Starboard vs Port side? Is location of room or side of boat more important?

[fflmaster]

We are looking to book our first DCL trip next year on Treasurer. This is the 7 day St Thomas/Tortola Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

I can book thru Disney on the Starbord side for 200 more then thru Costco (after digital sales card offer) on the port side. These are both same category, same deck, and mid ship.

It looks like Costco only has the port side available for the cruise dates we are looking at.

Which side would you book?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are looking to book our first DCL trip next year on Treasurer. This is the 7 day St Thomas/Tortola Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

I can book thru Disney on the Starbord side for 200 more then thru Costco (after digital sales card offer) on the port side. These are both same category, same deck, and mid ship.

It looks like Costco only has the port side available for the cruise dates we are looking at.

Which side would you book?

When booking a cruise, we look at itinerary first. After picking one we like, the room is next, generally an oceanview. We look at the cost vs size of room, and pick the best choice, with cost being more important.

That said, we tend to book port side rooms on ship, just because we've become accustomed to, when leaving our room onboard, forward is left and aft is right. The few cruises we had to have a room on the starboard side, we've always been mixed up which way things are.

 

[happycamper47]

If a cabin is available it's available. No matter whether you are booking or your TA. If you looked at a particular cabin and then had Costco check shortly after, the original cabin was probably still on a system hold since you looked at it. Only other explanation is Costco bought a block of cabins and re-booking them if they are allowed to do that.

 

[holula]

I would always pick location of room over port vs starboard. I really don’t mind it matters that much.

But like @happycamper47 said if it’s the same room type you should be able to book it wherever as Disney/TAs don’t keep blocks of rooms for themselves. Everyone has the same inventory access.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Realistically, neither location nor view makes much difference. No matter where you are located you are closer to one thing and further to something else. As to view, how much time are you going to spend looking out your window/verandah while in port?

Now, if I have to commit to picking location or view....it's going to be location.

 

[DWillowBay]

In my experience, both sides of the ship get to destinations at relatively the same time. There aren't necessarily pros or cons... just location (forward, midship or aft) and deck. This comes down to preference. No matter which you choose, I am SURE that you will have a great cruise !!

 

[Skippyboo]

Normally the ship back in to the pier on Castaway so starboard will face the island and port faces the pier.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Normally the ship back in to the pier on Castaway so starboard will face the island and port faces the pier.

But not always.

 

[Dug720]

Normally the ship back in to the pier on Castaway so starboard will face the island and port faces the pier.

But not always.

And honestly I find the side with the pier to be the more interesting because you can see some of the undevelopped bits. AND if you have a veranda island-based crew almost always comes to wave you off and it you're on the port side you can wave from your veranda or window. Because on Castaway Day, unless the gangways are closed because of a storm that they didn't think was going to stay but did (happened on the first of 2 days I was supposed to be there on a Double Dip - you honestly couldn't SEE the island most of the time), I'm not going to be on the ship looking at the island.

 

[WiscMomof2]

If the cabin is available, Costco will call Disney and they can make the change. If you’re seeing the room available on the Disney website I would book the better deal and then call to get it switched. I’ve done this before and it was very easy.

 

[footballmp]

WiscMom is exactly right. I used Costco for my 2025 fall Wish cruise. On the Costco website none of the rooms on deck 7 were available but on the Disney website they were. I noted the cabin number I wanted on the Disney website and then called Costco. Costco called Disney and booked the room for me. It was exactly the same price on both websites not including the digital Costco card.