Nautical and Nice – These are some gifts to win a cruiser’s heart.
Monday Mantra Gift Guide … Gift Guide … Gift Guide … Nautical and Nice These are some gifts to win a cruiser’s heart. To judge by the emails that pop into my inbox and the brochures that are delivered by my postman, a cruise is an enormously popular gift choice. If that’s the case,
A Magic Shop – One destination makes Gustavia a tropical paradise.
Monday Mantra St. Barts on a Budget … St. Barts on a Budget … St. Barts on a Budget … A Magic Shop There’s one destination that truly makes Gustavia a tropical paradise. Just when I think I’m doing pretty well financially, I’ll cruise to St. Barts and realize what a pauper I am. Sometime
First Time’s the Charm – Taking a friend on her very first cruise can be picture perfect.
Monday Mantra Starting at the top … Starting at the top … Starting at the top … First Time’s the Charm Taking a friend on her very first cruise can be picture perfect. “I cannot BELIEVE I have to unwrap the new roll of toilet paper myself!” Carole’s indignant objection boomed through t
A Caribbean Thanksgiving – What holiday could be happier than one spent cruising?
Monday Mantra Thanks … Thanks … Thanks … A Caribbean Thanksgiving What holiday could be happier than one spent cruising? If this was Thursday Mantra, I’d wish you all a happy Thanksgiving, but since it’s Monday Mantra, I ask you to cast your mind back a couple of days. I
The Can’t Talk – Gotta Cruise! Checklist – Here’s a cruise-prep pep talk for the chronically under-prepared.
Monday Mantra Ready or not … Ready or not … Ready or not … The Can’t Talk – Gotta Cruise! Checklist Here’s a cruise-prep pep talk for the chronically under-prepared. Okay. This has got to be quick. How is it possible that the months before a cruise creep by so slowly when the week before
Travel On – The best response to tragedy is to keep an even keel and a steady course.
Monday Mantra Vive la France …Vive la France …Vive la France … Travel On The best response to tragedy is to keep an even keel and a steady course. There I was, planning to write my blog on Friday when I came home from work. I was torn between three ideas: A parody of “The […]
A Cruise to … Somewhere – You know you’re a serious cruise fan when you sign on to sail an unknown itinerary.
Monday Mantra It’s a Mystery…It’s a Mystery…It’s a Mystery… A Cruise to … Somewhere You know you’re a serious cruise fan when you sign on to sail an unknown itinerary. You know how it is when you’ve booked a cruise. Everyone you know — your friends, your family — all ask where
A Little Something Extra – Navigating the etiquette of tipping can be tricky.
Monday Mantra A Few Tips … A Few Tips … A Few Tips … A Little Something Extra Navigating the etiquette of tipping can be tricky. You can’t spend nearly 20 years married to a man whose entire career was in the restaurant business and not be left with a profound appreciation for tipping. M
Home Is Where the Ship Is
Monday Mantra I’m movin’ in … I’m movin’ in … I’m movin’ in … Home Is Where the Ship Is Why not cruise full time? Every so often, you’ll see a news story about an old woman who decides to sell her home and all of her possessions and move, permanently, on to a cruise […]
Mysteries of the Sea: The best parts of a cruise can’t be planned – only enjoyed as they happen.
Monday Mantra A private performance … A private performance … A private performance … Mysteries of the Sea The best parts of a cruise can’t be planned – only enjoyed as they happen. If I had to pick the most magical moment of my nearly 40 years of cruising, it would have nothing to do [&he
A Tender Subject – Well, you’ve got to get to port somehow….
Monday Mantra Tender-ness …Tender-ness …Tender-ness … A Tender Subject Well, you’ve got to get to port somehow…. “YAY! We get to tender ashore!” said no cruise passenger ever. It just goes to show how spoiled and pampered we are on board when a 15-minute boat ride into port becomes suc
Buddy On Board – We’ve been friends for 40 years. Our first cruise together should be just fine … right?
Monday Mantra A New Shipmate!…A New Shipmate!…A New Shipmate! Buddy On Board We’ve been friends for 40 years. Our first cruise together should be just fine … right? “Will there be fat people on the ship?” “Are you bringing pantyhose?” “Is there somewhere I can go and read a
Bee Afraid – Melissophobia (the fear of stinging insects) can turn even the sweetest excursion a little sour.
Monday Mantra A honey of a tour … A honey of a tour … A honey of a tour … Bee Afraid Melissophobia — the fear of stinging insects — can turn even the sweetest excursion a little sour Thassos, a lush landscape of mountain and sea. At this verdant island in Northern Greece, I […]
So You Wanna Be A Cruise Writer? – If there’s one thing those muster drills teach us, it’s to always be ready.
Monday Mantra The Write Stuff…The Write Stuff…The Write Stuff… So You Wanna Be A Cruise Writer? If there’s one thing those muster drills teach us, it’s to always be ready. A lot of people ask me how I got into freelance cruise writing. In my case, I simply answered the phone. And it was a
Code Dread – Informally, there’s nothing “smart” about “casual.”
Monday Mantra Whatever Shall I Wear?… Whatever Shall I Wear?… Whatever Shall I Wear?… Code Dread! Informally, there’s nothing “smart” about “casual.” Okay, I give up. What exactly is “smart casual” dress? I picture a rather untidy person in jeans and a T-shirt carrying the latest
Full Uptight Position – The worst thing about a luxury cruise? The flight to get there.
Monday Mantra Prepare for Takeoff…Prepare for Takeoff…Prepare for Takeoff… Full Uptight Position The worst thing about a luxury cruise? The flight to get there. Countdown! A week from tomorrow, I’m off to Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2, rated the world’s best cruise ship by Berlitz. And already,
Top Shelf – Cover to cover and stem to stern, there’s no better friend on board.
Porthole’s Monday Mantra BYOB…BYOB…BYOB! Top Shelf Cover to cover and stem to stern, there’s no better friend on board. I’m bringing my own. And I don’t care how heavy it is and I don’t care if I don’t finish it, I refuse to board a ship to find a limited or lackluster selection. Wai
The World Is My Oyster! – Flights of fancy are fine, and trains of thought will get you there eventually … but what can beat a cruise around the world?
Porthole’s Monday Mantra Let’s Pretend … Let’s Pretend … Let’s Pretend … The World Is My Oyster! Flights of fancy are fine, and trains of thought will get you there eventually … but what can beat a cruise around the world? I’m going on a World Cruise! Actually, I’m not, but I wan
A Virgin Wish List – Mr. Branson … Richard … we’re ready to be shaken up.
Porthole’s Monday Mantra Virgin thoughts…Virgin thoughts…Virgin thoughts… A Virgin Wish List Mr. Branson … Richard … we’re ready to be shaken up. It’s an amazing time for us cruise nuts! In the coming years, we’ll see exciting new ships from Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Li
Here Comes the Cruise! The best cure for what ails you is full steam ahead!
Porthole’s Monday Mantra Cruise for the Blues…Cruise for the Blues…Cruise for the Blues… Here Comes the Cruise! The best cure for what ails you is full steam ahead! I have not one, not two, but three cruises on the horizon! I usually roll my eyes when braggarts bend my ear with details of th
