Which way is port and which way is starboard?

Question

I heard someone say that if your cruise cabin is on the port side, you will always have a view of the port when you are docked? is this true?

Answer 1

If facing the bow (front of the boat) port is on left and starboard is on the right.

Answer 2

Facing the front of the ship, Port is left and Starboard is right.

No a port side cabin does not always guarantee you will face the port.  Some times the docking will depend upon the port facilities and also the number of other ships in port.  Some port stops, like Gran Cayman and Cozumel,  you do not even tie up to a dock.  In those cases you board a tender to get to the pier.

Answer 3

No.  Port is left, starboard is right.  Whether or not you have a view of the port depends on which way your boat docks.

The actual origin of the term "port" is speculated to be because the left side of old merchant sailing ships had a loading or entry port. The right side had a steering board that hung over the side of the ship (before the invention of rudders) which is where the term starboard comes from. So if the steering board hung over the right side, the boat would need to dock on its left side, or put into port on its left side.

Answer 4

Port is left and starboard is right to the front of the ship.