Ship language

Official language on the ship is English, but the crew, in reality uses its own version talking to each other. 😊 it is a mixture of broken English, ship slang, expressions from other different countries and body language. It is also a tool to let some steam off. It will take you a couple of contracts to catch the meaning of most of it.

We had around 70 nationalities, 80% of crew have broken English, but all of them understand each other really well.

Just before the continuation of trainings, I stopped in crew mess for a quick bite and coffee. There I saw the General Manager. His appearance and demeanour was like Pablo Escobar (only bold and no moustache, short, with big belly and very strange smell), he approached me and saw my name tag which contains name and country where I am from, Serbia and said “you must be sexy and aggressive” … I really did want to answer him aggressively (maybe he had a point 😊 ) but before I had a chance, he said “look at this Babalues, I will fix them like banana” … I had no idea what he was talking about. What the hell is babalue and I never heard that anybody fixed a banana? 👀🍌😀

Still confused, how should I feel about this small chat with General Manager 😊 he politely smiled and started to talk with (I just noticed 👀💕🔥) a few hot lifeguards “the aft work was A la cartuch, I heard about this Mambruko and his paisano business, hopefully Minions will follow him.” They just nodded and left.  Oh, my freaking God?! What language is this? I did not get a thing what he was saying but he was looking at me with face expression like he told them something big. I was just standing there with a smile, and blinked in a way “good one boss” 😉 😊

Run to the training, almost late …

As I listened to more than 2 hours of safety training, tired as hell of catching new words and expressions, (I wish I had Google translate on me) Safety Officer said, “meet up is midship port side assembly station B1.” Are you fucking kidding me? I am imagining myself running in the middle of the night, in emergency situation, ship is sinking and tilted to one side, trying calmly to find my way to B1 station.  🚢☮👀👌👍

I smiled because, he also had an Irish accent and half of the time I did not understand a word what he was saying. I was simply scared to ask again and again. But, as I turn around to find any familiar face to guide me, one girl was looking at me and said “hi! I can see you are lost; I am Marija, and we are paisanos.” She was tall, fit, blonde and sexy (GM was right 😊 ) she was also one of the managers. She continued “first time on the ship?”, I nodded and smiled. She said “well, stick with me I will help you out”. Took my hand and started to talk about herself and the ship.

So, now, 2 tall girls, redhaired and blondie, fit and with some rank on the ship walking on *I-95. Both of us have big bright smile and a lot of charisma…. It is really like a high school … 👭😍😎💣

I -95

We entered the elevator, wanted to grab a bite from the guest restaurant, which is on deck 18. Restaurant was full of Officers (white trousers, white shirt and white shoes, looking so clean and cool), they are handsome. My God! I just realize I have a thing for a uniform.  Cliché, I know 😉👀💜💚💪🥋👍👌

My paisanos … see you soon.

Appendix - Ship language: 😊

A la cartuch – excellent

Aft – back of a ship 

Babalu – a fool

Banana – getting criticism, bad way of getting feedback, yelling ...

Bomboclat – Jamaican expression meant to convey shock or surprise

Bow – the front of a ship

Bridge -the control center of the ship.

CD – Cruise director

Cheapatonic – dirty cheap guest; a guest who does not spend money on services.

Collito – means Buttocks or bum in Spanish

Comaross – many

Decks – floors 

F&B – food and beverage

Formal Night – dressing formally for a dinner

Galley – the ship’s kitchen.

Gangway – The entrance / exit area of the ship used while docked.

GI – gastrointestinal illness also known as norovirus, most common virus on cruise ships.

HD – Hotel Director

I-95 – The main crew hallway on a ship. It runs up and down the length of the ship.

Itinerary – The schedule of ports for specific cruise.

Kaput – finished, done, broken, useless, tired

Knot – One nautical mile per hour

La Ge Ge – Very behind

Mamacita – likable girl, flirting with someone or just talking about someone you like

Mamagaio – Is crew member on duty using his working time to activities that have nothing to do with work, indeed. It’s killing time, get high, take a flight. All this, of course, without your boss finding out. Comes from tagalog (language spoken in the Phillipines)

Mambruko – Idiot

Master – Captain 

Midships – Middle of a ship

Muster station – Assembly place where a person goes during an emergency

Paisano – means someone of from the same country

Papalito – paper/paperwork

Papi – means old man, but nowadays used as “darling” or “sweetheart”

Pax drill – at the beginning of every cruise, crew and passengers must perform a mandatory lifeboat drill. Crew performs additional Boat drill once a week

Port manning – as per Maritime law, a ship is required to keep a certain amount of crew on board while docked. The crew that is port manning cant exit the ship in particular port.

Port Side – the left side of a ship

Sail Away – the time when ship leaves a port

Sign off – to leave the ship when your contract is over

Starboard Side – The right side of a ship 

Takataka – talking a lot, gossiping 

Tender – A ferry that transports passengers from the cruise ship to the dock when the ship cannot be accommodated at the port facilities.