ship's company noun2 •The entire crew of a ship, including the officers[T]he whole ship's company consisted of sixty-five men. — 1719 •(nonstandard) All of the occupants of a ship, including crew and passengers.The whole ship's company, captain, officers, quarter-masters, passengers, and all, were quite sure that she had succeeded in getting a promise of marriage from him. — 1879 formsships' companies