Port or Starboard?

[MaryJaneP]

Bump asked specifically about E Caribbean but there seems to be some variation, even at CC. Most of the time they seem to back in the ships, but as soon as we count on it, murphy's law will have us pull in instead. Good topic for port typical docking sides. We spend too little time in our rooms to have us worried about which side of the ship our room is on.

 

[orky8]

Generally, they can dock the ships to either side, so asking which side is better is hard to answer because there is no way of knowing how they will dock the ship that day. And even if they generally do one thing, they can switch it up to do maintenance or drills.

Castaway Cay is an exception to that rule -- they ALWAYS back in to Castaway Cay because one time a ship pulled in forward and was stuck because the cross-current was too strong to back out into when it was time to leave. So, now they always back in. Therefore, it's the one port that we can say with 99% certainty that Starboard will have the better view.

 

[Ralphlaw]

Starboard for the better view on Castaway Cay. Port typically faces the pier & undeveloped area. Starboard typically faces all the developed guest areas so there's always stuff to see going on. Fore, mid, or aft aren't as important. Aft feels a bit closer but the entire starboard side is excellent.

True, but on the Port side you get to see a true Castaway Cay highlight--the towel baskets. Everyone brings their towels, which are thrown into huge baskets that CMs then jump on to make more compact. Then the CMs have to push them up the gangways, which is true fun to watch. Finally, there's the big Mickey glove wave goodbye. For me, it's portside at CC.

On our recent Med cruise, port was also the way to go because we usually faced the shoreline. We weren't the only ones who caught this; port side filled up with cabin reservations much faster than starboard.

 

[MaryJaneP]

Our Med cruise in 2011 was Starboard favoring. All ports and anchorages favored starboard side (view of port or countryside) except Barcelona. We stopped in Malta, Palermo, Naples, Civitavecchia, La Speza, and Palma De Majorca. Is it possible that some things have changed?

 

[Ralphlaw]

I was referring to the view as the ship was at sea. Once you hit port, the ship can dock in either direction. On the 12 day cruise from Barcelona to Venice, the first part of the trip showed the coast of Spain, France, and Italy all the way through the straits of Messina off the portside. After that the best view went both sides.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

True, but on the Port side you get to see a true Castaway Cay highlight--the towel baskets. Everyone brings their towels, which are thrown into huge baskets that CMs then jump on to make more compact. Then the CMs have to push them up the gangways, which is true fun to watch. Finally, there's the big Mickey glove wave goodbye. For me, it's portside at CC.

On our recent Med cruise, port was also the way to go because we usually faced the shoreline. We weren't the only ones who caught this; port side filled up with cabin reservations much faster than starboard.

Laundry cage wrangling! It's fun to watch for sure. Oh, as is the drunky-drunk show at the end of some port days. We watched a chick spew all over the pier near the gang plank in Cozumel right before she passed out on the ground. It was crazy watching how fast the white uniforms came trotting off the ship, carted her onboard in a wheelchair, then the crew had the pier hosed down. Within minutes it was like it never happened.

 

[EOD K9]

Laundry cage wrangling! It's fun to watch for sure. Oh, as is the drunky-drunk show at the end of some port days. We watched a chick spew all over the pier near the gang plank in Cozumel right before she passed out on the ground. It was crazy watching how fast the white uniforms came trotting off the ship, carted her onboard in a wheelchair, then the crew had the pier hosed down. Within minutes it was like it never happened.

To quote Doc Brown...."Erased....from existence".