Ship Words
Feb 17, 2011 | 11:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,508
Ship Words
I got back recently from a cruise. One thing that kind of annoyed me was the constant use of "ship words". Port, starboard, galley, tender (the boats that take you to shore when not in a port), stateroom, distances given in nautical miles, Lido deck.
I get it, you're on a ship, let's be shippy while on it. But to me it sounded like an attempt at faux sophistication.
I get it, you're on a ship, let's be shippy while on it. But to me it sounded like an attempt at faux sophistication.
Feb 17, 2011 | 4:29 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Back to Florida...... bye London
Programs: Hilton, AA,, Delta
Posts: 5,454
It's an actual ship that sails on the water. There is a nautical language that is used. This is not playing a game, it is what the crew use to communicate.
Get over your idea that it is a fake language used to play games with and annoy the passengers. If you feel uneasy using the nautical terms for things, then don't. I do expect the officers and crew to understand their jobs and use the correct terminology. There is no "right" or "left" on a ship. There is port and starboard. I would hate for the captain, or even the steward, not to understand the difference. Especially in an emergency!
Get over your idea that it is a fake language used to play games with and annoy the passengers. If you feel uneasy using the nautical terms for things, then don't. I do expect the officers and crew to understand their jobs and use the correct terminology. There is no "right" or "left" on a ship. There is port and starboard. I would hate for the captain, or even the steward, not to understand the difference. Especially in an emergency!
Feb 17, 2011 | 4:34 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tenerife, Canary Islands/Hannover, Germany
Programs: Celebrity Elite Plus, RCCL Diamond, Princess Platinum, Carlson Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 669
It's an actual ship that sails on the water. There is a nautical language that is used. This is not playing a game, it is what the crew use to communicate.
Get over your idea that it is a fake language used to play games with and annoy the passengers. If you feel uneasy using the nautical terms for things, then don't. I do expect the officers and crew to understand their jobs and use the correct terminology. There is no "right" or "left" on a ship. There is port and starboard. I would hate for the captain, or even the steward, not to understand the difference. Especially in an emergency!
Get over your idea that it is a fake language used to play games with and annoy the passengers. If you feel uneasy using the nautical terms for things, then don't. I do expect the officers and crew to understand their jobs and use the correct terminology. There is no "right" or "left" on a ship. There is port and starboard. I would hate for the captain, or even the steward, not to understand the difference. Especially in an emergency!
And for KoKoBuddy -- the easiest way to remember the meaning of the word Port (nautical, not alcohol) is that it has 4 letters and so does the word "left".
Feb 17, 2011 | 8:45 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: pvr
Programs: US C.P.
Posts: 546
Feb 17, 2011 | 9:46 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Western USA
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 113
And if you can't remember about the port wine - the words "left, red, port" are all shorter than their opposites "right, green, starboard."
Remember that goes not only for watercraft of all sizes but also aircraft.
I find it interesting that on many cruise ships, the hallway carpets on the port side have red in them and green on the starboard. Helps those of us who are directionally challenged when we get off an elevator!
Remember that goes not only for watercraft of all sizes but also aircraft.
I find it interesting that on many cruise ships, the hallway carpets on the port side have red in them and green on the starboard. Helps those of us who are directionally challenged when we get off an elevator!
Feb 18, 2011 | 1:39 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Phoenix
Programs: AA-Gold, Hilton-Gold, Hyatt - Platinum
Posts: 227
And if you can't remember about the port wine - the words "left, red, port" are all shorter than their opposites "right, green, starboard."
Remember that goes not only for watercraft of all sizes but also aircraft.
I find it interesting that on many cruise ships, the hallway carpets on the port side have red in them and green on the starboard. Helps those of us who are directionally challenged when we get off an elevator!
Remember that goes not only for watercraft of all sizes but also aircraft.
I find it interesting that on many cruise ships, the hallway carpets on the port side have red in them and green on the starboard. Helps those of us who are directionally challenged when we get off an elevator!
Feb 18, 2011 | 8:55 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,508
It's an actual ship that sails on the water. There is a nautical language that is used. This is not playing a game, it is what the crew use to communicate.
Get over your idea that it is a fake language used to play games with and annoy the passengers. If you feel uneasy using the nautical terms for things, then don't. I do expect the officers and crew to understand their jobs and use the correct terminology. There is no "right" or "left" on a ship. There is port and starboard. I would hate for the captain, or even the steward, not to understand the difference. Especially in an emergency!
Get over your idea that it is a fake language used to play games with and annoy the passengers. If you feel uneasy using the nautical terms for things, then don't. I do expect the officers and crew to understand their jobs and use the correct terminology. There is no "right" or "left" on a ship. There is port and starboard. I would hate for the captain, or even the steward, not to understand the difference. Especially in an emergency!
Feb 19, 2011 | 5:46 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Back to Florida...... bye London
Programs: Hilton, AA,, Delta
Posts: 5,454
The captain is a naval officer before anything else. You will not find a cruise line that will allow the officers and staff not to use ship terminology.
Feb 19, 2011 | 2:09 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SBA
Programs: Delta, United, HAL Mariners Society-3 star, Travel Century Club Member (102 countries visited)
Posts: 335
My two new ones were "deadlights" for the porthole covers which had to be closed during high seas and when in pirate zones. That means you get an inside cabin for the price of a window one.
And the one I really hate to hear is "corkscrewing" which is when the ship goes side to side and up and down like it did for two weeks crossing the Mozambique Straights to Capetown.
And the one I really hate to hear is "corkscrewing" which is when the ship goes side to side and up and down like it did for two weeks crossing the Mozambique Straights to Capetown.
Feb 19, 2011 | 2:14 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SBA
Programs: Delta, United, HAL Mariners Society-3 star, Travel Century Club Member (102 countries visited)
Posts: 335
And if you can't remember about the port wine - the words "left, red, port" are all shorter than their opposites "right, green, starboard."
Remember that goes not only for watercraft of all sizes but also aircraft.
I find it interesting that on many cruise ships, the hallway carpets on the port side have red in them and green on the starboard. Helps those of us who are directionally challenged when we get off an elevator!
Remember that goes not only for watercraft of all sizes but also aircraft.
I find it interesting that on many cruise ships, the hallway carpets on the port side have red in them and green on the starboard. Helps those of us who are directionally challenged when we get off an elevator!
Besides the elevators, I have trouble with which ever stair case I am on if it is in the front, back or middle of the ship because that too makes for wrong turns. And I wish they had little arrows pointing to the front and the back also woven into their decor as well. Sometimes one does not easily see the direction of the water.
I will look for that carpet color trick. Thanks for the tip.
Feb 20, 2011 | 7:45 am
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 905
Carpet colors???
And if you can't remember about the port wine - the words "left, red, port" are all shorter than their opposites "right, green, starboard."
Remember that goes not only for watercraft of all sizes but also aircraft.
I find it interesting that on many cruise ships, the hallway carpets on the port side have red in them and green on the starboard. Helps those of us who are directionally challenged when we get off an elevator!
Remember that goes not only for watercraft of all sizes but also aircraft.
I find it interesting that on many cruise ships, the hallway carpets on the port side have red in them and green on the starboard. Helps those of us who are directionally challenged when we get off an elevator!
I am one of those people who comes out of a store in a mall and forgets which way to go..
Feb 21, 2011 | 11:45 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Los Angeles California
Posts: 1,693
IS that really true??? I would have never noticed that. Wish someone had a photo! I am on a med cruise in June on Celebrity, guess I'll have to look for that and other port/starboard clues. Must be more.
I am one of those people who comes out of a store in a mall and forgets which way to go..
I am one of those people who comes out of a store in a mall and forgets which way to go..
Feb 22, 2011 | 12:54 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,154
I know Princess uses different colors in the carpet on both sides (As I recall, it's the accent color in the carpet, not the entire coloring for it). I honestly don't remember whether it was red and green or not. I'm generally paying attention to the odd/even numbers to figure out which side I'm on instead.
And of course, something to keep in mind, if they used left and right, they'd really need to specify "left of the ship". Your left might be the right side of the ship depending on which direction you're facing, but the port side is always the same side.
And of course, something to keep in mind, if they used left and right, they'd really need to specify "left of the ship". Your left might be the right side of the ship depending on which direction you're facing, but the port side is always the same side.