Port or Starboard? Dream

[firstwdw]

Currently booked in a midship deck 8 Port side verandah stateroom. Should I switch to Starboard side deck 7 verandah or just stay put? We've never cruised before.

 

[Shanti]

Currently booked in a midship deck 8 Port side verandah stateroom. Should I switch to Starboard side deck 7 verandah or just stay put? We've never cruised before.

I recommend starboard. You can see fireworks from many of the starboard rooms, and starboard gets a more picturesque view of Castaway Cay.

 

[Dug720]

Currently booked in a midship deck 8 Port side verandah stateroom. Should I switch to Starboard side deck 7 verandah or just stay put? We've never cruised before.

I like port side. I prefer the more natural side of Castaway - to me that is more picturesque. And many starboard verandah cabins get a letter about not being on their balcony during fireworks, so that's really a moot point.

I am in the minority though. Most people like the man-designed side of Castaway, and many ignore the letter about not being on the verandah for fireworks.

Edit to add... Not that I spend Castaway day in my cabin looking at the island. LOL. So in reality it doesn't enter into my thought process. I am just a port-side girl all around.

 

[Laughfreely]

I agree with Dug720. Saw the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises on the port side. Watched the parasailing from our verandah at Castaway Cay.

 

[ACQUADUCK]

I recommend starboard. You can see fireworks from many of the starboard rooms, and starboard gets a more picturesque view of Castaway Cay.

^^^^This, fully agree.^^^^

Been CC Many times and had rooms either side, the Starboard side is great, Port side not a lot there.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Currently booked in a midship deck 8 Port side verandah stateroom. Should I switch to Starboard side deck 7 verandah or just stay put? We've never cruised before.

Depends if you prefer viewing more ocean scenery and ships sailing by (with your binoculars in hand) or if you want to see more shore lines passing by. We have mostly had port side verandas to see the ocean traffic.

And true, on the one time we did a starboard veranda, 7 day western Caribbean, we got the notice to stay off the veranda during the fireworks Pirate Night.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We've been both port and starboard when at Castaway Cay. I like both views.

Port side


Starboard side


As noted some verandah rooms on the starboard side will get the letter asking them not to be on the verandah during the fireworks. I also agree with Dug - I don't spend my time in my room onboard gazing at Castaway Cay. I'm off enjoying the island. I like being up on deck (Cabanas) watching the pull in and docking (where I took the photos from).

This is a port side view out of our oceanview room on the Magic:


I'll have to check my files for photos taken from our verandah on the Fantasy - starboard side.
Starboard view from side:

 

[ACQUADUCK]

Quoted above are aft- views, and from aft of port and starboard.

This is actually PORT.



This ( an older photo) starboard.

 

[Dug720]

Port at Castaway...

You can also stand on your verandah if you have one and wave good-bye to the island crew...

 

[ACQUADUCK]

Port at Castaway...

You can also stand on your verandah if you have one and wave good-bye to the island crew...

Yes, that actually is Port , not Aft, and makes the point, Starboard is far better.

 

[Dug720]

Yes, that actually is Port , not Aft, and makes the point, Starboard is far better.

In your opinion. I prefer port. More natural overall.

But again, I'm not camping in my cabin on Castaway Day, so it really is a moot point.

 

[OKW Lover]

We prefer Starboard side when at CC. Lovely to watch the island reveal itself as the ship pulls in. Awesome after a day on CC to sit on your veranda, freshly showered, with a beverage and an all hands on deck gazing out over the island.

 

[firstwdw]

Thank you all for your insight and especially your pictures and experiences!

 

[bobbiwoz]

We had port side last week. It was fine.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

We just got off Dream today and I booked starboard to watch the fireworks. Love the fireworks, hate the crowds for the pirate party. I believe this is the 3rd time I've done starboard (but first time on the Dream) so I can watch fireworks from my room, never been asked not to go on the balcony.

 

[dcassetta]

If you do book a starboard cabin, I recommend going to deck 4 on leaving CC. Waving goodbye to the on island crew is lots of fun, if also a little sad.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We just got off Dream today and I booked starboard to watch the fireworks. Love the fireworks, hate the crowds for the pirate party. I believe this is the 3rd time I've done starboard (but first time on the Dream) so I can watch fireworks from my room, never been asked not to go on the balcony.

Some rooms receive a letter asking them not to be on the verandah:

 

[MomOTwins]

Does anyone know if there are certain floors or locations (aft mid forward) etc. that get the no-veranda-during-fireworks letter? Based on the inconsistent accounts, it sounds like only a portion of the starboard rooms are affected. My littlest has an early bedtime, and it's my turn to stay in the stateroom with him during the pirate party on our next cruise, so I would love to know if our stateroom is affected as there are still plenty of other rooms to choose from.

 

[Quellman]

Does anyone know if there are certain floors or locations (aft mid forward) etc. that get the no-veranda-during-fireworks letter? Based on the inconsistent accounts, it sounds like only a portion of the starboard rooms are affected. My littlest has an early bedtime, and it's my turn to stay in the stateroom with him during the pirate party on our next cruise, so I would love to know if our stateroom is affected as there are still plenty of other rooms to choose from.

I would suspect that the 4e staterooms are the ones most impacted by it with the uncovered verandah. I have sailed aft corner room (8 something) and did not have a reminder notice in that room. I would suspect some of the deck 5-7 rooms might have it due to potential fireworks fall out.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Does anyone know if there are certain floors or locations (aft mid forward) etc. that get the no-veranda-during-fireworks letter? Based on the inconsistent accounts, it sounds like only a portion of the starboard rooms are affected. My littlest has an early bedtime, and it's my turn to stay in the stateroom with him during the pirate party on our next cruise, so I would love to know if our stateroom is affected as there are still plenty of other rooms to choose from.

We were mid ship deck 9 (9594 and 9592) and received the notice.