Cruise Ship English 1

Vocabulary exercise for cruise ship workers — talking to guests and colleagues on board.

Vocabulary in context

A cruise ship is a self-contained world at sea — and working on one means using English across every aspect of hospitality simultaneously: accommodation, dining, entertainment, excursions, retail, and a full range of guest services, all delivered to people from dozens of countries over a voyage that can last weeks. The vocabulary in this exercise covers the English that cruise ship workers use most in their early interactions with guests: the language of embarkation, cabin orientation, onboard services, and the specific terms of cruise life that passengers use fluently and expect crew to match. Getting this vocabulary right makes the difference between a guest who feels at home on board and one who spends the whole voyage slightly confused.

Ready to practice? Let's go!

Fill in each blank with the correct word. If both words can be used, choose the one that sounds more natural in each situation.

1. We will be (docked/parked) ( = we will remain in the port) until 6:00 PM.

2. We will be arriving at our next (port of call/personal port) in about two hours.

3. We leave at 6:00 PM. Make sure to be (return/back) by then.

4. Would you like a seat in the sun or in the (shade/dark)?

5. On most ships, you sleep on a (berth/bird).

6. Please (board/climb) the ship ( = come onto the ship) as soon as possible. We are leaving in 15 minutes.

7. A "room" on a ship is called a (cabin/berth).

8. I'll get you guys a couple of deck (chairs/seats) ( = sun loungers) so you can sit outside when you like.

9. Our next (destination/destiny) ( = the next place we visit) will be Cancun.

10. You can take the (elevator/elevate) to the upper deck, or you can take the stairs.

11. This is where we keep the (flammable/inflatable) rafts.

12. I'm sorry, only (crew/crow) members can go in here.

13. You have to (scan/scam) your ID in order to get in.

14. daily = on a daily (basis/bias)

15. The ship is pretty big, but we arrange (tours/sightseeing) to help you get to know where everything is.

16. There is (live/alive) music every night.

17. The port where passengers start (and often end) their cruise is called a (home/personal) port.

18. This company has ten ships in its (float/fleet).

19. We will be (setting sail/docking) ( = leaving the port) in 30 minutes.

20. I'm sorry, guests are not allowed on the (bridge/deck). ( = the area from which the captain and crew control the ship)