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What is the best side of a ship to have a cabin?

Remember: the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. With that said, if you're sailing north or west and want to see sunsets, choose a port side cabin. If you'd rather see the sunrise while sailing south or east, staying on the port side is your ideal choice as well.



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The lower and more central you are in a ship, the less roll and sway you will feel. Even if you choose a balcony room, choose a low level and a room closest to the ship's center. The higher decks and cabins at the front (forward) or back (aft) of the ship will rock and roll the most.

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Eastbound cruises get the most sun on the port side; westbound on the starboard side. Watching a sunset over the ocean or seeing the sun slip behind distant islands can also be a reason for a side preference. To catch sunsets, you'll want to be on the port side on northbound cruises and starboard on southbound cruises.

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The back of the ship tends to be considered the next best cabin position after midships. Whilst the front of the ship gets the most movement the back also does get some. Whilst it's nowhere near as bad as the front of the ship, you may still notice some movement in rough seas.

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Which Cabin to Book? The best place to book a cabin on a cruise if you get seasick is on the lower decks and towards the middle of the ship. Lower decks experience less movement than the higher decks, and the middle of the ship experiences less movement than the front or back.

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If you're worried about seasickness, pick a cabin that's as close to the water level as possible and in the center of the ship. You'll be at the ship's fulcrum point, which means you'll feel less movement than people on higher decks with cabins far forward or all the way at the back.

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The lower and more central you are in a ship, the less roll and sway you will feel. Even if you choose a balcony room, choose a low level and a room closest to the ship's center. The higher decks and cabins at the front (forward) or back (aft) of the ship will rock and roll the most.

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You'll likely want to steer clear of forward cabins. These are far and away the cruise rooms most affected by waves since they're the first to dip in rough seas.

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Northbound Alaska cruises sail up the coastline through the Inside Passage and along Hubbard Glacier, so your best view of Alaska's scenic landmasses are likely on the starboard side of the ship. Southbound Alaska cruises are the opposite.

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The best place to book a cabin on a cruise if you get seasick is on the lower decks and towards the middle of the ship. Lower decks experience less movement than the higher decks, and the middle of the ship experiences less movement than the front or back.

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Midship staterooms on the lowest passenger deck are the most excellent 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.

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The lowest deck In the lowest part of a cruise ship, there's a whole lot of noisy stuff so you may hear the hum of the engine, the blast of the bow thrusters and the clanging of the anchor chain. Depending on the ship, you may also feel vibrations that could make the hangers in your wardrobe rattle!

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Another advantage of staying on a low deck is the lack of movement you may perceive. The common piece of advice regarding avoiding seasickness is booking a cabin on a low deck, mid ship. Since deck 2 (or 3) is the lowest decks you can book, those sensitive to motion sickness may find these low decks beneficial.

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World's Most Luxurious Cruise Cabins
  • Royal Loft Suite onboard Anthem of the Seas (photo via Royal Caribbean International)
  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises Regent Suite onboard the Seven Seas Splendor (Photo via Regent Seven Seas Cruises)
  • Oceania Cruises' Riviera Owner's Suite (Photo via Oceania Cruises)


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For passengers looking to enjoy views, especially the scenery in the wake of a ship, we recommend higher decks and the back of the vessel. The higher you pick, the farther you'll see. If you're after views, the best room on a cruise ship will be a balcony cabin at the ship's rear end.

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In general, cruise cabins are cool, so you don't have to worry about getting too hot.

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The most stable part of the ship is its lowest point of gravity, so on a lower deck, at the center. You'd feel a lot less motion here than, say, in a stateroom on the upper decks a long way forward or aft (towards the back of the ship).

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Many ships, including cruise liners have omitted having a 13th deck due to triskaidekaphobia. Instead, the decks are numbered up to 12 and skip straight to number 14. Hotels, buildings and elevator manufacturers have also avoided using the number 13 for rooms and floors based on triskaidekaphobia.

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Lower Decks This is because this part of the ship, its lowest and most central area, is the most stable during rough sea conditions. A central cabin on one of the lower decks is the best place you can be when you're feeling nauseous. Note that these cabins can feel a bit claustrophobic, though.

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