HI Ms Understood,

We were across the hall from Beth and Betty on ZOdiac. In ANtarctica there are several days and nights when the portholes are covered so that the cabin is entirely dark for several days and nights in a row. They have a problem there with birds flying into the ship at night as they become disorrented by the ligts. Consequently they keep the posrtholes and all windows covered at night. If you have a cabin with windows and curtains you can open them during the day. The portholes on the otherhand have big metal covers and security comes in and closes them. They do not open them during the day and then close them at night, they jsut remain closed during the entire time of the bird problem. A a result some people felt the porthole cabins became very cave like and depressing. I know it bothered Beth a lot, it didn't bother me much but I think it got to Marc after the third day. (I think they were closed about 3 days) I think it is a personal opinion as to whether or not it will bother you. ALso, they may not do this up north, like they did down south. Beth can chime in and let you know if there were other reasons she didn't like the porthole cabins.