I would like to get a cabin with a nice balcony for my inlaws for their Alaskan cruise. Does anyone know what would be the best side of the ship to do this? Is there a "best" side of the ship? I was thinking a 7-night roundtrip Vancouver trip (possibly on the Celebrity Mercury), but now many people have said that this may not be good enough to see Alaska. Any general info about this would be good too - I've never been on a cruise.

The right side of the ship ( forget what it's called) as it faces the land--that way you can see the coastline--

<BR>Hi Tina, <BR> <BR>Why would you want to take a round trip cruise unless it is because of your budget? Go one way either Northbound or Southbound. Only exception is if you are booking Cruise West where you would experience Calving of glaciers up close and just about all of the wildlife. <BR> <BR>There is quite a bit to see in Northwest Alaska by cruise ships. <BR> <BR>Talk to a travel agent that is an Alaska specialist. <BR> <BR>If you sail Northound book a cabin on the right side of the ship. If you go Southbound ... the left side. <BR> <BR>Happy planning. <BR>Paul

Hey, thanks you guys for the tips. One side of the ship is called "port" and the other is called "starboard." I'll have to check which one is on the coast side. I originally didn't want to do the one way trip because of our budget, but they will probably never go again, so what's another $500? It sounds like it will be a much better trip versus roundtrip. Anyway, thanks again for the info.

The right side is starboard and the left is port.

Remeber P.S as you write it port (P) is left starboard (S) is right. Catains wife

What is a catain's wife? <BR> Another way to remember it is---PORT and LEFT both have 4 letters!! <BR> Enjoy your cruise. Alaska is a great destination. <BR> <BR>

An easy way to remember is the sentence "The ship just LEFT PORT"

<BR>I like those hints. <BR> <BR>How about forward (easy) and aft? <BR> <BR>Paul

If you are going on a round trip cruise it wouldn't really matter which side of the ship you are on, because one direction or the other you will see land.

I think to word "posh" started out as Port outbound starboard home bound.

I like inside. Outside is usually cold and damp.<BR>

Although outside does afford you much better vantage point from which to observe the marine life.

Which side to be on????Humm.....definitely the inside. of the ship, that is.

I personally don't think it matters that much. When the ship is going through the Inside Passage, there is land on both sides for much of the way. Islands on one side (e.g. port side when going northbound) and the mainland or other islands on the other side. I just got off the Volendam two weeks ago. When we sailed into Glacier Bay as an example, you will have land on both sides. But what happens when the park ranger or captain tells you there are bears/eagles/whales on the opposite side of the ship of where you are? So most of us were on the deck anyways with cameras and binoculars ready to go.

AHOY,it is Port for left same amount of letters in the word.Starboard for the right.It's red, right, return and sailboats do have the right of way.

We just got back from Alaska Southbound on the Sun Princess. I would recommend a port cabin on southbound and a starboard on a northbound cruise. Almost everything pointed out by the naturalist on board (we had a balcony and the naturalist can be heard on tv channel 35) was on the starboard side. In Glacier Bay, the captain turns the ship around so that everybody gets a good view of the glaciers.

Sorry for the mistake in my previous post. Everything was found on the PORT side on our southbound cruise.<BR><BR>OOPS!!

A 'lit trivia: The word "POSH" comes from the old transatlantic crossing, from England to India meaning "Port Out Starboard Home"....the more expensive cabins were out of the sun thus much more comfortable. There was no air-conditioning! Happy Voyages!

Frank: That is what you said!!!<BR>Port on the southbound trip!!!