Gracious Godmothers Not all ship christeners are royals and big-screen celebs. In the cruise industry, the role of godmother comes with a few responsibilities beyond overseeing the proper demolition of a bubbly bottle. But when push comes to Champagne shove, it’s hard to pin down exactly what makes the perfect christening candidate. While …

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 …

Porthole’s Five Faves Spring Has Sprung! What better time to check out these amazing gardens around the world? As much of the world begins to thaw out from winter, we thought it’d be a good time to warm up to some of the world’s most beautiful gardens. Imagine stepping off a ship and …

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 morning when the first disembarkation …

Porthole’s Five Faves Cut Costs, Not Corners! Five smart ways to save on your next cruise vacation I don’t know about you, but when I go on a cruise vacation I’m always looking for the best ways to save money. Personally, I’d rather spend money eating at specialty restaurants, drinking extraordinary amounts of …

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 Norwegian Majesty’s intimate Le Bistro during a 1999 sailing …

Porthole‘s Five Faves Unforgettable Lines Take a fond look back at some of the best bygone cruise lines. This has been a year of unbelievable advances in cruising, from apps to bionic bartenders. But the simple fact is the same now as it was a century and a half ago: There’s something magical …

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, holiday dinners with the in-laws and, …

For Cruisers Who Have Done It All By Lynne Helm Next Stop: The Seychelles . . . It’s no wonder that William and Kate, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, chose to honeymoon in the Seychelle Islands. There’s no better place to get away from it all than these tropical stepping stones …

Porthole’s Five Faves Under the Sea Made by man and normally found on land, these intriguing attractions really are better down where it’s wetter. Cruising, as you know, is an incredible option for exploring the surface of the planet. If it’s the undersea world you’re interested in, cruise ships are still the way …