Which side is best

[planningjollyholiday]

I am booking my first cruise on the fantasy. We are doing a 7 night Western Caribbean. I was wondering if there is a "better" side of the ship to be on. We are travelling with my parents who probably will just want to stay on the ship on port days. It would be nice if they could look out their window and see the cities we port in. So does one side of the ship always have an island view? Also, the original rooms I wanted have just been booked as of yesterday If the rooms happen to become available again, can my TA switch us rooms, or would we have to cancel our reservation and rebook (they are all the same category and price).

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am booking my first cruise on the fantasy. We are doing a 7 night Western Caribbean. I was wondering if there is a "better" side of the ship to be on. We are travelling with my parents who probably will just want to stay on the ship on port days. It would be nice if they could look out their window and see the cities we port in. So does one side of the ship always have an island view? Also, the original rooms I wanted have just been booked as of yesterday If the rooms happen to become available again, can my TA switch us rooms, or would we have to cancel our reservation and rebook (they are all the same category and price).

While the ship do tend to dock the same way all the time, it can vary, if they need access to the "other" side during the time the ship will be in port.

You can switch rooms on the same cruise with no problem, as long as they are available.

 

[Bree]

It really makes no difference since the docking situation is different at each port. Grand Cayman doesn't dock at all. They drop anchor off shore and you have to take small boats called tenders ashore. The Fantasy usually backs in to Castaway Cay. The Starboard side will have a view of the island where the beach and activities are. The Port side will have a view of the dock which is kind of neat because you can watch them unload the supplies needed for the day on the island. It's fun to people watch too.

 

[disny_luvr]

I agree that it doesn't really make any difference as to which side their room is on; it will be different in different ports. There are several public decks that your parents can sit and look out at the islands. We love to sit on deck 4.

 

[Sir William]

We've been on both sides and, as others have indicated, it really doesn't make much difference. I like to sit on our veranda at sea and in port. Sometimes I've see the island, other times the harbor, and just as often another cruise ship tied up along the same pier. A few times we've had cruise ships on both sides and the only way you could see the town was to go to go on deck near the bow.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone, I appreciate the help!

 

[BCV23]

Port side would be my recommendation. We have enjoyed a number of W. Caribbean cruises in port side cabins on the Fantasy, Magic and I think the Wonder. On each cruise we have faced the port in Cozumel, Costa Maya and Jamaica. As noted Grand Cayman is a tender only port but even there we have been able to see part of the island and port. Bree explained the different views on Castaway Cay very well. We enjoy port side there as well. It is fun to watch the preparations, people scurrying back to the ship and to wave to the islanders as we sail away.

As PrincessShmoo wrote, there is always a chance it could change on your cruise but it has been quite consistent in our experience.

 

[Bear3412]

Starboard

 

[lbus42]

On the starboard side, you can also watch the fireworks from your verandah.

 

[cheermom2four]

We just got off the Fantasy (Western Caribbean) last week and loved the starboard side. We had the perfect view of Castaway Cay as they back in. We also had an awesome view of Grand Cayman because the ship was slightly turned when dropping anchor for tender boats that we saw the city from our verandah and watched the tender boats come and go. Cant remember cozumel though as we had an excursion and never look. Jamaica we had a view of the island but the port side had the port view.

Edited to add: oh and Fireworks were awesome on our verhandah. We were deck 7 mid/aft stateroom and it was 10:30 before they started so we had an awesome view of them on our side.

 

[scootch]

Starboard is more popular. It is sort of like the question about main or late, you seem to get alot of people who say late, but main is always booked up early and then waitlisted. For bookings, starboard cabins are usually booked up before port.

 

[dcassetta]

No matter which side your room is on, try and make your way to the port side as you leave Castaway Cay to see the CMs who live on island say goodbye.

 

[Dug720]

On the starboard side, you can also watch the fireworks from your verandah.

Though please note that at least for a block of verandah cabins, you are asked NOT to be on your verandah because of the possibility of debris. If you were to be in one of those and chose to ignore the note and were to be injured, I doubt you would have a leg to stand on in and argument.