If you talk about what you will do when your ship comes in, you mean what you will do when you become rich and successful. She always used to say that when her ship came in, she'd take us all on a cruise. Note: You can also say that someone's or something's ship has come in, meaning that they have suddenly become rich and successful. The ship has come in for Associated British Ports where profits have soared to £62.1 million. Note: This is a reference to a merchant's ship returning home with a heavy load of goods.