10 cruise questions you don't dare to ask (and the answers)

With a cruise holiday come many wonders – like the chance to see the aurora borealis, hear the haunting song of a whale or feel the splash of the wake on your cheeks as you sip cocktails on deck at sunset.

But while cruise lines inform you of their latest offers and how to check in, some elements of cruising remain a mystery – until now.

Here, we answer 10 somewhat unusual questions associated with cruising to save you from asking a friend or crew member who might think you’ve lost the plot.

WHY ARE SHIPS REFERRED TO AS ‘SHE’?

Since far back in the mists of time, vehicles have been thought of as female.

According to the Imperial War Museum in London, this tradition relates to the idea of a female figure, such as a mother or a goddess, guiding and protecting a ship and its crew with “beauty, grace and strength”.

An alternative theory is that English has borrowed this tradition from another language – such as French and German – where objects are named with feminine or masculine nouns.

WHAT ARE CRUISE- SHIP GODMOTHERS?

A ship’s godmother is usually a civilian – typically a woman, but in recent years also men – who essentially ‘sponsors’ the vessel.

They may be royalty or celebrities – such as the footballer Lionel Messi for Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas – or anyone who has had a lasting impact on the cruise and maritime industry.

Notable godmothers include the singers Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez and TV presenters Oprah Winfrey and Hannah Waddingham. A godmother is tasked with blessing the vessel before it departs on its inaugural journey and officially naming the ship.

DO CRUISE SHIPS HAVE A JAIL?

Yes, most cruise ships have some form of detention facility on board.

This is commonly known as the brig, which is typically a series of small rooms on the lower decks which are used to detain passengers or crew members who have broken the law or violated the ship or cruise line’s rules and regulations.

Alternatively, a passenger may be placed on cabin arrest, which means they are confined to their stateroom (cabin) until the ship reaches its next disembarkation point or concludes its itinerary.

WHY IS A NAUTICAL MILE DIFFERENT FROM A NORMAL MILE?

One nautical mile equals about 1.2 land miles or 1.9 kilometres. Why? The simple answer is that nautical miles are an exact division of the Earth’s circumference.

One nautical mile is one sixtieth of a single degree of that great circle, while one knot – the measurement of speed for ships – is one nautical mile per hour.

As for the complicated answer? Well, that’s too long to fit in this magazine!

WHICH COUNTRY’S LAW MUST I FOLLOW AT SEA?

After the earlier question about cruise jail, you may be concerned as to which laws you should follow while sailing to avoid experiencing time in the slammer-at-sea.

The general rule of thumb is that when within 12 nautical miles of land, a ship is governed by the laws of that country or state.

When it is outside that perimeter, ships generally come under the laws of whichever nation they are registered with.

Bamboozled? You can also check the ins and outs of a cruise line’s rules on its website.

WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE DIES ONBOARD?

As much as we would like to believe that nothing terrible ever happens on a cruise ship, the likelihood of no one dying on board a vessel is highly improbable, given that 31.7 million people cruised in 2023 according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

When someone passes away, their body is stored in a refrigerated morgue while the ship continues its itinerary. It is then released to officials at the next or final port of call.

HOW DO CRUISE SHIPS STAY AFLOAT?

The world’s biggest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, is registered at 248,663 gross tonnes.

That’s about the weight of 7,000 humpback whales, so why doesn’t this behemoth sink like a stone?

First, gross registered tonnes (grt) is a measure of volume, not weight, and a cruise ship is essentially a huge box, mostly full of air.

Secondly, however much a ship weighs – and Icon is, of course, extremely heavy – water pushes back with equal force, keeping it afloat. Phew!

WHAT HAPPENS TO OLD CRUISE SHIPS?

Most cruise lines renovate vessels for many years to ensure they stay seaworthy and stylish. The usual life expectancy of a ship is 30 or 40 years.

When a vessel has sailed its final course, the line may sell it to a smaller company which might turn it into a hotel or ferry, or scrap it at a ship breaking yard, where it is dismantled and sold for parts.

HOW OFTEN DO PEOPLE MISS THEIR SHIP?

More often than you think. Cruise guests miss embarkation for all sorts of reasons.

They may simply lose track of time while exploring ashore, fail to note down the all-aboard deadline, get stuck in traffic or be delayed on public transport. If you are unfortunate enough to experience any of these delays, don’t expect the ship to wait for you.

It is on a strict schedule and the fee for a vessel overstaying its welcome in a port can be astronomical.

If you are left behind, your first move should be to contact the cruise line you’re sailing with.

You will most likely have to meet the ship at its next stop or head home, both of which will come at your own expense.

WHAT HAPPENS TO WASTE?

Cruise ships have various systems in place to manage waste disposal.

Each line has different protocols but all have the same goal: to dispose of rubbish and leftovers in the most environmentally efficient way possible.

Princess Cruises, for example, has installed biodigesters on its new ship Sun Princess, which break down food waste into water.

This mitigates the need for traditional disposal methods such as shoreside incineration – which, thankfully, cruise lines don’t do any more.

Non-digestible waste is usually stored on board then handed to port authorities who dispose of it at recycling centres.