Starboard or Port?

[Christine & family]

Hi, We are getting ready to book our very first cruise as soon as the 2010 dates come out. We are planning to go for the 7 day cruise but don't know yet if it will be Eastern or Western. I'm curious which side of the boat you prefer to be located on and why? Thank you for your help!

 

[CraftyMouse]

We have been on both sides of the ship and, honestly, it really doesn't matter. Some will say that Starboard is better because you usually get the better Castaway Cay view, but we usually spend the whole day on the island so it really doesn't matter to us.

In December we did back-to-back sailings. Our first week (Western) we were on the port side and our views were as follows:

• Key West - faced the water (starboard faced the town)
• Grand Cayman - anchored in the bay so views were equal from both sides
• Cozumel - faced the dock (starboard faced the town)
• Castaway Cay - faced the dock

Our second week (Eastern) we were on the Starboard side and our views were as follows:

• St. Maarten - faced an industrial dock (port faced the main dock and the town)
• St. Thomas - faced the town (port faced the water)
• Castaway Cay - faced the developed part of the island

 

[SUSIEQ]

I believe the starboard side is the smoking side - if that matters to you.
We booked that side for the Castaway Cay view, but at times, we couldn't even go out on the balcony due to the smell of smoke.

 

[itutorfortravel]

I believe the starboard side is the smoking side - if that matters to you.
We booked that side for the Castaway Cay view, but at times, we couldn't even go out on the balcony due to the smell of smoke.

Doesn't the "smoking on starboard side" only apply to the public areas on the ship? My TA told me that you could smoke on your verandah regardless of what side of the ship you are on. We chose starboard b/c we understand the fireworks can be seen from our verandah. But neither of us smoke so we might reconsider if the port side is totally non-smoking even on the verandahs...

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Doesn't the "smoking on starboard side" only apply to the public areas on the ship? My TA told me that you could smoke on your verandah regardless of what side of the ship you are on. We chose starboard b/c we understand the fireworks can be seen from our verandah. But neither of us smoke so we might reconsider if the port side is totally non-smoking even on the verandahs...

At the moment you can smoke on any verandah but there are now signs on each verandah saying please be respectful of others next door, and consider smoking on the open decks only, looks like its tightening up.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Basically firstly, take on that you cannot guarantee what side the ship will go in on any port, for operational reasons, sea conditions, the pier available, the ships can go in either way.

Castaway cay for example there is a greater chance that if you are starboard you will have the great view of the beach etc, as often they back in, so they can leave quickly if a storm came. However, I have been on cruises that have gone in forward first.

So remember if anyone recommends a side, it is not guaranteed.

 

[Im_A_Princess]

As long as I am ON THE SHIP I do not care what side I am on-

 

[CraftyMouse]

I believe the starboard side is the smoking side - if that matters to you.
We booked that side for the Castaway Cay view, but at times, we couldn't even go out on the balcony due to the smell of smoke.

As others have said, the Starboard smoking policy is only for open decks (Decks 4, 9 & 10. Smokers are allowed to smoke on any verandah, port or starboard, so it's really the luck of the draw whether you have a smoker next to you or not. In any event, the smoking issue shouldn't affect your choice of stateroom. You have the same chance of being near a smoker on either side and you shouldn't be able to smell the smoke from the open decks on your stateroom verandah.

Of course if you are not looking for a verandah stateroom then it doesn't matter anyway!