The Judi’s Choice Awards – It’s time we recognized the little things that make cruising great.
Monday Mantra And the winner is…And the winner is…And the winner is…. The Judi’s Choice Awards It’s time we recognized the little things that make cruising great. We all love Porthole Cruise Magazine’s “Readers’ Choice Awards,” those annual, prestigious honors that are determined e
Gear Up, Wind Down… Add on a few pre- and post-cruise nights for that much-needed vacation buffer
Monday Mantra Before and After… Before and After… Before and After… Gear Up, Wind Down… Add on a few pre- and post-cruise nights for that much-needed vacation buffer. If your cruise were a sandwich, a “pre” and “post” stay in your port of embarkation would be the bread that surrounds
Motion of the Ocean – When there’s high seas, are you highly queasy?
Monday Mantra Don’t rock the boat, baby…Don’t rock the boat, baby…Don’t rock the boat, baby Motion of the Ocean When there’s high seas, are you highly queasy? The only thing I hate more than people who can eat anything and not gain weight are people who never, ever get seasick. Take my h
On the Tip of My Tongue – How do you say “No hablo Español” in cruiser?
Monday Mantra Watch your language… Watch your language… Watch your language… On the Tip of My Tongue How do you say “No hablo Español” in cruiser? My high-school Spanish class didn’t really focus on the vocabulary a girl needs to adequately prepare herself for international travel. I do
Oh, Captain! – Dining at that table is a great honor… and, for some of us, a challenge.
Monday Mantra I want to dine with the Captain…I want to dine with the Captain…I want to dine with the Captain… Oh, Captain! Dining at that table is a great honor… and, for some of us, a challenge. I love John Cleese — Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, A Fish Called Wanda. So, it’s not surpris
Where there’s smoke… there’s bound to be a firestorm!
Monday Mantra Smoke on the water… Smoke on the water… Smoke on the water…. Where there’s smoke… …there’s bound to be a firestorm! There’s not a ton of controversy at sea. Really. What can you debate? Whether your filet mignon should come with béarnaise sauce or au poivre? So if you
Lost at Sea – Where do the things you lose on a cruise *go*?
Monday Mantra I’m losin’ it!…I’m losin’ it!…I’m losin’ it! Lost at Sea Where do the things you lose on a cruise go? Call me irresponsible — you won’t be the first — but it’s rare that I return from a cruise with everything I arrived with. My losses are usually insigni
Catch the Wave… It’s time for great cruise deals — and difficult cruise choices!
Monday Mantra It’s Wave Season!…It’s Wave Season!…It’s Wave Season! Catch the Wave It’s time for great deals — and difficult choices! In the travel industry, January marks the beginning of Wave Season, a time when cruise lines traditionally offer their best deals of the year. W
Monday Mantra: Promises, Promises
Monday Mantra Happy New Year!… Happy New Year!… Happy New Year! Promises, Promises I will set sail into the New Year with the best intentions. As we cruise into 2015, I find myself with a boatload of resolutions that are sure to make me a more pleasant shipmate … if I can keep them: I
Escape into the Holiday Spirit. Cruising the Danube can re-awaken your childlike joy of the season.
Monday Mantra DECK the halls…DECK the halls…DECK the halls… Escape into the Holiday Spirit Cruising the Danube can reawaken your childlike joy of the season. They say Christmas is a magical time filled with family, friends, warmth, and wonder. And it certainly is, if you’re abo
Cabin Fever. From poky inside staterooms to the luxury of a doorbell, there’s no place like your home on board.…
Monday Mantra Cabin sweet cabin…Cabin sweet cabin….Cabin sweet cabin… Cabin Fever From poky inside staterooms to the luxury of a doorbell, there’s no place like your home on board.… From yesteryear’s humble inside upper and lower, I have risen phoenix-like to the extravagance of spacious
The Long and Short of It – There are hidden bonuses to cruising with less.
Monday Mantra I’m thinking small… I’m thinking small … I’m thinking small … The Long and Short of It There are hidden bonuses to cruising with less. “I know what you mean about small ships,” the lady next to me at the bar said. “We sailed Holland America Line’s Westerdam last yea
Jost van Dyke’s Hidden Heaven: One little paradise can make an early wake-up call worth the pain.
Monday Mantra I have no pain to kill… I have no pain to kill… I have no pain to kill… Hidden Heaven One little paradise can make an early wake-up call worth the pain. San Juan. St. Thomas. St. Maarten. Jost van Dyke. Jost van what??? Unless you own a private yacht or have cruised […]
Home, sweet Gem- Even after a few changes, it’s good to be aboard a friend.
Monday Mantra I’m at home on Norwegian Gem…I’m at home on Norwegian Gem…I’m at home on Norwegian Gem… Home, sweet Gem Even after a few changes, it’s good to be aboard a friend. I like to think I have my finger on the pulse of the cruise industry but lately IR
Should I Stay or Should I Go? – When emergencies come up at home, nothing matters like family matters.
Monday Mantra I’m sailing this week! Maybe. … I’m sailing this week! Maybe. … I’m sailing this week! Maybe. … Should I Stay or Should I Go? When emergencies come up at home, nothing matters like family matters. I’m going on a cruise this Saturday! Maybe. That’s right: “Maybe.” He
Cultured Cruisers – This expedition cruise ain’t no ship of fools.
Monday Mantra I want to go on an expedition…I want to go on an expedition…I want to go on an expedition… Cultured Cruisers This expedition cruise ain’t no ship of fools. Who would think an SPF-toting, rum punch–slugging, limbo-dancin’ gal like me would love an expedition ship? Unlike the
Thinking Big
Monday Mantra Diet on a cruise? Fat chance!… Diet on a cruise? Fat chance!… Diet on a cruise? Fat chance! Thinking Big On your next cruise, why not just embrace the calories? I slipped into my white pants, fastened the button on the waistband and – boinnnnng! – off it flew, arcing ac
All Aboard Already!
Monday Mantra I want to sail…on time! ….I want to sail…on time! I want to sail…on time! All Aboard Already! If you’re late to the ship, we’re all late. It’s 5:45 p.m. and right now we should be sailing toward St. Thomas. Instead, the ship is still tied up at the pier, a few officers [&
Home Makers – Cabin stewards are the unsung heroes of every cruise.
Monday Mantra I love my cabin steward…I love my cabin steward…I love my cabin steward… Home Makers Cabin stewards are the unsung heroes of every cruise. I have never had a cabin steward who sucked. Ever. That could be today’s entire Monday Mantra right there if not for those pesky little wor
Show me the way. Sometimes, it’s not the destination, but the guide who really makes the journey.
Monday Mantra I want a great guide…I want a great guide…I want a great guide… Show me the way Sometimes, it’s not the destination, but the guide who really makes the journey. The cruise lines have this whole shore excursion thing all wrong. I already know that places like The Vatican, The Lo
