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 don’t recall any teacher drilling us …

Porthole‘s Five Faves Idyllic Escapes Cruise lines’ private islands offer perfect beach days — and so much more. The Caribbean has always been, and probably always will be, the No. 1 cruise destination. There’s just something about basking in the tropical sun, exploring island culture, and shopping for amazing deals that attract both …

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 …

Porthole‘s Five Faves Let the Good Times Roll… Around the World The best places to celebrate Fat Tuesday in style. It falls on a Tuesday that some folks have had circled on their calendars for months. In the old days, the English called it “Shrove Tuesday” — a good day to “shrive,” or …

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 want to …

Animal Adventures Cruise into these wildlife-spotting moments. When you think cruise + wildlife, visions of dolphins and schools of fish may dance in your head as you remember your last Caribbean cruise. Or perhaps that iconic image of a whale tale might remind you of that defining Alaska moment. There’s a world of …

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 insignificant: an eye …

Porthole’s Five Faves Cruise Ship Re-Creations Shipyards will probably continue to use steel and teak wood, but not all cruise-ship builders fall back on the standbys. The intricately gorgeous design of a cruise ship has been a muse for decades, inspiring people to explore the globe with iconic travel poster close-ups and stirring …

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. While I never did learn whether “WAVE” is …

Five Faves New Ships, New Trips Five Cruises to Consider in 2015 A new year brings a sense of excitement. New opportunities on the horizon. New hopes and dreams.… And new cruise possibilities! Why not make 2015 the year to try something different in the vast world of cruising? Whether it’s aboard a …