Danube--Port or Starboard?

[bzv143]

First-timer needing help! :confused:

Looking at an AMADolci Danube river cruise going from Budapest to Vienna, to Germany, andthinking of booking a Cat B on Cello Deck. I see in some pictures that when the riverboat docks, the Cello Deck windows look at rocks/dirt from the sides of the river. Can anyone tell me if, on this itinerary, we should book Port or Starborad in order to avoid this non-view as much as possible?

 

Also, do we embark/disembark on Violin deck? THANKS!!!! :D

[bphman]

I don't think it really matters. Most of the time you dock on the starboard side but not always. When under way you're never far from shore on either side so it doesn't matter then either. When we docked early in the morning, we were often tied up three abreast so you may open your curtains and look into someone's cabin so make sure you're dressed. We were on starboard side. Also, you may be cruising on the right side of the river some days and the left side on others.

[MURPHY27]

Going to Vienna it hard to judge which is "riverside". Most docks will be Portside, and may interfere with light sleepers during busy seasons. But being dockside has its own values as well. As for cruising, it doesn't much matter as you can go out on decks unless you plan to sit and just look out your window 24/7.

[at_nyc]

Starboard!

 

You don't want to get up in the morning, draw back the curtain, only to see a jogger looking in!

 

That said, if it's in the busy season in the summer, you may have another boat dock outside of you. In which case, you'll be looking into the cabin of another ship...

 

Still, you have a better chance of having no neighbor if you book starboard side.

[beverlyjack]

Riverboats generally, but not always dock with their bows pointed upstream, regardless of the direction of travel. This facilitates maneuvering during docking. So the side of the river that the dock is on will determine which side of the ship is toward the dock. The view from your cabin will depend on many factors, whether your are facing the dock, the height of the dock above water level, the deck that you are on, whether there are others ships docked inboard or outboard of your, etc. Underway, you probably will not spend much time in your cabin, except to sleep, as you will probably either be in the lounge or on the sundeck to get the best view. That all being said, it does not make a big difference which side you are on.