Millennial River Cruise Simplicity of U by Uniworld
Although their names — The A and The B — couldn’t be more generic, these brainchild river cruise vessels of U by Uniworld couldn’t be more robust. With the introduction of these two vessels, parent company Uniworld has initiated a foray into the upward potential of river cruising specificall
The Heart of Vietnam
I first visited Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in 1995; Vietnam tourism was evolving and beginning to take root as an integral part of daily life in major cities. By my next visit in December 2012, tourism was booming. Brand-name hotels shared the skyline near the legendary Rex Hotel. Restaurants caterin
Saga Reveals New Spirit of the Rhine
When Saga launched their new river cruise ship Spirit of Discovery earlier this year, we already knew the cruise line had her sister ship planned for 2020. The cruise line announced ANOTHER new river ship to set sail in Spring of 2021, Spirit of the Rhine. The ship will be built by Vahali, a Dutch [
Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2019 Reader’s Choice Award Winners
“Our readers are the real experts when it comes to judging the best of the best in the cruise industry! Here’s what they had to say for 2019.” Bill Panoff Editor-In-Chief The Best Ships Cruise ships are endless sources of fun and relaxation. Porthole Cruise Magazine readers voted
What is a ‘Soft Adventure’ Cruise?
Adventuring cruising is a popular vacation genre these days, but many think that an expedition cruise means giving up the comforts and amenities found on modern cruise vacations. While there are adventure cruise lines that place expedition over comfort, thankfully there are cruises out there wh
The Perfect Port: Spending the Day in Aruba
Everyone has a favorite port when they cruise. Maybe it’s one with a great beach to visit, or a port with lots of world class shopping and dining. Some ports have awesome shore excursions just a short ride from the dock, others have fun local culture and customs to enjoy. No matter what your favor
Piraeus: Your Gateway to Athens
From high atop the famous Acropolis of Athens, it’s easy to feel like the whole city is at your fingertips. The UNESCO World Heritage site is the most well-known attraction in Athens, but just a small piece of what makes the city a must-visit for cruisers and travelers alike. As the capital of Gre
San Juan’s Best Shore Excursion: Casa BACARDÍ
Great views of Old San Juan and the fort, refreshing cocktails, great music, friendly people and the largest premium rum distillery in the world. The gorgeous island of Puerto Rico is a cruiser’s paradise and Casa BACARDÍ is the perfect place for cruise visitors! Puerto Rico is known as the
BREAKING NEWS: Brightline Announces Approval on PortMiami Expansion
A proposed station at PortMiami is now a reality for Virgin Trains. The Miami-Dade County Commission approved the new station at PortMiami to be built by the end of 2020. The Virgin Trains PortMiami station will be a U.S. transit first as the only intercity rail system in the U.S. connecting an inte
$100 Million in Renovations for Norwegian Spirit
In early January 2020, Norwegian Spirit will sail to Marseille, France not for a cruise vacation, but rather an expensive facelift. The ship, part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, is undergoing $100 million in renovations over a 40-day dry dock period. Crews will work to update nearly everything
Theme Cruise: Sailing the Haunted Caribbean
You expect spirits on a cruise — but in a glass, with a little paper umbrella, right? You don’t expect the kind of spirits you talk to and that, if you’re lucky, answer you back. That is, unless you’re on a Strange Escapes cruise, where paranormal investigators guide you through otherworldly
Sky Princess Getting Rave Reviews
The newest member of Princess Cruises’ royal fleet took its first round of guests for a cruise earlier this week and the reviews coming in have been rave. Sky Princess set sail from Athens for a cruise around the Mediterranean and became the first Princess MedallionClass vessel in service for the
A Cruiser’s Guide to Fort Lauderdale’s Best Shopping
Cruisers have a lot of choices to make and they start long before embarkation day. Do you want to cruise for 7 or 14 days? Should we get the drink package or pay as we go? Is the balcony stateroom worth the upgrade? Once you get all of that figured out, the really hard part […]
Blue World Voyages: The Healthy Choice in Cruising … AND Living!
The Monthly Mantra Move it! … Move it! … Move it! Blue World Voyages is betting that it can get my fat butt out of a deck chair and transform my cruise experience into an active and healthy one with an exclusive focus on sports, fitness, and wellness. And from what I learned from the [&h
Spend a Spooktacular Halloween in New Orleans Before You Cruise
What’s the scariest city in America? Some might say Salem, Massachusetts or Sleepy Hollow, New York thanks to their place in history and pop culture, but we’re here to say the best place to work up a fright this Halloween is without a doubt New Orleans. This city by the sea has a long history [&
Let’s Talk Turkey
I love to cook up spirited itineraries for my nomadic travels and Turkey provides delectable key ingredients: ancient history, intriguing culture, and fabulous food. Together, they create the perfect recipe for an engaging Middle Eastern adventure. Over the course of centuries, the capital of Istanb
Perks of Staying at Fort Lauderdale Hotels Not Close to Port
Are you an anxious traveler? You know, the kind that’s packed a week in advance, shows up to the airport three hours too early and generally stresses about every little detail when it comes to getting from one place to another? Those people tend to think they have to stay as close to the port
Thirsty? Virgin Sailors Can Shake for Champagne (VIDEO)
Did you know that there are around 49 million bubbles in a single bottle of champagne? Virgin Voyages wants their sailors to experience each and every one with their new Shake for Champagne service. With just a shake of their smartphone, Virgin sailors can have Möet Chandon Impérial delivered anyw
A Lifetime of Painting Cruise Ships
The Monthly Mantra Artist on Board … Artist on Board … Artist on Board … “Can we go to Cucina for dinner?” That was Bermudian maritime artist Stephen Card’s immediate reaction to me telling him I’d be visiting the island aboard Carnival Sunrise’s 4-day sailing from New Yo
Andy Stuart Leaving Norwegian Cruise Line After 30 Years
One of Norwegian Cruise Line’s longest tenured employees is departing after more than 30 years of employment. Andy Stuart, who started with Norwegian way back in 1988 in the company’s UK Sales and Marketing sector, is saying his goodbyes on December 31 of this year. Harry Sommer, the current
