A: Here are some commonly used terms to get you ready to sail.

• Aft  - Back portion of the ship.
• Bridge  - The location from where the captain controls the ship
• Cabin  - A room for the passenger onboard the ship, also called a stateroom
• Deck  - Location of a floor level on the ship
• Disembark  - To leave the ship and go ashore
• Embark  - To go onboard a ship
• First Seating  - First batch of Dinner seating in the main dining room. Normally at around 6 pm also called “Main seating”
• Fore/Forward  - the front portion of the ship
• Gratuities  - Mandatory service (tipping) charge on board. 
• Guarantee Cabin  - While reserving a guarantee cabin, you will get the cabin category you have paid for at a lower than normal price, but you will not be assigned the cabin number or the deck at that time. The details of deck and cabin will be disclosed to you a few days before the sail date.
• Midship  - The center part of the ship
• Muster Drill  - An exercise conducted onboard the ship whereby the passengers are advised where they are to assemble and given safety instructions regarding life jackets and lifeboats, in case of an emergency at sea. This is a mandatory drill that is conducted onboard all cruise ships.
• Muster Station  - The location or area to assemble in, in case of emergency
• Porthole  - A round window that is fixed in the cabin
• Port of Call  - The ports visited during your cruise itinerary, not counting the port of embarkation and disembarkation.
• Post-accommodation  - Hotel accommodation after your cruise.
• Pre-accommodation  - Hotel accommodation before your cruise schedule.
• Second Seating  - The later of the two batches for dinner seatings on board a ship
• Shorex  - Shore Excursion, optional land tours
• Tender  - A small ship/boat that transports passengers to the shore if the ship is anchored at sea and not docked alongside. The use for which is common practice when the harbor is not deep enough for the ship