper to buy the drinks package and standard before you board.

So looking at the 2 what is the price difference between the all in and the escape to sea and these are always based on Bella Experience.

what they are giving you is the choice of all in but just the easy package or escape to sea and go for the better drinks package depending on what you drink as the easy package for most is okay it does not include any of the better cocktails including frozen ones

I've recently noticed some sailings with the All In package are priced very high, to the point where like the OP states you could choose the Escape rate and purchase them separately and come out the same.  I've seen some sailings that are over $300pp more for All In versus Escape rate.  Historically the All In package offered some savings, typically costing $150 to $200 per person per week more, I've seen it a few times only costing $100pp more.  That made the Easy drink package typically cost between $16 and $23pp per day, so not a bad deal.  My European sailings recently went to All In pricing and that will cost me between $17 and $19pp per day, combined with the European sailings being $12pp per day to upgrade to Premium I felt that was a good enough deal to take.

What is the price difference on your sailing?

They are two different types of pricing promotions based on the original brochure prices.  The pricing does not always make sense. I have seen Aurea pricing on these two rates be hundreds of dollars of difference, even though the only added perk for Aurea on the All In is the internet since the easy drink package is already included.  Not everyone always does the math, so they sometimes get away with charging more for the All In than the items would cost ala carte with the Escape.  The two discount deals are not connected though, so the all in will not necessarily be x dollars more than the escape.

Thanks for the replies everyone! I was looking at the June 14, 2020 Armonia sailing and doing the math, the escape rate plus adding easy drinks and internet a la carte actually comes out just slightly cheaper, so I was wondering if there was something I was missing? Sounds like it's better to just book the escape rate, thanks!

How many people are in the cabin?  For two people on that sailing in Bella and Fantastica the All In rate is $200 per person more than the Escape rate.  So $400, minus any Voyagers discounts which will make it cost a little less than the following.  I'm not sure of the exact price on Armonia right now but on US sailings the standard internet has been about $75, leaving approximately $325 as the cost of the beverage package.  Dividing by two people then by seven nights yields $23 per person per day.  Pre-purchasing the Easy package is now $35 per person per day, add 15% if you do it on the ship.  Not the best deal I've seen, but at least it's some savings if you wanted the a drinks package and internet anyway.

9 hours ago, Até said: How many people are in the cabin?  For two people on that sailing in Bella and Fantastica the All In rate is $200 per person more than the Escape rate.  So $400, minus any Voyagers discounts which will make it cost a little less than the following.  I'm not sure of the exact price on Armonia right now but on US sailings the standard internet has been about $75, leaving approximately $325 as the cost of the beverage package.  Dividing by two people then by seven nights yields $23 per person per day.  Pre-purchasing the Easy package is now $35 per person per day, add 15% if you do it on the ship.  Not the best deal I've seen, but at least it's some savings if you wanted the a drinks package and internet anyway.

It's actually for 5 people, 2 adults and 3 kids. (Well, 2 kids and 1 teen.) We are looking at booking 2 cabins. 1 adult and 1 child in 1, 1 adult and 2 children in the other. This is what I was basing my math on.

I'll agree paying for the All In promotion is tough if children are the #2 or even #3/4 passengers as they get hit with the same fares, which are all $200pp higher.  The internet is shared so the per person cost for the drinks package is thus even higher.  I think part of the reason the non-alcohoilic package is priced so outrageously high at $29pp/day is to justify this type of situation.  MSC is definitely not kid friendly in this regard - in fact it now seems very hard to find any "Kids Cruise Free" itineraries.  In your case I'll agree about going with the Escape rate.

ETA: If you plan on purchasing a drinks package for just the two adults you may have trouble because officially everyone in the cabin is supposed to be required to have an equivalent package.  That said there have been reports of people being able to purchase the drinks package for only one of the passengers in the cabin on the MSC website.  It would also be best to purchase packages in advance because once on the ship a 15% gratuity will be added to the cost of the package.

2 hours ago, Até said: ETA: If you plan on purchasing a drinks package for just the two adults you may have trouble because officially everyone in the cabin is supposed to be required to have an equivalent package.  That said there have been reports of people being able to purchase the drinks package for only one of the passengers in the cabin on the MSC website.  It would also be best to purchase packages in advance because once on the ship a 15% gratuity will be added to the cost of the package.

Thanks for the reply! I was pricing it out with the non-alcoholic package for the kids because I thought it was required and it still came out slightly cheaper. If we can get away with only buying the easy package for the adults, that would be great! I don't think my kids will drink enough soda/juice to justify the price so I'd prefer to not buy it for them if possible.

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Baltimore Port: What impact will bridge collapse have on shipping?

PORT FEATURES

Current status of cargo ships inside port, cruise ships, london metal exchange warehouses, bunker fuel.

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US to impose new visa curbs on Hong Kong officials over rights crackdown

The United States said on Friday it will impose new visa restrictions on a number of Hong Kong officials over the crackdown on rights and freedoms in the Chinese-ruled territory.

Japanese health officials searched a Kobayashi Pharmaceutical factory on Saturday after the drugmaker reported five deaths possibly linked to dietary supplements using red yeast rice, an official said.

Malaysia has arrested an armed man at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, its top police official said, describing the 36-year-old as a suspected Israeli spy.

Port of Baltimore suspends ship traffic after bridge collapse: What it means for travel

Travel is being impacted by Tuesday’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse along Interstate 695 in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Drivers were immediately directed to take alternate routes through the city, following the early morning incident. What’s less clear is what the bridge collapse may mean for upcoming cruises in and out of Baltimore.

“Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice,” the Port of Baltimore posted on X, formerly Twitter.

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Live Updates: Baltimore's Key Bridge collapses after ship hits it; construction crew missing

Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., whose district includes the bridge and the port, called the collapse an “unthinkable horror” and said he had spoken with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the White House. 

“They are responding with all of the assets at their disposal,” he said in a statement. “Our prayers right now are for the missing individuals and victims of this tragedy. We thank God for the effective service of our first responders.”

Here’s what we know.

Which cruises go to Baltimore?

Several major cruise lines serve Baltimore. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry’s leading trade group, published itineraries in the 2024 calendar year include a dozen ships making 115 stops in Baltimore.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy and collapse of the Key Bridge that occurred last night and extend our support and heartfelt prayers to all those impacted,” CLIA spokesperson Anne Madison said in an emailed statement. “We join everyone in extending our thanks and appreciation to the first responders and emergency workers in Baltimore, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other professionals who are working with one goal in mind—to save lives. We are closely following this situation.”

Carnival’s website shows Carnival Pride and Carnival Legend also have sailings into or out of Baltimore set for April. 

Carnival Legend will temporarily move operations to Norfolk, Virginia.

The ship's current cruise, which left for a planned round-trip sailing from Baltimore on March 24, will end in Norfolk on Sunday. Passengers will then receive free bus rides to Baltimore. The vessel's next cruise will sail round-trip from Norfolk later that day.

“Our thoughts remain with the impacted families and first responders in Baltimore,” Carnival president Christine Duffy said in a statement. “We appreciate the pledge made by President Biden today to dedicate all available resources to reopen Baltimore Harbor to marine traffic as soon as possible. As those plans are finalized, we will update our future cruise guests on when we will return home to Baltimore, but in the meantime, we appreciate the quick response and support from officials in Norfolk.”

The cruise line has not yet shared plans for Carnival Pride. Carnival's parent company, Carnival Corp., said the temporary change in homeport is estimated to have an impact of up to $10 million on adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income this year, according to a news release .

Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas, which left from Baltimore on March 23 , will return to Norfolk instead on April 4. "Our guests on board will be provided compensation and complimentary shuttle transportation as well as Wi-Fi and phone calls to adjust their travel arrangements," a spokesperson said in an email.

The ship's April 4 and 12 cruises will leave from Norfolk, too. "Our guests booked to sail with us will receive compensation due to the necessary adjustments made to their vacations," the spokesperson added. "After returning from the April 12 cruise, Vision will head to the Bahamas for its previously scheduled maintenance."

Was your cruise itinerary changed?: What to do next

American Cruise Lines has roundtrip sailings from Baltimore scheduled in May, according to its website.

“We will monitor the situation and make adjustments to future cruises if needed, but at the present time our schedules remain unaffected, and our thoughts remain with those affected by the immediate situation and rescue efforts underway,” an American Cruise Lines spokesperson told USA TODAY.

Norwegian Cruise Line doesn’t appear to have any Baltimore sailings until September on Norwegian Sky . The line will stay in contact with the port and share any changes with passengers and travel partners, according to a spokesperson.

"In the meantime, we wish the city of Baltimore strength during this very unfortunate event," they said in an email.

Alternate routes for the Baltimore bridge

Most drivers can take Interstate 95 (Fort McHenry Tunnel) or Interstate 895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel) to avoid the collapsed bridge. However Maryland Transportation Authority notes there are some exceptions .

Vehicles carrying hazardous materials, including more than 10 pounds of propane, are not allowed in the tunnels. Additionally, vehicles more than 13-feet and 6-inches high or 8-feet wide may not use the 1-895 Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Vehicles more than 14-feet and 6-inches high or 11-feet wide may not use the I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel. 

Those vehicles should use the western portion of I-695 instead.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Port of Baltimore suspends ship traffic after bridge collapse: What it means for travel

Rescue ongoing as cars and people fall into water after ship strike causes Baltimore bridge to collapse

Six people are still unaccounted for after the cargo ship Dali hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland, causing it to collapse into the Patapsco River. The incident has been described by officials as a "developing mass casualty event".

News reporter @laurenvrussell

Wednesday 27 March 2024 00:38, UK

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A major bridge has collapsed in the US city of Baltimore after it was hit by a cargo ship.

Footage shows a large section of the 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge falling into the Patapsco River, following the collision at around 1.30am local time (5.30am UK time).

Click here for the latest update on this story

Vehicles can be seen in the video falling from the bridge.

Six people remain unaccounted for after two people were rescued from the water.

One of those rescued was in a "very serious condition" and is receiving treatment in hospital while the other was not injured.

According to officials, the ship had issued a mayday call to authorities that it had lost power before the collision. They later said it had lost propulsion and had dropped its anchors before the crash.

Baltimore bridge latest: Follow live updates

CCTV and marine tracking data shows the ship , known as the Dali, lose power, adjust its course and start smoking around 60 seconds before it hits the bridge.

All Baltimore port traffic has been suspended until further notice, the Maryland Transport Authority, said.

In an update on Tuesday afternoon, Wes Moore, governor of Baltimore, and Paul Wiedefeld, secretary of the Maryland Transport Authority, said those still missing are believed to be construction workers who were on the bridge fixing potholes.

All 22 crew members on board the ship, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there were no reports of injuries.

Mr Moore said intel from a preliminary investigation points to an accident. He said there is no evidence of a terrorism-related attack.

"To the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones all of our hearts are broken we feel your loss we are thinking of you," Mr Moore said.

"We pray for the construction workers who were on the bridge and all who have been touched by this tragedy We will get through this."

Mayor of Baltimore, Brandon Scott, declared a local state of emergency which will be in place for the next 30 days as the search for the missing continues.

He said earlier that the collapse "looked like something out of an action movie".

The National Transportation Safety Board is also conducting an investigation into the incident.

More on the bridge collapse: What do we know about bridge and the ship that hit it? How did catastrophe happen?

The 289m-long container ship was headed to Colombo in Sri Lanka at the time of the collision.

It was chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk, which said it was "horrified by what has happened". It said its thoughts were with everyone affected.

The same ship was previously involved in a minor incident when it hit a quay at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium in 2016, according to Vessel Finder and maritime accident site Shipwrecklog.

The vessel was reportedly damaged in the incident, but there were no injuries or pollution issues reported.

Bridge is 'major artery' for locals

The bridge, which is referred to locally as the Key Bridge, was described as a "major artery" for the area by resident Michael Brown.

"This is like an April Fools' joke right now," Mr Brown told Sky News's US partner network NBC.

"It [the bridge] is a major artery in the area not only for traffic but for the port. Hopefully, everyone is okay that is involved."

Mr Brown said he uses the bridge to visit family and its destruction is a "major issue" - but he noted the "emphasis should be on getting whoever is in the water out".

The Interstate 695 - the road which runs across the bridge - was closed and traffic rerouted by the Maryland Transport Authority.

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Impact on trade

The Port of Baltimore, which oceangoing ships reach by going under the bridge, is the 11th largest in the US, meaning its closure will cause knock-on effects for the industry.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Richard Meade, editor of Lloyd's List - which provides news on the global maritime industry - said the collision will be a "significant and expensive" operation in terms of diverting marine traffic, the implications on trade and the rebuilding of the bridge itself.

According to data from MarineTraffic, around 40 ships remain inside the closed port, with a further 30 having signalled that the port was their destination.

Built in 1977, the Key Bridge is one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world, according to the National Steel Bridge Alliance.

It was named after the writer of The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the US, which was penned after a War of 1812 US-UK battle in Baltimore harbour.

David MacKenzie, chair of engineering consultancy, COWIfonden, predicted that rebuilding the bridge will cost 10 times more than the approximate $60m (£47m) spent on building it in the first place.

Tune into a special edition of The World with Yalda Hakim on Sky News tonight at 9pm.

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• Baltimore bridge collapse
• United States

Baltimore bridge collapse wasn't first major accident for giant container ship Dali

Propulsion failed on the cargo ship that struck the Francis Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday as it was leaving port, causing it to collapse into the frigid Patapsco River. Its crew warned Maryland officials of a possible collision because they had lost control.

“The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that they had lost control of the vessel” and a collision with the bridge “was possible,” according to an unclassified Department of Homeland Security report. “The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse.”

An official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed to USA TODAY that the DHS’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is working with federal, state, and local officials “to understand the potential impacts of this morning’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”

Clay Diamond, executive director, American Pilots’ Association, told USA TODAY power issues are not unusual on cargo ships, which are so large they cannot easily course correct.

“It’s likely that virtually every pilot in the country has experienced a power loss of some kind (but) it generally is momentary,” Diamond said. “This was a complete blackout of all the power on the ship, so that’s unusual. Of course this happened at the worst possible location.” 

The ship in Tuesday's crash, Dali, was involved in at least one prior accident when it collided with a shipping pier in Belgium.

That 2016 incident occurred as the Dali was leaving port in Antwerp and struck a loading pier made of stone, causing damage to the ship’s stern, according to VesselFinder.com, a site that tracks ships across the world. An investigation determined a mistake made by the ship’s master and pilot was to blame.

No one was injured in that crash, although the ship required repair and a full inspection before being returned to service. The pier – or berth – was also seriously damaged and had to be closed.

VesselFinder reports that the Dali was chartered by Maersk, the same company chartering it during the Baltimore harbor incident.

The 9-year-old container ship had passed previous inspections during its time at sea, but during one such inspection in June at the Port of San Antonio in Chile, officials discovered a deficiency with its "propulsion and auxiliary machinery (gauges, thermometers, etc)," according to the Tokyo MOU, an intergovernmental maritime authority in the Asia-Pacific region.

The report provided no other information about the deficiency except to note that it was not serious enough to remove the ship from service.

Follow here for live updates: Baltimore's Key Bridge collapses after ship strike; construction crew missing: Live Updates

Why did Dali crash into the Baltimore bridge?

Officials said Tuesday they’re investigating the collision, including whether systems on board lost electricity early Tuesday morning, which could be related to mechanical failure, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Accidents at sea, known as marine casualties, are not uncommon, the source told USA TODAY. However, “allisions,” in which a moving object strikes a stationary one with catastrophic results, are far less common. The investigation of the power loss aboard the Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, will be a high priority.

In a video posted to social media, lights on the Dali shut off, then turned back on, then shut off again before the ship struck a support pier on the bridge.

Numerous cargo and cruise ships have lost power over the years.

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea requires all international vessels to have two independent sources of electricity, both of which should be able to maintain the ship's seaworthiness on their own, according to a safety study about power failures on ships , citing the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

The Dali's emergency generator was likely responsible for the lights coming back on after the initial blackout, Diamond said.

“There was still some steerage left when they initially lost power,” he said. “We’ve been told the ship never recovered propulsion. The emergency generator is a diesel itself – so if you light off the generator, that’s also going to put off a puff of exhaust.”

Under maritime law, all foreign flagged vessels must be piloted into state ports by a state licensed pilot so the Dali's pilot is licensed by Association of Maryland Pilots .

Diamond described the incident based on information from the Maryland agency that licensed the pilot aboard the ship. His organization represents that group and all other state piloting agencies in the US.

“The pilot was directing navigation of the ship as it happened,” he said. “He asked the captain to get the engines back online. They weren’t able to do that, so the pilot took all the action he could. He tried to steer, to keep the ship in the channel. He also dropped the ship’s anchor to slow the ship and guide the direction.

“Neither one was enough. The ship never did regain its engine power.”

How big is the Dali ship?

The Dali is a 984-foot container vessel built in 2015 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. With a cruising speed of about 22 knots – roughly 25 mph. It has traveled the world carrying goods from port to port.

The ship, constructed of high-strength steel, has one engine and one propeller, according to MarineTraffic.com.

The Dali arrived in Baltimore on Sunday from the Port of Norfolk in Virginia. Before that, it had been in New York and came through the Panama Canal.

It remains at the scene of the collapse as authorities investigate.

Who owns and operates the Dali?

It is owned by the Singapore-based Grace Ocean Pte Ltd but managed by Synergy Marine Group, also based in Singapore. It was carrying Maersk customers’ cargo, according to a statement from the shipping company.

“We are deeply concerned by this incident and are closely monitoring the situation,” Maersk said in the statement. 

Synergy, which describes itself as a leading ship manager with more than 600 vessels under its guidance, issued a statement on its website acknowledging the incident and reporting no injuries among its crew and no pollution in the water. There were two pilots on board and 22 crew members in all, according to Synergy, all of them from India.

USA TODAY reached out to Synergy on Tuesday, but the company did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Contributing: Josh Susong

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Baltimore bridge collapse: what we know about the bridge, ship and port

Biden laments ‘terrible accident’ as six people still missing after Francis Scott Key Bridge snapped from collision with vessel

A bridge in the US city of Baltimore has snapped and collapsed after a ship collided with one of its support columns. Rescuers are searching the water for survivors and the state’s governor has declared a state of emergency.

Joe Biden has said search and rescue efforts remain a “top priority”, as six people are still missing. The president added there was no evidence the collapse of the bridge was intentional, calling it “a terrible accident”.

Here is what we know about the bridge, the ship and the port.

Baltimore’s 1.6-mile (2.57km) Francis Scott Key Bridge was built out of steel and opened in 1977. With four lanes, the bridge is part of Interstate 695 and served as a major route along the ring road that encircles the city in the US state of Maryland.

It is named after the author of the American national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. The Maryland governor, Wes Moore, said the bridge had been “fully up to code” before Tuesday’s collision and collapse, indicating it met safety standards.

Live video posted on YouTube showed the ship ploughing into the bridge in darkness, with its main section collapsing into the Patapsco River below.

Several vehicles fell into the water, and officials said eight construction workers assisting with a project fell off. Six people remained unaccounted for.

One official said that sonar had detected cars in the water, which is about 50ft (15 metres) deep.

The National Transportation Safety Board is dispatching a team to investigate the disastrous collapse. Andrew Barr, an expert in civil and structural engineering at the University of Sheffield, said: “The video doesn’t show any obvious structural deficiencies with the bridge, but it will not have been designed to survive a head-on collision with such a large vessel.”

Ship-tracking data showed a Singapore-flagged container ship, the Dali, at the location of the bridge where the accident occurred at about 1.30am ET (0530 GMT) on Tuesday.

The Dali, a 290-metre (948ft) cargo vessel, left Baltimore at 1am and was headed for the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, according to the maritime data platform MarineTraffic. The shipping company Maersk said it had chartered the vessel.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) confirmed that the vessel was registered in Singapore and said the agency was coordinating with the US Coast Guard and the ship’s management company to help. It also said it would investigate the incident itself.

Moore said the ship had lost power around the time it hit the bridge and the vessel’s crew had issued a “mayday” radio call. The ship then appeared to catch fire as part of the bridge collapsed over it, sending plumes of thick, black smoke into the air.

The shipping company Maersk said that it chartered the container ship in Baltimore, with the operator named as Synergy Marine Group. Maersk confirmed that there were 22 crew, and said they were all Indian. None of them were Maersk crew or personnel.

Reuters cited the manager of the ship, Synergy Marine Group, as saying the crew, including the two pilots, had been accounted for and there were no reports of injuries onboard.

Maersk added that there were 4,679 containers on board, roughly half of its 10,000 capacity.

The same vessel was also involved in a collision in 2016 in Antwerp, Belgium, according to VesselFinder and the maritime incident archive Shipwrecklog. At the time, the stern scraped the side of the quay, significantly damaging several metres of the hull. There were reportedly no injuries or adverse pollution and the weather was reported to be fine at the time. The incident was reportedly blamed on the ship’s master and pilot onboard.

The harbour is one of the busiest in the country and an important hub for shipping on the US east coast, especially in transporting road vehicles. It also handles farming, construction machinery and coal, according to a Maryland government website.

Port traffic was suspended until further notice after the bridge collapse.

Agencies contributed to this report

• Baltimore bridge collapse
• Water transport
• Shipping industry
• Asia Pacific

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