Stay near the terminal when
You arrive late, have children or heavy luggage, need a simple embarkation morning, or the port is a separate city such as Civitavecchia or Southampton.
Stay in the centre when
You have two or more nights, sightseeing matters, or the terminal district has little food and transport. Budget for a confirmed taxi or transfer on sailing day.
Do not trust distance alone
A hotel can look close on a map while fences, water, restricted gates or the wrong terminal make walking impractical. Check the cruise line’s final terminal assignment.
The simple rule
One night: optimize for embarkation. Two or more nights: optimize for the city, then plan the terminal transfer explicitly.