Which Side of the Ship Is Best: Port or Starboard?
This question was recently asked by one of our valued clients, Jan—and because it’s such a common one, I thought it deserved a more detailed answer. When planning a cruise—especially for the first time—it’s natural to wonder which side of the ship offers the best views. Should you book a stateroom on the port side or the starboard side?
The answer depends on whether you’re taking a river cruise or an ocean cruise. Let’s take a closer look at each.
River Cruises: It Doesn’t Really Matter
For European river cruises, the side of the ship your stateroom is on generally doesn’t make a significant difference. Here’s why:
- Narrow rivers mean you’re always close to land, with scenery visible on both sides.
- Frequent turns and bends in the river make it hard to predict which side will offer better views at any given time.
- Ship rafting is common in European ports. Your ship may be tied up next to one or more others, which can temporarily block your view—regardless of your room’s location.
- Special viewing moments are shared on deck. When the ship sails through an especially scenic region, the captain or cruise director will often invite everyone to the top deck for commentary and panoramic views.
- Key scenic areas are typically day sailings. For iconic stretches like the Rhine Gorge—with its concentration of castles—cruise lines typically schedule daytime sailings to ensure you don’t miss a thing.
- The best experiences happen ashore. While you may catch some beautiful sights from your balcony, the true highlights happen during guided excursions and walks through charming towns and historic cities.
So, rather than worrying about which side of the ship to choose, we recommend focusing on the overall location of your stateroom within the ship. For river cruising, we don’t think it matters what side of the ship your stateroom is located on.
Ocean Cruises: There Are a Few Things to Consider
With ocean cruises, there can be times when one side of the ship may have a viewing advantage—depending on the route. But in general, the difference is subtle.
- Check your cruise direction. For instance, if you’re sailing south along the Pacific Coast, the port side might offer more land views. Northbound? Then perhaps the starboard side.
- Ships typically sail offshore. Whether it’s a sea day or a sailing day between ports, ships usually follow well-established shipping lanes far from land. As a result, the coastline—if visible at all—often appears as a faint line on the horizon.
- Think sunrise or sunset. If you enjoy morning coffee with the sunrise or a glass of wine during sunset, consider which side of the ship will face east or west along your route.
- Major scenic moments are public events. For iconic experiences—like viewing glaciers in Alaska or transiting the Panama Canal—your cruise director will usually make announcements and encourage everyone to come up on deck for the best views.
Bottom line: unless your itinerary hugs the coastline for long stretches, the view from your stateroom won’t differ much between port and starboard.
ASK ABOUT OUR COMPLIMENTARY VIP PERKS!
Final Thoughts
At Roaming Boomers Travel Services, we’re happy to help you find the best available stateroom based on your preferences—whether that’s location, deck level, or sun orientation. But when it comes to choosing between port and starboard, it’s usually not something to stress over.
Thank you to Jan for asking such a great question.
And if you have one you’d like us to tackle, don’t hesitate to reach out—we love sharing what we’ve learned from years of travel and helping our clients make the most of every journey.
For more information or to book a fun luxury ocean or river cruise, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
This article was written with the aid of Perplexity AI, Grok, or ChatGPT. Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an independent affiliate of Cadence and a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
The post Which Side of the Ship: Port or Starboard? appeared first on The Roaming Boomers
