“The gangway is located aft of the starboard side.”
It’s perfectly reasonable for a crew member to tell you this — and for you not to understand a word of all those nautical terms. It’s easy to learn that “aft” refers to the back of a ship and “starboard” is a sailor’s term for the right side, but what exactly is a cruise ship gangway — and what do you need to know about this common cruise structure?
“Gangway” is the name given to any walkway, ladder or platform that allows you to board or disembark from a ship. The location and style of the gangways you will use during your cruise may vary from day to day. Gangway characteristics depend on the port, sea conditions and vessel. Wherever you find your cruise ship’s gangway can be confusing as the ship moves from port to port.
Let’s clear up some jargon and check out all the possibilities for entering and exiting your cruise ship via gangways.
How do you use a cruise ship gangway?
At a major cruise terminal, such as your embarkation or departure port, the gangway often resembles an airplane jetway. It is an enclosed walkway from the terminal building to the mid-level deck of the ship. You will enter the gangway through the hallway at the terminal and exit onto the welcome deck where crew members greet you and point you in the direction of your cabin.
Smaller ships may require you to walk up a pier and then up a flight of stairs or a ramp to board, even at larger port facilities. Even at larger airports, boarding a full-size jet is similar to how boarding on a regional jet changes.
To depart once it’s docked or anchored and cleared by local authorities in a port of call, you’ll typically go through a line to check out of the ship by scanning your cruise ship keycard.
At ports where the ship is tied to a dock, the gangway may consist of nothing more than a metal ramp, with handrails bridging the small gap between the ship and the concrete pier. If the ship is anchored away from the port, Tender boats will take passengers ashore; A gangway will be a platform attached to the side of the ship from which you access the boat. Crew members are always on hand to help you safely aboard the tender.
Upon returning to the ship after a day in port, you will be greeted by crew members on the pier, sometimes with cold drinks or a place to rest in the shade with a towel. They will direct you to the gangway or the tender dock, which may have changed slightly when you left.
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Fluctuating sea conditions and tides can increase or decrease the slope of ramps and stairways throughout the day. Occasionally, crew members also swap out different gangway equipment to improve accessibility.
Once back on the ship, you will scan back with your keycard and go through a security checkpoint.
Related: The Biggest Mistakes Cruise Ship Passengers Make on Port Days
Where do you find the gangway of a cruise ship?
Signs, announcements and crew members will direct you to the location of the gangway, which can change daily depending on sea conditions and docking facilities at each port. You can initially board the ship on deck 5, disembark from the forward port side on deck 2 to the first port of call and disembark in the tender boat from the midship gangway on the starboard side in the next port.
I have also been on a river ship with a bow that opened to reveal a long gangway bridge that was deployed directly on shore where the river was too shallow to allow normal parallel docking at the pier.
What does ‘gangway up’ mean on a cruise?
“Gangway up” refers to the time at which a cruise ship takes its last steps to leave a port of call. Passengers are usually expected to return to the ship half an hour or even a full hour earlier departure time. Gangway up is the time at which the captain essentially considers all passengers not on board to be on board. The gangway is brought in through an opening in the hull, or if a port gangway is in use, it is pulled away from the ship by port personnel.
Captains hold cruise ship gangways for a variety of reasons, such as when ship-sponsored tours or transportation methods are delayed, or when passengers are involved in a medical emergency.
It is better to return to your ship watching the gangway-up process than to stay behind.
Related: 12 Ways to Speed Up the Cruise Embarkation Process
Can cruise ship gangways collapse?
Cruise lines place a high priority on passenger safety, making a gangway collapse unlikely but not impossible. In 2022, a gangway owned by the Port Authority in Panama City collapsed, injuring 11 passengers. A Norwegian encore as they return to the ship after a day in port. Reports indicate that changing tides have increased the slope of the gangway, possibly contributing to the collapse.
Are cruise ship gangways accessible if I use a wheelchair, scooter or other mobility aid?
If you have mobility limitations, it’s important to choose your cruise line, ship, and itinerary carefully. Don’t assume that every gangway will be wheelchair-friendly or that crew members will be there to help lift a scooter or wheelchair in all situations.
Ports that require tendering create one possible scenario where the gangway may be inaccessible: on days when the sea is particularly rough. I have seen tender crews assist passengers by using mobility aids on calm days but cut back on dull days.
Related: 6 Tips for Going on a Cruise as a Wheelchair User
Some smaller cruise lines use stairs for gangways in all ports, making them inaccessible for wheeled devices. Even if the port of departure has accessible gangways, it is important to check the accessibility of the line’s port gangways for those who rely on auxiliary equipment and intend to disembark at the port of call.
The bottom line
Cruise ship gangways come in a variety of configurations and can be configured in a variety of ways to allow passengers to enter and exit the ship. At some ports, the gangway may be a simple ramp; In others, there may also be steps or platforms for docking tender boats. All of the above are considered “the gangways” when they are in use and can be easily located by using signs, listening to announcements, or following crew instructions.
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