Cruise Wisdom: Eastern, Western, or Southern Caribbean?
Cruise Wisdom: Eastern, Western, or Southern? Choosing the Caribbean itinerary that’s best for you. By Cindy O’Neil Q: Last year I sailed on a fall foliage cruise to New England and Canada. This year I’ve decided to take a 7-day Caribbean cruise. What is the difference between the Eastern, Wes
Cruise Exec Spotlight: Christine Duffy
Diligent Dynamo How Christine Duffy went from hard-working travel agent to cruise industry ambassador. By Jodi Ornstein After talking with Christine Duffy for about 37 seconds, you might think you’ve reunited with your long-lost BFF from sleepaway camp. Her wide smile, friendly demeanor, and app
Canada/New England Souvenirs
Souvenir Shopping List Don’t miss these mementos of your Canada/New England cruise. By Felicity Long Admit it. Those of us who love to cruise also often love to shop. But passengers who go ashore for only a few hours can often get sidetracked by touristy stores selling T-shirts and shot glasses, o
Like a Local: New Orleans
Let the Good Times Roll! Ditch the guidebooks and let a New Orleans native lead the way. By Millie Ball I was born in New Orleans, and have mostly stayed in my eccentric hometown because I can’t find another that’s more interesting. Squeezed between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain,
Join the Club: Golf Theme Cruises
Sky of Blue, Sea of Green On a golf theme cruise, passengers don’t just join the club — they swing it. By Clark Norton They’d love to score some birdies and eagles, but they aren’t birders. If they grumble about a slice from hell, they aren’t talking burned pizza. And when they dream of as
Extreme Makeover: Cruise Edition – American Empress
Extreme Makeover: Cruise Edition When it comes to ship renovations, sometimes it’s not just the carpet and paint color, it’s a whole new identity. The Americanization of an Empress Empress of the North Becomes American Empress By Peter Knego When American Queen Steamboat Company purchased the 36
Bucket List: Patagonia
Bucket List: Pictures of Patagonia Where amazing vistas, welcoming wildlife, and natural wonders await. By Richard Varr South America’s Patagonia region stretches from Chile’s Pacific Ocean fjords through Argentina’s mountainous terrain and to the crashing Atlantic Ocean surf. Along the way,
Extreme Makeover: Cruise Edition – Carnival Sunshine
Extreme Makeover: Cruise Edition When it comes to ship renovations, sometimes it’s not just the carpet and paint color, it’s a whole new identity. It’s a Sunshine Day Carnival Destiny Becomes Carnival Sunshine By Jodi Ornstein Originally built in 1996 as Carnival Destiny, this old-school-Carni
Extreme Makeover: Cruise Edition – Star Pride
Extreme Makeover: Cruise Edition When it comes to ship renovations, sometimes it’s not just the carpet and paint color, it’s a whole new identity. A Star is Born Seabourn Pride Becomes Star Pride By Fran Golden Aboard the inaugural cruise of Star Pride, the dramatic strains of the theme song for
Five Faves: 5 great movies about cruising … that have nothing to do with icebergs.
Porthole’s Five Faves There’s more to cruising on the silver screen than Jack holding Rose at the bow while the music swells. James Cameron makes big movies. There’s no doubt about that. Near, far, wherever you are, you’re bound to have seen his decade-spanning blockbuster. But he’s not th
Heart and Sole – A trip to the ship’s spa changes a person … or at least their cuticles.
Monday Mantra I’ll be relaxed and gorgeous…I’ll be relaxed and gorgeous…I’ll be relaxed and gorgeous… Heart and Sole A trip to the ship’s spa changes a person … or at least their cuticles. There I was in the oh-so-serene reception area of the cruise ship spa while the piped-in sitar
Cruise News — August 29, 2014 – Celebrity Cruises debuts new package tours… and more
Cruise News — August 29, 2014 Celebrity Cruises debuts new package tours Celebrity Cruises is debuting more than 20 new cruisetours with a twist — the Celebrity Explorations take you well beyond the cruising region. For instance, one tour combines an African safari with a Celebrity cruise to the
Cruise News — August 29, 2014 – Princess Cruises going hip with new nightclub
Cruise News — August 29, 2014 Princess Cruises going hip with new nightclub Taking a page from South Beach, Regal Princess will launch its first Caribbean season from Fort Lauderdale in November with some cool new nighttime experiences, including the WaterColor Fantasy musical fountain show, as w
Cruise News — August 29, 2014 – Quantum of the Seas to be smartest ship ever
Cruise News — August 29, 2014 Quantum of the Seas to be smartest ship ever We don’t know yet whether she will be beautiful, but the soon-to-debut Quantum of the Seas will surely be smart — as in a whole new approach to check-in, room keys, Internet access, and, our favorite of the announce
Cruise News — August 29, 2014 – Construction begins on new Holland America Line ship
Cruise News — August 29, 2014 Construction begins on new Holland America Line ship No name yet, but construction on the first Holland America Line ship since 2010’s Nieuw Amsterdam is underway at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy — the first 680-ton block lowered by crane into
Cruise Lines… Long Lines? – Suitcase ready, passport ready, now get me on the ship!
Monday Mantra I just want to be on board…I just want to be on board…I just want to be on board… Cruise Lines… Long Lines? Suitcase ready, passport ready, now get me on the ship! Before days of lazing in a deck chair beneath sunny skies, before sumptuous meals in enchanting dining rooms, befo
Cruise News – August 22, 2014
Cruise News – August 22, 2014 Carnival Cruise Lines beefs up Baltimore options Carnival Cruise Lines will, for the first time, operate a one-of-a-kind series of 10- to 14-day Caribbean cruises from Baltimore on Carnival Pride. The line is also adding a pair of 5-day Bermuda, 6-day Bahamas
Five Faves: Family Matters – When it comes to a group vacation, choose to cruise!
Porthole’s Five Faves Family Matters When it comes to a group vacation, choose to cruise! This summer, I spent a weeklong family vacation with 14 family members ranging in age from 4 to 71. We gathered in a five-bedroom house on Lake Tahoe for a week of sun and fun… and a crazy amount [&h
Cabin Fever – Cruising can push the buddy system past the breaking point.
Monday Mantra Cabin Fever Cruising can push the buddy system past the breaking point. I will find the ideal cabinmate… I will find the ideal cabinmate…I will find the ideal cabinmate “Now, for the first problem. Which bed do you want?” That was my first clue that the friend I would be cruisi
Cruise News – August 15, 2014
Cruise News – August 15, 2014 Quantum of the Seas Floats Out with Giant Pink Bear Royal Caribbean International used the shipyard float-out of Quantum of the Seas to preview the ship’s multimillion-dollar art collection – including a 30-foot-tall, magenta-colored polar bear. As the 4,180-p