Out on the rails
Monday Mantra Out on the rails The White Pass & Yukon Route opens Alaska I want to remain on track…I want to remain on track…I want to remain on track… “Look! There’s the sun!” It was my husband Michael’s exclamation as we stood on deck aboard Silver Shadow docked in Skagway. “
Bucket List: St. Petersburg, Russia
Regal Russia Five must-dos in the majestic port city of St. Petersburg By Carol A. Henry St. Petersburg, Russia, a source of several UNESCO World Heritage sites, and considered the “Venice of the North,” should be on every traveler’s bucket list. On a recent trip there, I discovered that besid
Island Time: South Pacific Cruising
Island Time The story of South Pacific cruising By Chris Frame If you’re like many travelers, the South Pacific conjures visions of a tropical paradise: sunny weather, relaxed and vibrant communities, pristine beaches, and turquoise oceans. Like the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, the beautiful S
Cruise Asia
Cruise Asia From families to adventure-seekers to luxury travelers, there’s something for everyone cruising the Far East. By Heidi Sarna The Far East is a sprawling, spread-out region that stretches from tropical Indonesia at the equator to cooler climes thousands of miles north in China and Japan
Go Green
Go Green How some cruise ships are literally bringing the land to the sea By Gina Tarnacki When Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice-class debuted in 2008 with Celebrity Solstice, the new ship’s biggest claim to fame was its Lawn Club. Real grass — on a cruise ship. It was a first-ever at sea and alt
Join the Club: Born to Rum
Join the Club: Born to Rum Get a taste of island life aboard a rum cruise in the Caribbean. By Clark Norton As a young man, Dave Russell’s first encounter with a certain popular alcoholic beverage quickly turned sour. “I got sick on too much cheap rum,” he recalls, which put him off it for [&h
Like a Local: Seattle
The Spirit of Seattle Close the guidebooks and let a local lead the way. Amy Roe considers herself a typical Seattleite: She loves coffee, has a soft spot for Seattle bands from the ’90s, and won’t let a little rain get in the way of an outdoor run or bike ride. A newspaper editor who […]
Cruise Exec Spotlight: Arnold Donald
Big Job, Huge Personality Carnival Corp. President and CEO Arnold Donald didn’t let a tough beginning stop him from following his business dreams. By Fran Golden A former Monsanto executive and Carnival Corp. board member, Arnold Donald was tapped to run the world’s largest cruise company la
Cruise Wisdom: Nautical Nuptials
Cruise Wisdom: Nautical Nuptials What will my guests think of a cruise ship wedding? By Cindy O’Neil Q: Since my engagement I have been exploring all of the different possibilities for my wedding. What about a cruise ship wedding? — Nancy T, Dayton, OH A: In recent years, cruise ship wedding
Europa 2: Generation LuXe
Generation LuXe Europa 2 caters to upscale cruisers seeking international flavor. By Lori Rackl The bad news for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is that its luxury vessel, Europa, no longer ranks as the Berlitz cruise guide’s top-rated ship. The good news for the German cruise line: The coveted title was stol
Cruise News – June 27, 2014
Cruise News – June 27, 2014 Viking Star Floats Out in Italy Viking, known for its river cruises, celebrated the float-out this week of its first ocean-going ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star, set to debut in spring 2015, with a season of cruises in the Baltic and the Mediterranean. &n
Five Faves: Lands of the Free
Porthole’s Five Faves Lands of the Free 5 Independence-Seeking Cruise Destinations For as worldly as we like to consider ourselves, Porthole is unabashedly American, loving our independence from sea to every-cruisable-shining sea! With our Independence Day a little more than a week away, we wante
Hot Rocks, Cool Vacation
Monday Mantra I want gloves…I want gloves…I want gloves… Hot Rocks, Cool Vacation Alaska is still Alaska, even on a luxury cruise. If I ever say I plan to leave for a cruise directly from the office, just slap me. A full work day, a rush hour commute to JFK, and a 6-hour flight to […]
Cruise News – June 20, 2014
Cruise News – June 20, 2014 Seabourn Signs UNESCO Pact Luxury line Seabourn signed an agreement with UNESCO that includes raising $1 million to protect the world’s cultural and natural attractions – with the additional benefit to cruise passengers of onboard speakers with knowle
Five Faves: Breakfast Buffet Items
Porthole’s Five Faves Start the Day Off Right! 5 Favorite Items at the Breakfast Buffet Who doesn’t love a good buffet? What about a gourmet breakfast? So what could possibly be better than when these two come together?! One of the best amenities of a cruise ship is the all-you-ca
In the Bag
Monday Mantra In the Bag A luxury cruise to Alaska stretches packing strategies to the limit. I will begin packing…I will begin packing…I will begin packing… In just two days, I’ll be off to Vancouver to board Silver Shadow for an 11-day Alaska cruise. I’ll be combining two of the
Cruise News – June 13, 2014
Cruise News – June 13, 2014 Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Entertainment Royal Caribbean International is going for the gold in terms of Quantum of the Seas‘ entertainment – if, that is, the gold involves robots and high-tech wizardry. Prepare to be wowed when the new class of ship de
Five Faves: Enjoy the Show – Five Favorite Performances at Sea
Porthole’s Five Faves Enjoy the Show Five Favorite Performances at Sea There’s something about that moment when the lights go dim, the audience hushes, and the curtain rises. Sometimes you might even forget you’re on a cruise ship. But make no mistake. From Broadway-style shows and worl
All Things Grape and Small
Monday Mantra All Things Grape and Small On a luxury cruise, nothing (and we mean nothing) is overlooked. I need jaw-droppin’ attention to detail… I need jaw-droppin’ attention to detail… I need jaw-droppin’ attention to detail… Allow me to set the scene. My husband, Michael, and
