The Big Dictionary of Dreams

by Martha Clarke
An oneiric ship can represent our life course and, depending on how it appears, will reveal the state of our mind.

If it is a cruise ship, the dream alludes to the pleasant calm that you are going through.

If it is a warship, you may be showing too much aggression. The appearance of a lifeboat at the scene indicates your need to escape a storm of feelings and problems in real life. If, however, is a submarine, the dream indicated your desire to explore the unconscious. On the other hand, ships also symbolize the ability to communicate with people who are far away, whether geographically or in their way of thinking and feeling. For this reason, a journey by sea means you have begun a new life stage or a new relationship. By contrast, in this sense, a ship that sinks warns of the danger of a breakup. (See WATER, BOAT, and SHIPWRECK)

A ship docked at the pier or sailing a calm sea predicts great happiness in love.

If you dream that there is a storm, this happiness will be delayed. In the case of a shipwreck, you will receive bad news.

Complete Dictionary of Dreams

by Dr. Mıchael Lennox
A ship is a vehicle that travels on the ocean.

The ocean represents the unconscious mind, and a ship traverses the very top layer of this mysterious place. In a dream, a ship implies an investigation of matters of an emotional nature.

The state of the ship in your dream offers distinctions around this exploration.

A sinking ship implies that your feelings are overwhelming you in a profound way.

A more powerful ship, such as one that is run by steam or motors, suggests that there is more strength around what you are exploring.

A sailing ship implies a simpler or personal search, but also one that relies on things beyond your ability to control. How well the ship you are on is handling the water that surrounds it could point to how well you are managing a difficult emotional situation in your life.

Islamic Dream Interpretation

by Ibn Seerin
(Boat; Human being; Might; Mother, Prison, Star, Salvation, Stress) Seeing a ship in a dream means escape from danger, overcoming adversities, recovering from an illness, or it could represent rain after a severe drought.

If one who is experiencing adversities sees a ship or a boat anchored in a harbor in his dream, it means that his adversities will be lifted shortly.

If one sees himself pulling it, or driving it on dry land in a dream, it means that he is a hypocrite or a pimp.

If he rides a ship along with righteous people in a dream, it means that he is guided on the straight path and that his sins will be forgiven.

If one reaches the shore and leaves the boat in a dream, it means that he will live in safety and happiness, and he will escape from the danger of his enemies.

If one who is dismissed from his work sees himself on a boat in a dream, it means that he will be rehired to occupy the same office and regain his authority, or that he may take a dangerous trip during which he may either die or escape from death.

If one thinks that the ship does not befit his class or rank in the dream, it means that he will face danger.

If one’s ship is drowning, and if another ship comes to its rescue in the dream, it means that one will escape from a great danger to fall into the hands of a strong person, or that he will escape from a danger, though should he disobey its captain and abandon the second ship in his dream, it means that he may disobey his leader and go astray. Recovering one’s ship from the deep in a dream means regaining power.

If the ship in one’s dream is interpreted as power, it means that he will lose his power or authority.

If the ship is interpreted as burdens and difficulties, it means that he will overcome them through prayers or giving charity, or taking a medicine ifhe is ill. Ifone’s ship drown, and if he sees himself floating in the water holding to a panel or debris from the ship in the dream, it means that he will face the wrath of someone in authority. Ifhe is holding a leadership position, it means that he may lose it.

If he is a merchant, it means that he may go bankrupt.

If he still dies from his trial in the dream, it means that he may be killed, and his death will still be an escape from something he feared most.

An empty ship in a dream means business profits. Seeing a passenger ship transporting people in a dream means safety.

If the ship is floating still in the dream, it means imprisonment.

To hold to the rope of a ship in a dream represents a religious person who joins the company a pious teacher. Even if one sees himself dropping the ropes, or lowering the anchor in his dream, it means that he will remain in the company of such a person. Riding a ship along with one’s family, relatives and friends in a dream means honor, prosperity and escape from one’s enemies.

If one sees himself crossing the sea with a small boat in the dream, it represents a danger he will face. Seeing a ship floating nicely in a dream means happiness. Standing on the shore and watching a ship in the sea in a dream means receiving glad tidings. Ifone sees the ship ascending in the skies in a dream, it represents slow coming benefits, and if the ship is descending from the sky, it denotes fast coming benefits.

The beams of a ship represent religious men, faith, holding fast to one’s religion, or they could mean complications.

The sails of a ship in a dream represent its captain.

The crew represents servants.

The rowing oars, the rudders, or the propellers in a dream represent the movement of the ship, or the children of its owner.

The condition of a ship represents the state of the person seeing the dream or his living condition.

If one rescues a drowned ship in a dream, it means that he will discover a treasure, or it could mean marriage if one is unwed, or a financial gift for one who works for a governor.

If one sees himself as a ship ebbing and stretching as the tide fall in the sea, then if the sea calms in the dream, it means that he will receive a high ranking appointment, leadership, authority and honor.

If one sees a ship floating over a sea of blood in a dream, it means adultery.

If the ship sinks, and if some of its debris and boards remain afloat in the dream, it may mean the death of one’s mother, for one’s mother was once his ship. Buying a ship in a dream means getting married. Carrying oars in a dream means knowledge.

A flying ship in a dream means the death of its rider.

A flying ship in a dream also may represent another type of vehicle, or it could mean a coffin or a funeral.

If one dies inside a ship that has sunk in a dream, it means that he will be saved from suffering in the hereafter, and he will also escape from what he fears most in this world. Ifhe finds a hole in the ship in his dream, it means that he may escape from drowning.

A ship in a dream also represents a heavy built woman. In a dream, a ship also represents the Bridge of Judgement that will be stretched on the Day of Resurrection for the creation to cross into the land of the Grand Gathering.

A ship in a dream also represents salvation, avoiding ignorance, or overcoming temptation.

If a sick person sees himself riding in the morgue of a ship with dead people in a dream, it means that he will escape from the trials of this world.

If a healthy person who is seeking knowledge does so in a dream, it means that he may meet with a spiritual teacher to benefit from his knowledge and wisdom, and to escape from ignorance. Ifan indebted person does so in his dream, it means that he will repay his debts, while for a deprived person, he too will find plenitude and acquire wealth from unexpected sources. Ifone sees his ship sailing to the shore, then if it becomes amphibious, driving him on dry land in the dream, it means that he will waiver in his faith and deviate from the path of truth to follow innovations, hypocrisy and insolence. Ifhe is not seeking knowledge, it means that he will divorce his wife, then proceed to live with her in sin.

If he is a merchant, it means that his business will stagnate and he will seek unlawful methods to market his merchandise. In a dream, a ship also represents good deeds, righteous companions, associating with a wise man, a good fellowship, praiseworthy deeds, a handcraft, stagnation of one’s business, fear, hope, salvation, a mosque, a marketplace, one’s father, one’s mother, master, teacher, educator, wealth, a house, an adulteress, a vehicle, one’s wife, or his servant.

A ship in a dream also represents a tavern in the sense that one enters it sober and leaves it light headed.

A ship in a dream also represents the human form and its body represents his body. Its oars represent his hands. Its front represents his head. Its contents represent his brain. Its boards represent his ribs, and its ropes represent his veins, etcetera. Ifone sees a ship sitting on top of a mountain in a dream, it means safety, or escape from a danger, or protection from one’s enemy.

If it sinks in the sea in the dream, it also means that he is one of the dwellers of hell-fire.

If the ship turns into iron in the dream, it means longevity. Eating the wood of a ship in a dream means receiving a sizeable inheritance, or it could mean eating forbidden meat.

If one sees a ship talking to him and soothing his understanding in a dream, it means that he will listen to the admonition of a wise man. Seeing Noah’s arc in a dream means happiness, joy, festivities, salvation, relieffrom stress and worries, protection from drowning, marriage and a presiding position, or victory over one’s enemy.

(Also see Boat, Helm)