port or starboard cabin?

My mom and I will be taking our first Alaskan cruise next May. Any recommendations on choosing either a port or starboard side cabin in terms of scenery, and sunrise/sunset? Thanks!

In May it will be darn early and darn late, if sunrises/sunsets are your priority. It is getting light out at 4am.

It does not matter what side you sail on, you will get views. An issue, however- IF you are sailing Glacier Bay. IF you are ONLY going to view from your cabin, and will not be leaving, then you need a port side cabin, if you want the commentary and views to match up. BUT, realize, far superior would be to get outside and move around the ship, not missing alternative viewing areas. Depends on you.

Thank you BudgetQueen for your help. I forgot to mention we are doing a one way, northbound cruise. I don't know if this matters for the Glacier Bay viewing or not.

Thank you BudgetQueen for your help. I forgot to mention we are doing a one way, northbound cruise. I don't know if this matters for the Glacier Bay viewing or not.

Nope

My recommendation is to focus more on where on the deck you would like to stay.

The best views are on the open deck of the ship.

Keith

For a northbound cruise I would recommend a starboard side cabin as I find the scenery superior on that side (plus you get to wave to me as you sail by:)). For your Glacier Bay then you really want to be moving around out on deck and not in your balcony in order to take it all in.

We choose the port side.

Some captains keep the port side of the ship facing the glaciers the longest.

Also we many times the port side faces inland and when possible we like to sit out on the verandah and people watch.

thank you everybody for your suggestions!

Could someone please explain to me what port and starboard sides of the ship are.?????

I know that they are the different sides of the ship, but which is which????

port=left side, starboard=right, if you're facing the front of the ship

We've done two northbound cruises, and chose starboard side each time.

First time, we were up on deck for both Glacier Bay and College Fjord. For GB we "fought" with the crowds (we had two tripods, and the couple in front of us decided to crowd us out of some serious square footage, etc.). For CF, I chose to wait until the captain committed one side to the glacier, and then I set up on the other side. Although I may have had less time facing the glacier, I had no crowds to fuss with, so my time was "more useful".

Second time, we stayed on our balcony for GB as the plan included two glaciers. Even if we had less time than portside, we had great views with great comfort. For CF, we went up on deck early and scoped out a great spot along the rail portside. My mom found a chair and sat there with her glass of wine just grinning ear to ear. My folks were in the cabin next to ours, so we had the balcony divider opened up.

Next time, we're doing a Seattle round-trip (now that we live in Seattle, makes more sense). As such, my wife and I are starboard side, my folks will be port side, and we're all near a common bank of elevators. So...party in our room! Now, run to their room!

We've done the northbound on RCI Radiance twice and have opted for the portside each time...Agree with those that say great views from either side but the best views when in port we have found are those portside cabins...Our next northbound we have opted for a corner aft and feel lucky to have booked it as we've had true afts before on other itineraries but never for Alaska.

I have always wanted to try an aft balcony. Taking all the previous comments into consideration, would anyone choose aft over port on a southbound itinerary?

People are "reporting" "best" for their viewing- didn't they miss the other side? So, again the point would be, they enjoyed the side they were on, thought it superior to the other- which it probably was not. :)

My "always" point, however is Glacier Bay and if you ONLY are going to stay in the cabin- then you will have the commentary match up with what you are seeing- if you are on the port side. BUT of course it is far superior to be on the move, and out of your cabin during part of the time.

People are "reporting" "best" for their viewing- didn't they miss the other side? So, again the point would be, they enjoyed the side they were on, thought it superior to the other- which it probably was not. :)

 

My "always" point, however is Glacier Bay and if you ONLY are going to stay in the cabin- then you will have the commentary match up with what you are seeing- if you are on the port side. BUT of course it is far superior to be on the move, and out of your cabin during part of the time.

Port side, I heard is better for southbound cruising, True?

Port side, I heard is better for southbound cruising, True?

Absolutely not. Sorry, BOTH sides offer spectacular scenery, and if you are on a side you are only seeing one anyway. EVERYBODY reports their side "best". It appears you are making some assumptions that aren't true- ships do not sail coastal, between Vancouver Island and Dixon Passage so it is generally open ocean on both sides. On the Inside Passage- inside- means land on both sides, scenery on BOTH sides.

AGAIN- It is ALL about Glacier Bay= AND if you are ONLY going to stay in your cabin and will NOT be moving around- then you are best to have a port side.

Absolutely not. Sorry, BOTH sides offer spectacular scenery, and if you are on a side you are only seeing one anyway. EVERYBODY reports their side "best". It appears you are making some assumptions that aren't true- ships do not sail coastal, between Vancouver Island and Dixon Passage so it is generally open ocean on both sides. On the Inside Passage- inside- means land on both sides, scenery on BOTH sides.

 

AGAIN- It is ALL about Glacier Bay= AND if you are ONLY going to stay in your cabin and will NOT be moving around- then you are best to have a port side.

It actually was a friend but just yesterday a Princess travel specialist that told me going southbound you want to be port?

It actually was a friend but just yesterday a Princess travel specialist that told me going southbound you want to be port?

Then go with their recommendation.

the compromise would be drinking port with a starboard view.

ferry, charter, workboat, i've always gravitated to an easterly view on the long north/south transits. but for ports and special attractions i'm up working the best view.