Which side to book on breakaway?

[brikee]

If you are booking a balcony which side do you prefer? Port or starboard? I'd like to book the side where I can see passengers running back to the ship when it is close to departure.

[Sand and Seas]

If you are booking a balcony which side do you prefer? Port or starboard? I'd like to book the side where I can see passengers running back to the ship when it is close to departure.

 

We all love to watch the last minute runners;) However, you usually don't know in advance which way they will choose to dock. For cruises out of New York, I love to be on the port side so that we have a lovely early morning view of the Statue of Liberty when we sail back in. This was for a summer cruise and we had beautiful early morning light.

[BrPanthers99]

The ship will sometimes switch sides, but I find the Starboard side is usually good to watch runners.

[Gershep]

We like Starboard so we can sit on our balcony when we pass the Statue of Liberty. In Bermuda the Breakaway was docked port side so no runners just a beautiful view of the water and Bermuda.

[TornWonder]

Another vote for starboard side. Get a drink after the muster and relax on your balcony as you cruise by Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. On our cruise we docked at Orlando and Nassau and were facing the dock at both ports. Also, we weren't even awake when the ship pulled back into NY so we would have missed the view from port side.

[MaryZ]

We prefer port side so we can watch the skyline of the city as we leave.

If not, an aft balcony is always perfect.

[don't-use-real-name]

Oh so many variables:

First and Mainly the SHIP and where it berths

The Departure - Arrival Port *

* Cruise ships do not need tugs to push/pull the ship in and out of the berth

The Gang Plank equipment

- Boarding on the Promenade Deck - elevated ramp required

- Boarding thru one of the hatches on a lower deck - common in most other ports

 

For NYC:

The berth is on the west side of Manhatten and after leaving the berth - those

on the starboard side look at New Jersey (Newark) Ellis Island the Statue of Liberty

then Staten Island passing under the Verranzano Narrows bridge out to sea.

On the port side is the BIG city and the new World Trade Center tower Battery

Park and the Ferry boat terminal Governors Island Brooklyn and finally passing

under the VN Bridge and out to sea.

 

For Miami:

If boarding on the starboard side then the ships sails directly down the canal

and out to sea.

If on the port side then the ship has to go about a mile to the end of the canal

where this is space enough to make a turn around and then proceed out to sea.

 

All the other ports that NCL transits produce variable results

[xcolie616]

Excuse my ignorance but which side is which? I believe I am booked on the left side of the ship. In Bermuda is the left side facing the dock or ocean? I think I saw a pic with the left side facing the dock, which makes me sad because I wanted to face the ocean and have privacy while sitting on my balcony.

[J3tS3tter]

If you are facing the bow (the pointy part) from onboard the ship Starboard is right side... port is left.

Edited January 2, 2016 by J3tS3tter

[Demonyte]

Excuse my ignorance but which side is which? I believe I am booked on the left side of the ship. In Bermuda is the left side facing the dock or ocean? I think I saw a pic with the left side facing the dock, which makes me sad because I wanted to face the ocean and have privacy while sitting on my balcony.

 

When looking forward from ship's end (stern) towards the front (bow), on the right is starboard and on the left is port.

 

The side on which ship docks varies based on many variables (maintenance needs, weather, mandarory lifeboat drills for the crew, etc) so there is no way of telling which side your cruise docks in any given port.

Edited January 2, 2016 by Demonyte

[dazey]

Easy way to remember is port has 4 letters like left.

[don't-use-real-name]

Easy way to remember is port has 4 letters like left.

 

Just remember to be facing toward that pointy end of the ship and not the

flat square rear end (did I just write that that way?).

 

Where ever you go look for the signs nears the stairways (ladderwells) or

elevators "You are here" now you will be really confused.

It used to be that where ever you go there you are !

Of course you could ask any uniformed crew member and he will tell you

and then at his break all his fellow employees with have something to chuckle about !

 

Some cruise lines have the cabins on one side of the ship in odd numbers and

even on the other - but not with NCL - so that doesn't work.

When walking the jogging/walking deck (Promenade?) look up at the life boats

for port - starboard designation.

If you are on one of the open top decks obviously the ship goes faster and better forward - so what way are you moving ?

Or ask which way is the Bridge - it always in the front of the ship at least that is what I am told .

 

RED NAVIGATION LIGHTS FOR THE PORT SIDE

GREEN NAVIGATION LIGHTS FOR THE STARBOARD

 

With that you should be colorfully confused hopefully not BLUE and seasick !