Are you booking a balcony cabin on a cruise and trying to decide which side of the cruise ship is better? Should you book a stateroom on the starboard side or the port side? It depends. Below, we will discuss the pros and cons of each side of the cruise ship.
Which Side is Starboard and Which Side is Port
Are you confused about which side of the cruise ship is the starboard side and which is the port side? It’s not as complicated as it sounds. If you’re facing towards the ship’s bow (front), the starboard side is the right side of the cruise ship, and the port is the left side of the cruise ship.
How Do You Remember the Starboard vs Port?
One way to distinguish between starboard and port is that the word “Port” has four letters, which is the same number of letters as “left.” Another method is to remember that the word “starboard” has more letters “R” than the word “Port,” so it corresponds to the right side of the ship.
What’s the Better Side?
The better side for you depends on what you want to see from your cruise balcony or window. Some people prefer a scenic coastal view, while others want to see the water. Maybe you’re all about catching the sunset from your balcony, or perhaps you’re an early riser who loves watching the sunrise. Your decision should match up with what you enjoy.
What’s the Best Side for a Mediterranean Cruise?
Most Mediterranean cruises are East or Westbound cruises. If you’re on a cruise ship from Barcelona and heading east and want to see the Mediterranean coastline, then book a cabin on the port side. If you are on a Westbound Mediterranean cruise, book a cabin on the starboard side of the cruise ship to see the scenic coastal view. However, not all Mediterranean cruises are east or westbound, so you will need to look at a map and plot out your cruise itinerary to determine which side to stay on.
What’s the Best Side for an Alaska Cruise?
Alaska cruises are north and southbound cruises. If you are sailing northbound on your Alaska cruise, you will have the best view of Alaska’s scenic coastline from the starboard side of the cruise ship. Alternatively, being on the port side of the cruise ship for southbound Alaska cruises will give you a view of the coastline.
If you’re near a glacier like Hubbard Glacier or Dawes Glacier, the captain will turn the ship 360 degrees so everyone can see it. Head to the upper deck to get the best view of these magnificent glaciers. So, whether you’re in an inside stateroom or not, you won’t miss out on the experience!
Not Straightforward
What’s the best side if your cruise itinerary is not straightforward- meaning it’s not all northbound or southbound, but instead a combination of directions? The best way to tell what’s better for you is to study a map that plots out your cruise itinerary. Take a look and see which direction your cruise ship is sailing. If you want to see land and on the map, it looks like your cruise ship will be sailing where the landmass is on the right side (Starboard side) of the ship, then that’s the side you should book.
Where Do Ships Dock?
Cruise ships can dock on any side. They don’t consistently dock on one side of the cruise ship. It will depend on the particular dock that you visit. So, if you want a view of the gangway, it’s almost impossible to plan that because you don’t know which side your cruise ship will dock.
You Want to See the Sunset
Sunsets are magnificent from the cruise ship. Imagine enjoying a glass of wine on your private balcony while watching the sunset! You can make it happen if you book a cabin on the correct side of the cruise ship.
If you are going on a northbound cruise and want to see the sunset, stay on the port side of the ship. While if you’re going westbound, book a cabin on the ship’s port side to see the sunset. If your cruise ship is heading south or east, stay on the starboard side to see the sunset.
You Want to See the Sunrise
If you’re a morning person and you like the idea of getting coffee delivered to your stateroom first thing in the morning and enjoying it on your balcony while watching the sunrise, you should book a cabin where you’ll see the sunrise. Make sure you book a cabin on the port side of the cruise ship if you are heading south or eastbound. And if your cruise ship is heading north or west, book a cabin on the starboard side to see the sunrise. Check out 14 Cruise Laundry Tips You Need to Know About
Check out these free cruise printables
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