Porthole Cruise Party 2018 Photos and Video
Porthole Party 2018 Check out the exciting photos and video from this year’s Porthole Cruise Party, which was held in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, during Seatrade Cruise Global, the industry’s largest conference and trade show. Click HERE to see the photos Thanks to everyone wh
Cruise Deal of the Week – Jan. 5, 2018
Cruise Deal of the Week – Jan. 5, 2018 Norwegian Cruise Line is offering up to $500 in free onboard spending on select 5-day or longer sailings – a “Super Splash Sale” that can be combined with the “Free at Sea”promotion providing up to $3,100 in added value. Book by January 15 for t
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 5, 2018
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 5, 2018 American Cruise Lines has become a national underwriter for the iconic PBS series Washington Week, a roundtable discussion that’s been dissecting national news story once a week since 1967. “There is a certain synergy between our cruise itinerarie
Dish It Up: Crystal Esprit
Delicious dining at Crystal Esprit’s Yacht Club Restaurant By Janice Wald Henderson Have you ever dreamed of a chef cooking exclusively for you on a private yacht? That dream’s a reality for 62 lucky guests sailing Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises’ Crystal Esprit. The chef’s dishes dazzle li
A Standing O: Sailing with Oprah Winfrey
A Standing O Setting sail with Oprah is the ultimate fan experience. By Michel Verdure “Each moment in time we have it all, even when we don’t.” Melody Beattie from O’s Little Book of Happiness Boarding Eurodam in Seattle that day appeared unexceptional — until I approached the gangway to
Floating Galleries
Floating Galleries 10 Great Cruise Ships for Art Lovers By Sherri Eisenberg Sure, you can sail to the best destinations in the world for art lovers, from Livorno (to spend the day in Florence) to Le Havre (to explore Paris’ unforgettable museums). However, there are cruise ships that are art desti
Ship Review: American Duchess
Cruising the Mississippi River on its first all-suite paddlewheeler. By Suzanne Carmel On August 14, 2017, in New Orleans, American Queen Steamboat Company christened its newest ship, American Duchess. Godmother Marissa Applegate, daughter of the line’s chairman and CEO, John Waggoner, broke a bot
Destination Discovery: Israel
Destination Discovery: Israel For Cruisers Who Have Done It All By Richard Varr When it comes to the history of the world, this small stretch of land the size of New Jersey holds an enormous legacy. From its tree-lined rolling hills in the north to creviced desert terrain in the south, Israel
Join the Club: Vampire Cruises
Cruises You Can Sink Your Teeth Into Vampire genre cruises draw fans looking for a “fangtastic” time. By Clark Norton Vampires — those sharp-fanged mythological creatures of the night who are said to subsist on the blood of the living – are as ubiquitous as Snooki these days, rising f
Gourmet Buffets
GOURMET BUFFETS Step aside, midnight pizza! There are plenty of new favorites to choose from at today’s buffets at sea. By Lynn & Cele Seldon Buffets at sea were once all about the quantity. The bigger the bowl of (jumbo) shrimp, the better! Today, quality and creativity take the fore… and c
Hanging Loose on the Wind Surf
HANGING LOOSE ON THE WIND SURF With the wind at our backs and the surf in our ears, Windstar gave us a journey unlike any other. By Ben Lyons Standing at the railing of Windstar Cruises’ Wind Surf, I became a bit reflective as the sun reluctantly set off St. Bart’s. It may have been […]
Like a Local: A Dose of Barbados
Like a Local: A Dose of Barbados Sure, there are guidebooks that list every restaurant and attraction in destinations around the world. But Porthole’s “Like a Local” department goes straight to the natives, who truly know the way to go. By Rosemary Parkinson As a Caribbean food writer a
Art Sails
ART SAILS Dramatic pieces aboard today’s ships do more than merely decorate the walls. By Matt Hannafin When you take a cruise, the idea — the ideal, really — is that you’re stepping out of your everyday life and into an amplified reality: The food and drink never run out. There a
Cruising Down Under
CRUISING DOWN UNDER With more cruise lines adding Australia to their summer routes, travelers now have easier access to all this faraway land has to offer. By Natalie Aroyan Ever the bucket-list destination deemed too distant, Australia is now becoming easier to reach thanks to the largest cruise li
Who’s Up for an “Un-Cruise”?
Who’s Up for an “Un-Cruise”? Smaller lines join forces to unveil a new strategy, luring guests who normally might not cruise at all. By Chris Gray Faust While many cruisers delight in megaships with zip lines, elaborate waterslides, and touristy ports, there’s a certain type of traveler who
American Queen: A Royal Ship Returns
The American Queen steamboat brings back the golden age of river cruising By Shawn J. Dake It begins with a hiss that builds into a melodic whoosh, as clouds of steam pour out of the brass whistles. A bright red paddle wheel churns the water. The steamboat American Queen is back, returning to the Mi
Join the Club: Ship-Deck Soccer
SHIP-DECK SOCCER Having a Ball at Sea. By Clark Norton In the spring of 2011, a girls’ soccer club in southern New Jersey called the Cape Express Bulldogs was casting about for a destination for a vacation soccer camp for its team of soon-to-be 14 year olds, many of whom had played together since
Head for Hong Kong
HEAD FOR HONG KONG There’s something for every taste in this world-class metropolis. By Irvina Lew Hong Kong is an extraordinarily exciting and elegant city for cruise ship passengers to explore. This dynamic destination lures 33 million visitors annually. It’s so posh that bakery-like lines for
Food for Thought : Cooking Classes
FOOD FOR THOUGHT DIG IN Learning is full of flavor aboard today’s cruise ships. By Lynn and Cele Seldon Whether it’s for a hot new restaurant, a food and wine festival, or culinary classes that divulge chef secrets and recipes, culinary travel is tastier than ever. That’s especially true on cr
Amazing Amazon: M.V. Aria
AMAZING AMAZON Adventure meets luxury aboard Aqua Expeditions’ M/V Aria. By Gail Harrington Anticipation takes over when you’re heading off to one of the world’s great wonders like the Amazon. In my case, expectations soared in Aqua Expeditions’ beautiful waterfront air-conditioned, outdoor
