Tips for Tipping on a Cruise
A necessary (but often confusing) part of planning for a cruise is budgeting to tip the hard-working service staff. Failing to plan for gratuities can lead to a significant expense that is expected to be paid in the last few days of your cruise. However, navigating how to plan for gratuities doesn&#
The Heart of Vietnam
I first visited Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in 1995; Vietnam tourism was evolving and beginning to take root as an integral part of daily life in major cities. By my next visit in December 2012, tourism was booming. Brand-name hotels shared the skyline near the legendary Rex Hotel. Restaurants caterin
Saga Reveals New Spirit of the Rhine
When Saga launched their new river cruise ship Spirit of Discovery earlier this year, we already knew the cruise line had her sister ship planned for 2020. The cruise line announced ANOTHER new river ship to set sail in Spring of 2021, Spirit of the Rhine. The ship will be built by Vahali, a Dutch [
Cruise Deal of the Week – November 1, 2019
Before you run out and buy way too many bags of discount Halloween candy, you might want to check out the cruise deal of the week on board Norwegian Cruise Line! Today, Porthole Cruise readers can get a great deal on a cruise that sails the Eastern Caribbean on board a brand new ship! Norwegian [&he
Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2019 Reader’s Choice Award Winners
“Our readers are the real experts when it comes to judging the best of the best in the cruise industry! Here’s what they had to say for 2019.” Bill Panoff Editor-In-Chief The Best Ships Cruise ships are endless sources of fun and relaxation. Porthole Cruise Magazine readers voted
Disney Helps Crew Keep in Touch
While some may fantasize about spending a year or more on a cruise ship, for those who work on board, being away from their home, their friends and their family for extended periods of time is a challenge. Understanding the challenges of living away from home for their employees, Disney Cruise Line
What is a ‘Soft Adventure’ Cruise?
Adventuring cruising is a popular vacation genre these days, but many think that an expedition cruise means giving up the comforts and amenities found on modern cruise vacations. While there are adventure cruise lines that place expedition over comfort, thankfully there are cruises out there wh
The Perfect Port: Spending the Day in Aruba
Everyone has a favorite port when they cruise. Maybe it’s one with a great beach to visit, or a port with lots of world class shopping and dining. Some ports have awesome shore excursions just a short ride from the dock, others have fun local culture and customs to enjoy. No matter what your favor
Piraeus: Your Gateway to Athens
From high atop the famous Acropolis of Athens, it’s easy to feel like the whole city is at your fingertips. The UNESCO World Heritage site is the most well-known attraction in Athens, but just a small piece of what makes the city a must-visit for cruisers and travelers alike. As the capital of Gre
San Juan’s Best Shore Excursion: Casa BACARDÍ
Great views of Old San Juan and the fort, refreshing cocktails, great music, friendly people and the largest premium rum distillery in the world. The gorgeous island of Puerto Rico is a cruiser’s paradise and Casa BACARDÍ is the perfect place for cruise visitors! Puerto Rico is known as the
BREAKING NEWS: Brightline Announces Approval on PortMiami Expansion
A proposed station at PortMiami is now a reality for Virgin Trains. The Miami-Dade County Commission approved the new station at PortMiami to be built by the end of 2020. The Virgin Trains PortMiami station will be a U.S. transit first as the only intercity rail system in the U.S. connecting an inte
$100 Million in Renovations for Norwegian Spirit
In early January 2020, Norwegian Spirit will sail to Marseille, France not for a cruise vacation, but rather an expensive facelift. The ship, part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, is undergoing $100 million in renovations over a 40-day dry dock period. Crews will work to update nearly everything
Theme Cruise: Sailing the Haunted Caribbean
You expect spirits on a cruise — but in a glass, with a little paper umbrella, right? You don’t expect the kind of spirits you talk to and that, if you’re lucky, answer you back. That is, unless you’re on a Strange Escapes cruise, where paranormal investigators guide you through otherworldly
Cruise Deal of the Week – October 25, 2019
The best part about Fall isn’t the changing leaves or apple pies, it’s repositioning cruises! If you want to read more about what a repositioning cruise is, check out Porthole’s handy guide to repositioning cruises. Today we a have a great deal on one of the best cruises you can ta
Viking Orion Cruise Ship Review
Viking Cruises Viking Orion by Evan Gove 1 Feet 1 Decks 1 Launched 1 Guests Overview Viking Orion offers new wrinkles and distinct characteristics that point to a willingness to innovate and pay attention to even the smallest details in an effort to further refine and redefine the cruise exper
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line Arrives in Nassau
One of South Florida’s most popular cruise lines celebrated their inaugural sailing to Nassua, Bahamas last week with a lunch event on board Grand Classica for more than 200 local Bahamians in the hospitality industry. The group included travel agents, representatives from hotels and resorts, as w
Last Call: Cunard’s Commander of Cocktails
Last Call celebrates the best bars at sea and the people who can’t get enough of them. Today we pay our respects to the captain with a signature concoction inspired by Cunard’s seven most renowned Commodores. The Place — Commodore Club Grab A Seat — All Cunard ships Standout Featur
Sky Princess Getting Rave Reviews
The newest member of Princess Cruises’ royal fleet took its first round of guests for a cruise earlier this week and the reviews coming in have been rave. Sky Princess set sail from Athens for a cruise around the Mediterranean and became the first Princess MedallionClass vessel in service for the
A Cruiser’s Guide to Fort Lauderdale’s Best Shopping
Cruisers have a lot of choices to make and they start long before embarkation day. Do you want to cruise for 7 or 14 days? Should we get the drink package or pay as we go? Is the balcony stateroom worth the upgrade? Once you get all of that figured out, the really hard part […]
Norwegian Says Bye-Bye to Single Use Plastics
Sea turtles have a new favorite cruise line thanks to a commitment to ending single use plastics. Norwegian Cruise Line has teamed with JUST Goods, Inc, a sustainable packaging company, to eliminate single use plastic bottles and more on board the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. Single use plastics are