The Rough-Edge Corner of Costa Rica
Forget the platitudes about Costa Rica — the “safe” country, the “Switzerland of Central America,” all of that. If you cruise along the country’s northern Pacific edge, in Guanacaste Province, you’ll find nature in the raw, animals that would just as soon sting, maim, or eat you as loo
Choose Your Cruise – May 15, 2020
Happy Friday! Today on choose your cruise, we’ve got three options from around the world and YOU get to pick your favorite! Let us know which cruise you would pick in the comments below. Cruise A When it comes to exploring the world, few do it better than National Geographic. Their partn
Back to Basics on Oceania Insignia
It seems that, almost overnight, the concept of “vacation” changed from one of relaxation, merriment, and luxury to an “experiential” adventure, often characterized by backbreaking physical work or a grueling life and death struggle. I’m sorry, but that sounds way too much like my daily li
CRUISE RECIPE: Star Clippers’ Crème Brûlée
Hungry to Sail Again There I was, thinking home-made crème brûlée would be an ambitious undertaking. I was a tad intimidated by all those accent marks and doodads in the name and then, if that wasn’t enough, I discover you’re supposed to attack the thing with a blowtorch before serving.
Bookings Boom
We’ve been saying it since cruise lines began their pause in operation in March: there’s never been a better time to book a cruise. Well, apparently cruisers agree. When Carnival Cruise Line announced last week that they had a tentative plan in place to resume cruising on August 1st, it ma
MSC Grandiosa: The Name Says It All
In today’s cruise world, being good simply isn’t good enough. So when you are given a name like “Grandiosa,” expectations run high. MSC Cruises has pulled the plug on being good and gone all in on being spectacular with the launch of the new MSC Grandiosa. With Hamburg, Germany, decked out a
Orlando Ashford Stepping Down as President of Holland America Line
After six years as the President of Holland America Line, Orlando Ashford is saying goodbye to the cruise line. Ashford announced his decision in a press release today. The news comes just six days after Holland America Line decided to extend its pause of global cruise operations and cancel all Alas
5 Ways to Spend the Day in Ibiza
The Belearic island of Ibiza, Spain also referred to as the White Isle, is a little slice of heaven situated on the Mediterranean Sea. The illustrious superclubs and extravagant events have gained Ibiza an international reputation as a “party island.” While enjoying the wild nightlife is a must
The Mysterious Magic of the Venice Art Biennale
The Venice Art Biennale is the most important contemporary art show in the world. For six months every other year, it takes over the entire city of Venice. But it’s much more than an art show. If you are at all interested in art, architecture or just a lover of Venice, you should consider extendin
Nevis Announces They’re COVID-Free
When COVID-19 first began spreading globally, the island of Nevis in the Caribbean took an aggressive approach to fighting the virus and it appears those measures have paid off. The island’s Ministry of Health has declared the island free from COVID-19 after all four cases have successfully recove
CRUISE RECIPE: Viking Cruises’ Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Hungry to Sail Again Before today’s lockdown, I’d open my fridge and find a bottle or two of wine, condiments representing every corner of the globe and maybe some sliced turkey or ham that I’d slap on a wrap when the dinner hour approached. Now, the shelves are groaning under the weight
Blue Angels Salute COVID-19 Responders Over Miami
The sunny skies of South Florida were in for a treat today as the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron buzzed the skyline in a salute to COVID-19 responders working hard to flatten the curve and help those recovering from the virus. Operation “America Strong” flew over Jacksonville this mor
Choose Your Cruise – May 8, 2020
What’s better than getting a great deal on something? For today’s choose your cruise, we’ve got three of the best possible deals we could find on sailings from three of your favorite cruise lines. They all sail from the sunny shores of Miami so you can pick which one suites you bes
Carnival Corp CEO Talks COVID-19 Response with Porthole Cruise
How important is Carnival Corporation to the cruise industry? The conglomerate holds nine of cruising’s most recognizable brands and employs hundreds of thousands of people both here in America and on ships all over the world. That makes CEO of Carnival Corporation Arnold Donald one of the mo
Cruising to Genoa: Your Guide to a Day in Port
Cruise passengers arriving into Port Genoa are gliding through waters steeped in history and mystery. Some of the world’s most notorious explorers hail from this hearty seaport city, including none other than Christopher Columbus himself. In fact, an 18th-century reconstruction of the house in whi
Hotels May Provide Blueprint for Cruise Cleanliness
We’ve all seen articles about what cruising is going to look like in the aftermath of COVID 19. Precautions like doing away with self-service buffets, not filling ships to the max with passengers and even shorter itineraries where the only stops are cruise line private islands are all possibilitie
CRUISE RECIPE: SeaDream Yacht Club’s Cream of Pumpkin Soup
Hungry to Sail Again Like everyone else, I’m just about up to HERE with lockdown. I want to whip off my mask, plan my next cruise, meet up with friends, go to the gym, the hairstylist, concerts and sporting events and stop worrying where my next roll of toilet paper will come from. But who [
Vitamin Sea: The Suite Life
As wellness continues to take center stage in everyday life, cruise ships are giving healthy-minded passengers a boost with wellness-themed rooms and suites featuring a variety of amenities to help promote overall wellbeing. This trend, also seen in hotels and resorts, makes perfect sense when you c
7 Sea-Inspired Items For Around Your Home
We’re all spending a lot more time around the house these days so we decided to put together a list of some awesome stuff you can get to make your home as nautical as possible. If you had your cruise cancelled, these items are sure to make you think of sitting on the beach with […]
Carnival Cruise Line Releases Plan To “Phase-In” Service
In a press release this morning, Carnival Cruise Line released their plan to phase-in cruising operations beginning on August 1, 2020. This is the first concrete plan we’ve heard from any cruise line for a return to service. The line also acknowledged that all cruises until that time would be
