When booking a balcony or ocean view cabin, you may wonder whether you should stay on the port or starboard side of the cruise ship.
The short answer is that neither side is always better. The best choice depends on your itinerary, the direction the ship is sailing and what you hope to see from your cabin. Some passengers want coastline views, while others prefer open ocean, sunrises or sunsets.
On many round-trip cruises, the ship travels in several directions, making the side of the ship much less important than the cabin’s deck and location.
Here’s how to decide whether a port or starboard cabin is better for your next cruise.
Which Side Is Port and Which Side Is Starboard?
When you are facing the front—or bow—of the ship:
- Port is the left side
- Starboard is the right side
These terms do not change based on which direction you are facing. Port always refers to the ship’s left side when looking forward, while starboard always means the right.
The back of the ship is called the stern, and the front is called the bow.
How Do You Remember Port and Starboard?
The easiest way to remember the difference is that “port” and “left” both contain four letters.
You can also remember that starboard has two “R” letters, which can remind you that it is the right side of the ship.
Cruise ships also use colored navigation lights:
- Port is marked with red
- Starboard is marked with green
Most passengers won’t need to know the light colors, but they provide another way to remember the sides.
Is Port or Starboard Better on a Cruise?
There is no universally better side of a cruise ship.
The right choice depends on several factors:
- The direction the ship will be sailing
- Whether the itinerary is one-way or round-trip
- Where the coastline will be
- Whether you prefer sunrise or sunset views
- How the ship approaches each port
- Which side faces the dock
For most Caribbean and other round-trip cruises, the ship changes direction throughout the itinerary. One side may have a better view on one day, while the opposite side has the advantage the next day.
In those cases, I would focus more on choosing a quiet, conveniently located cabin than on whether it is on the port or starboard side.
Which Side Is Better for an Alaska Cruise?
Cabin location can matter more on an Alaska cruise, especially on a one-way itinerary between Alaska and Vancouver or another southern port.
On a traditional northbound sailing, the starboard side may provide more opportunities to see the mainland coastline. On a southbound itinerary, the port side may face the coast more often.
However, this is only a general guideline.
Alaska cruise routes are not perfectly straight, and ships navigate channels, islands and sections of the Inside Passage. You can see spectacular scenery from both sides of the vessel.
When a ship visits a glacier-viewing area such as Hubbard Glacier or Dawes Glacier, the captain will often turn or reposition the vessel so passengers on both sides have an opportunity to see the glacier. The exact maneuver depends on weather, ice and local conditions.
For the most complete glacier view, head to an open upper deck rather than remaining on your balcony. This allows you to move from one side of the ship to the other as the scenery changes.
On a round-trip Alaska cruise, choosing one side is less important because the ship travels north and south during the sailing.
Which Side Is Better for a Mediterranean Cruise?
There is no single best side for every Mediterranean cruise because itineraries travel in many different directions.
If your ship spends a significant amount of time sailing east with the mainland coastline to the north, the land may be more visible from the port side. If the same route is traveled west, the coastline may appear on the starboard side.
However, many Mediterranean itineraries cross between islands, curve around coastlines and visit ports on different sides of the sea. You may have a coastline view one day and open water the next.
Before choosing your cabin, look at the cruise itinerary on a map and follow the route in order. Identify where the largest landmass will be as the ship travels between ports.
Even then, remember that the ship may alter its course, sail farther offshore or travel at night. A map can help you make an educated guess, but it cannot guarantee a particular view.
Which Side Is Better on a Round-Trip Cruise?
On most round-trip itineraries, port versus starboard makes very little difference.
The ship leaves and returns to the same general region, which means it will travel in multiple directions. If one side faces the coastline on the outbound journey, the other may have a similar view on the return.
This is common on Caribbean, Bermuda and many European cruises.
Instead of choosing a cabin solely by side, focus on:
- What is located above and below the cabin
- How far it is from the elevators
- Whether it is close to noisy public spaces
- Whether the view is obstructed
- How much motion you may feel
- The size and layout of the balcony
These details are more likely to affect your cruise than whether your cabin is on the left or right side.
Which Side of the Ship Faces the Port?
Despite the terminology, the port side of a cruise ship does not always face the port.
A ship can dock with either its port or starboard side against the pier. The decision may depend on the pier’s design, traffic, weather, currents, operational needs and how the captain plans to depart.
The same ship may dock on different sides during different visits to the same destination.
That makes it nearly impossible to choose a cabin based on which side will face the pier throughout an entire cruise.
If your cabin faces the port, you may enjoy watching the crew prepare the ship, passengers return and local activity around the pier. The opposite side may offer a quieter view of the ocean or harbor.
Both views can be interesting, and you will probably experience a mix during your cruise.
Which Side Is Better for Sunset Views?
The sun sets in the west, but the side of the ship with the best sunset view depends on the ship’s direction at that moment.
If the ship is traveling north, west will generally be on the port side. If it is traveling south, west will generally be on the starboard side.
On an eastbound sailing, the sun will set mostly behind the ship. On a westbound sailing, it will set more toward the front.
However, cruise ships frequently change direction, and their exact course may not match the simple direction shown on an itinerary map. Cloud cover, latitude, season and the position of nearby land can also affect the view.
If seeing the sunset is important to you, check the ship’s direction for the days when it will be at sea. You can also head to an open deck, where you can move to whichever side has the best view that evening.
Which Side Is Better for Sunrise Views?
The sun rises in the east.
When a ship is traveling north, sunrise will generally be visible from the starboard side. When traveling south, the port side will usually have the better sunrise view.
On an eastbound route, the sun will rise more toward the front of the ship. On a westbound route, it will rise more toward the back.
Again, these are general guidelines rather than guarantees. The ship may change direction overnight, and the actual sunrise position varies by location and season.
If you dream of ordering coffee to your cabin and watching the sunrise from your balcony, study the route carefully. Otherwise, walk to an open deck in the morning for an unobstructed view.
Is Port or Starboard Better for Seasickness?
The side of the ship generally does not make a meaningful difference for seasickness.
If you are sensitive to motion, your position from front to back and your deck level matter more.
A lower-deck cabin near the middle of the ship usually feels less movement than one high up or near the bow or stern. Port and starboard cabins located the same distance from the ship’s center should feel similar amounts of motion.
Passengers concerned about seasickness should prioritize a low, midship cabin rather than choosing based on side.
Does the Side Matter for an Inside Cabin?
The port or starboard designation makes very little difference for most inside cabins because they do not have exterior windows or balconies.
Location can still matter for noise, motion and convenience. Review the deck plan to see what is above, below and near the cabin.
If you are booking an inside cabin on a scenic cruise, plan to spend time on an open deck or in an observation lounge. You can move around the ship and enjoy views from both sides without paying for a balcony.
How to Choose the Best Side of a Cruise Ship
Before selecting a port or starboard cabin, follow these steps:
- Look at the itinerary on a map.
- Determine the ship’s general direction between ports.
- Identify where the coastline or scenery will be.
- Decide whether sunrise, sunset or land views matter most to you.
- Check whether the itinerary is one-way or round-trip.
- Review the ship’s deck plan for noise and obstructions.
- Research the exact cabin before booking.
Do not choose a poorly located cabin just because it is on the side you think will have the best view. A quiet cabin with an unobstructed balcony may be a better choice than one beneath the pool deck on the supposedly scenic side.
Port or Starboard: Which Should You Choose?
For most cruises, neither port nor starboard is consistently better. The ship will change direction, dock in different positions and offer changing views throughout the itinerary.
The side matters most on certain one-way scenic routes, such as northbound or southbound Alaska cruises. Even then, passengers can enjoy excellent views from both sides, especially from the ship’s open decks.
If both sides have similar cabins available, study the route and choose the one that best matches the view you want. But if one side has a quieter or more conveniently located cabin, I would prioritize the cabin location over port versus starboard.
After all, you can always walk to the other side of the ship to see a sunrise, sunset or coastline. You cannot easily escape a noisy cabin for the entire cruise.