River Cruise Advice: Which side of the ship is better? (2024)
It’s a question that comes up again and again: What side of the ship should I book my stateroom on?
The root of the question itself is understandable: There is a lot to see along the waterways of Europe, and prospective cruisers want to ensure they make the most of their investment by securing the best views.
The truth, though, is this: There’s no “better” side of the ship. It doesn’t matter where you’re going, or what river you’re sailing on, or even what ship you’re sailing aboard. Both sides of the ship are created equal.
The trouble with trying to pick a side of the ship based on something you’d like to see is this. Assume, for example, you’re booking a sailing from Budapest to Nuremberg, and you’d really like to see Durnstein from you stateroom. Because you’re sailing up-river, Durnstein will be on your starboard, or right-hand-side, when you pass.
But two problems will immediately present themselves. First, you have no control over what time the ship will pass Durnstein. Secondly, you have no control over where you might be in that given moment. So, unless you intend to spend your entire voyage cooped up in your room, there’s little point to trying to play the “which-side-is-better” game. Plus, you only need walk up to the top deck for a great view of Durnstein.
The great thing about river cruising is that so much of it can be enjoyed from the ship’s Lounge (always the social hub of any vessel), or the Sun Deck. I’ve sailed down the Danube in everything from a full-on Suite to a full-balcony stateroom to a French balcony stateroom, yet I’ve never spent more than perhaps half an hour at a time in my room outside of time spent changing or sleeping.
The truth is this: There’s stunning scenery no matter which side of the ship you’re on. And if there’s going to be something noteworthy coming up, the program director or your guide will typically announce it over the PA, which allows ample time to for you to come up on deck or gather in the lounge if the attraction is coming up on a side that your stateroom isn’t on.
It’s also important to remember that a river cruise ship is much more navigable than a large oceangoing cruise ship, where you might have to ascend or descend multiple decks to reach a suitable vantage point. On a river cruise ship, the outdoor decks or observation lounges are never more than a 30-second walk away.
So spend your valuable research and planning time selecting your itinerary, ship and stateroom. You’ll be happy that you did, regardless of whether you’re on the port or starboard side.
The root of the question itself is understandable: There is a lot to see along the waterways of Europe, and prospective cruisers want to ensure they make the most of their investment by securing the best views. The truth, though, is this: There's no “better” side of the ship.
There is no one side of a cruise ship that is always “the best.” Whether a cruise ship's port versus starboard side is better for you on a given itinerary will be a personal calculation based on preferences, route and what you want to see.
Cruising downstream is faster than upstream at 28-30 kilometers one hour compared to an average of 16-19 kph.. Downstream the ship does not sail at night so there is no rocking motion during nigh which may affect passengers' sleep.
A balcony is a big plus at a resort and on a huge ocean ship, but on river boats it can actually be a drawback: River ships have a width limit (so that they can fit through locks), which means that cabins can only be so wide, which in turn means that a balcony takes away from your interior room space.
The truth, though, is this: There's no “better” side of the ship. It doesn't matter where you're going, or what river you're sailing on, or even what ship you're sailing aboard. Both sides of the ship are created equal.
Here's the general advice for seeing sunrises and sunsets on a cruise: Headed north or west? Choose a port side stateroom for sunsets. Go with starboard for sunrises.
Viking French balcony cabins are always on this shorter side, and the Veranda Staterooms are on the wider side of the ship. This is really smart as the drawback of outdoor balconies is that it typically takes away from the rest of the cabin space.
River cruise ship cabins tend to be smaller than ocean cruise ship accommodation, though not always the case. Aside from that, cabins are similar to what you find in a regular ocean cabin or hotel room. As a minimum, you can expect a compact bathroom with shower, sink and toilet facilities.
On the other hand, noise and vibration can be high, so you will probably want to steer clear of the back of the ship where the engine is usually located. On the lowest deck you will find the cabins with small windows which look straight out over the water - what we refer to as the 'duck's eye' view.
Scenic Highlights: As you sail upstream, you'll enjoy breathtaking views of the Hungarian countryside, including the famous Hungarian Parliament Building and the stunning Budapest skyline.
Also choose a lower Mississippi cruise if you want more Southern cuisine, a music-themed cruise or want a greater choice of itineraries. Opt for an upper Mississippi sailing if you're interested in mainstream Americana or want scenic views throughout your sailing.
The middle of the ship and not too high is your safest bet. A mid-ship stateroom with a balcony for quick access to fresh air may be ideal. If not available, consider a room that is either lower or closer to the back, as the front of the ship tends to experience the most movement.
Common wisdom has always stated that if you can get a mid-ship cabin then this will be the 'best' position on the ship. Going back to the see-saw metaphor, imagine the middle of the it. Whilst the seats go up and down, the middle never actually moves. It's the same on a cruise ship.
Midship staterooms on the lowest passenger deck are the best spot to be on a cruise ship in this instance because you don't feel the vessel sway as much. The front and back of the ship are a no-no.
If you'd rather see the sunrise while sailing south or east, staying on the port side is your ideal choice as well. Choose the starboard side for the opposite situation: sunsets are visible on southbound and eastbound sailings while sunrises are visible on northbound and westbound cruises.
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