Travel Squad Vacations
    • The Glossary

    The language of cruising, defined.

    Group rates. Shipboard credit. NCFs. FCCs. GAP points. The terms the industry uses every day, in plain English — so you can read any quote like an advisor.

    ACFGHIMNOPRST
    A
    Advance Provisioning Allowance(APA)
    On a private yacht charter, a sum (typically 25–35% of the base charter fee) paid to the captain in advance to cover food, fuel, dockage, and incidentals during the trip. Unused funds are refunded at the end of the charter.
    C
    Cabin Category
    The classification of a cruise stateroom by location, size, and view — typically inside, oceanview, balcony, mini-suite, suite, and concierge. Pricing tiers and perk levels follow category, not specific cabin number.
    Concierge Class
    A premium tier above standard suites on lines like Celebrity, Disney Cruise Line, and Holland America. Includes pre-cruise concierge access, priority embarkation, dedicated lounge, and upgraded amenities.
    F
    Final Payment Date
    The date by which the full balance of a cruise booking is due. Typically 90–120 days before sailing for ocean cruises, and 90–180 days before sailing for river and luxury cruises. Missing the final payment date can result in cancellation and loss of deposit.
    Future Cruise Credit(FCC)
    Credit issued by a cruise line for use on a future booking, typically given as compensation for itinerary changes, cancellations, or as part of an onboard 'next cruise' purchase incentive. FCCs have expiration dates and are usually nontransferable.
    G
    GAP Points
    Group Amenity Points awarded by cruise lines (notably Royal Caribbean and Celebrity) to travel agencies that fill a group block. Agencies redeem GAP points for guest perks like shipboard credit, prepaid gratuities, beverage packages, or specialty dining.
    Group Block
    A pre-negotiated allocation of cabins held by a travel agency on a specific sailing. The block locks in the launch-window price and unlocks group amenities. Typically requires 8 cabins (16 guests) to qualify for full group rate benefits. Group bookings →
    Group Rate
    The pre-negotiated per-cabin price within a group block, usually equal to or below the lowest public fare available at the time of booking. Group rates often include extras like prepaid gratuities, shipboard credit, and a hosted cocktail party. Group rates →
    Guarantee Cabin
    A cabin booked at a guaranteed category level (e.g., 'Balcony Guarantee') without selecting a specific stateroom. The cruise line assigns the exact cabin closer to sailing, often with the chance of a complimentary upgrade.
    H
    Hosted Sailing
    A group cruise where a Travel Squad Vacations advisor sails with the group, handling on-board logistics, hosting a welcome cocktail event, and coordinating shore excursions and dining. Upcoming hosted trips →
    I
    Itinerary
    The day-by-day schedule of a cruise or land trip, including embarkation port, sea days, port stops, and disembarkation. Cruise lines reserve the right to change itineraries due to weather, mechanical issues, or geopolitical events.
    M
    Muster Drill
    The mandatory pre-departure safety briefing required of all cruise guests, demonstrating evacuation procedures and life-jacket use. Most lines now run a self-paced eMuster via the cruise app, requiring only a brief check-in at the assigned station.
    N
    Non-Commissionable Fare(NCF)
    The portion of a cruise fare — typically port fees, taxes, and government charges — on which the cruise line does not pay agency commission. NCFs do not affect the guest price; they only affect agency compensation.
    O
    Onboard Booking
    A future cruise reserved while sailing on a current cruise. Most lines reward onboard bookings with reduced deposits, additional shipboard credit on the future sailing, and price-protection guarantees.
    Open Booking
    A future cruise deposit purchased on board with no specific sailing selected. The deposit can be applied to any future cruise within a defined window (usually 2–4 years), often with bonus shipboard credit added.
    P
    Port Fees
    Government and port-authority charges levied on each cruise guest for the use of port facilities. Port fees vary by itinerary and are quoted separately from the cruise fare on most booking pages.
    R
    Repositioning Cruise
    A one-way sailing that moves a ship between seasonal homeports — for example, Mediterranean to Caribbean in the fall, or Caribbean to Alaska in the spring. Repositioning cruises are typically longer (10–18 nights) and lower priced per night.
    S
    Shipboard Credit(OBC)
    A dollar amount added to a guest's onboard account for use on drinks, specialty dining, excursions, gratuities, spa, or shop purchases. Often included as part of a group rate or promotional booking. Unused shipboard credit is generally non-refundable.
    Single Supplement
    An additional fee charged to a solo traveler occupying a double-occupancy cabin. Single supplements typically range from 50% to 100% of the second-guest fare. Some lines waive supplements on select sailings.
    Suite Class
    The top tier of staterooms on most cruise lines, offering larger square footage, premium location, dedicated butler or concierge service, and enhanced amenities. On some ships, suite guests have access to private restaurants, lounges, and sun decks.
    T
    Travel Insurance
    Protection covering trip cancellation, interruption, medical emergencies, evacuation, and lost baggage. Cruise-line insurance is convenient but typically less comprehensive than third-party policies. We recommend purchasing within 14–21 days of initial deposit to access pre-existing condition waivers.
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    Question 1 of 6

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