Lesson

Travelling by Sea

Sea travel vocabulary

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Travelling by Sea — Introduction

This lesson covers essential vocabulary used when travelling by sea. You'll learn words for types of ships, parts of a port, passenger procedures, and common verbs used in maritime travel. These terms are useful for booking travel, reading itineraries, and communicating during business trips that involve ferries, cruises, or cargo inspections.

  • Focus: nouns (ferry, cabin, quay), verbs (embark, disembark, dock), and collocations (boarding pass, cargo ship).
  • Use cases: booking confirmations, itineraries, port instructions, and on-board announcements.
  • Goal: recognize terms in TOEIC-style texts and use correct vocabulary in professional settings.

Table

Sea Travel Vocabulary — Common Terms

Word Meaning Example
ferry A vessel that carries passengers and vehicles on short sea or river routes We took the ferry across the channel to reach the conference venue.
cruise ship A large passenger ship used for leisure voyages The company booked a cruise ship for the corporate retreat.
port A harbour where ships load and unload cargo or passengers The cargo arrived at the port at dawn.
quay A platform built on the shore for loading and unloading ships (pronounced 'key') The containers were moved from the quay to the warehouse.
berth A ship's allocated place at a dock or wharf The tanker secured its berth by midday.
cabin A private room on a ship for passengers Our cabin includes a work desk and ocean view.
deck A floor or open area on a ship The meeting took place on the upper deck to enjoy the view.
embark / disembark To get on / get off a ship or boat Employees will embark at 08:00 and disembark after the inspection.

Tip

Key Rule — Using Sea-Travel Vocabulary

Pay attention to collocations (words that commonly go together) and the verbs used for movement or docking:

  • Use 'board' with vessels: board the ferry / board the ship.
  • Use 'embark' and 'disembark' for formal contexts: embark on a voyage, disembark at the port.
  • Use 'dock' or 'berth' when a ship arrives at its allocated place: The ship will dock / take a berth.
  • Use 'on the deck' and 'in a cabin' to describe locations on the ship.

Choose verbs and prepositions carefully: small changes (on/in/at) change meaning.

Example

Examples in context

We will board the ferry at 07:30 and arrive at the port by 08:00.

The cargo ship was delayed; it couldn't take its assigned berth until evening.

Please keep your cabin key with you during the inspection of the goods.

After the meeting on the upper deck, the team disembarked to continue visits onshore.

Tip

Common Mistakes

Avoid these universal errors when using sea-travel vocabulary:

  • Confusing embark/disembark: 'embark' = get on; 'disembark' = get off.
  • Mixing up locations: 'on deck' vs 'in a cabin' — prepositions change the meaning.
  • Using 'dock' and 'berth' interchangeably: a ship docks; a berth is the allocated spot.
  • Incorrect pluralization or uncountable forms (e.g., 'luggages' is wrong — use 'luggage').
  • Misplacing articles: decide whether to use 'the' or no article depending on specificity (the port vs port facilities).

When in doubt, check a reliable maritime dictionary or official travel instructions.

Quiz

What does 'berth' mean in a sea-travel context?

Hint: Think about the exact place where a ship is secured at the port.

Quiz

Complete: We will _____ the ferry at 07:30 to begin the crossing.

Hint: Think about the verb used to get onto a ship or ferry.

Quiz

Choose the best word to complete the sentence: "The cruise ship's _____ offers panoramic views of the sea."

Hint: Think about an open area on the ship meant for passengers to enjoy the view.

Key Points

Vocabulary

ferry

noun CEFR A2 //ˈfɛri//

A boat or ship for carrying passengers and vehicles over short distances.

The team took the ferry to the island for the site visit.

Vocabulary

berth

noun CEFR B2 //bɜːrθ//

An allocated place in a port where a ship can be moored.

The vessel was assigned a berth near the cargo terminal.

Vocabulary

embark

verb CEFR B1 //ɪmˈbɑːrk//

To go on board a ship, aircraft, or vehicle.

Passengers will embark at gate 3 before departure.

Vocabulary

disembark

verb CEFR B1 //ˌdɪsɪmˈbɑːrk//

To leave a ship, aircraft, or vehicle; to go ashore.

Crew and inspectors disembarked after the vessel reached port.

Vocabulary

deck

noun CEFR A2 //dɛk//

A floor or open area on a ship.

We held the corporate welcome on the upper deck.

Vocabulary

quay

noun CEFR B2 //kiː//

A platform beside water where ships are loaded and unloaded; pronounced 'key'.

The containers were transferred from the quay to the storage yard.

Vocabulary

cabin

noun CEFR A2 //ˈkæbɪn//

A private room on a ship for sleeping or resting.

The manager booked a single cabin with a desk for the trip.