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jsfofec

By jsfofec,
in Princess Cruises

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jsfofec

jsfofec

Posted
Posted

I have always wondered why they don't say front, back, left and right on cruise ships. Is it just because of traditional ship talk or is there a real reason?

 

We'll be taking our 3rd cruise, 1st on princess (this July), and I still can't keep the left and right side names straight. I just have this mental block. Even as I write this, I can't remember what name goes with each side. :o

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venusbello1

venusbello1

Posted
Posted

The port side is the left-side, port has four letters so does left (also on some ships the port side cabin hallways have carpet boardered in red (or port color), starboard is the right-side.

 

If I'm wrong please someone correct me, cuz this is what I tell everyone and always feel pretty smart:confused:

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Genessa

Genessa

Posted
Posted
The port side is the left-side, port has four letters so does left (also on some ships the port side cabin hallways have carpet boardered in red (or port color), starboard is the right-side.

 

If I'm wrong please someone correct me, cuz this is what I tell everyone and always feel pretty smart:confused:

 

You're right about the port and starboard, but I have no idea about the carpet ;).

 

As for the OP's question and why not just use left/right, front/back...

using port, starboard keeps the information the same no matter which way you are facing.

 

I love the designations, but, then again, I'm one of the few women I know who give people directions using compass points (Blank street is one block east of this major avenue and two blocks south of that major boulevard);).

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PoohUnderstands

PoohUnderstands

Posted
Posted

The reason that they use port and starboard is so you know exactly which side of the ship you are on or referring to. I mean if you are walking forward, then left and port are the same and so are right and starboard. But if you are walking aft or towards the rear, then left would be right and right would be left! Confusing? Well that is why the terms port and starboard are used as they always refer to the same side! Now, front and forward and aft and rear, are less necessary, but that I guess is a nautical thing! (grin)

 

Pooh

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Druke I

Druke I

Posted
Posted

Aft is anything to the rear of your location, stern is the back end of the ship.

 

Forward in anything towards the bow from your location, bow is the front end of the ship, known in some circles as the pointy end, or prow.

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gambit57

gambit57

Posted
Posted
Aft is anything to the rear of your location, stern is the back end of the ship.

 

Forward in anything towards the bow from your location, bow is the front end of the ship, known in some circles as the pointy end, or prow.

 

Hmm, never heard of prow.

 

On an off topic note, it's nice to see another person from the tiny town of Lincoln.

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latitude 22

latitude 22

Posted
Posted

another way to remember aft....

 

it starts with an a and has 3 letters....

 

can you think of another word that might do the same....

 

this was taught to me when I was 11 by a crew member...you can imagine my glee when I went to share my new found knowledge with my parents!:D

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gonna go cruising

gonna go cruising

Posted
Posted
on the star last week we noticed the carpets are no longer different colors. Both sides were blue. It was really handy to have the port side red and starboard blue. Oh well.

 

On the CB only part of the border is red but the carpet is same design. Is it all the same on the Star? No difference at all? I would get very confused!

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be1498

be1498

Posted
Posted
On an off topic note, it's nice to see another person from the tiny town of Lincoln.

 

Last time I drove thru Lincoln, it seemed huge! When are you guys gonna see the bypass go in?

 

Back to the topic...when leaving the elevators, there are signs that say Port (even numbered cabins) and Starboard (odd numbered cabins).

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ancldaca

ancldaca

Posted
Posted

Port, as in port wine, as in blood is red like the color of (red) wine, as in the blood is pumped by the heart, as in the heart is on the left side in the body: port = left. Rube Goldberg, eat you heart out!

 

Port = left (when looking forward) Lit with red lights (also on airplanes)

Starboard = right (when looking forward); lit with with green lights (also on airplanes)

Aft = toward the back (the stern)

Forward = toward the front (the bow)

Aloft = overhead

Below = well, below

Abaft = any point behind a certain part of the ship leading to the stern (something is abaft)

Abeam = something that is 90 degrees off to either side of the ship

 

Nautical talk is there to denote directions relative to the ship itself so that - actually - there is less confunsion. Posts #6 & 7 explain this better.

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lake5298

lake5298

Posted
Posted
As we are on the subject what is the difference between the words:

 

aft and stern (ie. the flat end)

forward and bow (ie. the pointy end)

 

Is there a difference when you use either word?

 

 

You go aft until you get to the stern.

 

You go forward until you get to the bow.

 

Aft and forward are directions, the bow and stern are places.

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gr8aunt

gr8aunt

Posted
Posted

I was in Marine Transportation the last 10 years of my career and, yes, it is correct that port is left (4 letters like "left") and starboard is right. You can also remember bow and stern like this. When you "bow" you bend "forward"; therefore, bow is the front of the ship and stern the rear. Hope this helps. I know it can be confusing. Took me a while to get it all straight.

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hyperion

hyperion

Posted
Posted
More interesting reading.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starboard

 

 

Also, I think the cabin numbers are odd on one side and even on the other, but I cannot recall which is which. The cruise director often uses that as a joke for the all the folks who have been on the ship for 5 days and have yet to notice that.

 

 

even numbers are on the port side, odd numbers are on the starboard. this actually includes all numbered features of the ships, hatches, watertight doors, lifeboats, liferaft stations..., you get the picture.

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Tina G

Tina G

Posted
Posted

It's really funny, but the Princess staff onboard do not use nautical terms, and many aren't even familiar with them! I asked a crew member directions, and they didn't know what "forward" or "aft" meant. It has happened more than once. I was told that it confuses many people, so they use landlubber terms!:D

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