Med cruise--port vs. starboard?

[kay1864]

Hi all,

I've read that for Caribbean cruises, the starboard side looks out over Castaway Cay when the ship docks. But what about Med cruises--which side faces the ports?

 

[NancyIL]

Welcome to the DIS!

I haven't cruised there, but I imagine it varies from port to port. If you are trying to figure out on which side of the ship to book a balcony cabin, I'd say it really doesn't matter - unless you plan to spend most of your port time viewing the scenery from your balcony.

 

[kay1864]

No, hadn't planned on it --but since all other things are equal (same location midship), it might tip the balance in favor of one vs. the other.

 

[MickeyWatch]

We were on the 2007 Disney Med cruise and it really didn't matter which side you were on. For several of the ports, including Florence and the French Riviera we did not pull up to the dock but used a tender service to get to the dock. For the other ports I don't recall which side faced the dock but it didn't really matter since we were generally off the ship and touring for most of the day anyway. In Rome, I seem to recall that the port side faced the dock. That port wasn't particularly scenic anyway since you aren't actually docking in Rome. It wasn't like an Alaska cruise where you may want to be on a certain side of the ship to see more of the glaciers and the inside passage.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

It is random, you cannot predict, either is good, (Had a great view Starboard going into Naples of the Volcano, Vesuvius.

Three ports are new.

Villerfrance you tender and it moves around, La Spezia you tender but view either way.

 

[eva]

It is random, you cannot predict, either is good, (Had a great view Starboard going into Naples of the Volcano, Vesuvius.

Three ports are new.

Villerfrance you tender and it moves around, La Spezia you tender but view either way.

This is why we booked starboard side. It probably doesn't matter much for most of the cruise. But we thought that maybe has we go up the coast of Italy that the ship may get close enough to the shore to see some things with or without binoculars. I know that we could see the Florida coast off and on during our last Western cruise.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

This is why we booked starboard side. It probably doesn't matter much for most of the cruise. But we thought that maybe has we go up the coast of Italy that the ship may get close enough to the shore to see some things with or without binoculars. I know that we could see the Florida coast off and on during our last Western cruise.

Most of the time you are away from the coast, but the entrance to Naples early in the morning was great.

 

[Anal Annie]

OK...here's one to pick your brain on...now that we switched to the 7 night Med the ports go in reverse...those cruises start with France & work their way down the coast of Italy....I am booked on the port side...do you think that would offer a different view of the approach to Naples??

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

OK...here's one to pick your brain on...now that we switched to the 7 night Med the ports go in reverse...those cruises start with France & work their way down the coast of Italy....I am booked on the port side...do you think that would offer a different view of the approach to Naples??

I think you will still enter the harbour and port the same way ie Starboard gets the view.

 

[NancyIL]

If you want a good view when you enter any port - get up early and go to an outside deck on the front of the ship. I realize DCL's ships don't have much in the way of good front viewing - but do the best you can!