Port side or Starboard? Which do you prefer and why?

[crazyboutdisney]

We have always booked on port side and the only reason for this is because the first time we sailed the couple we were with booked there. So not really a reason lol

We just booked on the Vista and so I am curious. Do you prefer one side over another??

[freedomcruiser891]

We have always booked starboard. No specific reason either just makes it easier to find cabin because we're always used to it being in that general area. Some people will say certain sides are better because in some ports you back in but I've never seen a bad view on a cruise [emoji1]. But there's no telling which way they will dock and sunrise and sunsets are switched for return voyage home

[Keith1010]

Our focus is being mid deck on a ship.

 

We don't really care which side we are on.

 

Keith

[beachbum53]

Way back in 1997, when we booked our very first cruise through a travel agency, we had a port side cabin, and that became the side we've always booked. No other reason. The ocean looks the same on both sides. ;)

[Micahs Grandad]

not something we ever consider in booking cruises. Ships can go into on either side.

[Sunkissed Mommy]

In all honesty I could care less. The only time I cared was on my 1-way Alaskan cruise. I wanted to be on the side of the ship that faced land. It was easy to figure out when you look at a map and the direction the ship sails!

 

Port/Starboard does not determine how the ship pulls in to each port. We've pulled in forward and backward in all kinds of ports. There is no guarantee!

[RWolver672]

Makes no difference to us. I've always said, if you don't see it on the way down, you'll see it on the way back.

[FloridaAdGuy]

Have been on both sides and don't really give it much thought though I may pick one side over another depending on which side a port may be on when docked.

[Clarea]

Makes no difference to us, unless we are on a transatlantic, in which case we prefer the sunny side.

[Li'lImp]

Our only consideration is the smoking areas; we prefer to be far away from them. On our upcoming cruise, that means we are port side.

[calliopecruiser]

In a tranoceanic, I usually want the sunny side -- otherwise it doesn't matter to me. In the mid-high Northern hemisphere, the sunny side is the one with Southbound exposure, but closer to the equator it doesn't matter as much.

Edited March 24, 2016 by calliopecruiser

[crazyboutdisney]

Thank you! Answers my question :) Really didnt think there was much of a difference, just thought I would ask .We always book midship also and we try to be in the same location.

[cb at sea]

I pick a cabin closest to the midship elevators as I can, on an upper deck...side doesn't matter!

[GUT2407]

Mid deck, mid ship.

 

Slight leaning to Port.

 

I love watching the Opera Hose as I sail back into Sydney Harbour, early in the morning, on that dreaded last day. just makes it a touch easier to know I have to disembark.

[paul929207]

The only time I have seen a difference if you are sailing in or out of Venice. The starboard sailing in and the port leaving provide a fabulous view of the city.

[QTPie68]

We chose port for our balcony sailing out of nola because that is the side that faces the French quarter as you go past.

[Skywench]

Neither for me. I prefer aft facing.

[Keith1010]

So what's the consensus. LOL.

 

Happy Friday.

 

Keith

[Clarea]

Neither for me. I prefer aft facing.

There is that.:)

[Keith1010]

The issue is everyone has their preferences.

 

And what one person think is a pro another person thinks it is a negative.

 

Keith

[Scrapnana]

My last few cruises (and the two booked) are fairly evenly divided. I like to be out on an open deck for sail-aways and scenic sail-ins (like NYC and Sydney) so my cabin location is not important.

[Magnum60]

If you're doing a coastal cruise (an Alaska or Med cruise comes to mind) one side of your ship will see mostly ocean and the other side will see mostly coast so check the course and direction your ship will be traveling and choose the side you'd most prefer based on what you'd like to see from your cabin. Those booking an inside cabin don't have to deal with the side of the ship problem and will only see where they are going by looking at the ships bridge cam available on their in cabin TV.

Back in the day of transatlantic liners the word bantered about by the well healed passenger was 'posh'. It was an anachronism for Port Out Starboard Home. There are varying definitions of what Posh truly stood for but that's another post .

[Dunnik]

Fore vs aft matters, but port vs starboard? Shrug.

[teamflames]

If you're doing a coastal cruise (an Alaska or Med cruise comes to mind) one side of your ship will see mostly ocean and the other side will see mostly coast so check the course and direction your ship will be traveling and choose the side you'd most prefer based on what you'd like to see from your cabin. Those booking an inside cabin don't have to deal with the side of the ship problem and will only see where they are going by looking at the ships bridge cam available on their in cabin TV.

 

Back in the day of transatlantic liners the word bantered about by the well healed passenger was 'posh'. It was an anachronism for Port Out Starboard Home. There are varying definitions of what Posh truly stood for but that's another post .

 

 

 

Which direction on a transatlantic would POSH apply to?

[Magnum60]

Fair question. It's my understanding that POSH was coined by departing New York transatlantic passengers. That way their staterooms would always be facing North both when leaving NY and later when returning home from South Hampton. My guess would be that it would be a bit cooler and therefore more comfortable if your stateroom was facing north because black hulls absorbed sunlight and sent that heat into your stateroom. Keep in mind that back then you could actually open your port holes and get some much needed cooler fresh air into your stateroom. Every bit of cooling, be it summer or winter, helped because those liners didn't have refrigerated air conditioning yet.