Port or starboard on Mediterranean cruise?

[Jante]

Hi,

We're cruising on Oosterdam Sept '09 for 12 night Mediterranean from Barcelona to Venice (first time HAL, first time in Europe for DH.) Would one side or the other of the ship be better - we'll have a balcony cabin. Any locations to request or avoid? All suggestions welcome.

[terrydtx]

It mostly depends which direction the itinerary takes the ship. If you cruise down the foot of Italy and up the other side to Venice, then you would want to Port (left) side of the ship.

[leoandhugh]

For the most part, it will make absolutely no difference whether you are port of starboard, because the ship is generally out of sight of land until you are almost in port. The one place where side makes a difference is Venice where port is preferred; as you proceed up the Grand Canal to the dock, the main sights including the main piazzas and the Doges Palace and Campanile will be on the port side.

[leoandhugh]

Sorry could not edit in time but it would be the starboard side that is preferred for arrival in Venice and the port side if you were sailing from the city. Last time we were there we had the opportunity to see it from both sides as we spent 2 days and an overnight in Venice as a interim port on a Mediterranean cruise

[bloofer]

You'll get good views from both sides. For sailing out of Barcelona, port is best. French Riviera and Italian coastline (west side) are on the port side. Stromboli and Sicily are on the starboard. Once you round the "boot" of Italy, you sail closer to the Greek coast, so starboard is better, along western Greece and Dalmatian coast. For sailing into Venice - definitely starboard.

 

Enjoy! It's a great cruise!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We enjoyed our Port side cabins.

[BrokenAnchor]

We did the same itinerary on the Zuiderdam in May and had a cabin on the starboard side. Overall, we decided that if we had to do it again, the port side is better from an overall standpoint. For Venice you can go to the bow.

[Ship's Wake]

Aside from Venice, if you like watching the sun set from your balcony, then the starboard side would give you the best sunset view over the ocean for this particular itinerary.