What Does Aft Mean on a Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

What Does Aft Mean on a Cruise Ship?

Cruise ships have their own language, and it can be difficult to understand the terms used if you’re new to cruising. One of the terms you might hear is “aft”. As a passenger, understanding what aft means on a cruise ship can help you better understand your surroundings and plan your travels accordingly.

In maritime terms, “aft” is used to refer to the back or stern of the vessel. This is because most ships are steered from the back, so the aft area is often referred to as “the helm” or “the bridge”. When discussing locations on a ship, aft typically refers to any area located toward or near the stern of the vessel.

Many cruise ships also have decks that are labeled with letters that correspond to aft locations. For example, Deck A may refer to an area located toward the back of the ship while Deck B may refer to an area located closer to the front of the vessel. Knowing which decks correlate with aft areas can help passengers plan their trips more effectively.

Additionally, some amenities and activities on board a ship may be located toward or near the stern of the vessel as well. For example, some ships have outdoor pools and bars that are located toward aft areas of the deck. Knowing where these amenities are located can help passengers find them quickly and ensure they don’t miss out on any fun activities during their cruise experience!

Aft also refers to any type of propulsion system that is placed at or near the stern of a vessel. This includes both inboard and outboard motors as well as propeller-based systems such as jet drives or water jets. Knowing what type of propulsion system your cruise ship uses can help you better understand how it moves through water and how much power it has available for certain activities such as wakeboarding or waterskiing.

Overall, understanding what aft means on a cruise ship can help passengers plan their trips more effectively and ensure they don’t miss out on any fun activities during their voyage! Knowing which decks correlate with aft areas as well as which amenities and activities are located in those areas can make all the difference when planning an enjoyable cruise experience!

Conclusion: As a passenger, understanding what aft means on a cruise ship can help better understand your surroundings and plan your travels accordingly. It typically refers to any area located toward or near the stern of the vessel including decks, amenities, activities and propulsion systems used by vessels for movement through water such as jet drives or water jets. Knowing these details will ensure you don’t miss out on any fun experiences during your voyage!