Island Time: South Pacific Cruising
Island Time The story of South Pacific cruising By Chris Frame If you’re like many travelers, the South Pacific conjures visions of a tropical paradise: sunny weather, relaxed and vibrant communities, pristine beaches, and turquoise oceans. Like the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, the beautiful S
Like a Local: Seattle
The Spirit of Seattle Close the guidebooks and let a local lead the way. Amy Roe considers herself a typical Seattleite: She loves coffee, has a soft spot for Seattle bands from the ’90s, and won’t let a little rain get in the way of an outdoor run or bike ride. A newspaper editor who […]
Five Faves: Lands of the Free
Porthole’s Five Faves Lands of the Free 5 Independence-Seeking Cruise Destinations For as worldly as we like to consider ourselves, Porthole is unabashedly American, loving our independence from sea to every-cruisable-shining sea! With our Independence Day a little more than a week away, we wante
Bucket List: Best of Brazil
Bucket List: Best of Brazil Immerse yourself in South America’s colorful culture. By Karin-Marijke Vis Brazil has a pleasant climate, attractive beaches, colonial architecture, an easy-going, music-fueled way of life, flavorsome food, and, let’s not forget, the caipirinha; Brazil’s ubi
Like a Local: When in Rome
Ditch the guidebooks and let a local lead the way. By Germaine Stafford I first came to Rome on a whim. Twenty years ago I’d decided to leave my home in Scotland and go work in Spain, but at the last minute I shocked myself by taking a flight to Rome instead. I’ve lived here […]
Quantum of the Seas Moving to China
In a move that came as a shock to many, Royal Caribbean announced this week that after an initial season in the New York market the line would send its newest (and presumably greatest) ship, the 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas, to China – permanently. The ship, which debuts in November, has
Like a Local: Alaska
Like a Local: Alaska Close the guidebooks and let a local lead the way. By Loren Holmes Alaska has a name for recent transplants to the 49th state: cheechakos. It’s only after you’ve spent a winter here that you become a local, or a sourdough. Luckily for me, I was born in Anchorage more [&he
Bucket List: New Zealand
Bucket List: New Zealand Plunge into the natural wonders of this island nation — from penguins to pinot noir. By Louise Goldsbury National Geographic takes a closer look at kiwis For many people, New Zealand burst into global awareness when its almost mythical landscapes were used as the se
Like a Local: Marseille
Like a Local: Marseille The unspoiled heart of the French Riviera By Lisa Gerard-Sharp “There are only two kinds of people in the world — the Marseillais, and those who wish they were.” I first fell in love with the French Riviera as a child when exploring the wild creeks and secret
Bucket List: Hong Kong
Bucket List: Hong Kong Four ways to make the Far East unforgettable by Kevin Revolinski In 1997, Hong Kong ended 156 years as a British colony and became a Special Administrative Region of China. The operative word here is “special.” The energy of this city, one of the most densely popul
Aranui 3: Tahitian Delivery
Tahitian Delivery In the wake of Gauguin, Melville, and Stevenson, Aranui 3 plies the remote Marquesas in the most unique of ways. By Clark Norton It’s a day of celebration on the island of Ua Pou, one of six inhabited islands in the Marquesas archipelago of French Polynesia, among the mo
Bucket List: Iceland
Bucket List: Iceland Just setting foot on this small North Atlantic island of fire and ice earns bragging rights… and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. By Susan Zimmerman When you have a country that’s off the beaten path, then off-the-beaten adventures go with the territory. And when th
Like a Local: San Juan – December 2013
Like a Local: San Juan The best way to see Puerto Rico, after all, is through the eyes of a local By Julie Schwietert Collazo I first visited Puerto Rico while working for EF Smithsonian as a bilingual tour director, leading educational trips around the island for middle and high school stude
Bucket List: Caribbean
The Bucket List: Caribbean There’s more to the Caribbean than just a shimmering beach and lots of sunshine. A bit of planning can lead to adventures of a lifetime. By Richard Varr It wasn’t too long ago when I told a friend I was feeling a sense of longing. “What is it?” my friend replied [&
Like a Local: Revolutionary Boston
Revolutionary Boston Blend into the Beantown bustle By Gabi Logan Though I’ve spent 10 years in Boston, it took 10 minutes to fall in love with it. While attending college nearby, visiting Boston was one of my first “big city” experiences. What struck me most was how Boston is metropolitan wit
Like a Local: Copenhagen
Copenhagen Get an insider’s take on what to see and do in Copenhagen, Denmark. By Sarah Coghill Tourist Tips The Little Mermaid statue, almost any local will tell you, is over-rated. Why? The clue is in the name…she’s small. And the view behind her is a little…industrial. But she is pre
Bucket List: Central America
Bucket List: Central America The five absolute best things to experience in this, the southern-most wonderland on the North American continent. By Kevin Revolinski The stories of Central America begin long before humankind moved into the neighborhood. The power of rising mountains and shifting seas
New England’s Apple Revival
New England’s Apple Revival From the author of American Terroir comes a connoisseur’s guide to the fruit and farmers’ markets of the Northeast. “We’re now in the midst of an heirloom apple revival, with dazzling varieties of every size, shape, and color spilling from farm stands every summ
Bucket List: Japan
The Bucket List: Japan See, hear, touch, taste, and smell the best Japan has to offer. By Douglas Kurt Even as a frequent traveler to Japan, I am still amazed at how much detail one notices here. Each sense, each natural connection we have to the world, is fully experienced while in Japan, and one [
Like a Local: Vancouver
Like a Local: Vancouver The Great More-Than-Just-White North By Joni McKervey Growing up in Vancouver meant that, rather than appreciate the city for its unparalleled beauty, I daydreamed of flying away to someplace different. When I began traveling I made a startling discovery: no matter where I we
