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Thank you for your replies. I have just googled port and starboard and was surprised to find a link between port for left and the post side.We were tempted to ask the Captain to turn round! On the last stop, we arrived port to view but the ship then did turn round! I was actually asking specifically about the Hawaii cruise. It obviously can't be helped if the dockside is ugly - and we could not see anything attractive, just metal buildings - but we would have liked a fair turn with the beautiful scenery enjoyed by those with starboard balconies for the same price we paid. I wanted to know if the ship regularly docks port side to dock; a lady in reception on the ship suggested we should have been advised on booking about the poor port-side views but this was denied later. Another point is that, because Hawaii is so far south it is dark early and you can't enjoy the evening sailing in the same way as more northerly cruises. I have now found the POA webcam on line so we are observing for ourselves the orientation. Believe me , you would not find our balcony views in the slightest interesting.

did you think of asking the captain if he would be so kind as to reverse in to the dock

On our first three cruises in the Caribbean we had a starboard side cabin and with one exception we were facing the land - which we prefer as we like to see what is going on. On our next cruise we were facing out to sea on all but one port so as someone else has said, you cannot predict which side the ship will dock.

Our experience gained from 19 cruises is "some you win - some you lose". Personally, I prefer it when our balcony cabin is against the quayside. You get to see where the streets lead to and the sort of road congestion to expect. You are looking seaward all the time when not in port. Why not enjoy the change of scenery when you can?

Port side of the ship does not mean that this is the side that will face the port. You were just unlucky. You cannot predict which way a ship will enter port - it depends on time of day, tides, other vessels in port, time they are scheduled to leave, and the whim of the captain (perhaps).