Port vs Starboard Westbound TA to FLL

[longbranch]

Taking a westbound TA from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale in September/October 2024.

Booked a forward, port side balcony cabin.  Would like to sit outside and enjoy a sea breeze but not in direct sun.... so any thoughts from past T/A cruisers what to expect? Thanks!

[Host Kat]

On 1/8/2024 at 8:12 PM, longbranch said:

Taking a westbound TA from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale in September/October 2024.

Booked a forward, port side balcony cabin.  Would like to sit outside and enjoy a sea breeze but not in direct sun.... so any thoughts from past T/A cruisers what to expect? Thanks!

 

Hello @longbranch

 

Thank you for your new thread on the Cruise Blogs & Websites forum. However, it is off-topic there since that forum is for our members to post links to their personal travelogue-type of cruise-related blogs or websites. 

 

To help you out, I have moved your new thread to the Transatlantic, Transpacific, Repositioning & Trans-Ocean Cruises forum where it will be on topic.

 

Hope this will be helpful and glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic!

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat

[TheOldBear]

On 1/8/2024 at 9:12 PM, longbranch said:

Taking a westbound TA from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale in September/October 2024.

Booked a forward, port side balcony cabin.  Would like to sit outside and enjoy a sea breeze but not in direct sun.... so any thoughts from past T/A cruisers what to expect? Thanks!

Your port side cabin will generally face southward, toward the sunnier side of the ship. 

A sea breeze can be assumed - but direct sun on the balcony depends on multiple factors.

[longbranch]

9 hours ago, TheOldBear said:

Your port side cabin will generally face southward, toward the sunnier side of the ship. 

A sea breeze can be assumed - but direct sun on the balcony depends on multiple factors.

 We have only sailed on TA's eastbound in the spring.

So hoping any past westbound TA cruisers to FLL could offer their experiences.

Will port side balcony be very sunny from early am, all day and hot for sitting outside?  We  prefer afternoon sun and love sunsets. So wondering if the shady starboard side might be a better choice? Although the north facing side of the ship could be windy depending on the weather?

Welcome your thoughts, Thanks!

[taglovestocruise]

On 1/12/2024 at 5:10 PM, longbranch said:

 We have only sailed on TA's eastbound in the spring.

So hoping any past westbound TA cruisers to FLL could offer their experiences.

Will port side balcony be very sunny from early am, all day and hot for sitting outside?  We  prefer afternoon sun and love sunsets. So wondering if the shady starboard side might be a better choice? Although the north facing side of the ship could be windy depending on the weather?

Welcome your thoughts, Thanks!

Expect the cabin to be very hot and getting cooked while sitting outside.  Some decks are totally open to the sun and some ships have overhangs above the balcony.  Last few TA'S we have had the air set as low as possible to a little cool.  Sun shines right straight into the cabin from sun up to sun down. We have done 1 Eastbound and 5 Westbound, West bound has always been warm with great weather, our 1 eastbound was much colder.  There is not a shady starboard side, the sun never makes it over to the starboard side. I may have slightly over stated my experience but you get the picture. Most of our sailings have been leaving the Med for Fl.  One TA was from Southampton to FL in Oct. and it was also awesome. 4 TA'S on Oasis Class, 1 on Freedom class and one on Voyager class. 

[longbranch]

Thanks, really appreciate your input!

We always book port side cabins on our cruises but then started thinking about a whole week sailing in the same direction with a cabin facing the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[longbranch]

41 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said:

Expect the cabin to be very hot and getting cooked while sitting outside.  Some decks are totally open to the sun and some ships have overhangs above the balcony.  Last few TA'S we have had the air set as low as possible to a little cool.  Sun shines right straight into the cabin from sun up to sun down. We have done 1 Eastbound and 5 Westbound, West bound has always been warm with great weather, our 1 eastbound was much colder.  There is not a shady starboard side, the sun never makes it over to the starboard side. I may have slightly over stated my experience but you get the picture. Most of our sailings have been leaving the Med for Fl.  One TA was from Southampton to FL in Oct. and it was also awesome. 4 TA'S on Oasis Class, 1 on Freedom class and one on Voyager class. 

Our TA cruise will be from South Hampton to FLL in October, too. So was that when your cabin was too hot and sunny on port side? Thanks!

[taglovestocruise]

15 hours ago, longbranch said:

Our TA cruise will be from South Hampton to FLL in October, too. So was that when your cabin was too hot and sunny on port side? Thanks!

Yes, our cruise was late Oct. Southampton to FLL. Slightly rainy day in Southampton.  First two days a little chilly. Sun came out for rest of trip, very smooth sailing. Six sea days, four ports in the Caribbean and it was a great 15 night trip.   We were on deck 10 forward with no overhang above us. We are sun lovers so it worked out great.  Not too hot but just hot. Happy sailing

[longbranch]

1 minute ago, taglovestocruise said:

Yes, our cruise was late Oct. Southampton to FLL. Slightly rainy day in Southampton.  First two days a little chilly. Sun came out for rest of trip, very smooth sailing. Six sea days, four ports in the Caribbean and it was a great 15 night trip.   We were on deck 10 forward with no overhang above us. We are sun lovers so it worked out great.  Not too hot but just hot. Happy sailing

Thanks again for sharing your experience. Happy sailing to you, too!