Coming Clean – One of the greatest resources on board is a well-equipped laundry.
Monday Mantra A Clothes Call….A Clothes Call…A Clothes Call… Coming Clean One of the greatest resources on board is a well-equipped laundry. When I design a cruise ship, it may not have a water park, a myriad of alternative dining venues, all-suite accommodations, or butler service, but it wil
Luck, Be a Cruiser Tonight! – Hot streaks happen — whether we want them or not.
Monday Mantra Gambling! Sort of …. Gambling! Sort of … Gambling! Sort of … Luck, Be a Cruiser Tonight! Hot streaks happen — whether we want them or not. “Wait! I’ll go with you! Just let me get rid of this,” I say to Rosemary as she’s headed for the ship’s piano bar. What I’m [&h
Roll of the Dinner Dice. – You can pick your cruise mates — but not necessarily your tablemates
Monday Mantra Ode to the open seating… Ode to the open seating… Ode to the open seating…. Roll of the Dinner Dice You can pick your cruise mates — but not necessarily your tablemates. “Would you like to join others for dinner?” Wouldn’t it be great if you get the lowdown on
The Swizzle’s Secret: Bermuda Falernum
Monday Mantra Sun, Sand, and Swizzles…Sun, Sand, and Swizzles…Sun, Sand, and Swizzles The Swizzle’s Secret If it doesn’t have Bermuda falernum — and a Bermuda bar — it’s just not right. Ahhh… Bermuda. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to some far-flung and exotic places in my life b
Don’t Show Me the Money! – Foreign bills can be fun… maybe… for some people.…
Monday Mantra Cashless cruising!… Cashless cruising!… Cashless cruising! Don’t Show Me the Money! Foreign bills can be fun… maybe… for some people.… Nothing’s better than entering your cabin on embarkation day and ditching your wallet in the safe knowing your signature is all y
There Goes the Sun – What do you do when the tropical rain soaks your ship?
Monday Mantra Rainy Days and Sea Days… Rainy Days and Sea Days… Rainy Days and Sea Days… There Goes the Sun What do you do when the tropical rain soaks your ship? Yay! We’re at sea! You wake and imagine a full day lazing in the sun, sipping cool drinks and reading, listening to music, [&hell
Going Home to Holland America Line – A familiar ship can feel like an old friend.
Monday Mantra I’m coming back!… I’m coming back!… I’m coming back! Going Home to Holland America Line A familiar ship can feel like an old friend. It’s been quite a while since I sailed Holland America Line but I’ll be returning to the line on July 4 when my friend Rosemary and I sail
Man the Baby Stations! – We’ve got a ship-load of kids ahead!
Monday Mantra Kids on Board!… Kids on Board!… Kids on Board! Man the Baby Stations! We’ve got a ship-load of kids ahead! Sometimes — not often, but sometimes — I’m wrong about children. Like Antoine. Antoine, about 2 years old, was perched on his mom’s lap in the seat next to m
Flash Back – The old cruise photographers might have been worth a thousand words after all.
Monday Mantra Picture this… Picture this… Picture this… Flash Back The old cruise photographers might have been worth a thousand words after all Here’s a picture of me with a double chin and my eyes closed. Here’s another of me with my mouth full, my jaw sort of twisted as I chew a mouthfu
Marketplace, Ahoy! We’re shipping out for shopping!
Monday Mantra A bazaar reason to cruise… A bazaar reason to cruise… A bazaar reason to cruise… Marketplace, Ahoy! We’re shipping out for shopping! Fact: I love to shop in foreign lands. Another fact: I once went on a cruise specifically to buy a new wallet. Ironically, the wallet I was out t
Sympathy for the Sticky-Fingered
Monday Mantra I plead guilty…I plead guilty…I plead guilty… Sympathy for the Sticky-Fingered It’s hard not to want to take a little piece of paradise home with you. Shiplifter (ship-lift-er) n.: One who disembarks from a cruise with stemware, dishware, linens, ashtrays, or other items clearl
Routine Reminders – Cruise memories last a lifetime
Monday Mantra A Shipload of Memories…A Shipload of Memories…A Shipload of Memories… Routine Reminders Cruise memories last a lifetime. Nothing drives home how frequently my husband and I sailed more than the heartbreaking task of sifting through Michael’s possessions since his death on April
Here’s to you, and to me, and to all the ships at sea! (Why does cruising wake up the inner imbiber?)
Monday Mantra Cruisin’ for a boozin’…Cruisin’ for a boozin’…Cruisin’ for a boozin’… Here’s to you, and to me, and to all the ships at sea! Is it the rum? Or just the vacation spirit? Why does cruising wake up the inner imbiber? Do I like to drink? I might say I do, but the re
Remembering Michael
Monday Mantra May he rest in peace… May he rest in peace… May he rest in peace… Remembering Michael Calling on Bermuda, and points beyond…. When I signed up to do this blog last May, I understood that I’d be contributing lighthearted and silly humor pieces to Porthole.com. Never did I imag
Rock the Ship – Theme cruises keep the good times rolling.
Monday Mantra Theme Cruise… Dream Cruise… Theme Cruise… Dream Cruise… Theme Cruise… Dream Cruise… Rock the Ship Theme cruises keep the good times rolling. “Woooooooooooohoooooooooooooo!” That’s the sort of the sound I’d make when, as a teenager, I’d open the latest edition of T
One Cruise at a Time – The first step is admitting you have a cruising problem.
Monday Mantra I need a fix… I need a fix… I need a fix… One Cruise at a Time The first step is admitting you have a cruising problem. On one hand, there are the casual cruise vacationers. They are those who might mention they’re going on a cruise but, when pressed for details, won’t [&hell
Not Exactly Homesick. Ever get that queasy feeling now that the cruise is almost over?
Monday Mantra Home, bleak home…Home, bleak home…Home, bleak home… Not Exactly Homesick Ever get that queasy feeling now that the cruise is almost over? Somewhere between the moment you place your luggage outside your cabin door on the final night of your cruise and 7:00 a.m. the following morn
Choice Dining – The specialty restaurants on today’s cruise ships are a delicious delight… for most of us.
Monday Mantra What’s for dinner?… What’s for dinner?… What’s for dinner? Choice Dining The specialty restaurants on today’s cruise ships are a delicious delight… for most of us. You never forget your first… alternative dining venue aboard a cruise ship. For me, it was Norwegi
Save us. The muster drill isn’t fun or fabulous. But at least it’s fast.
Monday Mantra Report to your muster station… Report to your muster station… Report to your muster station… Save us. The muster drill isn’t fun or fabulous. But at least it’s fast. There’s no question that some important things in life are a bother: dental checkups, airport security, holi
See Alaska in style aboard Silversea Cruises
Landscapes and Luxury See Alaska in style aboard Silversea Cruises. By Judi Cuervo Click. “Darn.” Click. “Darn.” Click. “Darn!” Whales are not like people. They don’t assemble and pose. Even on the “sports” setting of my camera, an enviable shot of a whale’s fluke — that two-lo
