Porthole‘s Five Faves  Setting Sail Five Favorite Caribbean Sailaways  Is there anything better than a cruise sailaway? The churning of the engines. The breeze in your face. The sounds of the Lido Deck band playing in the background…. At Porthole Cruise Magazine, we love sailaways, which is why we share a new one …

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 to …

Porthole’s Five Faves Five Favorite Theme Cruises Whether you’re into progressive rock or proper punctuation, there’s bound to be an upcoming cruise that’ll float your boat Cruisers love company. One of the best experiences on any ship is getting to know someone new, whether it’s that globe-trotting elderly couple in the buffet line, …

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 clearly the property of the cruise line (usu. …

Porthole’s Five Faves Sea-centric Songs Enya may have created the sounds most synonymous with sailing away, but it’s not the only song in the key of cruising.   If you were putting together the typical cruising soundtrack, it would need to include the Love Boat theme, a dozen Bob Marley songs, and the …

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 2. A New Yorker cartoon sits in a dresser …

Porthole’s Five Faves Private Label Five reasons to toast MSC Cruises’ wine-blending program There’s never a shortage of wine on a cruise ship, but imagine getting a Napa Valley or Sonoma experience of both wine tasting and blending right on board. That was our experience on a recent sailing aboard MSC Divina when …

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 …

Porthole‘s Five Faves The Mother of All Gifts Five great gift ideas for the cruise-loving mom in your life. We all go through it. “What in the world am I going to get mom for Mother’s Day this year?” If the mom on your list loves to cruise, then check out our roundup …

Porthole’s Five Faves Bring on the May Flowers (and More)! Our five favorite May Day celebrations around the world. The April showers are just about over, which means it’s time to have a little fun in the sun for May Day. The first of May is a holiday with deep roots in different …