catch a cruise meaning

NIGERIAN SLANGS DICTIONARY

Learn the trendiest words on the street with insight spice nigerian slangs dictionary.

What are those everyday Nigerian slangs that you hear and want to relate to but can’t? While we may speak slangs for the sake of fun and easy communication, slangs are much more important than that. They play a huge role in preserving cultures and the authenticity of a person. Insight spice Nigerian slangs dictionary is an ensemble of daily Nigerian slangs and the trendiest words on the street to give you a sense of belonging in the Nigerian society.

if you don’t want to get lost when you see people rapping Nigerian slangs, this Nigerian slangs dictionary is for you. Help yourself to the following most popular Nigerian slangs;

Table of Contents

Insight Spice Nigerian Slangs Dictionary

Meaning: To be broke

Ex: Na small e remain make  sapa catch me

Meaning: To be heartbroken

Ex: Femi is crying because his girlfriend served him breakfast

Meaning: Problem

Ex: No yawa nah, we are together

Meaning: Unnecessary expenses from third parties

Ex: I don commot my hand for anything wey go attract billings

Meaning: To think hard

Ex: Omooo before I make any move me I dey 1+1/calcu everything oooo, make sapa no go follow me drag bread

Meaning: To be high…

Ex: I don jogor

Ex: My eyes don dirty

Meaning: Something makes sense

Omooo bro this ur lappy loud gan ooo

Meaning: To sleep

Ex: I’m tired, I just want to crash

Meaning: To manage something

Ex: No matter bro I go rough am.

Meaning: To be very nice

Ex: Omooo bro this your lappy spark

Meaning: A term to hail someone for having something in abundance.

Ex: Oporr fun Wariisii

Meaning 1: A fool. Synonym: Mumu, see number15.

Ex: Chinedu na ode

Meaning 2: A pet name lovers or crushes call each other.

Ex: Ode, how are you

Meaning: A term used to portray disbelief. It literally translates “if I hear”

Ex: person 1: I just bought a benz person 2: Iffa hear

Meaning: A fool. Synonym: Ode, See number 13.

Ex: You be mumu

Meaning: Someone who is beautiful or handsome

Ex: Taiwo is the freshest of them all

Meaning: A word used to praise or appreciate someone after a benevolent act. Literally means “you will prosper”

Ex: Thanks bro, wasere

Meaning: To disappoint

Ex: Bro, you fall my hand

Meaning: Big problem. Plural: Wahalaux/ Wahaleaux

Ex: Your friend is giving me wahala

Meaning: Tight friend. Plural: Gees

Ex: You are my gee

Meaning: Please leave me. Often used to avoid stress.

Ex: If you no getat, I will deck ( check number 22 ) you

Meaning: To land someone a deafening slap.

Ex: Don’t let me deck you please

Meaning: Eventually.

Ex: We will be fine las las

Meaning: A big boss. Mostly used by sycophants to hail a rich person or to tease people.

Ex: You be agba now, show me love

Meaning: To be stingy

Ex: That guy kala

Meaning: A honorable or stranger that relates to your cruise ( check number 27 ).

Ex: You are a fellow comrade

Meaning: To have fun, majorly by fooling around or teasing people.

Ex: It is all cruise my guy

Meaning: To tease someone

Ex: I am just whining you to catch cruise

Meaning: No lies/ Facts/ Pure truth. Often used to show accordance with a statement or idea.

Ex: No cap in what the lady said

Meaning: Do not be angry. Used to pacify an angry person

Ex: Abeg, no vex bro, na mistake

Meaning: A rich person

Ex: That girl has become a moneybag since she started dating the Yahoo boy

Meaning: A guy involved in cybercrime.

Ex: Do I look like a yahoo boy to you

Gbemi trabaye

Meaning: To transition to a higher level. Also means ginger me or get me high.

Ex: Olamide gbemi trabaye with his newest hit.

Meaning: To enjoy one’s life.

Ex: Jaiye lo Tobi, you earned it

Yoruba demon

Meaning: A handsome man who is good with his words and knows how to attract women but ends up serving them breakfast.

Ex: Femi is the name of a popular Yoruba demon

Meaning: A mad person

Ex: That guy na weyrey

Meaning: Ghetto neighbourhood

Ex: Bro, I’m from the steets

Meaning: Cybercrime

Ex: I want to go into yahoo bro, I’m tired of my financial situation

Meaning: Please

Ex: Abeg forgive her

Meaning: A rich person. A name to praise a rich person

Ex: Shola is now a Sinzu o

Meaning: A fetish or charm

Ex: Tope used juju/jazz on her boyfriend

Meaning: Emergency funds often demanded during hard times

Ex: I am tired of them reaching out to me only when they need urgent 2k

Meaning: Keeping malice with someone. A form of hatred or jealousy towards someone

Ex: Why are you beefing me bro?

Meaning: Common substitute used to say mother

Ex: I would ask momcy if can make it there

Meaning: Common substitute used to say father

Ex: Popcy gave me his old car

Meaning: Also/ Too/ As well

Ex: Buy one bottle for me sef

Meaning: What

Ex: Wetin you want?

Paste/ send aza

Meaning: Account number

Ex: Can I paste my aza?

Meaning: Someone who is intellectually dull

Ex: He was an olodo back then in school

Meaning: To undersand

Ex: Don’t worry bro, I grab you

    51 :   Idan

Meaning: A common word among yahoo boys to display thier cyber prowess. it could as mean to be rich

Ex: I collect her bank details, emi idan

    52 . Spending

Meaning: Someone that spends lavishly. it is a common word used to praise yahoo boys

Ex: Too much money… Spending

53 . God Abeg

Meaning: To plead to God

Ex: God abeg run am for me

Meaning: It is gone

Ex: That guy don high, otilor

55. O ti Zeh

Meaning: It has clicked or worked out

Ex: The contract don Zeh.. O ti zeh

Note: The Insight Spice Nigerian Slangs Dictionary is ever-growing. Additions will be made and you can contribute by commenting the Nigerian slangs you want to see in the Insight Spice Nigerian Slangs Dictionary.

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About Author

Latest entries

Michael Dawodu

A motivated and enthusiastic writer with a passion for making social impacts. Michael is also a multi-linguist, speaks English, French, Yoruba as some German. He writes French articles for Panodyssey. His interests are health and lifestyle, current affairs, sports, and arts.

9 Tips on How to Travel on a Budget in Nigeria

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Omo! This your list sure!

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How long does it take to disembark a cruise ship?

The procedures for getting off a cruise ship, as well as cruise ship disembarkation times, can be confusing to first-time cruisers. How long does it take to disembark a ship, and can you just walk straight onto the pier? Perhaps you're wondering how quickly you'll be able to go ashore during a port call so you can soak up every second of sunshine. Or, maybe you're just trying to figure out what time to book your flight home when your cruise ends.

Either way, I'm here to walk you through the logistics and tell you all you need to know about cruise ship disembarkation.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

How long does cruise disembarkation take?

The length of disembarkation varies, based on several factors, but typically the process takes a few hours to get everyone ashore. The larger the ship, the longer it takes. The timing also depends on whether we're talking about disembarkation in a port of call or disembarkation at the end of a voyage.

In both cases, an officer from the bridge will make an announcement over the ship's public address system to let passengers know when they can begin leaving.

On a port-visit day, there's often no set order for disembarking, meaning that it can be a free-for-all. In those cases, I tend to wait an hour or so to let things calm down before proceeding to the gangway. Not everyone gets off the ship at the same time (or at all), so once the initial rush has passed, it doesn't take long to swipe your cruise card and head ashore.

On some ships, port-day disembarkation is more structured. On larger vessels, passengers might have to report ahead of time to pick up a color-coded ticket that tells them when they can exit. Cruisers who have booked shore excursions through the ship also get priority.

It's worth noting that disembarkation wait times are often longer when tendering is necessary, as tender boats are limited in the number of passengers they can transport from ship to shore at one time.

The specific length of disembarkation depends largely on how long the vessel is due to be in port. It begins when the ship is cleared by local authorities, usually about an hour or so after it docks. The gangway remains open throughout the day; passengers can disembark on a rolling basis, at their leisure. Cruisers don't have to be back on the ship until "all aboard," which is usually about 30 minutes prior to the ship's scheduled departure time.

Disembarkation at the conclusion of a sailing is almost always more organized, though it can feel chaotic. Passengers carrying their own luggage ashore are allowed to leave as early as they wish, once the ship is cleared to begin the disembarkation process.

Anyone who has their bags offloaded by the ship's porters will be called to leave the vessel according to their designated luggage tag color or number; the tags are usually distributed a couple of days before the end of the voyage. In those cases, passengers can disembark any time after their color or number is called but not before. From start to finish, the process usually takes about two to three hours, depending on the size of the ship.

Related: How to disembark from your cruise ship before everyone else

Is there a set cruise ship disembarkation time?

Every ship has scheduled a time that it's due to be in each port it visits. Anything from weather to mechanical issues can affect the actual arrival time. Assuming a ship remains punctual, the time at which passengers can disembark depends on how long it takes for local authorities to clear the vessel.

Most cruise ships are cleared for passengers to debark between 7 and 9 a.m., depending on their arrival time. If a ship arrives later — whether a late arrival is scheduled ahead of time or due to a delay — a general rule of thumb is that it will be cleared about an hour after it docks or anchors, assuming there are no regulatory snags. This tends to apply on both port days and final disembarkation days.

If it's a port day and you've booked a ship-sponsored shore excursion, your meeting time and place will be marked on your ticket. Sometimes you'll meet as a group in a designated public area on board and disembark together shortly thereafter; other times, you'll be asked to disembark on your own at a given time and meet your group on the pier.

On voyage-conclusion days, also called turnaround days, passengers are usually asked to vacate their cabins between 8 and 8:30 a.m. so stewards can begin cleaning them for the next round of cruisers. Everyone from the cruise that's ending must be off the ship between 9 and 10 a.m. in most cases.

Note: Times listed are approximate and will vary by sailing and disembarkation location.

What else should I know about cruise disembarkation?

Here are a few key pieces of advice to help you avoid mistakes when disembarking a cruise ship.

Keep your keycard with you. You will need to scan it any time you exit the ship (and also when you return).

Book a later flight. If you're flying home after your sailing, book a flight that gives you a buffer so you're not rushed in the event disembarkation is delayed. Although I have known people who disembarked their ships at 7 a.m. for a 9 a.m. international flight, I highly discourage risking it. I recommend nothing earlier than 11 a.m. for most sailings — later if you're flying internationally. Another option is to extend your trip by a day or two in your disembarkation port city before flying back.

Score priority disembarkation. If being the first off your ship is important to you, there are several ways to ensure you won't have to wait around for too long. You can carry your own bags off the ship at the end of your voyage, work your way up to elite status in your cruise line's loyalty program , pay for an add-on package (such as Carnival's Faster to the Fun or Norwegian 's Priority Access) that gives you the privilege, or purchase a ship-sponsored shore excursion with an early departure time. (The last one is particularly helpful in ports where tendering is required.)

Have more cruise questions? TPG has answers:

• More banned items: What not to pack for a cruise
• Man overboard: Why do people fall off cruise ships?
• What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
• What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
• What is a gentleman host on a cruise?
• What is the Jones Act and how does it affect cruise ships?
• What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
• What's a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
• What's the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler?

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Definition of cruise noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• I'd love to go on a round-the-world cruise.
• a luxury cruise ship
• Fire crews were called to the scene.
• He crews for a billionaire on his yacht.
• We're taking a cruise around the Mediterranean.
• I'd love to cruise down the Nile.
• package tour
• self-catering
• have/​take (British English) a holiday/ (North American English) a vacation/​a break/​a day off/ (British English) a gap year
• go on/​be on holiday/​vacation/​leave/​honeymoon/​safari/​a trip/​a tour/​a cruise/​a pilgrimage
• go backpacking/​camping/​hitchhiking/​sightseeing
• plan a trip/​a holiday/​a vacation/​your itinerary
• book accommodation/​a hotel room/​a flight/​tickets
• have/​make/​cancel a reservation/ (especially British English) booking
• rent a villa/ (both British English) a holiday home/​a holiday cottage
• (especially British English) hire/ (especially North American English) rent a car/​bicycle/​moped
• stay in a hotel/​a bed and breakfast/​a youth hostel/​a villa/ (both British English) a holiday home/​a caravan
• cost/​charge $100 a/​per night for a single/​double/​twin/​standard/ (British English) en suite room
• check into/​out of a hotel/​a motel/​your room
• pack/​unpack your suitcase/​bags
• call/​order room service
• cancel/​cut short a trip/​holiday/​vacation
• apply for/​get/​renew a/​your passport
• take out/​buy/​get travel insurance
• catch/​miss your plane/​train/​ferry/​connecting flight
• fly (in)/travel in business/​economy class
• make/​have a brief/​two-day/​twelve-hour stopover/ (North American English also) layover in Hong Kong
• experience/​cause/​lead to delays
• check (in)/collect/​get/​lose (your) (especially British English) luggage/ (especially North American English) baggage
• be charged for/​pay excess baggage
• board/​get on/​leave/​get off the aircraft/​plane/​ship/​ferry
• taxi down/​leave/​approach/​hit/​overshoot the runway
• experience/​hit/​encounter severe turbulence
• suffer from/​recover from/​get over your jet lag/​travel sickness
• attract/​draw/​bring tourists/​visitors
• encourage/​promote/​hurt tourism
• promote/​develop ecotourism
• build/​develop/​visit a tourist/​holiday/ (especially British English) seaside/​beach/​ski resort
• work for/​be operated by a major hotel chain
• be served by/​compete with low-cost/ (especially North American English) low-fare/​budget airlines
• book something through/​make a booking through/​use a travel agent
• contact/​check with your travel agent/​tour operator
• book/​be on/​go on a package deal/​holiday/​tour
• buy/​bring back (tacky/​overpriced) souvenirs
• They met on a cruise.
• a cruise along the coast
• a pleasure cruise around the bay
• Modern cruise liners have every conceivable luxury on board.
• Now they could afford the world cruise they had promised themselves.
• She worked on a cruise ship as a croupier.
• They are going on a Mediterranean cruise.
• This year's cruise will visit the Norwegian fjords.
• We will be taking a cruise down the Nile.
• You can take a leisurely cruise on the lake.
• on a/​the cruise
• cruise along
• cruise around

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Other results

• cruise controls
• cruise missiles

Nearby words

• George Cruickshank

21 Cruise Disembarkation Tips You Need to Know

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What cruise passengers need to know about cruise disembarkation, also known as debarkation day

The process of “checking out” of your cruise ship is very different from checking out of a hotel. If you’re a new cruiser, or even if it’s been a few years since you’ve cruised, it’s good to be aware of the debarkation procedures and what to expect.

In this post, I’ll go through some common questions and things you need to know about cruise disembarkation.

Disembarkation Day: The saddest day of the cruise

Cruise disembarkation (or debarkation) is something we cruisers don’t really want to think about. If you’re anything like me, you’d rather get to the fun stuff like planning excursions and making cruise packing lists , and NOT think about getting off the ship!

What to expect from the cruise disembarkation process

Cruise lines have small differences in their disembarkation procedures, but overall they’re pretty similar. The last morning of your cruise, you’ll have to disembark and leave what had become your very comfortable home away from home.

In this post, I’ll go through all the basics, so that you can know what to expect and plan for on the last day of your cruise.

Regular Disembarkation vs Self-Disembarkation

There are two types of disembarkation, regular disembarkation  and self-disembarkation (unfortunately both require you leaving the ship).

The disembarkation process is almost the same, with the main difference being that with self-disembarkation, you are responsible for taking your own luggage off the ship. I’ll go over the pros and cons of both at the end of this post.

21 things to know when disembarking from your cruise ship

1. what time will you be able to debark the cruise ship at the end of the cruise.

There’s no set time when cruisers can disembark and this will vary by cruise ship itinerary, cruise port and things that are actually beyond anyone’s control the last morning of the cruise.

However, something important to know, is that the scheduled docking time listed on your cruise itinerary will not be the time that you get off the cruise ship. This is because the ship needs to be cleared by customs , and given permission for passengers to debark.

For instance, if your cruise itinerary states that your ship will be back at port at 6:00 am the last morning of your cruise, you won’t be able to disembark until an announcement is made that the ship has been cleared.

This process can be an hour or two, and sometimes longer. The reality is that it’s not something the cruise line can control.

As a general rule most cruise ships will start the disembarkation process around 7:30-8 am, however your cruise line can give you more specific information.

2. Avoid booking an early flight home

Since it’s difficult to predict the exact time you can get off your ship, don’t book an early flight home.

You have to account for time to disembark from your ship, getting your luggage, going through customs and then travel time to the airport.

My best tip is to simply call the cruise line before you book your flight , or ask your travel agent to do so. Cruise lines have recommended flight times for each cruise port. Keep in mind if you’re an International traveler, you may need more time at the airport.

Another reason not to book a very early flight, is that even if you CAN make it, it’s possible for your ship to arrive late in port due to weather or other reasons. For instance, cruise ships in Galveston have been known to be late due to fog.

3. Cruise ship debarkation instructions

While on your cruise, your cabin attendant will give you some printed disembarkation instructions which will include what to do with your luggage as well as some basic custom information.

On the second to last day of your cruise, you’ll also notice that you can find the disembarkation information on one of the TV channels in your cabin. For new cruisers, your ship may offer an assembly to go over information, so you can check for that.

I’ll tell you what usually happens to me. I see this around day 5 on a 7 day cruise, and I don’t like it. The fact is that I don’t want anyone reminding me that this cruise will end, while I’m fully immersed in enjoying my cruise vacation. But, do take a look as there’s information to know. Then, as quickly as possible, get back to enjoying your day!

4. Luggage tags and debarkation times

Along with the printed disembarkation information,  you’ll also receive special luggage tags.

As you can imagine, debarking thousands of passengers almost all at the same time is quite a process. So, cruise lines keep things organized and moving along by assigning color coded luggage tags which correspond to certain disembarkation times.

Red 5 = 8:20 am

Purple 3 = 9:10 am…. and so on.

These assigned times, are really approximate and what the cruise line is hoping for, if all goes as planned.

5. Can I change my luggage tags if I don’t like the assigned time?

You may be wondering, “what can I do if I don’t really want the time the cruise line gave me?” .

Maybe you’re staying an extra day or two in port and you’d rather take things a bit slower in the morning, so you prefer a later time.

Maybe you’re driving straight home from the port and you’ve got 10 hours of road ahead of you, and an earlier time would be better.

For whatever your reason, if you’re given a time doesn’t work well for you, simply bring your luggage tags to guest services and ask if you can get an alternative time. Most of the time they can accommodate you.

If you need extra luggage tags, they can help with that too.

6. What do I do with my luggage*?

*This only applies to those doing regular disembarkation.

On the last night of your cruise, you’ll be asked to place your luggage outside your cabin door by a certain time in the evening (you’ll see the time on the instructions). The ship’s crew will be working hard that night taking the luggage to a holding area, so that it can be move off the ship quickly the next morning.

Just like when you got on the ship on embarkation day , remember it’s better not to pack valuables in your suitcase, but rather to leave them in your cruise carry on bag.

Put your cruise assigned luggage tags on all your suitcases before you put them in the hallway.

Tip: Either keep a luggage tag, or a tab, or even take a photo to remember your color and number.

7. Remember to keep out clothes and toiletries for disembarkation day

I’m sure there are a few people who forget this on every cruise! You don’t want to disembark in a cocktail dress, right?

Remember to keep a carry on bag for the last night and morning of your cruise. Things to think about include night clothes, morning clothes, toiletries, valuables, tech stuff like laptops and phone chargers and personal ID and documentation.

8. Verify your cruise account BEFORE you leave the ship

My husband and I like to keep an eye on our cruise account throughout the cruise, looking at it once every couple of days, just to make sure all is as it should be. It also keeps us a bit more cautious with our spending than we might be otherwise.

You can usually check this on your cruise app (for cruise lines that have one) or you can get a printed copy from a machine or at guest services. We always print one up the last full day of our cruise (not disembarkation morning), and go through it line by line, just to make sure.

Many people have their account linked to their credit card, so no need to settle your account. If you do want to pay off your account in cash, try and do this early in the day as the lines get long as the evening wears on.

If you notice a discrepancy, bring it to the attention of guest services as soon as possible. The fact is that once you leave the cruise ship, you are accepting the statement and it’s extremely difficult to go back and dispute any charges.

9. Fill out cruise staff appreciation cards

As a cruise passenger, simply filling out a comment card highlighting the good work of some favorite crew members, is one of the easiest things you can do. However, it makes a huge difference to those who work so hard so that we all have these incredible cruise vacation experiences.

I’ve been told that these comment cards help to earn crew members privileges and possibly even promotions. I also know the ship’s staff really treasure these positive comment cards, and it truly impacts them.

10. Purchase your favorite cruise photos

The photo studio is like a zoo on the last evening of the cruise, with people deciding now to buy their cruise photos and packages. It really gets hectic, so if you can go earlier in the day, or even earlier during the cruise, it will be better for you.

Whatever you do, don’t make the mistake I read about the other day in a cruise Facebook group. A woman was very upset as she found the packages on the cruise ship to be too expensive. She explained that she thought she would get home and contact the cruise line to complain about this and purchase them at that point.

Of course, she found out that this was not possible, and was very disappointed. Her photos were gone.

You can only purchase your cruise photos on your cruise. To my knowledge, they are not stored.

So, if you want them and they are a great memory – buy the photos. You won’t regret it!

11. Book a future cruise on-board

One way to help with future cruise blues , is to have an upcoming cruise to look forward to. Cruise lines offer several advantages to planning a future cruise onboard. In some cases, you can even buy a Future Cruise Deposit on an open booking, and choose your cruise once you get home.

Tip: Do this as early as possible in your cruise an don’t wait until the last night, as it will be very busy.

12. Disembarkation morning reality

On the morning of the last day of your cruise, you’ll notice that everyone (crew and passengers alike), are a wee bit stressed and that happy go lucky atmosphere you had, is starting to wane. The reality is, that the crew needs to clean and turn over that ship in a few short hours, so that new passengers can board. .

Hopefully, you’ve had a wonderful cruise and will be back to do it all again in the near future!

Recommended Post:  How To Know if You Have Post-Cruise Depression

13. Breakfast on the last day of the cruise

There will be a few options open for breakfast including the buffet, the cafe and in some cases the main dining room. Room service may or may not be available. Once you’re on your cruise ship, you’ll be informed of the options.

Since you’ll be leaving your cabin, this may mean bringing your carry on or other items with you to the buffet. Keep in mind it will likely be quite crowded.

We are often pretty tired the last morning, so the last few cruises we’ve just gone down to the cafe and picked up a coffee and muffin or one last delicious pastry to go. We bring it back to out cabin while we do some final things before we leave the cruise ship.

14. Check your cabin for any “forgotten” items

We actually do 2 checks, just to make sure.

After we pack up, on the last night of our cruise, we gather things together, and this includes all items that were in our cabin safe. I put chargers together and do a quick pack of our toiletry bag. We open all our drawers and check the shelves.

In the morning, do one last check. Make sure you’ve got your sunglasses, reading glasses (this happened to my friend), umbrellas etc. Parents, if you have children, go through their drawers and under their beds to make sure you’re all packed up and nothing is forgotten.

*Keep your cruise card on you – you will need it.

Tip: If you get home and realize that you did forget something, cruise lines have a toll free number that you can call to report lost items. There’s a chance that you may find it, however I haven’t heard of many success stories.

15. Getting off your cruise ship

Once you’re all packed up and ready to go, you’ll be asked to wait in designated public areas until your luggage tag number is called. Keep your cruise card in hand, as you’ll be scanned as you leave the ship.

A couple of the ship’s activities staff or officers may be near the exits to say goodbye and wish you a safe trip home. On a couple of occasions the Captain and/or Cruise Director have been there and it’s been a nice final opportunity for us to say a big thanks!

16. Getting your luggage

Once you get off the gangway, you’ll head into the cruise port and in a great big room (sort of like a hangar), you’ll find rows of luggage, grouped according to color and number.

This procedure is so much better than when we first cruised years ago. It used to be really hectic, but the last few cruises it’s been a fairly easy process.

There will be porters that can help you with your bags, if needed.

Tip: Keep a few small bills handy to tip the porters.

17. Going through customs after your cruise

Whether you’re American, Canadian or from any other country, you’ll be going through customs as a final step of your cruise disembarkation. It’s usually not too long a process – we’ve gone through this in 10-15 minutes.

During your cruise, keep track of your purchases including alcohol, cigarettes, and any large purchases. Be aware of the allowances for each in your home country. We keep our bills together during our trip to make it easier.

Tip: Keep your receipts together during your cruise by placing them in an envelope as you go. Small magnetic clips can also help to keep all your cabin items organized.

18. Heading home after your cruise

You’re all done! Hopefully it’s been a great cruise vacation and you’ve got dreams of future cruises in your head.

Getting to the airport

Most people get to the airport by taking a cab or by purchasing transfers with the cruise line. You can do this before your cruise with the cruise line or with help from your travel agent. You can often also add these on during your cruise at the guest services desk, but do verify.

Getting your car from cruise parking

Usually you’re ship will return to the same pier as when you departed on your cruise, and you’ll be able to get your car, load it up with your luggage and pay as your leave the cruise port.

In the rare case that your ship comes back to a different pier, if it’s not close walking distance, you’ll have a shuttle to bring you over to the original parking lot. This happened to us once a few years ago.

19. What to do if you have a late flight

If you have a late flight, you’ve got options. Consider booking a cruise excursion tour on the last day of your cruise.

You can store your bags in the luggage compartment of the coach bus, and you won’t have to sit around in the airport. Since the excursion included transportation to the airport, this can also be a good value.

The Pros and Cons of Self-Disembarkation

Here’s a quick explanation of the advantages and disadvantages self-embarkation, so you can know if this is the right thing for you and your party, at the end of your cruise.

20. Benefits if Self-Disembarkation

*Earliest to get off the ship

*No need to put luggage out on the last night of your cruise

*Leaving the cruise port as early as possible

21. Disadvantages of Self-Disembarkation

*You will not receive any help with your luggage

*You may need to carry it down several flights of stairs as elevators may be full

*You need to be up very early to vacate your cabin and get off the ship

This is only a good option for your party, if everyone is able bodied and can handle the luggage. If you need assistance, or happen to have a lot of luggage, this isn’t for you.

We’ve done both and there isn’t a right or wrong way to disembark. The choice will be yours, and you can decide what works best once on the cruise ship.

Recap: 21 cruise disembarkation tips you need to know

Cruising is so much fun, that it’s hard to think about the last day of your cruise and debarking from your cruise! I hope these tips have been helpful and in giving you the information you need for when you are getting off of your cruise ship for the last time.

If you’ve cruised before, do you prefer regular or self-disembarkation? What advice do you have for future cruisers? Please let me know in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!

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15 Cruise Embarkation Day Tips (for a great start of your cruise)

21 Essential Things to Pack in Your Cruise Carry-On

30 Cruise Cabin Hacks (to keep your cabin organized)

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12 Comments

I liken the idea of being able to get some help with disembarking the ship. I feel like having someone to help you get through customs, as well as make sure that you get all your luggage there safely would be nice. I’ll have to consider getting someone to help me do that sort of thing if I decide to go on a cruise.

Once on the ship, you can definitely ask someone at guest services to help guide you through this. If you choose standard debarkation, the luggage will be taken off the ship for you, so not to worry.

We were also confused about custom documents on our first cruise, and were assisted with he expectations.

IF YOU ARE HEALTHY AND MOBILE, SELF DISEMBARKATION IS THE BEST WAY. NO ONE IS GONNA HELP YOU SO BE PREPARED TO WAG YOUR OWN BAGS. YOU WILL BE IN THE PARKING LOT, AT YOUR CAR IN NO TIME.WE SKIP B’FAST ON THE SHIP AND GRAB SOMETHING AT MICKEY D”s AS WE LEAVE THE PORT AREA. WORKS GREAT FOR US.

Sounds like our disembarkation mornings too Bob. Thanks for the great tips!

My wife And I started to back to back cruises. Last time we went to guest services. They gave us a new card for the coming week. Had us go to the wine bar. NCL asked us what we wanted to eat and drink. Ordered 6 wings and a Port wine. Few hours later the dozen of us were back in our old new clean rooms. Though you are only delaying getting off. Always been jealous of those who live on cruise ship. Meet a couple from England they were on 136 cruise. Were going to a hotel for three days. Followed by another 10 day cruise. I wish I could do that. Thanks for what you do!!! You are awesome!!!

That sounds amazing! We did one B2B and we definitely enjoyed the feeling of not having to disembark and pack up! I agree, life on a cruise ship almost full time sounds pretty good!

Thanks for taking the time to comment Russell! I hope you can get back on a cruise soon.

Let’s be a little more clear on regular disembarkation:

– You must put your suitcase outside your cabin door the night before by 11:00 or midnight. Your cabin steward will take it away. – You’ll be assigned a time to leave the ship. Let’s pretend you get 10:00 – 10:30 am. – When you leave the ship the next day — you and all the other 10:00 – 10:30 people — you will be ushered into a big room where all your suitcases are lined up — remember that about 95% of suitcases are plain black, so you should tie a bandana or something to yours. – Once you have found your suitcase, you’ll be able to join the line for customs. You will need to be able to haul your suitcase through customs by yourself. – Once you are through customs, if you need help getting your luggage to your car, porters are available. (Have tip money ready.)

In contrast, if you do self-disembarkation: – You do not put your suitcase out the night before. – You leave whenever you want, but you must carry your own suitcases. You might have to carry them up/down stairs, as the elevators will be slam-packed full. – You will bypass the big room full of suitcases and go straight to customs.

Thanks for sharing

My concern: how safe is it to put your luggage outside of your room the night before? Anyone walking by could get into your suitcase? Granted I would not leave valuables in there, but my clothes….🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️⚓️⚓️ Thank you! I will be a First timer in November on WOTS! I have been reading all of your articles and have signed up fo our emails! They are very helpful!

I have never heard of an issue and the luggage is removed by the crew on a fairly regular basis. Truthfully, people are so busy getting their own packing together and it has always seemed safe for me. I would not put your valuables and if this includes your clothing, it’s something for you to decide.

Have a great cruise,

If you self disembark, do you have to leave at a certain time still? Loved your post!

Great quesion. Yes, you usually disembark first before the others with luggage tags are called

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Hurricane Beryl an 'extremely dangerous' Cat 4 storm as it barrels toward Caribbean

Beryl's center was forecast to move across the windward islands early monday..

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on Hurricane Beryl for Sunday, June 30. For the latest news updates on the Hurricane Beryl , view our live storm updates file .

Beryl — the first hurricane of the 2024 season — intensified Sunday into a high-octane, "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm packing life-threatening winds as it barreled toward the Caribbean.

Beryl is about 150 miles southeast of Barbados and 245 miles east-southeast of St. Vincent, with maximum sustained winds at 130 mph, the National Hurricane Center said at 11 p.m. But fluctuations in strength are possible over the next day or so. 

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend out up to 115 miles from the center, according to the center's update. Tropical storm watches were posted for Dominica and the southern coasts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. A tropical storm warning was also issued for Martinique and Trinidad.

As Beryl crosses the Windward Islands on Monday, potentially catastrophic wind damage is expected where the eyewall moves through, with the highest risks of the core in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada, the hurricane center added."Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds" indicated in advisories, "and in some elevated locations could be even greater," the hurricane center said.

Hurricane warnings, meaning hurricane conditions are expected in the area, were in effect Sunday for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands, Grenada, and Tobago.

Beryl could bring 1 to 4 inches of rain to southeastern Puerto Rico on Monday night and into Tuesday. 

Beryl is the first hurricane of what is expected to be an extraordinary 2024 season . Tropical Storm Alberto , the first named storm of the season, left at least four people dead in Mexico after it made landfall on June 20. Beryl underwent rapid intensification: It was declared a tropical depression and then a tropical storm on Friday, and by Sunday was a major hurricane.

By Thursday night, the hurricane center named the third tropical storm of the season. Tropical Storm Chris developed in the Bay of Campeche and located about 105 miles southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico, by 11 p.m.

Fueled by warm water: Hurricane Beryl, super-charged by warm seas, stuns experts

Track Beryl's path: Tropical storm Beryl expected to become first Atlantic hurricane of 2024 season

The third earliest Atlantic major hurricane on record

As Beryl strengthened, it's setting several records, according to Phil Klotzbach, a senior research scientist at Colorado State University. They include:

∎ The first June major hurricane east of the Lesser Antilles on record.

∎ The third earliest Atlantic major hurricane on record, trailing Alma on June 8, 1966, and Audrey on June 27, 1957.

∎ Beryl is now the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record. The current record was held by Hurricane Dennis which became a Category 4 on July 8, 2005.

See Beryl's eye: Hurricane Beryl's eye on NOAA satellite

Will Hurricane Beryl hit the US?

It's too soon to determine the path and strength of Beryl when the storm gets to the western half of the Caribbean later this week − and whether it could impact the U.S. Gulf Coast. The hurricane center expects Beryl to remain a hurricane as it reaches Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Friday.

But forecasters warned U.S. residents to stay vigilant. "At this point, the most likely scenario is for the storm to move westward into Mexico; however, it is very important to note that if the high pressure across the Southeast weakens, that can allow the storm to move farther north and potentially directly impact the Gulf Coast,"  AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva said.

Tropical Storm Chris

On Sunday afternoon, Tropical Depression 3 formed in the southern Gulf of Mexico about 185 miles east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico, with sustained winds of 35 mph. It became the season's third tropical storm by late Sunday and had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

The storm was expected to weaken and dissipate as it moves inland over Mexico on Monday. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Cabo Rojo to Puerto Veracruz.

"Chris will begin to weaken after landfall and will likely dissipate later on Monday," the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 p.m. advisory.

According to the hurricane center, the system is expected to cause heavy rainfall over parts of eastern Mexico into Monday, which could produce flooding. It's forecast to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches with maximum rainfall totals around 12 inches possible across the higher terrain.

Mudslides were also possible in the higher terrain of the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Queretaro, and San Luis Potosi.

"Due to this threat, the government of Mexico has issued tropical storm warnings along parts of the Mexico gulf coast," AccuWeather said. "Heavy rain and gusty winds have already begun moving into Mexico as of Sunday afternoon and will continue through Monday."

What is rapid intensification?

Rapid intensification is a process in which a storm undergoes accelerated growth: The phenomenon is typically defined to be a tropical cyclone (whether a tropical storm or hurricane) intensifying by at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period.

By 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Beryl had become a Category 4 hurricane, with winds of 130 mph. That's a gain of 95 mph in just 42.5 hours.

"Rapid intensification occurs when a tropical storm or hurricane encounters an extremely conducive environment," Klotzbach said . "Typically, this environment consists of very warm water, low vertical wind shear and high levels of midlevel moisture."

Life-threatening storm surge, flooding likely

Swells from Hurricane Beryl should begin reaching the Windward and southern Leeward Islands by late Sunday and are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents. The storm surge as the hurricane arrives on Monday may reach 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels and bring "large, destructive waves" to the coast, the hurricane center said.

Rainfall could cause flooding and is expected to dump 3 to 6 inches in Barbados and the Windward Islands Sunday night into Monday. Up to 10 inches are possible in isolated locations, especially in the Grenadines. 

The hurricane center urged anyone living in the central and western Caribbean to monitor the storm's progression given the uncertainty of the forecast.

What are the Windward Islands?

The Windward Islands are a group of Caribbean islands in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea. They include Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are sometimes included in the group.

They are called "windward" − which means upward from a given point − because they are more windward to arriving ships than the Leeward Islands.

What is the outlook for the 2024 hurricane season?

Federal forecasters have predicted a hurricane season unlike any other, with as many as 25 named storms possible.

It is the most storms the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has ever predicted in a preseason outlook. "All the ingredients are in place for an active season," National Weather Service director Ken Graham said in May.

NOAA director Rick Spinrad said the Atlantic hurricane season is shaping up to be "extraordinary" − an 85% chance for an above-average year. "The forecast … is the highest NOAA has ever issued for the May outlook," he said.

See the path of Hurricane Beryl

Current weather advisories in the u.s..

Contributing: Doyle Rice and Mike Snyder, USA TODAY.

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3 Reasons Royal Caribbean Stock Can Double Again in 2024

July 03, 2024 — 11:35 am EDT

Written by Rick Munarriz for The Motley Fool  ->

One of the three leading cruise line stocks is standing out again in 2024. Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE: RCL) stock is not just beating the market again by trading 21% higher year to date. It's the only one delivering a positive gain, as rivals Carnival Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line are currently trading lower than they were at the start of the year.

Royal Caribbean also led the way last year, soaring 162% in a year that found all three stocks coasting well ahead of Wall Street averages. Can Royal Caribbean double again in 2024? It may seem like a tall order for a stock that is only a fifth of the way to repeating the feat at the halfway point of the year, but the ocean waters could be more inviting than the market thinks at this point. Let's go over three reasons why the cruise line operator's stock can double again this year.

1. The cruise line industry is sailing along nicely

There are plenty of reasons why Royal Caribbean continues to be the class act among the three leading operators of ocean liners. It has historically commanded higher margins and stronger revenue growth than its rivals. This was true before the pandemic, and it continues to be the case after the crisis that temporarily shut sailings down four years ago.

However, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian are all seeing their fundamentals improve with every passing update. Carnival is the latest player to report quarterly results, operating on a different fiscal calendar than its peers. Last week's financial performance did not disappoint . Carnival exceeded expectations on both ends of the income statement, delivering its first profit for a fiscal second quarter in five years.

It's not just Carnival showing off its sea legs. Earlier this year the market saw Royal Caribbean and Norwegian post blowout results with raised guidance, only to announce three weeks later in both cases that that they were boosting the already upwardly revised outlook. All three operators are benefiting from strong demand. They all currently have record bookings for future sailings.

The only thing brighter than the past is the future, yet two of the three stocks are trading lower this year. I argue that all three stocks are currently depressed, even with Royal Caribbean's 21% increase this year. There are big gains being suppressed, and all three stocks could jump higher in the second half of 2024 if the fundamentals keep improving.

Image source: Getty Images.

2. Following the beat

Royal Caribbean stock has more than tripled since the start of last year, but it is still cheap by most conventional measuring sticks. It's trading for just 14 times this year's projected earnings and 12 times next year's analyst forecast. The multiple is higher if we go with enterprise value instead of market cap given the leveraged nature of the industry players, but that's also the fuel that can be a tailwind when things are going well.

Things are going well.

The thing about Royal Caribbean's attractive forward P/E ratio is that Wall Street pros might be aiming too low. This is exactly what has happened in the past. Size up where analyst profit targets were relative to where Royal Caribbean landed just over the past year.

Data source: Yahoo! Finance.

Royal Caribbean has consistently rattled off double-digit percentage beats on the bottom line. It's not a surprise that the stock more than doubled last year. The real surprise here is that it saved its biggest beat for its latest report, but the stock isn't faring as well as it did in 2023 -- so far.

3. Analysts keep trying to catch up

The sentiment is only getting more bullish since Royal Caribbean's last blowout performance in April. It will announce its second-quarter numbers later this month. Estimates continue to inch higher. Profit forecasts for the quarter that ended over the weekend have grown from $2.37 a share to $2.74 a share since its last report. Momentum suggests another beat is possible.

Keeping up with a company that keeps leaving Wall Street pros in the dust isn't fun for the analysts, but it's a treat for investors. The last move came last week when Citi boosted its price target from $165 to what is now a Street-high $204. Carnival's strong report inspired the increase, but recent history tells us that the market is aiming too low again.

Citi's new price goal -- again, currently the highest of all analysts -- is just 58% higher than where Royal Caribbean's stock was at the beginning of the year. Put another way, there isn't an analyst out there who thinks Royal Caribbean will double again in the next six months. The way that cruise line stocks in general have defied expectations, an optimistic contrarian is probably a good thing to be right now.

Should you invest $1,000 in Royal Caribbean Cruises right now?

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Rick Munarriz has positions in Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises. The Motley Fool recommends Carnival Corp. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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No jeans, but trackies OK: The confusing rules of cruise ship dressing

It pays to look up your cruise ship’s dress codes before you set sail, they’re not always easy to understand.

This article may contain links from our affiliate and advertising partners. When you click on them, or share this content, we may earn a commission.  Learn more

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If there is one thing I have learnt the slightly hard way while cruising, it’s to pack a fancy outfit or two, no matter which line I’m sailing with. I’m not talking ball gowns and tuxedos, but a couple of evening dresses, some slacks (that aren’t jeans), and a crisp shirt and blazer should be on top of a cruiser’s packing list.

There are rules to obey, and sometimes they can be confusing. I’ve been turned away at dinner for wearing denim jeans – with a French-tucked silk blouse and RM Williams – even though the person in line in front of me was cheerfully shown to their table wearing tracksuit pants and a hoodie. For some reason, denim can be a no-no. On another cruise, a friend was denied entry into the main dining room for wearing a short-sleeve collared button-down shirt with chinos. No forearms could be shown!

It pays to do a bit of research before your sailing. For example, the guidelines online for Royal Caribbean note that the right look will vary by venue. They advise thinking of “smart casual” as “a step up from your typical dinner wear”. They note to “dress to impress with collared shirts, dresses, skirts and blouses, or pantsuits. Jackets, sports coats and blazers are snazzy and welcomed.”

Snazzy! But there’s more. The cruise line notes that during a sailing, there can be one to three formal nights, which is the next step up. What to wear?

“Make it a night out in your best black-tie look – suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns,” they advise.

Cunard has a handy packing list guide on its website. They encourage going all out. For their formal nights, known as Gala Evenings, these are some of the suggestions:

“Floor-length dresses in sumptuous silks, ball gowns encrusted with jewels, and off-the-shoulder cocktail dresses that kiss every curve.” And while formal suits are required only on board a trans-Atlantic cruise, on Gala Evenings, Cunard notes that “most of our guests relish the opportunity to put on a tuxedo for one night and channel their James Bond alter-ego”.

Notice a “white” event (common on lines from P&O Cruises to Ponant), or a scarlet party (on Virgin Voyages) on the itinerary? Colour-themed nights call for a suitable outfit, and, while it’s not mandatory to dress in your best red or white outfit, you may be judged. Plus dressing up occasionally and going out for dinner and a dance is all part of the fun of cruising.

More Coverage

Recently on a cruise, a fellow traveller sported a new outfit for every meal – velvet suits featured heavily, complemented with a neckerchief and pocket square. He looked amazing.

So, when packing, I will now grab one or two wardrobe items I may have worn to weddings, preferably frocks that don’t crease, as irons are scarce on-board ships due to being a fire hazard.

I have embraced the ethos of Noel Coward to never apologise for overdressing and will don the sequins and kick up my heels.

When she’s not travelling the world on a cruise ship, music-loving Andrea can be found searching for additions to her record collection in New York or LA. She once sat next to ’90s Maxi Priest on a flight, and has her sights set on a trip to Mexico City – and cruising on Viking Orion.

Cruise fans are discovering a style of travel even better than a cruise - packages that combine cruising with an exclusive land tour.

If you haven't been on a cruise in a while, expect to see something different when you next board a ship and search for your stateroom.

Eerily beautiful, remote and fragile, Antarctica is the ultimate destination for adventurous travellers. Here's the lowdown on what to expect when you make the trip.

The rookie cruise mistake I will never make again

I was totally caught out on a recent cruise until a generous friend bailed me out. But I've now learnt this is the only card more important than your cruise card.

Fact-checking Biden and Trump's claims at the first debate

Forget alternative facts and political spin: Thursday's presidential debate was more like a tsunami of falsity.

Former President Donald Trump unleashed a torrent of misinformation on topics from terrorism to taxes during the first debate of the 2024 general election, while President Joe Biden flubbed figures and facts about military deaths and insulin prices.

More than a dozen NBC News reporters, editors and correspondents fact-checked the key claims the presidential candidates made Thursday night. Here they are by topic:

Economy, trade and health care

Fact check: did biden inherit 9% inflation.

“He also said he inherited 9% inflation. Now, he inherited almost no inflation, and it stayed that way for 14 months, and then it blew up under his leadership,” Trump said about Biden.

This is false.

The inflation rate when Biden took office in January 2021 wasn’t 9%. It was 1.4%. It has risen on his watch, peaking at about 9.1% in June 2022, but by last month it had come down to 3.3%. Pandemic-related stimulus policies put in place by both Trump and Biden were blamed, in part, for the rise in the inflation rate.

Fact check: Did Biden lower the cost of insulin to $15 a shot?

“We brought down the price of prescription drugs, which is a major issue for many people, to $15 for an insulin shot — as opposed to $400,” Biden said.

Biden capped the cost of insulin at $35 a month under Medicare, not $15 a shot, and some drug companies have matched that cap. The price cap doesn’t apply to everyone , however. 

What’s more, Biden’s also significantly overstating how much insulin cost before the change. A 2022 report by the Department of Health and Human Services found that patients using insulin spent an average of $434 annually on insulin in 2019 — not $400 a shot.

Fact check: Did Trump lower the cost of insulin?

Trump claimed credit for lowering the cost of insulin for seniors, saying, “I am the one who got the insulin down for the seniors.”

That is mostly false.

In 2020, Trump created a voluntary program under Medicare Part D. The program allowed Medicare Part D plans to offer some insulin products for no more than $35 per month. It was active from 2021 to 2023, with fewer than half of the plans participating each year. 

In 2022, Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which included a provision that lowered the out-of-pocket cost for people on Medicare to $35 a month and covered all insulin products. The cap didn’t apply to those with private insurance. However, after the law was implemented, insulin manufacturers voluntarily lowered the out-of-pocket cost to $35 a month for people with private insurance.

Fact check: Does Biden want to raise ‘everybody’s taxes’ by four times?

“Nobody ever cut taxes like us. He wants to raise your taxes by four times. He wants to raise everybody’s taxes by four times,” Trump claimed. “He wants the Trump tax cuts to expire.”

Biden’s tax plan “holds harmless for 98% of households,” said Kyle Pomerleau, senior fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. And Biden wants to extend the majority of the Trump tax cuts, too, though he has advocated for hiking taxes on very high earners.

Fact check: Biden said the U.S. trade deficit with China is at its lowest since 2010

“We are at the lowest trade deficit with China since 2010,” Biden said.

This is true.

The U.S. had $279 billion more in imports than exports to China last year, the lowest trade deficit with the world’s second-largest economy since 2010. The highest deficit in recent years was $418 billion, in 2018, when Trump began a trade war with China. 

The decline has been driven largely by tariffs that Trump imposed in office and that Biden has maintained and in some cases expanded.

Fact check: Are immigrants taking ‘Black jobs’?

Asked about Black voters who are disappointed with their economic progress, Trump claimed Black Americans are losing their jobs because of illegal border crossings under Biden’s administration.

“The fact is that his big kill on the Black people is the millions of people that he’s allowed to come through the border. They’re taking Black jobs now,” Trump said.

There’s no evidence that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs away from Black Americans. In fact, according  to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the Black unemployment rate fell to 4.8% in April 2023 — an all-time low. Before that, the Black unemployment rate was as high as 10.2% in April 2021.

Immigration

Fact check: did trump end catch and release.

“We ended ‘catch and release,’” Trump said.

Trump did not end “catch and release,” a term used to describe the practice of releasing migrants into the country with court dates while they await court hearings. The U.S. doesn’t have enough facilities to detain every migrant who crosses the border until they can see judges, no matter who is president, so Trump — like Barack Obama before him and Biden after him — released many migrants back into the U.S.

Fact check: Did the Border Patrol union endorse Biden?

“By the way, the Border Patrol endorsed me, endorsed my position,” Biden said.

The National Border Patrol Council, the labor union for U.S. Border Patrol agents and staff members, has endorsed Trump. 

“The National Border Patrol Council has proudly endorsed Donald J. Trump for President of the United States,” the group’s vice president, Hector Garza, said in a statement shared exclusively with NBC News. 

The union posted on X , “to be clear, we never have and never will endorse Biden.”

Biden may have been referring to a Senate immigration bill that he backed, which earned the union’s endorsement .

Fact check: Did Trump have ‘the safest border in the history of our country’?

“We had the safest border in the history of our country,” Trump said.

It’s a clear exaggeration. In 2019, the last year before the Covid-19 pandemic brought down border crossings, there were roughly 860,000 illegal border crossings, far more than in any year during the Obama administration.

Fact check: Trump says Biden is allowing ‘millions’ of criminals to enter U.S.

“I’d love to ask him … why he’s allowed millions of people to come in from prisons, jails and mental institutions to come into our country and destroy our country,” Trump said.

There is no evidence of this.

Venezuela doesn’t share law enforcement information with U.S. authorities, making it very hard to verify criminal histories of immigrants coming to the U.S. But there’s no evidence that Venezuela is purposefully sending “millions” of people from mental institutions and prisons to the U.S.

Fact check: Did Virginia’s former governor support infanticide?

“They will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month and even after birth. After birth. If you look at the former governor of Virginia, he was willing to do so, and we’ll determine what we do with the baby. Meaning we’ll kill the baby. ... So that means he can take the life of the baby in the ninth month and even after birth. Because some states, Democrat-run, take it after birth. Again, the governor, the former Virginia governor, put the baby down so that we decide what to do with it. He’s willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month and kill the baby. Nobody wants that to happen, Democrat or Republican; nobody wants it to happen,” Trump said.

While some Democrats support broad access to abortion regardless of gestation age, infanticide is illegal, and no Democrats advocate for it. Just 1% of abortions are performed after 21 weeks’ gestation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Trump first made the claim in 2019, after Virginia’s governor at the time, Ralph Northam, made controversial remarks in discussing an abortion bill. NBC News debunked the claim then, reporting that Northam’s remarks were about resuscitating infants with severe deformities or nonviable pregnancies. 

Asked on a radio program what happens when a woman who is going into labor desires a third-trimester abortion, Northam noted that such procedures occur only in cases of severe deformities or nonviable pregnancies. He said that in those scenarios, “the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”

Terrorism, foreign policy and the military

Fact check: trump said there was ‘no terror’ during his tenure.

“That’s why you had no terror, at all, during my administration. This place, the whole world, is blowing up under him,” Trump said.

There were two ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks while Trump was president. The first occurred in October 2017, when Sayfullo Saipov killed eight people and injured a dozen more in a vehicle ramming attack on the West Side Highway bike path in New York City. The second occurred in December 2017, when Akayed Ullah injured four people when he set off a bomb strapped to himself.

Fact check: Biden suggests no troops died under his watch

“The truth is I’m the only president this century that doesn’t have any this decade and any troops dying anywhere in the world like he did,” Biden said.

The Defense Department confirmed that 13 U.S. service members were killed in a suicide bombing attack at Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport by a member of ISIS-K as the U.S. was leaving Afghanistan. 

Environment

Fact check: did trump have the ‘best environmental numbers ever’.

“During my four years, I had the best environmental numbers ever, and my top environmental people gave me that statistic just before I walked on the stage, actually,” Trump said.

The figure Trump is referring to is the fact that carbon emissions fell during his administration. He posted the talking points his former Environmental Protection Agency chief emailed him on social media before the debate.

And it’s true that carbon emissions are falling — they have been dropping for years. Emissions particularly plunged in 2020, dropping to levels around those in 1983 and 1984. That drop was in large part thanks to Covid lockdowns, and emissions rose again when air travel and in-person working resumed. 

Still, climate activists and experts are quick to note that those drops are nowhere near enough to head off predicted catastrophic effects of global warming. Other major countries cut their emissions at a much faster rate during the Trump administration.

Fact check: The Jan. 6 crowd was not ‘ushered in’ by the police

“If you would see my statements that I made on Twitter at the time and also my statement that I made in the Rose Garden, you would say it’s one of the strongest statements you’ve ever seen. In addition to the speech I made in front of, I believe, the largest crowd I’ve ever spoken to, and I will tell you, nobody ever talks about that. They talk about a relatively small number of people that went to the Capitol and, in many cases, were ushered in by the police. And as Nancy Pelosi said, it was her responsibility, not mine. She said that loud and clear,” Trump said.

During a lengthy answer to a question about whether he would accept the result of the 2024 election and say all political violence is unacceptable, Trump made several false statements, including the claim that police “ushered” rioters into the U.S. Capitol and that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said it was her responsibility to keep the chamber safe. 

Video and news reports of the Jan. 6 riots clearly captured the U.S. Capitol under attack by pro-Trump crowds who overran the law enforcement presence around and inside the complex. 

On Pelosi, Trump was most likely referring to video shot by Pelosi’s daughter Alexandra for an HBO documentary that showed her during the events of Jan. 6, 2021, tensely wondering how the Capitol was allowed to be stormed.

“We have responsibility, Terri,” Pelosi tells her chief of staff, Terri McCullough, as they leave the Capitol in a vehicle. “We did not have any accountability for what was going on there, and we should have. This is ridiculous.”

“You’re going to ask me in the middle of the thing, when they’ve already breached the inaugural stuff, ‘Should we call the Capitol Police?’ I mean the National Guard. Why weren’t the National Guard there to begin with?” Pelosi says in the video. 

“They clearly didn’t know, and I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more,” she says. 

Many allies of Trump have tried for the more than three years since the riots to paint Pelosi as somehow being responsible for the violence. Some Trump-backing Republicans have, for example, falsely claimed that she blocked the National Guard from going to the Capitol during the riots.

And everything else ...

Fact check: trump skipped world war i cemetery visit because the soldiers who died were ‘losers’.

Biden said that Trump “refused to go to” a World War I cemetery and that “he was standing with his four-star general” who said Trump said, “I don’t want to go in there, because they’re a bunch of losers and suckers.”

In 2018, during a trip to France, Trump canceled a visit to an American cemetery near Paris, blaming weather for the decision. 

But in September 2020, The Atlantic reported that Trump had axed the visit because he felt that those who’d lost their lives and been buried there were “losers.” The magazine cited “four people with firsthand knowledge of those discussions.”

According to The Atlantic, Trump said: “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” In another conversation, The Atlantic reported, Trump said the 1,800 American Marines who died were “suckers.” 

Several media outlets confirmed the remarks, and Trump’s former White House chief of staff John Kelly also said those specific comments were true.

Fact check: Trump says Biden didn’t run for president due to 2017 Charlottesville rally

“He made up the Charlottesville story, and you’ll see it’s debunked all over the place. Every anchor has — every reasonable anchor has debunked it, and just the other day it came out where it was fully debunked. It’s a nonsense story. He knows that, and he didn’t run because of Charlottesville. He used that as an excuse to run,” Trump said about Biden.

The “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 featured torch-bearing white supremacists marching to protest the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue and chanting racist slogans like “You will not replace us.” It turned deadly when a car plowed into a crowd .

In recent months, Trump has downplayed the violence, saying it was “nothing” compared to recent pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.

Meanwhile, Biden has always pointed to Trump’s 2017 comments as the primary reason he decided to seek the presidency in 2020, including in his campaign announcement video back in April 2019 .

Jane C. Timm is a senior reporter for NBC News.

Julia Ainsley is the homeland security correspondent for NBC News and covers the Department of Homeland Security for the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Adam Edelman is a political reporter for NBC News.

Tom Winter is a New York-based correspondent covering crime, courts, terrorism and financial fraud on the East Coast for the NBC News Investigative Unit.

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Home » Cruise Tips » Cruise Lingo: 65 Common Cruise Terms and What They Mean

Cruise Lingo: 65 Common Cruise Terms and What They Mean

We've put together this list of cruise lingo and what these terms mean to help newbies navigate the cruise world.

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If you’re a first-time cruiser, you might feel overwhelmed by the amount of cruise lingo that seems to be spoken by the crew and seasoned travelers. To help you navigate the cruise world, we’ve put together a list of 65 terms and phrases used on cruise ships and what they mean.

Cruise Ship Lingo

The bridge on a cruise ship is the control center, where the captain and the ship’s officers navigate the vessel. It is usually located on an upper deck at the front of the ship and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding ocean.

A cabin is the private living space for passengers on a cruise ship. Cruise cabins have various layouts and square footage based on the category you choose. Standard cabins come with some basic amenities including a bed, a bathroom with a shower, a closet or storage space, a desk or vanity, and a TV.

3. Stateroom

A stateroom is more common cruise lingo used to refer to a cabin on the ship.

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A cruise ship deck is essentially the same as a level or floor in a hotel or other building. Decks are usually identified by a number or name and are accessible by stairs and/or an elevator.

5. Lido Deck

The Lido Deck is the deck of the cruise ship where the pool and other outdoor activities are located. This is where most of the outdoor fun occurs, from sail away parties, to belly flop contests, and more.

6. Promenade Deck

The Promenade Deck is the deck that encircles the ship, often used for walking or jogging. This deck is usually located closer to sea level and can also be referred to as the Waterfront on some cruise lines.

7. Deck Plans

The ship’s deck plans are a diagram of the ship that shows the layout of each deck, as well as the location of cabins and all the public venues on the ship. The deck plans are great reference points to help you navigate your cruise ship like a pro.

8. Porthole

A porthole is common cruise lingo for a circular window on the ship. Some cabins have portholes, and you may also find these windows on the interior public decks.

The galley is the term used when referring to the kitchen on a cruise ship. Some cruise lines offer behind-the-scenes tours where you can visit this area, though it is usually off-limits to passengers.

10. Muster Drill

A muster drill is a mandatory safety drill that takes place at the beginning of each cruise. All passengers must complete this maritime safety requirement. Many cruise lines now offer “e-muster” drills, where you complete a majority of the drill by watching a video on your cruise line app or cabin television.

11. Muster Station

A muster station on a cruise ship is a designated location where passengers must assemble in case of an emergency. During your muster drill, you will need to check-in at your muster station, so you know where to go in the event of an emergency. These stations are usually located on the passenger decks, and your specific station is clearly marked on your keycard and stateroom door.

An azipod is a type of propulsion system used on modern cruise ships that features a pod with a propeller that can rotate 360 degrees for increased maneuverability. They are more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly, as they generate less noise and vibration. They also allow ships to move more quickly and easily in tight spaces and adverse weather conditions.

13. Stabilizers

Stabilizers are devices used to reduce the ship’s movement and increase stability, especially in rough seas. They work by reducing the rolling and pitching motion of the ship, which can help to prevent seasickness and make the cruise more comfortable for passengers. Stabilizers can also improve the safety of the ship by reducing the risk of capsizing.

14. Passenger Manifest

A passenger manifest is a list of all the passengers on the ship. It lists the names, nationalities, and other personal details of all the passengers and crew members onboard the ship. It is essentially a complete record of everyone who is traveling on the ship at any given time. The passenger manifest is also used by immigration and customs officials when the ship arrives at its ports of call.

A ship’s wake is the visible trail of disturbed water that is left behind a moving vessel as it travels through the water. Wake views are some of the most desirable on a cruise ship, often with aft-located bars and lounges to admire the views.

A knot is a unit of speed at which ships travel. It is equal to one nautical mile per hour.

17. Dry Dock

A dry dock is a facility where the ship can be taken out of the water for repairs and maintenance. Cruise ships will routinely go into dry dock for upgrades and enhancements in addition to routine maintenance.

18. Refurbishment

A refurbishment is the process of renovating an existing ship to improve its functionality, aesthetics, and overall performance. A ship undergoing refurbishment is taken out of service for a period of time to enter dry dock for upgrades. Cruise lines can use various terms to designate that a ship has undergone recent renovations, like Royal Caribbean’s “amplification”.

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Directional Cruise Lingo

Aft is a directional term that refers to the back of the ship. This term is referenced frequently, including when picking out stateroom locations on a cruise ship.

20. Forward

The opposite of aft is forward. Forward is the directional cruise lingo for the front of the ship. Again, this term is often referenced when picking out your cruise ship cabin or when giving directions to venues on the ship.

The bow of the ship is located at the very front of the vessel and is the part that cuts through the water as it moves forward.

The opposite of the bow is the stern. The stern is the complete rear of the ship. It is usually flatter and wider in shape than the bow.

23. Midship

As the name implies, midship refers to the middle part of the ship. When reviewing cabin locations, midship cabins are the most desirable especially for those who are prone to seasickness on a cruise. You will usually feel the least motion here.

Port or Portside is the left side of the ship when facing forward. Portside and starboard side are terms that you will hear quite frequently on a cruise. This is especially true when there are wildlife sightings. The Captain or expedition team members will refer to the location with these directions.

25. Starboard

Similarly, Starboard, refers to the right side of the ship when facing forward. This is the opposite side of the ship from Port. Some easy ways to remember these directions is that port and left both have four letters or it’s P.S. (as in a postscript of a letter) when facing forward.

Cruise Staff Terminology

26. cruise director.

The Cruise Director is the person in charge of organizing all the entertainment and activities on the ship. He/She will usually also have an activities staff that will host events during the cruise. The Cruise Director’s main role is to ensure that passengers have a fun and memorable time.

27. Captain

Much like a boat, a cruise ship has a Captain. The Captain is the highest-ranking officer on a cruise ship, responsible for the overall operation and safety of the vessel. Becoming a cruise ship captain typically requires years of experience and training in the maritime industry.

28. Guest Services

Guest Services is the department on the ship responsible for assisting passengers with their needs and inquiries. Most cruise ships have a Guest Services desk located in the atrium area that is easily accessible. Don’t be surprised to find a line of passengers here at any given time during the cruise.

29. Cabin Steward (or Stateroom Attendant)

The Cabin Steward or Stateroom Attendant is the crew member responsible for cleaning and maintaining the passenger cabins. Think of this person like a housekeeper at a hotel. This team member will replenish toiletries, towels, and linens in your room. They will also take care of any requests you may have and complete an evening turndown service on some cruise lines.

A porter is a crucial staff member on embarkation and disembarkation days. A porter will assist guests with their luggage at the cruise terminal. Typically, when you arrive at the ship, you will leave your larger bags with the porter and only take carry-on items onto the ship with you. They will then ensure the bags get delivered to your cabin later in the day.

Cruise Cabin Terminology

31. double occupancy.

Double Occupancy refers to the standard rate of occupancy on a cruise ship. Unlike hotels, cruise ship fares are based on two guests per stateroom. This means that the advertised price for a cabin typically assumes that two guests will be sharing the room.

32. Guaranteed Cabin

A Guaranteed Cabin is a cruise ship cabin typically booked at a lower fare with the understanding that a cabin in the category you chose will be assigned to you by the cruise line closer to the sailing date. This means if you book a guaranteed balcony cabin, you will receive a balcony cabin or better, but you will not be allowed to choose the location or the exact room number.

33. Inside Cabin

Inside Cabins are the most economically priced cruise ship cabins. Unlike a guaranteed cabin or a hotel room, cruisers can choose their exact room at the time of booking. As the name applies, these rooms are located on the interior of the ship and do not offer any view of the exterior. Further, these cruise ship staterooms tend to be the smallest double occupancy rooms on the ship.

34. Oceanview Cabin

An Oceanview Cabin is a cruise cabin with a window or porthole that offers a view of the ocean. However, these windows can not be opened. For the most part, the size and layout of these rooms are similar to inside cabins, just with a view of the outside world.

35. Veranda cabin

A Veranda Cabin is also referred to as a Balcony Cabin. By far, the most popular cruise cabin category on any ship is a balcony cabin. These staterooms feature private access to your own balcony. This outdoor space will usually come equipped with two upright chairs and a small table. 

36. Solo cabins (Studio Cabins)

As mentioned previously, most staterooms are designed for double occupancy. A Solo Cabin, sometimes also referred to as a Studio Cabin, is designed specifically for solo travelers. These rooms are small but can save you a lot of money if you are cruising solo . Otherwise, you will often need to pay a single supplement. This is an additional fee that solo travelers must pay when booking a cabin that is designed for two guests.

37. Ship-Within-a-Ship

The most luxurious cabins on a cruise ship are suites. These rooms are larger and usually come with added perks. Many cruise lines feature special areas of the ship exclusively for these guests, sometimes referred to by the cruise lingo “ship within a ship”. These areas are designed so that guests never have to leave if they don’t want to- including sundecks, restaurants, lounges, bars, and more. NCL’s The Haven and MSC’s Yacht Club are two examples.

38. Pullman Bed

A Pullman Bed is a bed found in cruise ship cabins that offer greater than double occupancy. These beds are typically fold-down beds that are stored in the ceiling or wall when not in use. Your stateroom attendant will assemble this bed for you if there are third or fourth guests sailing in the cabin.

Cruise Lingo Used for Getting on and off the Ship

39. gangway.

A gangway is a ramp or stairway used to allow passengers to board and leave the ship. This moveable bridge connects to the dock and is usually adjustable in height to accommodate different water levels and ship heights.

40. Embarkation

Embarkation is the process of boarding a ship. Thus, Embarkation Day is the day the ship is accepting new cruisers for the next voyage. On your itinerary, embarkation day will be marked as Day 1. Once all cruisers are successfully on the vessel, the ship will set sail for its next destination, or the first port of call.

On embarkation day, it’s important to arrive at the terminal at your designated time and to have all essential items with you including your passport.

41. Disembark

Disembark means to leave the ship. Disembarkation Day is the saddest day of any cruise as it marks the end of vacation and a return to the real world. Disembarkation will begin once the ship has arrived back to its homeport, usually between 6 AM and 9 AM depending on the cruise line.

Guests can choose to complete a self-assist walk off. These guests will be the first off the ship but will need to take all their own luggage with them. Otherwise, guests will be called in a staggered fashion based on the luggage tags given to them the day before.

42. Port of Call

Ports of call are the destinations that the ship visits during the cruise. These ports will be listed on your cruise itinerary. During time in port, guests can disembark the ship to explore on their own or participate in organized shore excursions. The number of ports will vary and the amount of time spent in each port will also vary based on the itinerary.

The berth is the space where the ship is docked or anchored. Ports of call will have designated berths that are designed to accommodate larger cruise ships and allow passengers to disembark in the port.

44. Tender Port

If cruise berths are not available, the port will be designated as a tender port. A tender port is a port where the ship cannot dock and will anchor offshore. Passengers must then be transported to and from the ship via smaller boats.

A tender boat, also known as a tender, is a small vessel used to transport passengers from a cruise ship anchored offshore to a port of call that does not have a dedicated cruise berth or a deep enough harbor to accommodate the larger cruise ship. The ship’s lifeboats are often used as tenders to bring guests ashore. This process does take a little while so it’s important to plan excursions accordingly.

46. Port Charges

When booking a cruise, you might notice an added fee of port charges and taxes on the total fare. Port charges are fees paid to the port by the cruise line for the use of their facilities. The cruise line then passes this surcharge onto passengers. These fees are mandatory and are charged on a per person basis. The cost will vary based on the number of ports and the specific ports on the itinerary.

47. Shore Excursion

A shore excursion is a guided tour or activity that passengers can book while visiting ports of call. These tours can range from walking tours and city highlights, to food tours, to snorkeling, to various adventure activities like ziplining or ATVs. These shore excursions can be booked directly with the cruise line or through local vendors.

48. Ship Time

When going ashore, especially if you are not participating in a cruise-sponsored shore excursion, you will need to know what Ship Time means. This is the time on the ship, which may differ from the local time at the ports of call.

When cruise ships are visiting destinations in multiple time zones, they may not change the time on the ship at every location. Thus, when the cruise line provides a time to be back onboard the ship, it will always be in “ship time” so pay attention.

49. All Aboard Time

The All Aboard Time is the time passengers MUST be back onboard in order for the ship to set sail to its next destination. The All Aboard Time is usually a half hour before the ship’s scheduled departure time. It is extremely important that you adhere, otherwise you might be left behind.

Of note, if you are on a cruise-sponsored excursion that is running late due to traffic, the ship will wait for the tour to return; however, this is not the case if you are exploring on your own.

50. Pier Runners

Now, cue the pier runners. A Pier Runner is the cruise lingo given to passengers who are late arriving back to the ship. In an attempt to not miss the ship and incur expenses for getting to the next port on their own, these passengers run down the pier to catch the ship. Don’t be a pier runner, as you will most definitely be caught on camera and shared across social media!

51. Sea day

Cruise sea days are the days when a cruise ship is at sea, traveling from one port to another without any stops. These days can be an enjoyable part of the cruise experience for many passengers, as they provide a chance to relax and unwind while enjoying the various onboard activities and amenities.

52. Turnaround day

Turnaround Day is the day the ship arrives back at its homeport and prepares for the next group of passengers to embark. This is a stressful day for the staff, especially the stateroom attendants, as they need to clean and change everything over for the next set of passengers in a very short amount of time. So, be courteous and leave your room by the time requested on the morning of disembarkation.

53. B2B Cruiser

If you are a B2B (back-to-back) cruiser, you will still need to participate in an abbreviated version of turnaround day. B2B Cruisers are those sailing on two or more consecutive voyages on the ship. Passengers staying on the ship will still need to clear customs in the terminal, receive a new cruise card, and then re-board the ship. Unlike disembarking passengers, they do not need to take all their luggage with them; staff will take care of moving their belongings to their new stateroom if applicable.

54. Repositioning Cruise

In simple terms, a Repositioning Cruise is a voyage that begins and ends in a different location with the purpose of moving the ship to this new location. Repositioning cruises typically occur when cruise seasons change. For instance, some ships in the Caribbean move to Europe for the summer season. Other ships reposition to Alaska for the summer season.

A transatlantic cruise travels between Europe and North or South America. Obviously, the cruise ship will sail across the Atlantic Ocean. These cruises can be a repositioning cruise; though, some lines sail this route regularly like Cunard.

55. Shoulder Season

When it comes to cruise lingo, the term Shoulder Season is often used when referring to seasonal cruise ports like Alaska . The shoulder season is the beginning or end of the season. In terms of cruising these seasonal destinations, the shoulder seasons usually provide the cheapest prices and fewest crowds. While the weather might be a bit unpredictable, this is an ideal time to travel for many cruisers.

Onboard Cruise Lingo

56. cruise card.

A cruise card, also known as a key card, is a small plastic card issued to each passenger on a cruise ship. The card serves as a key to your stateroom, as well as identification when getting on and off the ship at ports of call. This card is also how you will pay for all purchases while onboard the ship. Some cruise lines have wearable devices that replace this key card, like Princess Cruises’ Medallion or Virgin Voyages’ The Band.

57. Formal Night

While some cruise lines are doing away with this cruise tradition, many cruise lines still have at least one formal night. Formal Night, also referred to as “elegant night”, “evening chic”, etc., is a special dress-up evening on the ship. It’s when you can don your finest attire, attend a Captain’s Toast, take some photos, and maybe enjoy some lobster in the main dining room.

58. Freestyle Cruising/Dining

While most cruise line’s still have traditional main dining rooms with an early and late seating, many are starting to offer more flexible options in addition. Norwegian Cruise Line was the pioneer of Freestyle Cruising. This type of cruising doesn’t have fixed dining times or table arrangements, meaning that cruisers can choose when, where, and with whom they want to dine each evening. Other cruise lines now have similar options like “My Time Dining”, “Dine Anytime”, etc.

59. Cruise Gratuities

If you are new to cruising, you should know that not everything is included in your cruise vacation. In addition to your cruise fare, there are other services charges for which you will need to  budget , including cruise gratuities.

Cruise Gratuities are a per person, per day dollar amount that are charged to all guests across all stateroom categories. These charges serve as a means to reward the hard-working crew for the excellent service provided during your cruise vacation.

60. Onboard Credit (OBC)

Cruise Onboard Credit , referred to as OBC in cruise lingo, is essentially “free money” to use on your cruise vacation. This credit can be obtained a variety of ways and can be spent onboard the ship on most cruise experiences. Some cruise lines even allow you to apply this onboard credit when purchasing items pre-cruise in your online cruise planner.

MDR is the abbreviation cruisers use when referring to the Main Dining Room on a cruise ship. On all cruise ships, the MDR is complimentary to all passengers. The main dining room(s) is always open for dinner, serving a multi-course rotational menu. It can be open for select hours for breakfast and lunch as well.

If you opt for traditional dining, you will be assigned to an early or late dinner time at the same table with the same waitstaff every night of the cruise.

62. Specialty Dining

While there are many dining venues covered in the standard cruise fare, cruise lines also offer up-charge dining options and experiences referred to as specialty dining. These restaurants can range from steakhouses, to Italian trattorias, to sushi and hibachi, to seafood-centric restaurants, and other experiential venues. While they do cost money, these specialty dining experiences offer upscale service and menu options making for a special night out.

63. Lanyard

A lanyard is a neck strap that many passengers wear on a cruise ship to hold their cruise cards. Since having easy access to this card is essential, many cruisers enjoy the convenience of  a lanyard . Having one that you can detach at the bottom is a bonus to pass off to staff when ordering drinks, etc. Another popular option to store your cruise card is an adhesive pocket on your cell phone.

64. Towel Animal

Towel Animals are often made by stateroom attendants by folding towels into various shapes such as elephants, monkeys, or swans. These creations are left in your cabin during it’s daily cleaning or turndown service. While some might think this tradition is a bit tacky, we enjoy receiving these special surprises in our stateroom.

65. All-Inclusive Cruise

While cruises are a great value, not everything is included in the price of the cruise fare unless you are sailing with a luxury cruise line. Add-ons typically include things like specialty coffee, alcoholic beverages, specialty dining, shore excursions, WiFi, etc.

However, more and more cruise lines are beginning to offer All-Inclusive Cruise packages. These typically include a drink package, gratuities, and WiFi. Some packages might even include additional perks.

Now that you know the terminology, it’s time to start planning your perfect cruise vacation . When it comes to cruise lingo though, just don’t forget: It’s a ship NOT a boat !

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Do you have any other important cruise lingo to add to this list? What terms and slang should first time cruisers know before setting sail? Drop us an anchor below to share your insider info.

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Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of catch in English

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catch verb ( TAKE HOLD )

• catch Catch the ball!
• pounce The veteran striker pounced and lashed home a goal.
• snag US He snagged the line drive for the last out in the inning.
• glove It's a pop fly to left field, and the outfielder gloves it easily.
• intercept She intercepted the pass and scored a goal.
• Jenny stood with her feet slightly apart , ready to catch the ball .
• He caught the rope and knotted it around a post .
• She caught the ball in mid-air .
• He caught me at the precise moment that I fainted .
• She bought a net to catch butterflies .
• apprehension
• at bay idiom
• get/lay/put your hands on someone idiom
• grasp at something
• sequestration

catch verb ( STOP ESCAPING )

• catch They were caught trying to smuggle cigarettes across the border.
• arrest He was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to property.
• place/put under arrest The suspect was placed under arrest and charged with armed assault.
• capture The soldiers were captured by enemy forces.
• apprehend The police have apprehended two individuals in connection with the crime.
• nab The cops nabbed him as he tried to get away.
• catch The dog got out, but we caught her.
• net We netted a ton of fish downstream.
• trawl Commercial fisheries trawl these waters for cod.
• troll They troll for tuna far offshore.
• lasso The cowboys learned at a young age how to lasso horses and steers.
• trap The turtles are trapped for their flesh.
• Police set up roadblocks on all roads out of the town in an effort to catch the bombers .
• Soldiers who deserted and were caught were shot .
• The robber was caught when someone tipped off the police .
• Thousands of illegal immigrants are caught and deported every year .
• I caught the dog by the collar and dragged it out of the room .

catch verb ( DISCOVER )

• She was fired after she was caught stealing from her employer .
• She was caught driving at 120 mph .
• I caught him looking through my private papers .
• He caught me staring out of the window .
• It's embarrassing to be caught telling a lie .
• accommodate
• accommodation
• all eyes are on someone/something idiom
• have a butcher's idiom
• penetrating
• rest on someone/something
• rubbernecking

catch verb ( GET TRANSPORT )

• We caught the ferry across to Ireland.
• We caught the overnight flight from LA and got to New York at five this morning .
• She caught the train to Edinburgh.
• Do you get out of breath running to catch a bus ?
• We arrived at the airport just in time to catch the plane .
• around Robin Hood's barn idiom
• communication
• super-commuting
• transoceanic
• well travelled

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

catch verb ( BECOME INFECTED )

• Don't come too near me - you might catch my cold .
• Don't go out with wet hair , you might catch a chill .
• I'm feeling a bit feverish - I hope I haven't caught the flu .
• I don't know exactly what's wrong with her - she's caught some sort of virus .
• A lot of children in the school caught measles last term .
• communicability
• community transmission
• contact tracer
• infestation
• interepidemic
• interpandemic
• mediastinum
• non-communicable
• skin to skin idiom
• super-spreader
• transferable
• transmissibility

catch verb ( SEE/HEAR )

• be all ears idiom
• eavesdropper
• lend an ear idiom
• non-auditory

catch verb ( STICK )

• break into pieces
• disintegration
• fall to pieces idiom
• fragmentation
• tear something apart

catch verb ( HIT )

• anti-collision
• bang around
• bowl someone over
• bump into someone
• knock someone down
• knock someone over
• smash something up

catch verb ( INVOLVE )

Catch verb ( breathe ), catch verb ( be touched by ), catch verb ( burn ).

• burn (something) down
• combustible
• inflammable
• on fire idiom
• self-immolation

Phrasal verbs

Catch noun ( catching sth ), catch noun ( problem ).

• a (heavy) cross to bear idiom
• ball and chain
• be dead meat idiom
• be in the clear idiom
• stumbling block
• teething troubles
• the sharp end

catch noun ( NOTICING STH )

Catch noun ( fastening device ).

• combination
• combination lock
• mortise lock

catch noun ( SUITABLE PARTNER )

Catch noun ( stiffness ).

• achondroplasia
• anti-plaque
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• gap-toothed
• herniated disc
• simple fracture
• trigger finger
• water on the knee

catch | American Dictionary

Catch verb ( see ), catch verb ( travel ), catch noun ( device ), catch noun ( taking hold ), catch | business english, examples of catch, collocations with catch.

These are words often used in combination with catch .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of catch

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Word of the Day

a game played on ice between two teams of players who each have a curved stick with which they try to put a puck (= a small, hard disc) into the other team's goal

Fakes and forgeries (Things that are not what they seem to be)

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• catch (TAKE HOLD)
• catch (STOP ESCAPING)
• catch (DISCOVER)
• catch someone's attention, imagination, interest, etc.
• be caught without something
• you won't catch someone doing something
• catch (GET TRANSPORT)
• catch (BECOME INFECTED)
• catch (SEE/HEAR)
• catch sight of/catch a glimpse of
• catch (STICK)
• catch (HIT)
• catch (INVOLVE)
• get caught up in something
• catch (BREATHE)
• catch your breath
• catch (BE TOUCHED BY)
• catch the sun
• catch the light
• catch (BURN)
• catch (CATCHING STH)
• catch (PROBLEM)
• catch (NOTICING STH)
• catch (FASTENING DEVICE)
• catch (SUITABLE PARTNER)
• catch (STIFFNESS)
• catch (SEE)
• catch (TRAVEL)
• catch (DEVICE)
• catch (TAKING HOLD)
• catch sb off guard/by surprise
• catch sb's eye/catch the eye of sb
• be/get caught up in sth
• Collocations
• Translations
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verb (used without object)

• 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.

cruising along the highway enjoying the scenery.

Taxis and police cars cruise in the downtown area.

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.

verb (used with object)

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.
• Tom Thomas Cruise Mapother, 4th, born 1962, U.S. film actor.
• 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
• informal. intr to search the streets or other public places for a sexual partner
• an act or instance of cruising, esp a trip by sea
• CruiseTom1970MUSFILMS AND TV: actor 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)

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Other words from.

• cruising·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cruise 1

Example Sentences

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.

Related Words

What to Do If You Catch a Cold, Flu, or Virus On a Cruise Ship

Cruise ships are an environment unlike any other when it comes to the spread of disease. You have sometimes as many as 9,000 people from all over the world crammed into a boat together for a week or more. That means that each elevator button, handrail, tongs in the buffet, countertops are touched thousands of times each day. Unfortunately, not everyone is 100% healthy. While you can protect yourself from others, sometimes it is YOU who is the sick one. Here's what to do if you catch a cold while on a cruise ship.

While many people still have concerns about catching COVID-19 on a cruise, that isn't the only concern to be aware of. Even just a common cold is something that can ruin your vacation and so you should both be prepared to reduce your chances of getting sick - as well as reduce the chances of spreading it to other.

The first thing to consider here is that unlike other forms of vacation destinations and transportation, cruise ships take illnesses VERY seriously. While today most of the conversation is around viral infections such as coronavirus and norovirus, even just the simple seasonal cold or flu can be dangerous on a cruise ship. To help reduce an illness's ability to spread, It is essential that you answer crew members honestly if they ask about your health status, places you've visited, or symptoms you may be experiencing. If you aren't feeling well, help protect fellow passengers from your germs as well.

In the past, cancelation penalties were so high that many people ignored this, thinking "I'll be ok." With coronavirus becoming such a major issue though, most cruise and airline companies became more relaxed about refunding people who are sick. Unfortunately, these changes did not become permanent. This has lead to many people feel like they have to get on a cruise ship, even if they are sick, because they can't afford to lose money. This is not the right thing to do.

Don't be selfish and ruin someone else's cruise vacation, if you are already feeling sick - please don't get on the ship. Unfortunately, things aren't always that easy and sometimes a cold manifests itself after you are already on board. This article is written from the perspective of a general cold / flu, though the advice is applicable regardless of whether it is the seasonal flu, coronavirus, or norovirus . Symptoms may vary significantly from one virus or infection to another, so make sure to be specific when looking at your cold and flu symptoms.

How to Tell If it is a Cold, Flu or Something Else

I’ve cruised enough to have met friends that unfortunately have fallen ill and cruise lines don’t play games with sick passengers. A cold though is different than other illnesses such as flu, but sometimes symptoms can be similar. The most important thing here is that if you have digestive ailments or fever in addition to cold symptoms make sure to seek immediate medical attention since that could be something more severe. To be the best patient, make sure to document your specific symptoms.

While we have the utmost respect for onboard medical teams, they are not the same as your doctor back home.

Symptoms That May Vary Between the "Common Cold", Flu, or Virus

• Muscle Pain
• Congestion (head / chest)
• Shortness of Breath

With regard to the COVID-19 Coronavirus / Wuhan Virus, it is relatively easy to identify the common symptoms. Coronavirus typical symptoms include Fever, Cough, and Shortness of Breath - but generally not muscle and joint pain. If you are sick, it can be challenging to determine your exact symptoms, so do your best but do not try to self-diagnose! If you have any reason to believe that you may be ill with something more than just "allergies", seek medical attention immediately.

If You Suspect It Is COVID-19 Do A Self Test

We always carry multiple "at home" covid tests with us on each cruise we do. I recently started using these PCR quality covid tests from Lucira Health to make the process of detecting covid faster and easier. You can read more about our review of their Check It covid test . However, even just basic rapid antigen tests that you can get from your local drugstore are a great first step.

Covid however is only one of many different things you can catch on a cruise, so even a negative result doesn't mean you are completely healthy.

Afraid Of Identifying Yourself? Call Your Doctor First!

The best solution is to always comply with onboard medical team policies and requests. However, in an age where telemedicine is common and your personal physician is just a phone call away. This can be an excellent first step. The medical team on your ship may react strongly to protect the ship whereas your own doctor may be able to provide a more balanced response and nuanced diagnosis. The difference may be as simple as being 100% quarantined in your room by order of the ship's medical team because you have cold or flu symptoms, compared to your doctor being able to identify your symptoms as being caused more likely by allergies. 

While telemedicine is limited with regards to diagnostics, in the future, we're going to be able to leverage technologies like those found on Samsung phones today to provide better insight into temperature, pulse, blood pressure etc. So this option for helping to detect and diagnose your cold, flu, or virus on a cruise ship is only going to get better in the future.

Consider Confining Yourself to Your Cabin

The last thing you need to do is be wandering around the ship coughing, sneezing, and especially not touching serving spoons in the buffet. Have someone deliver food to your room or order room service (but please make sure to wash your hands and the door handles too so you protect the delivery person's health). This might not be as fun as wandering around the ship and hanging out at bars but it will give you the chance to catch up on rest and get some fresh air and sunshine out on the balcony if you have one.

Watch People Around You and Avoid Areas Where You Might Spread Germs

You are going to be surrounded by thousands of mostly healthy people, and even though most cruise lines have a health questionnaire before you board – people lie. Others will begin to manifest symptoms on the ship itself. On almost every cruise I see people sneezing, coughing, wiping their eyes and nose or other potential signs of having a cold. Don't be that guy! It's just disrespectful to your fellow passengers.

The most viruses are spread by droplets expelled through coughing and sneezing. This is true for colds as well as flu and coronavirus as well. These virus droplets can also be spread simply by someone who might have rubbed their drippy nose and then pressed an elevator button, grabbed a handrail, or browsed a menu at a restaurant or bar. The next person who touches that spot and then rubs their eyes, nose, mouth etc. now has a chance of being infected too.

While not perfect, you should consider carrying hand sanitizer with you to use before and after touching those surfaces to avoid any chance that you might spread your germs this way too.

Avoid Situations Where You’ll Touch Other People and Stuff They Touched

I’m generally a pretty friendly guy but I try not to shake hands when I meet people. Instead, I opt for a friendly fist bump where possible. The same holds true for a cruise ship except that here there are a lot more opportunities to come in close contact with others. This includes the gym, sauna, buffet lines, elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, pens, even the stacks of plates and cups at non-buffet eateries. If you have a cold (or think you do), simply avoid all of these areas and consider having someone else deliver your food from the buffet.

Your best bet is to simply avoid those situations and then do what you can to protect yourself and make your body more resistant to catching a cold.

Wash Your Hands

This is so important to health on a cruise ship that most cruise lines even have this instruction as part of the safety drill before setting sail. This is important to protect others from your germs as well as those you may have picked up from touching an infected surface. However, it’s also critical to making sure you don't get more sick by avoiding infecting yourself with other germs picked up somewhere. Simply touching an infected object probably won’t make you ill … but if your fingers then rub your eyes, pick your nose, or are used for eating something then you can become infected.

One thing I absolutely love about newer cruise ships is that in addition to hand sanitizer - they are offering handwashing stations before you enter restaurants. This is ultimately the best solution to keeping yourself healthy ... as well as preventing the spread of germs to others.

Use Hand Sanitizer

Cruise ships do a pretty good job with placing hand sanitizer stations at the entrance to most common areas including restaurants, but it is up to you to use it! I also carry a small bottle of hand wash with me and use it between trips to be buffet line as well as pretty much any time that I come in contact with anyone including simply shaking hands.

Get Some Exercise

While you should NOT go to the gym, pool, spa etc. if you are sick, most ships have a walking track on the top deck and many have an outside deck lower on the ship where you can walk at your own pace and avoid contact with people. The sunshine and fresh air will help alleviate symptoms, as well as help, keep your immune system working to fight off the cold germs.

Eat Healthy And Avoid Alcohol

Make sure to eat your veggies and watch out for anything that might cause other issues such as high-fat foods and cream-based items that might lead to more congestion. The goal here is the get your immune system stronger so it can fight the cold germs and make you healthier faster. Our friends at Cruise West Coast have more tips on how to stay healthy on a cruise . In addition to eating healthy, make sure to also avoid alcohol consumption since this will only reduce your body's ability to fight off the infection.

If You Are Already Feeling Sick Don't Board The Ship!

Unfortunately, many viral infections have a period of time where you might not show any symptoms. However, if you already have symptoms, don't board the ship!

While cruise ships are a great petri dish for the spread of disease, most cruise lines do a very good job of keeping things as clean as possible. While there are periodic outbreaks like we're seeing with coronavirus, other issues such as flu, norovirus and the common cold are a constant risk.

Despite the confidence I have in cruise ship staff to help keep us healthy, I don't want to just assume that they wiped things down regularly or that the hand sanitizer will be working. Plus, they are only able to clean stuff up. It’s up to you to make sure you are protected and if sick, that you don't spread it to others.

This might all seem scary but it's not. Cruises are one of the most fun vacation options out there and thousands of people avoid getting sick every day. Please remember this and keep the health of your fellow passengers in mind and do the right thing if you get sick on a cruise ship!

Thanks for reading. We hope this was helpful!

Why stop now?

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author bio info

James is an avid fan of all types of cruising but especially enjoys exploring the Pacific coastal regions since it perfectly captures the elements that he is passionate about, including natural beauty, conservation, opportunities to explore new cultures, and meeting some fantastic new people too. 

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5 Hilarious Cruise Pier Runners

On This Page

The sprinters, the stampeders, the disbelievers, the beach bums, the amblers.

If you're a seasoned cruiser, chances are you've seen or at least heard of pier runners. For the uninitiated, allow us to explain. When you disembark your cruise ship to visit a port, you'll have to be back onboard by a designated time so the vessel can sail on to its next stop. In some ports -- particularly those known for their party vibe and large number of watering holes -- a few stragglers wander back to the ship late.

When they realize their mistake, one of two things happens: They make a mad dash for the gangway, hoping they won't literally miss the boat, or they continue to casually stroll along the pier as though they aren't holding up the thousands of other people who've been waiting for them.

The former reaction elicits cheers, the latter elicits ire, but both elicit cat calls from those watching on the upper decks. Some cruisers enjoy watching pier runners so much that they actually book their cabins based on the side of the ship they're most likely to witness the phenomenon. (Don't believe us? Check out the Cruise Critic message boards .)

Below, we've compiled some of our favorite pier runner videos -- videos guaranteed to show you why you should always make sure you're back to your ship on time.

In this video, after holding up thousands of other passengers on an undisclosed cruise ship, several latecomers sprint down the notoriously long pier in Cozumel. They make it across the gangway just in time, amid whoops and hollers from fellow cruisers already back onboard.

This video, also based in Cozumel, shows a whole group of passengers breaking into a run toward Carnival Magic . We're still not sure if they made it back onboard....

These pier runners in Bermuda can't believe that Norwegian Breakaway has just pulled away from the dock, leaving them behind. Should they run, in the hope that the cruise ship will turn back for them, or give up and walk? They can't seem to decide.

In this video, shot on Carnival Sensation in Ocho Rios, three women returned to the ship 45 minutes late -- just in time to see it sailing away without them. We hope that extra beach time was worth it.

Think this sort of thing only happens in the Caribbean? Nope. Have a look at this video, shot from Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas while docked in Rhodes, Greece. These late passengers are worse than pier runners; they're pier walkers . Shame!

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

What is catch cruise?

To enter into a relationship with someone with the sole intent of sexual gratification and then proceed to end the relationship afterwards.

A: You actually like her, man? B: Not really , I just wanna catch a cruise

catch cruise - video

Catch cruise - what is it.

a slang used mostly in nigeria , that means having fun , sometimes at the expense of other people

i catch cruise when i want, marriage doesn't stop me-some evicted dude

What does "catch cruise" mean?

It is a slang that means follow trend or to do or say something for the fun of it.

Friend 1 : I hear say you buy car yesterday. Friend 2: Nah, I just dey catch cruise.

June 1, 2020

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Catch a ship/boat/ferry

• Thread starter Hotmale
• Start date May 29, 2007

Senior Member

• May 29, 2007

Yes, you can "catch" a boat etc. or you can "take" it.  

• Jan 14, 2019

It is interesting that "catch a boat" can mean "catch a ship" or "catch a ferry." I hope it is correct, e.g. "I caught a boat (ferry/ship) from Vancouver to Victoria on Vancouver Island."  

Hermione Golightly

There is a difference between the words: catch a ferry seems fine because they are a form of public transport in many places or used for frequent trips. 'Catch a ship' or a 'boat' sounds strange to me because usually these are pre-planned trips. It's the sort of usage that might be localised. 'Take a/the boat' is another verb that might be used for all sorts of travel by sea. Yet again and as usual, it depends on the exact context.  

Hermione Golightly said: 'Catch a ship' or a 'boat' sounds strange to me because usually these are pre-planned trips. Click to expand...

"Boats" come in different sizes, and the smaller ones may well be "caught" on the spur of the moment and the ticket purchased on board. I'd say that not all small boats are "ferries", and some ferries are ships. If you can buy a ticket at the dockside, I'd say you can "catch" the vessel, whatever kind it is.  

• Jan 26, 2022

If the vehicle is BIG, you catch it. Like: Catch a flight, Catch a ferry, catch a bus, catch a train but if it is small, you take it. Like: take a taxi, take a cab, take a motorcycle.  

royaah said: If the vehicle is BIG, you catch it Click to expand...