Do you know what a Poop Deck is? If you were to ask a kid, I’m sure you’d get some silly answers and a few giggles as well. I’m here to set the record straight and tell you exactly what a Poop Deck is (and what it is not).
What exactly is a Poop Deck?
A Poop Deck is the top deck at the back of the ship. A Poop Deck has nothing to do with bodily waste.
The Poop Deck once gave the captain the best line of site for navigating the seas and directing the crew. It also helped to protect the rear of the ship from being swamped with water.
Underneath the Poop Deck is the Poop Cabin. (See the illustration below.)
Why is it called a Poop Deck?
The French word for stern (or the back of the ship) is “la poupe”.
As the story goes, there once was a French sailor and an English sailor who set off to sea.( I think you can see where this story is going.) Anyhow, it wasn’t long before the uppermost stern deck soon became known as the Poop Deck thanks to the French sailor.
I can only imagine the “crappy” jokes that were shared amongst the sailors afterwards.
Are there Poop Decks on cruise ships?
On classic cruise ships, such as the Titanic, third-class passengers would use the Poop Deck as an outdoor recreational space.
Today, most cruise ships do not have a Poop Deck in its traditional form. Rather, modern cruise ships have replaced the traditional Poop Deck with other facilities such as state-of-the-art glass viewing areas, sports courts, mini-golf courses, and more.
Plus, there is no functional requirement for a traditional Poop Deck anymore.
Is there Poop on a Poop Deck?
There is no feces on a Poop Deck and there never has been.
So, what happens to human waste on a cruise ship? Well, years ago, bodily waste on a cruise ship was dumped into the ocean. Today, MARPOL (which stands for Marine Pollution) has strict standards on the treatment of waste water.
Once you flush the toilet on a cruise ship, the waste water goes to an onboard water treatment facility. The waste water is then treated and cleaned before it is discharged into the ocean. Ships must be at least three nautical miles (or about 5 km) from land to discharge the treated water.
Well, I’m all pooped out!
Check out my other articles here:
How many shoes to pack on a cruise?
Cruise Jokes that make you belly laugh
Have a great day!
Shelley XOXO