If you're new to cruising, or even a seasoned traveller, the cruise world has its own language. From acronyms to unique phrases, understanding these terms can make your journey smoother and a whole lot more enjoyable. At Two Seats Forward, we've picked up plenty of cruise lingo the hard way — usually by nodding along at the check-in desk and Googling the term the second we got to our cabin. So we've gathered some of the most common cruise words and abbreviations you'll hear onboard, starting with the famous OBC.
What Does OBC Mean?
OBC stands for Onboard Credit. Think of it as a gift card or spending allowance given to you by the cruise line. You can use OBC to pay for things like spa treatments, specialty dining, shore excursions, drinks, or even gratuities. Sometimes cruise lines offer OBC as a promotion to encourage bookings, or to apologise for issues during your cruise — a delayed departure, a cancelled port stop, that sort of thing. It's a great way to enjoy extras without reaching into your own wallet.
Our tip: always check whether your OBC is "refundable" or "non-refundable." Refundable credit gets paid back to you in cash (or to your card) if you don't spend it all, while non-refundable OBC simply disappears at the end of the cruise if unused. We always try to spend down any non-refundable credit on the last sea day — usually on a specialty dinner or a spa treatment we'd normally talk ourselves out of booking.
Booking and Boarding Terms
Embarkation and Disembarkation
Embarkation is the process of boarding the ship at the start of your cruise, and disembarkation is when you leave the ship at the end. Sounds obvious, but these terms show up constantly on cruise line paperwork, so it pays to know them before you're standing in a terminal wondering what time your "embarkation window" actually is.
Most cruise lines assign you a specific embarkation time slot when you check in online before your trip. Turning up right on your slot (rather than hours early) usually means a much shorter queue at the terminal — something we learned after standing in a very long, very hot line in Sydney one summer.
Muster Drill
A muster drill is a mandatory safety drill early in your cruise where you learn emergency procedures and your assigned muster station (meeting point). Most lines now let you complete part of the safety briefing via an app before boarding, which speeds things up. Either way, don't skip it — crew take attendance, and the ship won't leave port until everyone's accounted for.
Days at Sea vs Days in Port
Sea Day
A sea day is a day spent sailing at sea with no stops at ports — perfect for relaxing and enjoying onboard activities like pool decks, trivia, shows, or just doing absolutely nothing with a drink in hand. We actually look forward to sea days as much as port days; they're a good chance to slow down mid-trip.
Port Day and Tenders
A port day is a day when the ship stops at a destination, allowing passengers to explore or take excursions. Sometimes the ship can dock directly at a pier, but at other destinations it has to anchor offshore, and passengers are ferried in using a tender — a small boat used to get from ship to shore when the ship can't dock directly at the port.
If your port day involves tendering, budget extra time. You'll be given a tender ticket number and called in groups, and the tender queue — the waiting area for boarding — can get busy. Our advice: booked shore excursions usually get priority tender access, which is one reason we book at least one official excursion per port.
Dining and Onboard Life
Specialty Dining
Specialty dining refers to restaurants onboard that require an extra fee and offer unique menus beyond the main dining rooms — think steakhouses, Italian trattorias, or sushi bars. Prices vary by cruise line, but expect to pay somewhere in the range of AUD $30–$70 per person on top of your fare for a specialty dinner. We reckon it's worth booking at least one during a longer cruise, especially using leftover OBC (see above).
Crew Member and Ship's Time
Your crew member is any of the staff working onboard, from your cabin steward to servers and entertainment teams — the people who make or break your cruise, in our opinion. Meanwhile, ship's time is the official onboard clock, which can change between time zones. Always check your daily programme for the current ship's time, especially before a port day — missing the ship over a time-zone mix-up is a classic, avoidable mistake.
Why Learn Cruise Lingo?
Knowing these terms helps you navigate your cruise experience like a pro. Whether you're booking excursions, making dining reservations, or chatting with fellow travellers over a sundowner on the pool deck, understanding the language helps you feel confident and prepared — and honestly, a bit less like a first-timer, even if it's your first cruise.
Quick Reference: Cruise Terms Cheat Sheet
- OBC — Onboard Credit, your onboard spending allowance
- Embarkation / Disembarkation — boarding / leaving the ship
- Muster Drill — mandatory safety briefing
- Sea Day / Port Day — a day at sea vs a day at a destination
- Tender / Tender Queue — small ferry boat to shore, and its waiting line
- Specialty Dining — paid extra restaurants onboard
- Crew Member — onboard staff
- Ship's Time — the official onboard clock
Got More Cruise Terms You Want Decoded?
Drop your questions or terms you've heard onboard in the comments below — we love sharing tips to help you enjoy every moment at sea. And if cruising has you thinking about your next port of call, have a read of our guide to visiting Macau's Eiffel Tower after dark or our breakdown of getting around Macau on public transport — both handy if Macau ever shows up on your cruise itinerary.
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