CookieShip Posted March 24, 2022 #1 Share Posted March 24, 2022 How does one pick which side of the boat to be on? I believe I was starboard the last time I was on Carnival Legend and it seemed to get me a good land view from cabin when we were docked at a destination (using in place of port to be less confusing!). I enjoy the people watching from my balcony and maybe looking out for pier runners (haven't seen anything too crazy yet). Do the ships always dock the same way or does it just depend which ships are also at that destination that day? I think I've seen at some destinations, the ship name painted onto the docking/pier structure. On my next sailing, I currently have a port side cabin. Wondering if I should try to change that at all or just go with it. I'll be at two of the same destinations as previous sailing and one new destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulieG13 Posted March 24, 2022 #2 Share Posted March 24, 2022 No, ships do not always dock portside to the port (as the name would suggest). We always prefer to book portside staterooms so we can heckle the runners! However, on our cruise last month on Panorama, we docked with the starboard side in both Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. We had to go to public areas of the ship to yell at "those that can't tell time"! 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satxdiver Posted March 24, 2022 #3 Share Posted March 24, 2022 It is somewhat the luck of the draw whether a ship is at the pier on its port or starboard side. We usually stay on the port side of the ship because that makes it easy to remember where our cabin is located. Yes we do like to watch the dock runners and have offered our comments to some. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pe4all Posted March 24, 2022 #4 Share Posted March 24, 2022 We pick a side of the ship for our cabin dependent upon the following factors: scenery and smoking. If we are sailing past something we definitely want to see (ex: Statue of Liberty sailing out of NY, Kaanapali coast in Hawaii) we pick the side of the ship that will be facing that. If no special scenery, we pick the opposite side of the deck that smoking is allowed on. You never really know which side of the ship may be facing port, and some ports are kind of industrial, so facing the water is better. Research, research, research! On Horizon last month we were facing the water at Grand Turk, and saw whales breaching from our balcony. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisingguy007 Posted March 24, 2022 #5 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Check videos of recent sailings (if you haven't cruised on this itinerary before) and note the position of the ships in port and what direction they travel between ports to maximize your view. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BlerkOne Posted March 24, 2022 #6 Share Posted March 24, 2022 I prefer the non-smoking side 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markmom18 Posted March 25, 2022 #7 Share Posted March 25, 2022 I go with Starboard side. More than not, we see the Port from this side of the ship. But, I’d stay on Port side IF the Starboard cabins I wanted were filled up. 😉 🛳🛳 Bobbi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe817 Posted March 25, 2022 #8 Share Posted March 25, 2022 Our next cruise is on an 8 day Vista, and we are changing to a port side balcony, and we have chosen a starboard balcony in cruises past.....just to see how the other half lives. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MeganGC1983 Posted March 25, 2022 #9 Share Posted March 25, 2022 We prefer port side. Not sure why. 🤷🏼♀️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted March 25, 2022 #10 Share Posted March 25, 2022 It really doesn't matter, it is all a game of chance as to how the ship will be positioned. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinqt Posted March 25, 2022 #11 Share Posted March 25, 2022 On our Horizon cruise last month it was divided evenly. For two port stops our balcony cabin faced the port. For the other two port stops we faced the ocean. I’ve noticed that it’s usually that way. I guess they want both sides to have an equal amount of time facing the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moviela Posted March 25, 2022 #12 Share Posted March 25, 2022 I like the side that faces the sunrise on sea days when headed home. On the trip out I like to see the Sun sink slowly in the West from my balcony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topaz123 Posted March 25, 2022 #13 Share Posted March 25, 2022 Port side are EVEN numbers......Starboard side are ODD numbers.....hahah...just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgttami Posted March 26, 2022 #14 Share Posted March 26, 2022 I always book starboard side. No clue why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsfan58 Posted March 26, 2022 #15 Share Posted March 26, 2022 I just count it a Blessing that I am able to Cruise. You could put me in a broom closet facing North and it would not matter to me. Never mattered to me what I see when I wake up; I just want to Cruise!!! Happy Sailing!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted March 26, 2022 #16 Share Posted March 26, 2022 On 3/24/2022 at 12:45 PM, pe4all said: If no special scenery, we pick the opposite side of the deck that smoking is allowed on... Wait what? Carnival allows smoking on balconies??? How to you find out which side? It won't matter on the cruise I have booked, as there were only two adjoining cabins that met our needs, but what a shocker to learn this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted March 26, 2022 #17 Share Posted March 26, 2022 I have an almost in built preference for Port, perhaps it’s because I get a view of the Opera House on boarding, a view of the city coming to life pre dawn as we sail back into Sydney, or from my old sailing days. Or just because my first few cruises I ended up booking guarantee cabins and got Port, now days I pick my own and usually pick Port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Wanna_Cruize Posted March 26, 2022 #18 Share Posted March 26, 2022 No smoking on Balconies every. The reference to smoking & starboard is the open-air smoking venues are on the starboard side (Starboard=Smoking is how I remember it) so you have a chance of the smoke wafting up to your balcony, depending on where it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorkerBee74 Posted March 26, 2022 #19 Share Posted March 26, 2022 On 3/24/2022 at 12:21 PM, PaulieG13 said: No, ships do not always dock portside to the port (as the name would suggest). We always prefer to book portside staterooms so we can heckle the runners! However, on our cruise last month on Panorama, we docked with the starboard side in both Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. We had to go to public areas of the ship to yell at "those that can't tell time"! We've got an aft cabin and I hope we're parked just right to see the Cozumel gang - we are staying on the ship that day and will be many drinks in for the show - haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted March 26, 2022 #20 Share Posted March 26, 2022 49 minutes ago, Wanna_Cruize said: No smoking on Balconies every. The reference to smoking & starboard is the open-air smoking venues are on the starboard side (Starboard=Smoking is how I remember it) Thanks for clearing that up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanadaydreaming Posted March 27, 2022 #21 Share Posted March 27, 2022 I like being on the side of ship that sees islands in the distance, especially at night. Of course that depends on itinerary...and we go with room TA get us, no special requests here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pe4all Posted March 27, 2022 #22 Share Posted March 27, 2022 Just fyi - I use this link to check on smoking areas on each individual CCL ship. Some are different than others. https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3490/~/locations-where-you-can-smoke 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seannyice81 Posted March 27, 2022 #23 Share Posted March 27, 2022 I usually book port side. I feel I have a better chance of docking on that side and seeing pier runners, haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joebucks Posted March 27, 2022 #24 Share Posted March 27, 2022 We don't ever pay any attention to it. There are pros and cons to each. People who tell you one side is infinitely better, are sometimes stretching the truth. What I will say though, is I appreciated one experience of being portside very much on my last cruise. As we approached Cabo in the morning, it was our first cruise in 2 years. Being able to see that beautiful scenery (wouldn't have on the other side), while experiencing warm weather, and watching dolphins/whales around the ship, was an absolutely amazing moment for a return to cruising. I'm struggling to understand how the smoking has any impact whatsoever. Considering where it is, where rooms are, and that the ship is in motion, sounds like a lot of worry about nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomhower Posted March 27, 2022 #25 Share Posted March 27, 2022 On our first cruise we had a starboard cabin. My wife insists on booking the same side every cruise since. No real logic behind it but she insists on it. I don't really care as I don't spend much of any time in the room so if it makes her happy I'm good with it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now