Which side of ship do you prefer??

[Blueyed Girl]

Which side of the ship do you prefer and why? Or do you even have a preference? Also, which side of the ship will be facing the Flying Dutchmen when at Castaway Cay?

 

[shadowryter]

I'd like to know this too.

 

[CraftyMouse]

We've cruised on both sides and found them to be equal. The ship does tend to back in at Castaway Cay so a starboard-side room would give you a view of the island. We generally spend most of that day on the island so the view really doesn't matter to us.

 

[Jestocost]

Most frequently, the ships back into the dock leaving the starboard side facing the Flying Dutchman and the CC beaches. The port side faces the dock area and, in the distance, Abaco. Sometimes, however, the ships do pull in front first and the views are reversed.

 

[gometros]

The side above the water

 

[CraftyMouse]

Most frequently, the ships back into the dock leaving the starboard side facing the Flying Dutchman and the CC beaches. The port side faces the dock area and, in the distance, Abaco. Sometimes, however, the ships do pull in front first and the views are reversed.

This is true only at Castaway Cay. At some ports the starboard side faces the dock and at others the port side faces the dock. If I remember correctly, in Nassau, Key West, Cozumel and St. Thomas the Starboard side faces the dock/town with the port side facing the water or another ship. In St. Maarten the port side faces the dock/town while the starboard side faces a container-ship area. In Grand Cayman (and occasionally St. Thomas) you tender so the point is moot. I have no idea what happens in the Riviera ports or in the new ports of St. Croix or Tortola.

 

[Epperbiker]

Starboard side cruisers can often see Pirate night fireworks from their balconies.

 

[Pumba's Dad]

We've always cruised on the starboard side. When you leave port, you can see the lights of the cities in florida you're sailing by. And then getting into CC you can see the beach and flying dutchman as it backs in.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Starboard side cruisers can often see Pirate night fireworks from their balconies.

Cruisers in verandah cabins on the starboard side are sent a letter on the afternoon of Pirate Night asking them to remove items from their balcony and stay inside during the fireworks to avoid falling embers. You might be able to see a bit though the windows though.

 

[eva]

Cruisers in verandah cabins on the starboard side are sent a letter on the afternoon of Pirate Night asking them to remove items from their balcony and stay inside during the fireworks to avoid falling embers. You might be able to see a bit though the windows though.

That's interesting. We were on the starboard side and never received a letter. Did they just start doing that? We sat on our verandah during the fireworks on our cruise in September 2007. I think this time we will try to make it to the party. On our last cruise we had the 8:30 seating and weren't out of dinner before the party started. So we just grabbed a couple drinks and watched the fireworks from the room.

Oh, to answer the question: We prefer the starboard side because I love watching us pull into CC from the verandah with my morning coffee. But it isn't a deal breaker. We like to be close to the front of the ship for all the adult only areas of the ship. That is a bit more important to us.

 

[rantnnravin]

we enjoyed our port side cabin.
DH, who grew up boating, enjoyed watching all the docking procedures from our verandah. We also had fun people watching while in port.
we also got to see the coastline of cuba when we passed. It was pretty neat seeing the lights and how close we were to that island. We got to see a lot of grand cayman and cozumel as the ship was approaching those islands on port mornings. oh, and Castway key as we approached, and the coastline of florida on the last night.
we were on deck enjoying the party during the pirate night fireworks. They looked pretty good from deck 9.

 

[CraftyMouse]

That's interesting. We were on the starboard side and never received a letter. Did they just start doing that? We sat on our verandah during the fireworks on our cruise in September 2007. I think this time we will try to make it to the party. On our last cruise we had the 8:30 seating and weren't out of dinner before the party started. So we just grabbed a couple drinks and watched the fireworks from the room.

I'm not really sure when they began delivering the letters. We got the letter in December 2007 and I have seen others DISers mention that they also received the letter.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have stayed in Starboard aft three times, (Cat 4/deck8)I had a letter each time saying 'remove' clothes, thats correct, but not that we couldnt go out, and had to watch from inside.

It does say if you leave the cabin please ensure the verandah door is closed, but not that you cannot use the verandah.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I have stayed in Starboard aft three times, (Cat 4/deck8)I had a letter each time saying 'remove' clothes, thats correct, but not that we couldnt go out, and had to watch from inside.

It does say if you leave the cabin please ensure the verandah door is closed, but not that you cannot use the verandah.

Intersting. Mine definitely says that we had to stay inside. I just pulled it out to check. I wonder if it's something new (well...since December at least).

 

[nikkistevej]

We liked the starboard side better!!

 

[Epperbiker]

Intersting. Mine definitely says that we had to stay inside. I just pulled it out to check. I wonder if it's something new (well...since December at least).

Weird - We've always been Starboard and have always watched fireworks from the balcony - and we don't recall ever getting any kind of letter. Last cruise was September 2007. Must be something new.

 

[sunshine1259]

Weird - We've always been Starboard and have always watched fireworks from the balcony - and we don't recall ever getting any kind of letter. Last cruise was September 2007. Must be something new.

Darn, I like the starboard side as well. I think that it would nice to be able to go out onto your verandah to watch the fireworks. I hope this changes by the time we cruise in September.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

Thanks for all the responses!! Ok, so I may look at booking Starboard but it doesn't look like one side is a neccessity over the other side. Honestly, I will just be glad to cruise...period! I want to book sooooo bad but we are still negotiating dates.

 

[DAD AT DISNEY]

Cruisers in verandah cabins on the starboard side are sent a letter on the afternoon of Pirate Night asking them to remove items from their balcony and stay inside during the fireworks to avoid falling embers. You might be able to see a bit though the windows though.

We never received a letter.

 

[crisi]

Most people prefer starboard. We perfer port. With port you are in the shade for the safety drill. And the twenty minutes you stand in the hot Florida sun wearing a life jacket - no view is worth that.