What is the gangway of a cruise ship?
The gangway can be found on the starboard-side aft. It’s perfectly reasonable that a crew member would say this, and you wouldn’t understand any of the nautical terms. It’s easy to learn that “aft” refers to the back of the ship and “starboard” is the 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, staircase or platform that allows you to board or disembark from a ship. You may use a different gangway on each day of your cruise. Even where you find your cruise ship’s gangway can be confusing as the ship moves from port to port. Even where you find your cruise ship’s gangway can be confusing as the ship moves from port to port.
Let’s clarify some jargon and examine all the possibilities for entering and exiting your cruise ship via a gangway.
How do you use a cruise ship gangway?
Passengers boarding the Cunard ship Queen Anne in Norway. GENE SLOAN/THE POSTS GUY
At large cruise terminals like those in your departure or embarkation port, the gangway can look like an airplane jetway. The gangway is an enclosed walkway that connects the terminal to the mid-deck of the ship. It’s similar to how boarding regional jets differs from entering full-size jets, even at large airports. The process is similar to boarding a regional jet at an airport, but it’s different from a full-size plane. The gangway is attached to the side where passengers can access tender boats if the ship anchors away from the port. The crew will be waiting for you on the pier when you return from a port day. They may have cool drinks, towels, and a place to relax in the shade. They will point you toward the gangway or tender dock, which might have changed a bit while you were gone.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Fluctuating sea conditions and tides can increase or decrease the steepness of ramps and staircases throughout the day. Occasionally, crew members even swap to different gangway equipment to improve accessibility.
Once back on the ship, you’ll scan back in with your keycard and pass through a security checkpoint.
Related: The biggest mistakes cruise ship passengers make on port days
Where do you find the cruise ship’s gangway?
AmaWaterways river cruise ship on the Rhine. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POSTS GUY
You will be directed to the gangway by signs, announcements, and crew members. The gangway location can vary from one day to the next depending on the sea conditions and the docking facilities in each port. You might board the ship initially on Deck 5, leave in the first port of call from the forward port side on Deck 2 and disembark to a tender boat from a midship gangway on the starboard side in the next port.
I’ve even been on a river ship with a bow that opened to reveal a long gangway bridge that was deployed directly to shore in a spot where the river was too shallow to allow normal parallel docking at a pier.
What is the meaning of ‘gangway up’ on a cruise?
“Gangway up” refers to the time at which a cruise ship takes the last steps to leave a port of call. The last steps a cruise ship takes to leave a port of call are called “gangway up”. The gangway is pulled in through the opening on the hull, or if a port gangway is being used, it will be pulled away from the ship by port personnel. The gangway is hauled in through the opening in the hull, or if a port gangway is in use, it is pulled away from the ship by port personnel.
Captains hold the cruise ship gangway for various reasons, such as when ship-sponsored tours or transportation methods are delayed, or when passengers are involved in medical emergencies.
It’s far better to be back on board your ship watching the gangway-up process than to be left behind.
Related: 12 ways to speed up the cruise embarkation process
Can a cruise ship gangway collapse?
Cruise lines place a high priority on passenger safety, making the collapse of a gangway unlikely but not impossible. A port authority owned gangway collapsed in Panama City in 2022, injuring eleven passengers of Norwegian’s Encore. Reports indicated that the changing tides had increased the steepness of the gangway, possibly contributing to the collapse.
Are cruise ship gangways accessible if I use a wheelchair, scooter or other mobility aid?
Passengers returning to their cruise ship in Cobh, Ireland, after a tour. PETER TITMUSSE/UCG/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES
If you have mobility limitations, it is 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 assist with lifting scooters or wheelchairs in all situations.
Ports that require tendering pose one possible scenario where the gangway might be inaccessible: on days when the seas are particularly rough. I have seen tender crews help passengers using mobility aids on calm days but decline on choppy days.
Related: 6 tips for going on a cruise as a wheelchair user
Some small cruise lines use stairs for gangways in all ports, making them inaccessible for wheeled devices. It is important to check the accessibility of the line’s port-gangways even if there are accessible gangways at the port of departure. This is especially true for passengers who use assistive devices to exit the ship when they dock in port. The gangway may be a ramp in some ports; however, at other ports it could be a set of steps or platforms to dock tender boats. All the above are considered “the gangway” when they are in use and can be easily found using signage, listening to announcements or following crew instructions.
