Battle of the Barges
Battle of the Barges Cruising the waterways of Ireland vs. France By Steve Leland The prospects of an off-the-wall travel experience while sampling the trappings of the good life, such as gourmet dining with liberal libations, were all too much to overlook. Who am I to say no? So I decided to book a
Design Time: Queen Mary 2
Behind the Remastering of Queen Mary 2 By Fran Golden When your task is to redesign and contemporize the 12-year-old Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line’s flagship ocean liner, you know a lot of eyes will be watching. Many cruisers dream of crossing the Atlantic aboard this iconic ship, so when it came time
Florida’s Best Local Craft Breweries
Say cheers to Florida’s Best Local Craft Breweries By Evan S. Benn In case you haven’t noticed, craft beer is on many savvy cruisers’ radar. From onboard specialty brews to the first brewery at sea to beer-themed cruises, several cruise lines are noticing the trend and bringing more beer on bo
Going, Going, Galapagos!
Exploring one of the world’s most elusive archipelagos Story and photography by Michel and Lisa Verdure We were walking in the highlands of San Cristobal Island for less than 15 minutes when we heard the definitive call of the elusive mockingbird. This beautiful gray creature, which is found only
Tried and True: Johnny Jet Travel Tips
Surviving Holiday Travel Travel expert Johnny Jet answers your most common questions. It’s hard to believe, but the holidays are upon us. For those who’ll be setting sail this season, here are 10 tips for a smoother, faster, and less expensive travel experience if you’ll be taking to the skies
Like a Local: Budapest
Bring on Budapest Close the guidebooks and let a local lead the way. By Jennifer Walker When I was 8, my Hungarian mother decided to move us to Budapest so I could learn the language. Even though we returned to the UK when I was 11, I always wanted to go back. So three years […]
MSC Cruises for Kids
Kids of all kinds will find something to love aboard MSC Cruises. By Jodi Ornstein Ahhhh, cruising. Days spent relaxing on deck with the sun in your face and a drink in your hand. Miles and miles of blue ocean and skies, hours and hours to spend with a good book on your balcony. This […]
Music Themed Cruises: Rock the Ship
What the artists, fans, and organizers say about music-themed cruises. By Bill Kopp While retirees and young professionals might not always share the same taste in music, one leisure activity with appeal that spans generations is the music festival experience. So cruise lines and vacation planners h
Vitamin Sea: Cruising is Healthy
Discover the (proven!) health benefits of cruising By Heather Mikesell Although most people don’t immediately think of a cruise vacation as an opportunity to get in shape or make positive lifestyle choices, today’s cruise ships provide a host of healthy options that can help transform a week at
Theme Cruise: Star Wars at Sea
May the Force Cruise with You Experience Star Wars at Sea aboard Disney Cruise Line By Jason Leppert What happens when you combine Disney Cruise Line with Star Wars? You get an awesome intergalactic experience out in the open Caribbean Sea. Unless you’ve been frozen in carbonite for the past year,
Myanmar by Strand
From ship to shore, The Strand experience best showcases Myanmar. By Steve Leland It’s been said that stepping outside your travel comfort zone makes for an exhilarating experience, and I will concur that there is nothing more exhilarating than a journey to Myanmar. Decades of self-inflicted isola
Silver Discoverer in South Pacific paradise
A Land Far, Far Away Discover paradise in the South Pacific aboard Silver Discoverer. By Art Sbarsky On the last night of my cruise, some guests were talking over dinner, picking out our favorite ports. This was much more difficult than usual since, even collectively, we couldn’t remember the name
Like A Local: Bar Harbor
The Maine Attraction Discover Bar Harbor’s Golden Age while exploring its modern-day charm. By Earl Brechlin Despite Bar Harbor’s many current charms, its reputation remains rooted in its Golden Age, more than a century ago — long before the creation of Acadia National Park, in a time when the
Tried & True: Johnny Jet Travel Tips
Surviving Long Layovers Travel expert Johnny Jet answers your most common questions. Traveling 150,000 miles a year, it’s no wonder Johnny Jet knows a thing or two about the subject. From money-saving tips to how to get an upgrade, he’s constantly asked travel-related questions from both first-t
River Ships: Kid-Friendly, Cruiser Approved
Kid-Friendly, Cruiser-Approved Family fun awaits on today’s river ships. By Michelle Baran Who says river cruises aren’t for kids? While there may be a long-held stereotype that river cruising isn’t suitable for families traveling with kids — smaller ships mean no mega-slides or rock-climbin
Design Time: Viking Sea’s Nordic Décor
Home Is Where the Heritage Is Viking Sea shows off Nordic culture through its onboard décor. By Jason Leppert In many ways Viking Ocean Cruises’ newest ship, Viking Sea, is a welcome return to basics — comfortable destination-based cruise travel at its heart and soul without any unnecessary bel
Cuba Uncovered
Cuba Uncovered Porthole sent two travel writers on different cruise ships to experience this mysterious, magical destination and report back. Here’s what they found. Cultural Immersion Fathom By Sharon Kenny “Are you from the American cruise ship?” asked the young woman showing me Cuban art po
Cruise Control: Jason Montague
Double Duty A Day in the Life of Jason Montague By Fran Golden Jason Montague has a lot to be excited about these days. And when he gets excited — like when he’s giving a speech in Barcelona at the christening of Oceania Cruises’ 684-passenger Sirena — a Rhode Island accent comes out. Never
Cruise Ship Review: Carnival Vista
Carnival Vista takes cruisers to new horizons By Lynn and Cele Seldon Carnival Vista might be described as a blushing bride, in that she brings something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue to the horizon. As Carnival Cruise Line’s newest flagship — its first new ship sinc
Ciao, Costa – A cruise director returns on board
Ciao, Costa After 25 years, a former cruise director returns to his roots. By Steve Leland After living under the yellow and blue funnels of Costa Cruises for 10 years as cruise director, along with my wife as casino manager, we left our pseudo, onboard Italian family in 1990 to raise our own. Now,
