The Judi’s Choice Awards – It’s time we recognized the little things that make cruising great.
Monday Mantra And the winner is…And the winner is…And the winner is…. The Judi’s Choice Awards It’s time we recognized the little things that make cruising great. We all love Porthole Cruise Magazine’s “Readers’ Choice Awards,” those annual, prestigious honors that are determined e
Five Faves: Are We There Yet? Five essential must-packs for traveling with kids
Porthole‘s Five Faves Are We There Yet? Five essential must-packs for traveling with kids We all know that when traveling, less is usually more, especially when traveling with kids. The less you have to haul around the better it is for everyone. This is exactly why we’ve put together our top
Gear Up, Wind Down… Add on a few pre- and post-cruise nights for that much-needed vacation buffer
Monday Mantra Before and After… Before and After… Before and After… Gear Up, Wind Down… Add on a few pre- and post-cruise nights for that much-needed vacation buffer. If your cruise were a sandwich, a “pre” and “post” stay in your port of embarkation would be the bread that surrounds
Five Faves: Don’t Miss This Kiss
Porthole‘s Five Faves Don’t Miss This Kiss Five places to sneak a smooch on a cruise We began our courtship on a cruise ship, dancing salsa outdoors on a warm Caribbean night aboard Oceania Marina. As two travel writers, we actually “dated” on cruises to Europe, Asia, Alaska, the
Motion of the Ocean – When there’s high seas, are you highly queasy?
Monday Mantra Don’t rock the boat, baby…Don’t rock the boat, baby…Don’t rock the boat, baby Motion of the Ocean When there’s high seas, are you highly queasy? The only thing I hate more than people who can eat anything and not gain weight are people who never, ever get seasick. Take my h
Five Faves: How Suite It Is! Five Amazing Accommodations aboard Seven Seas Explorer
Porthole‘s Five Faves How Suite It Is! Five Amazing Accommodations aboard Seven Seas Explorer Regent Seven Seas Cruises has revealed details on all 10 categories of suites that will be featured aboard Seven Seas Explorer when the 750-guest all-suite ship debuts in the summer of 2016. (The sh
On the Tip of My Tongue – How do you say “No hablo Español” in cruiser?
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 do
Five Faves: Idyllic Escapes. Cruise lines’ private islands offer perfect beach days — and so much more.
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, a
Oh, Captain! – Dining at that table is a great honor… and, for some of us, a challenge.
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 not surpris
Five Faves: Carnival is Coming! Let the Good Times Roll… Around the World.
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,”
Where there’s smoke… there’s bound to be a firestorm!
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
Five Fave Photos: Animal Adventures
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. Th
Lost at Sea – Where do the things you lose on a cruise *go*?
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 insigni
Five Faves: Cruise Ship Re-Creations
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 tr
Catch the Wave… It’s time for great cruise deals — and difficult cruise choices!
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. W
Five Faves: New Ships, New Trips – Cruise Year’s Resolutions
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 aboar
Monday Mantra: Promises, Promises
Monday Mantra Happy New Year!… Happy New Year!… Happy New Year! Promises, Promises I will set sail into the New Year with the best intentions. As we cruise into 2015, I find myself with a boatload of resolutions that are sure to make me a more pleasant shipmate … if I can keep them: I
Five Favorite Stories from 2014’s Cruise News
Five Faves Five Favorite Stories from 2014’s Cruise News A fond look back at the year’s top cruise trends. New ships Norwegian Getaway, Regal Princess, and “smart ship” Quantum of the Seas, plus dozens of new river ships — including from Viking River Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Uniw
Escape into the Holiday Spirit. Cruising the Danube can re-awaken your childlike joy of the season.
Monday Mantra DECK the halls…DECK the halls…DECK the halls… Escape into the Holiday Spirit Cruising the Danube can reawaken your childlike joy of the season. They say Christmas is a magical time filled with family, friends, warmth, and wonder. And it certainly is, if you’re abo
Would You Cruise Cuba?
Would You Cruise Cuba? The Caribbean’s largest island is a fascinating destination waiting to be explored With the surprising news that the U.S. government wants to re-establish diplomatic relations and ease restrictions on travel to Cuba, chances are American cruise companies are already looking
