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When booking a cruise stateroom, you face one final choice after picking your deck and room category: Port or Starboard?

For decades, maritime tradition has designated the left side of the ship as Port (think of how both words have four letters) and the right side as Starboard when facing forward toward the bow.

Many first-time cruisers stress over this choice, worried they will spend a week staring at the empty ocean while passengers on the opposite side enjoy stunning postcard views. Let’s clear up the myths and look at how to choose the ideal side of the ship for your next vacation.

The Sunset Myth: Can You Guarantee a View?

The single most common reason travelers agonize over port vs. starboard is wanting to watch the sunset from their private balcony.

• The Reality: Unless your cruise is a straight line going in one direction for seven days, the ship will be constantly changing heading. It snakes around islands, navigates twisting fjords, and turns around completely to head home.

• The Math: If you are sailing south, the starboard side faces west (sunset) and the port side faces east (sunrise). When you turn around to sail north back to your home port, those views swap completely.

3 Scenarios Where the Side of the Ship Matters

While general ocean crossings make the side of the ship mostly irrelevant, there are three specific travel scenarios where your choice will drastically impact your experience.

1. One-Way Landfall Itineraries (e.g., Alaska or Europe Northbound)

If you are taking a cruise that begins in one city and ends in another without turning back, the side of the ship is critical.

• Northbound Alaska: If you are sailing north from Vancouver or Seattle up to Seward or Whittier, the starboard side will face the dramatic mountain ranges, coastal forests, and passing wildlife for the majority of the trip. The port side will face the open Pacific Ocean.

• Southbound Alaska: If you are starting up north and sailing south, you want the port side to stay facing the coastline.

2. Scenic Cruising Days (Glaciers and Fjords)

Some itineraries feature dedicated days where the ship sails deep into a narrow bay or fjord strictly for sightseeing, such as Glacier Bay in Alaska or the Geirangerfjord in Norway.

• The Reality: Captains want everyone to get their money's worth. When entering a scenic area, the ship will typically slow down or spin a full 360 degrees in front of major landmarks so both sides of the vessel get a view.

• The Catch: While both sides get a view eventually, one side will get it while you are getting ready in the morning, and the other will get it while you are at lunch.

3. Iconic Harbor Departures

Sailing out of certain world-famous ports offers spectacular sights right from your balcony—if you choose correctly.

• Sailing out of New York City: If you want a close-up, unobstructed view of the Statue of Liberty as the ship heads out to the Atlantic, you need to be on the port side.

What About Docking at the Pier?

A common belief is that the port side always faces the cruise terminal or town dock. After all, it's called the "port" side for a reason.

In the modern cruising world, this is completely false. How a ship docks depends entirely on:

1. Coast Guard or Local Regulations: Marine traffic safety dictates how a ship must enter a harbor.

2. Ship Maintenance: Ships often dock with a specific side facing the pier so crew members can paint the hull or perform safety drills on the lifeboats.

3. Port Availability: If multiple ships are docked side-by-side, the captain will park whichever way fits safely.

You have a 50/50 chance of facing the bustling town or the open water on either side of the ship when tied up at a pier.

Summary Checklist: How to Choose

If you are still undecided, use these guidelines to make your final choice:

• Choose Port If: You are taking a one-way southbound itinerary, love watching the sunrise while heading south, or want a view of the skyline when departing certain eastern ports.

• Choose Starboard If: You are taking a one-way northbound itinerary, prefer watching the sunset while heading south, or enjoy seeing the coast while sailing north.

• Choose Mid-Ship (Regardless of Side) If: You are prone to motion sickness. Staying low and centered on the ship matters significantly more for stability than being on the left or right side.

Coming Soon: Clickable Maps