What Is Starboard on a Cruise Ship?

By Robert Palmer

Starboard is an important term to learn for any passenger about to embark on their first cruise. It is the nautical term for the right side of a ship when looking forward from the stern, or back of the vessel. Starboard is also used when referring to a specific direction on a vessel, typically referring to the right-hand side of the boat, as opposed to port which would be the left-hand side.

The two sides of a ship are often referred to as port and starboard because historically sailors used stars and lighthouses at night to navigate and determine which direction they were going in. When they saw a light off on the left-hand side it was known as ‘port’ because that’s where boats would traditionally turn into port or a harbor. On the other hand if they saw a light off on the right-hand side of their boat, it was known as ‘starboard’ and could be used as a reference point for sailors.

For cruise ships, starboard is most commonly used when referring to cabins located on that side of the vessel. Cabins located on starboard often have better views than cabins located on port due to their positioning in relation to shorelines and other vessels. Passengers may also use starboard when looking for certain services or amenities onboard such as restaurants, bars or entertainment venues.

Starboard is also commonly used when referring to docking procedures for cruise ships. For example, if you were boarding a ship at one of its ports you may hear instructions such as ‘Please board via starboard gangway’ meaning you should board via the gangway located at the right-hand side of the vessel.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, ‘starboard’ is an important term for any passenger embarking on their first cruise. On board most cruise ships it refers specifically to cabins located on that side of the vessel and can also be used when docking or looking for amenities onboard. Knowing what starboard means can help make your vacation even more enjoyable and stress free.