5 Faves: Cruiser Friendly, Kid Approved!
Porthole’s 5 Faves Cruiser Friendly, Kid Approved! Five favorite onboard activities for children Today is Take Your Child to Work Day and mom is insisting it is not just a day off for us. So she assigned me (age 11) and my sister Jenna (age 7) to work together and write a blog about what [&hel
It Won’t Break the Bank, But…
Monday Mantra Guilty … Guilty … Guilty … It Won’t Break the Bank, But… Feeling nickel-and-dimed on board? Or are you a penny-pinching pro? If you ever doubt the goodness of mankind, eavesdrop on a conversation among cruise fans. Smuggling alcohol, swiping a towel, or sharing a beverage pac
Clothes-Optional Cruising — Uncovered
Monday Mantra The Naked Truth … The Naked Truth … The Naked Truth … Clothes-Optional Cruising — Uncovered What do you pack for a nude cruise? Not much. I’m really not comfortable writing about something that I, personally, haven’t experienced but in the case of nude cruising, I’ll make
Cough Drops and Cruise Dreams
Monday Mantra Aaaaachooo! … Aaaaaachooo! … Aaaaachooo! … Cough Drops and Cruise Dreams Here’s to good health and a good ship … and they can’t come soon enough! God, I feel awful. I’ve surrendered to the horrible head cold that’s made me miserable all week so I find myself
A Master Mixer’s Memoir
Monday Mantra Cosmo Guy … Cosmo Guy … Cosmo Guy … A Master Mixer’s Memoir A bartender who can get the cosmopolitan right has clearly been around — and is just as clearly going places. It started with a cosmopolitan, that concoction of vodka, Cointreau, cranberry and lime that few barte
Cruising into the Future
Monday Mantra Tech-yes or Tech-no?…Tech-yes or Tech-no?…Tech-yes or Tech-no?… Cruising into the Future Ready or not, here sails the Internet of Things! Last week, Carnival Corporation announced the launch of Ocean Compass, a quarter-sized gizmo designed to further elevate the cruis
Resolve This! – A dozen ways to be a better cruiser in 2017.
Monday Tuesday Mantra Happy New Year! … Happy New Year! … Happy New Year! Resolve This! A dozen ways to be a better cruiser in 2017. It’s time for me to look ahead to a bright and shining new year and give some thought to what I might do to enjoy cruising even more in […]
Welcoming White Cliffs
Monday Tuesday Mantra Dover? Stay over! … Dover? Stay over! … Dover? Stay over! … There’s plenty to recommend in Dover and the towns of southeast England. Well, here I am spending the holiday season completely ashore in southeastern England (for full details of where and why
The Third Annual Judi’s Choice Awards – And the Winners Are!
Monday Mantra The Judi’s Choice Awards…The Judi’s Choice Awards!…The Judi’s Choice Awards… And the Winners Are! Cruising has plenty of biggest, first, and most wonderful accomplishments. The Judi’s Choice Awards recognize the best of the rest. Today, I look back on 2016 and recogni
Post-Cruise Blues – The hardest thing about a cruise is coming home – and the first time can be the worst.
Monday Mantra Too bad. So sad…Too bad. So sad…Too bad. So sad… Post-Cruise Blues The hardest thing about a cruise is coming home – and the first time can be the worst As we celebrate this magical time of year, I ask each of you to briefly pause and send kind and encouraging thoughts to [
Going Down? – Viking Star soothes away everything — including the arrival of the elevator, every time.
Monday Mantra Viking SUPER Star…Viking SUPER Star…Viking SUPER Star… Going Down? Viking Star soothes away everything — including the arrival of the elevator, every time. Life is pretty darn good when everything is so perfect that an elevator’s “ping” is your big
Nun Better
Monday Mantra Heavenly…Heavenly…Heavenly… One of San Juan’s most divine hotels started as a Carmelite convent Now, here’s an eye-opener: Before sailing from San Juan last week, I spent an extraordinary night in a convent. I’d wager that few who know me would believe
History in the Making – There are cruise fans … cruise obsessives … cruise experts … and then there’s Peter Knego.
Monday Mantra Salvaged!…Salvaged!…Salvaged! There are cruise fans … cruise obsessives … cruise experts … and then there’s Peter Knego “I’ll give you 20 bucks if you turn to that woman and say ‘Shut the f— up.’” That, I believe, was the first thing I ever said…we
Carnival Feast – A sneak peek at Carnival Vista is more than mouthwatering.
Monday Mantra Hooked … Hooked … Hooked … A sneak peek at Carnival Vista is more than mouthwatering. If you have a serious cruise addiction, particularly if you’ve had it for decades, chances are you can trace it back to Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival’s kind of like the cruise fan’s Marlb
Oceania Enthusiasm – When you can’t believe cruising can be like this.
Monday Mantra Oooooceania!…Ooooooceania!….Ooooooceania! Oceania Enthusiasm: When you can’t believe cruising can be like this ✓ A prestigious luxury cruise line. ✓ A stunning 684-passenger mid-size ship. ✓ Award-winning dining. ✓ Regular New York departures. ✓ Fabulous Bulgari
Comforts of Home
Monday Mantra Something’s Missing … Something’s Missing … Something’s Missing … It’s strange what you miss while having the time of your life. By this time, you’ve probably figured out that I love to cruise — aboard big ships, small ships, yachts, riverboats, and expedition ships.
The Show Must Go Onboard – Cruise entertainment has really grown up.
Monday Mantra That’s Entertainment! … THAT’S Entertainment?? … That’s Entertainment! … THAT’S Entertainment?? … Cruise entertainment has really grown up I endured lousy comedians and jugglers. I attended an hour-long zither concert. I put up with marginally talented s
Five Faves: Saluting the First Nations
Porthole’s Five Faves Saluting the First Nations We kicked off the week with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the annual recognition of the accomplishments and heritage of the first Americans. Some of their music, food, art forms, and history will seem familiar to seasoned cruisers, thanks to eye-openin
Time and Tide and Major Hurricanes….
Monday Mantra Any port in a storm…Any port in a storm…Any port in a storm… Time and Tide and Major Hurricanes…. How do cruises cope with stormy weather? My heart goes out to everyone whose cruise was cancelled, rerouted, or adjusted because of the devastating power of Hurricane Matthew.
Five Faves: Bountiful Barbados
Bountiful Barbados Five things you MUST eat and drink when your cruise calls on Bridgetown. We believe that the best way to appreciate the true local flavor of a new destination is to actually … well … taste it. From patties in Jamaica to ceviche on Cozumel, we’re big fans of Caribbean cuisine
