Which side of the ship is better?

[Nevada]

Which side of the ship is better? Isn't it starboard? And which side is that again?

I've never cruised! Please forgive my ignorance.

 

[Queen2]

Port side is left. notice both have 4 letters, that is how I remember. Aft is back of ship. I found I new way to remember that also aft- a~~.
I like the port side, sometimes though you are in port backwards.

 

[Coach Rick]

I would think you get a view of Bermuda as you sail by on the Starboard side. I just know which ever side I book, the other side is going to be better.

 

[m4travel]

If you're going to Nassau and Castaway Cay, the ship usually (not always) backs into its space at the pier. At Nassau, the port side will give you a view of the town; at CCay, the starboard side will give you a view of the beaches while the port will allow you to watch the hustle and bustle of setting up for debarkation.

We've always gravitated towards port aft on any cruise we've taken. It's all been swell.

 

[crzy4magic]

On most decks, there is not a lot of difference between port and starboard side cabins. You can never be sure which way the ship will be docked. We have had port side cabins and in both St Thomas and Castaway Cay we have been looking different directions on the 2 trips.

However, if you are getting a cabin on deck 8, there is one important factor on both ships. Deck 9 is directly above you, the port side is a straight shot for the length of the ship - so there is more traffic and moving of heavy objects over your cabin (80xx). The starboard (85xx) side is broken up by the stairs, and the barrier for the Cove Cafe so there is not as much traffic over your head.

Since the cruises are usually round trips - the old concept of Port out - starboard home does not necessarily apply. Half the trip you are going out, the other half you are coming home, so the amount of sun you get evens out over the course of the trip.

 

[DrCavin]

My vote goes to INSIDE, as in being on board

 

[Nevada]

This is good info. And I think I'm going to book deck 8.

 

[debloco]

We prefer port side, midship to foreship.

 

[doccath]

we always try to get aft. Less rocking and it is easier to get to the restaurants at nite

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

I really don't think any side is better. It's all personal preference. We prefer overlooking the ocean in port, but a nice Carribean port is nice too. In some ports, you may be looking out at another ship, depending what slip you are docked in. Our main consideration when booking a cabin is what is above and below. Any view from the ship is certainly much better than the view out my window right now!

 

[Capt_BJ]

if the ship is moving forward

and you are looking over the STARBOARD side

the water will apppear to be moving from LEFT to RIGHT

if you are looking over the PORT (previously known as the LARBOARD) side

the water will appear to be moving from RIGHT to LEFT

if the water is not moving....the ship is stopped



p.s. the PORT side light is RED....think Port as in wine. And no, do NOT call them 'running lights'. There is no such thing as running lights in the nautical rules of the road. It is a term used by sand peeps. There are side lights, mast head lights, stern lights, anchor lights & special purpose lights ... but no running lights.

want more?

by tradition, compartment (room) numbers, as well as life boat numbers are even to port and odd to starboard. How to remember? Count the letters 4 } even } port; 9 } odd ... So on a double ended ferry, how do you tell the 'true' bow? Look at the numbers!

impress your friends with your salty talk....

 

[WDWLVR]

We've been on both sides and enjoyed them equally. As long as I'm on the ship when it sails I'm happy!

 

[TheWog]

We had port side on our Eastern and had views of St. Maarten (and the Golden Princess when she docked), Charlotte Amalie while we were anchored and tendered and of the dock while in CC.

Dock activities can be a lot of fun especially in St. Maarten as you watch the cars pull up with all the luggage of the people who made the ship sans luggage. CC was fun to watch the dock activities as well.

 

[Coach Rick]

by tradition, compartment (room) numbers, as well as life boat numbers are even to port and odd to starboard. How to remember? Count the letters 4 } even } port; 9 } odd ... So on a double ended ferry, how do you tell the 'true' bow? Look at the numbers!

impress your friends with your salty talk....

Ok Capt, now I am confused. I just booked room # 6576, and it is on the starboard side.

 

[Capt_BJ]

Ok Capt, now I am confused. I just booked room # 6576, and it is on the starboard side.

"by tradition" does not mean every cruiseline does it this way....btw - inboard or outboard? As you will notice, DCL has chosen to put odd numbers inboard and even numbers outboard.....a break from tradition. Therefore a salty dog can impress their friends pointing out that DCL didn't follow every tradition of the sea... to wit... traditionally a ship has but one 'captain' and a naval captain wore 4 stripes ... but on DCL (and other lines too) how many people are now wearing 4 and refered to as captain? whoa.... the bar captain, the hotel captain the staff captain, the engineering captain, the safety captain... well, at least there is only 1 master...by law that is...

so remember up and forward starboard

down and aft port