Port or Starboard on Southbound Alaska Cruise?

[cicerone]

Our family is considering a southbound cruise on Regent's Mariner in August 2007. The voyage starts in Anchorage and ends in Seward. I had understood that port was the preferred side, but my agent is saying that either side is good as you will see land for much of the voyage, i.e. the Inside Passage. However, one of the children in the group is handicapped and will need to spend much of each travel day inside the cabin, as would various family members, so the side with the best view is EXTREMELY important for this voyage.

Which side in your experience would be the preferred side for the best views?

[cicerone]

There is a typo in my original post: the cruise is southbound from Seward to Vancouver. My question on which side of ship is preferred still remains. Thanks.

[OrpingtonT]

In my view, it ordinarily would not matter much, but if I had to choose in your circumstances, I would opt for the port side. If you can get to the observation lounge though, do so. Wonderful scenery, occasional whales, sea lions and porpoises and sunsets.

[Dreps]

It really does not matter on the Alaskan cruise. We also took the southbound trip. When you cruise around Hubbard glacier the captain will turn the ship a number of times so that all will get a good view. We had a starboard cabin, and there were no occasions that we would have preferred a port cabin.

[ChatKat in Ca.]

If I were suite bound, I would opt for one of the wrap around aft cabins on that itineary. You'd have a view from both sides. Where it's important, in the Glaciers, the Capt. will allow the ship to spin so all can see from their rooms. But the view out the aft is magnificient.

[Portolan]

In a virtual toss-up, I'd recommend the port side from a scenic standpoint, but the bigger issue may be sun. On the starboard side you'll get direct sun for a very long afternoon. Port side you'll, of course, get the morning sun, but people generally get up closer to noon than they go to bed (e.g., get up at 7...5 hours to noon, go to bed at ???, 9 hours of sunshine after noon).

 

Scenery is non-stop on both sides except the stretches where the starboard side looks out to Japan, whereas Alaska/Canada are always (or nearly always) in view from the port side.