From the Readers: The People are the Real Gem
One of the best parts about a cruise vacation is sharing the memories with all your friends and family when you get back! Avid cruiser Dr. and Captain Brett Ribotsky recently went on his first cruise post-COVID and wrote in to Porthole Cruise and Travel to share his experience with the rest of you.
Behind the Cruise Line: Arnold Donald At The Wheel
Five years ago, cruise lines were reeling from several highly publicized cruise ship incidents around the globe. [Ed. Note: — Porthole may or may not have neglected to mention some of those less-sunnier subjects.] Many believed it would take years of incident-free cruise travel and millions of dol
Grape Destinations: From Burgundy to California; My Adventure with Wine
When I was a kid, my father began an interest in wine, particularly French Bordeaux, Burgundy and California cabernets. I can remember coming home from school and seeing wooden crates sitting in our garage from places I couldn’t even pronounce. My father was starting his hobby and passion, whi
Grape Destinations: The Human Touch at Mendocino´s Anderson Valley
My way to Mendocino´s Anderson Valley was full of surprises. It took an almost-3-hour drive from American Canyon to get to the valley through a beautiful country road. Be aware that in those remote areas, your favorite GPS-style app doesn´t work as properly as in big cities. Yes, you guessed it, I
Grape Destinations: Growing Your Own Home Vegetable Garden & Pairing Your Meals with Great Napa Valley Wines
Living in the Napa Valley, we’re blessed with a very moderate, almost Mediterranean climate, from average winter highs of 60 degrees to lows of 40, and in the summer, we typically average highs of 82 degrees and lows of 53. While we know it’s perfect for growing world-class wine grapes (my profe
Adventure Cruises You Have to Try
As a general rule, Caribbean cruises conjure up images of white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters, while Europe destinations offer up iconic cathedrals, castles and assorted antiquities of the past. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with viewing the spectacular sites of the Old World or
Grape Destinations: Healdsburg to Cafayate, with Malbec and Torrontes
It just takes one grape to magically transport you from one place to another, at least in your mind. That happens when you taste a wine that clicks on your memoirs. I have had several wine-related beyond-and-back moments. Recently, my latest such experience occurred while tasting one wine at Ferrari
Why Cruise? A Guide for the First-Time Cruiser
There’s something exciting about a cruise. The movies of the 1930s, showing Henry Fonda dressing up for dinner in a fancy tuxedo and being formally seated at a table with starched tablecloths, are mercifully a thing of the past. Today’s cruise is a glorious, fun-filled trip to anywhere: Bermud
The Great Wall: Made In China
“Build the wall!” One of the first times a politician ever issued those controversial words was when the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang decreed the creation of the Great Wall of China. The initial construction of his Wan Li Chang Cheng, or “10,000-Li-Long Wall,” began in 220 B.C.E. and the fu
Freeport, Bahamas: To the Brewery and Beyond!
Any repeat cruiser knows that a stop in the Bahamas means “plan excursions ahead of time” or risk being stuck in the extremely-touristy-downtown shopping frenzy. As much as I enjoy bargain prices on knock-off purses, you can only really do this once or twice before it loses its novelty. The last
An Introduction to Abruzzo
Abruzzo, Italy Travel Guide The inevitable question is “where is that?” Followed by the predictable “is it near Tuscany ?” Once the Google Map imagery is set into the brain, then comes, “What made you decide to buy a house there?” Actually I was never been able t
Celebrate the Best of Bollywood aboard Grand Celebration
Smaller cruise lines are shifting their focus to a more tailored cruising experience through theme-cruise offerings. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line launched their first-ever Bollywood cruise experience in January on a 2-day cruise to the Bahamas. Porthole Cruise Magazine was fortunate enough to have
The Best Trains for Cruisers
I’m of the belief that you can never get enough of a good thing. So, when a fantastic 7-day cruise just isn’t enough to fill those precious holiday days, continue your luxurious indulgence with a classic train journey. Choosing a “choo choo” as a post-cruise holiday extension offers a contin
How I travel across the globe for less than the price of a domestic flight
Traveling the world is an expensive hobby, or at least it used to be. Whenever I tell people all the countries I have visited, their jaws drop. And the same comment always escapes their pursed lips, “Well, you must be rich. I couldn’t afford traveling that far, that often.” WRONG! Majority of
“They Lost My Luggage!” – Never Again
While excitement builds in the days leading up to the big vacation, the majority of us can’t shake the gnawing anxiety of “Did I forget something?” … or worse, “What if they lose my luggage?!” Yes, it is the worry that plagues us all: boarding a gorgeous ship, and having no swimsuit to c
Top Hacks For a Yogi on a Budget
I got hooked on Ashtanga yoga the first time I dropped in on a class. I love the way the practice requires absolute presence, and connects me with my breath. Like most newbies getting into yoga, I had a bit of sticker shock when trying to find a studio. Although Ashtanga can be practiced at [&hellip
Florida’s Brightline Starting Train Service to Ft. Lauderdale
Florida residents are buzzing about Florida’s Brightline train starting service to Ft. Lauderdale this weekend. The site experienced so much traffic today, that online booking has been temporarily suspended. The notice reads, “Sorry! Due to overwhelming excitement, we’re experienci
