The basic parts of a cruise ship are named in the same way as any other ship, and though some cruise lines may give special names for some places, the geography of all ships are addressed in the same way. The front of the ship is known as the bow and to get there, you move forward. Moving aft, you eventually reach the back of the ship, or stern. When facing forward (towards the bow), the side to your right is the starboard and the left is the port side. The deck refers to the floor, the space in between the bow and stern is called amidships and cabins are the rooms that you sleep in while on a cruise ship. The Engine Room is the only space on a ship referred to as a room, as other spaces are compartments.
Cruise ships vary throughout the world depending on the ship's builder and its capacity, purpose and size. These differences begin with the amenities with which they are equipped Cruise ships may be equipped with pools and a pool deck for swimming and basking in the sun. Others also house gyms with weights and exercise equipment and some even furnish basketball courts, tennis courts, rock climbing walls and miniature golf courses. One ship, the Norwegian Pearl which was built in 2007, even has a four-lane bowling alley.
To keep you from getting bored while at sea, cruise ships host performances of art, dance, theater and music in various areas of the ship. Some compartments are equipped with stages and lighting and TV screens while other compartments are reserved for relaxation. Most cruise ships will have a daily bulletin outlining the various activities and shows that are offered and will state which part of the ship they will occur.
Some cruise ships are of such size that rather than having a single dining room, they will be equipped with an entire food court offering a variety of cuisine. In addition to eateries, there is at least one, if not more, bars located at strategic points of a cruise ship depending on its size.
