Five Faves: New Ships for the New Year
Porthole‘s Five Faves Cruise into 2016 Five new ships to look forward to in the new year. Year after year, there never seems to be a shortage of new and exciting cruise ships being built — from the continuous rise of river ships to today’s big, bigger, and biggest megaships to the world’
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 […]
Cruise Ship Review: Anthem of the Seas
A Cruise Ship Review of Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas Royal Caribbean’s newest addition to the fleet is a sight to behold. Anthem of the Seas can house 4,905 guests in 2,090 staterooms and, at 1,141 feet long, lays a claim at being the third-largest cruise ship in the world. It has i
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
Porthole’s Five Faves Theme Cruises
Upcoming Theme Cruises Not that you ever need an excuse to book a cruise, but these theme cruises provide a pretty convincing reason to set sail soon. Who knew that the high seas would provide the ideal common ground for people to congregate and celebrate their passions? If this handful of up
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
Five Faves: Haunted Hotels in Paranormal Ports of Call
Spooky Scenes Cruising’s Most Haunted Hotels It’s late October, when the wind rattles through the cane fields, Las Calaveras Catrinas decorate the streets of Cozumel, the duppies and jumbies cast long shadows along the lonely island beaches, and people everywhere gather close to trade scary stor
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 […]
Five Faves Tips for First-Time Travelers
Smooth Sailing Five Tips for First-Time Travelers Allow me to preface this post: I am completely and totally in love with traveling. There isn’t one part of traveling that I don’t like. I love the middle seat, I adore layovers (the longer the better), security lines are joyous and often make me
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
Five Faves: The Best Things About a Music Theme Cruise
Porthole‘s Five Faves Rock This Ship Five Reasons You’ll Love a Music Theme Cruise I recently had the pure joy of spending four days on a cruise with six of my favorite people: Emily, Donnie, Danny, Jordan, Jon, and Joe. The former, my BFF since kindergarten; the latter five, none othe
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
Five Faves: Best Senior Perks
Porthole’s Five Faves Best Senior Perks If wisdom comes with age, then perhaps no one needs this article less than the older cruisers we celebrate today Today is International Day of Older Persons, so let us be the first to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all elders who have contributed posit
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 […]
Five Faves: Find YOUR Island Paradise
Porthole‘s Five Faves Photo:Bjørn Christian Tørrissen
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
Porthole’s Five Faves: The Best of London
Porthole’s Five Faves The Best of London We asked five Brits what should cruisers do if they have 24 hours in London pre or post cruise? Here’s what they said… Sign up for weekly cruise news, fun contests, and exclusive offers delivered right to your inbox! [/fullwidth_text]
