A Southern Lady in the Big Apple – American Duchess is one mighty fine riverboat.
Monday Mantra A Real Peach … A Real Peach … A Real Peach … A Southern Lady in the Big Apple American Duchess is one mighty fine riverboat. Once in a while, cruise writers — even lowly freelance ones like myself — find themselves at cool press events where industry announcements are made. W
Five Faves: Cruise Blooms
While the rest of the hemisphere prepares for fall, these ports are in full flower. Think you know your cruise destinations? We’ve picked five popular ports, each known for its lush, tropical foliage – and each with a gorgeous national flower. Match the bloom to the country to pass this
Tropical Snow Job – Bikini babes and a whole lotta blow made this world cruise one for the books.
Monday Mantra Busted!…Busted!…Busted! Bikini babes and a whole lotta blow made this world cruise one for the books. Two weeks ago, authorities arrested three Canadian cruise ship passengers after police and sniffer dogs searching Princess Cruises’ Sea Princess found cocaine inside two
Lost-o-phobia – The irrational fear of having to live without whatever you packed.
Monday Mantra Luggage Lunatic … Luggage Lunatic … Luggage Lunatic Lost-o-phobia (n. | lȯst-ə-ˈfō-bē-ə) The irrational fear of having to live without whatever you packed. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been cruising for more than 35 years and have never once experienced the loss of a bag.
Five Faves: At Sea, In Session
Back-to-school excitement doesn’t have to be wasted on the youth … or on land for that matter! As the kiddies are prepping for another year of pencils, books, and teacher’s dirty looks, it’s not unusual for us adults to feel a wee bit jealous. Who knew all those years spent sulking at a clas
All Aboard the SS Christener! – There’s got to be a better way to name a new vessel.
Monday Mantra A Ship by Any Other Name … A Ship by Any Other Name … A Ship by Any Other Name … All Aboard the SS Christener! There’s got to be a better way to name a new vessel. Baffled, I am. Simply baffled. Over the past decades we have seen nothing short of […]
Princess Cruises Unveils Designs and Key Features for Majestic Princess
Princess Cruises Unveils Designs and Key Features for Majestic Princess Cruise News – August 24, 2016 Princess Cruises has unveiled designs and announced key features of its newest ship, Majestic Princess, which departs April 4 on her inaugural voyage, a 5-day Adriatic Sea cruise roundtrip
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
What, Me Go Cruising?
Monday Mantra Going MAD at Sea … Going MAD at Sea … Going MAD at Sea … What, Me Go Cruising? How “The Usual Gang of Idiots” made shipboard history. As I was passing a newsstand the other day, the current issue of MAD magazine caught my eye. I was delighted to see that iconic […]
A Fuller Ship – Finding the “best” cruise means knowing what you really want.
Monday Mantra A Matter of Opinion … A Matter of Opinion … A Matter of Opinion … . Finding the “best” cruise means knowing what you really want. The 10 Best Ships for Your Next Vacation! The 5 Best Islands in the Caribbean! 13 Things You Must Do On Your Next Cruise! The Top 5 […]
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – August 12, 2016
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – August 12, 2016 Natural health pioneer Dr. Andrew Weil has teamed up with Seabourn and The Onboard Spa by Steiner to create a new well-being program. The program, the first of its kind, includes a new onboard position – The Wellness Guide – who, throughout the voy
Going for the Silver Gold – Legendary athletes deserve no less legendary accommodations.
Monday Mantra Olympic Dreams…Olympic Dreams…Olympic Dreams… Going for the Silver Gold Legendary athletes deserve no less legendary accommodations. I always find out about things too late in life. Like, if I’d known that I could spend 17 days docked in Rio aboard Silversea Cruises’ luxuriou
On the Horizon – The end of summer means the fun is beginning!
Monday Mantra A Date with a Viking … A Date with a Viking … A Date with a Viking … The end of summer means the fun is beginning! It’s August! Summer is almost over and that means … vacation! I’ve never been a big fan of the summer vacation. In July and August, I’m […]
Boundaries On Board – Cruisers tend to be friendly. But there are limits….
Monday Mantra Nosy and Nautical … Nosy and Nautical …Nosy and Nautical Boundaries On Board Cruisers tend to be friendly. But there are limits…. “A penthouse?? Wow! And how much did that set you back?” I was leaning on the bar, signing the tab for a cosmopolitan and a Beefeater on the rocks
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – July 22, 2016
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – July 22, 2016 MSC Cruises has announced additions to its onboard family programs that include a kids-dedicated interactive cooking class designed with Michelin-starred chef Carlo Cracco; the introduction of an innovative kids sports program, DOREBRO; and a new, ex
Rise and Shine – Some cruisers might think getting up before dawn is crazy. They don’t know what they’re missing.
Monday Mantra The Early Bird Gets the View … The Early Bird Gets the View … The Early Bird Gets the View … Rise and Shine Some cruisers might think getting up before dawn is crazy. They don’t know what they’re missing. Last night I was lying in bed reading when the following sentence stopp
Cruise Artiste – Maritime painter Stephen Card has got the ticket to the good life.
Monday Mantra A Lucky Card … A Lucky Card … A Lucky Card … Cruise Artiste Maritime painter Stephen Card has got the ticket to the good life. When I die, I want to come back as maritime artist Stephen J. Card, luckiest son of a gun ever. Stephen was born and raised in Bermuda […]
Five Faves: Smokestack Spotters & Top-Deck Trivia
Stumped? Highlight for answers: 1. P&O Cruises (P&O Ventura‘s smokestack), 2. MSC Cruises (MSC Splendida‘s top deck), 3. Holland America Line (ms Nieuw Amsterdam‘s aerial view), 4. Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian Escape‘s bridge and upper decks), 5. Wind
Design Time: Chandeliers
Art Illuminated Massive cruise ship chandeliers do more than just light the way. By Fran Golden As you wander your way around a cruise ship, sometimes it pays to look up. Strategically placed chandeliers provide more than just brightness. The light not only creates mood, but the often-immense fixtur
