Aft is a nautical term used to describe the rear section or back end of a ship. It is the opposite of the bow or forward of a ship, which is the term for the front end of a vessel. The aft of a ship is where you will find the ships stern, which is the outside (offboard) rearmost part of the vessel. On many ships, the underside of the aft is where you will find the propellers, engine compartments, and steering rudder. In addition, aft staterooms tend to be situated a bit farther from the elevator banks, so factor in some extra walking to access them to reach other ship amenities.