We name this article “Christenings”
WE NAME THIS ARTICLE “CHRISTENINGS” May God bless this and all who read about this, the most important ceremony in cruising. By Dan Askin The christening of a cruise ship represents the climax of a series of traditions recognizing shipbuilding signposts: the steel cutting, the keel layin
Meditations on Moorea
MEDITATIONS ON MOOREA One traveler rediscovers the beauty and culture of the South Pacific. By Amy Roe “I shut my eyes in order to see.” ― Paul Gauguin Not long ago, a rare traveling exhibition of Gauguin’s paintings came to an art museum near my home in Seattle. When my husband and I went t
A Kochi Spice Safari
A KOCHI SPICE SAFARI In South India, diverse cuisines and cultures are the true spice of life. By Sharon McDonnell Kochi is a melting pot to end all melting pots. Within a short walk, one can see the vivid murals depicting scenes from Hindu epics on the walls of the Dutch Palace (actually built by [
AmaCerto’s River of Dreams
RIVER OF DREAMS State-of-the-art technology complements a creative vision on AmaWaterways’ beautiful AmaCerto. By Michel Verdure After more than 200 cruises in 20 years, the word “cruising” still brings up visions of a long journey over vast expanses of ocean to faraway ports and tropical beac
Destination Discovery: Israel
Destination Discovery: Israel For Cruisers Who Have Done It All By Richard Varr When it comes to the history of the world, this small stretch of land the size of New Jersey holds an enormous legacy. From its tree-lined rolling hills in the north to creviced desert terrain in the south, Israel
Join the Club: Vampire Cruises
Cruises You Can Sink Your Teeth Into Vampire genre cruises draw fans looking for a “fangtastic” time. By Clark Norton Vampires — those sharp-fanged mythological creatures of the night who are said to subsist on the blood of the living – are as ubiquitous as Snooki these days, rising f
Gourmet Buffets
GOURMET BUFFETS Step aside, midnight pizza! There are plenty of new favorites to choose from at today’s buffets at sea. By Lynn & Cele Seldon Buffets at sea were once all about the quantity. The bigger the bowl of (jumbo) shrimp, the better! Today, quality and creativity take the fore… and c
Hanging Loose on the Wind Surf
HANGING LOOSE ON THE WIND SURF With the wind at our backs and the surf in our ears, Windstar gave us a journey unlike any other. By Ben Lyons Standing at the railing of Windstar Cruises’ Wind Surf, I became a bit reflective as the sun reluctantly set off St. Bart’s. It may have been […]
Like a Local: A Dose of Barbados
Like a Local: A Dose of Barbados Sure, there are guidebooks that list every restaurant and attraction in destinations around the world. But Porthole’s “Like a Local” department goes straight to the natives, who truly know the way to go. By Rosemary Parkinson As a Caribbean food writer a
Art Sails
ART SAILS Dramatic pieces aboard today’s ships do more than merely decorate the walls. By Matt Hannafin When you take a cruise, the idea — the ideal, really — is that you’re stepping out of your everyday life and into an amplified reality: The food and drink never run out. There a
Cruising Down Under
CRUISING DOWN UNDER With more cruise lines adding Australia to their summer routes, travelers now have easier access to all this faraway land has to offer. By Natalie Aroyan Ever the bucket-list destination deemed too distant, Australia is now becoming easier to reach thanks to the largest cruise li
Who’s Up for an “Un-Cruise”?
Who’s Up for an “Un-Cruise”? Smaller lines join forces to unveil a new strategy, luring guests who normally might not cruise at all. By Chris Gray Faust While many cruisers delight in megaships with zip lines, elaborate waterslides, and touristy ports, there’s a certain type of traveler who
American Queen: A Royal Ship Returns
The American Queen steamboat brings back the golden age of river cruising By Shawn J. Dake It begins with a hiss that builds into a melodic whoosh, as clouds of steam pour out of the brass whistles. A bright red paddle wheel churns the water. The steamboat American Queen is back, returning to the Mi
Join the Club: Ship-Deck Soccer
SHIP-DECK SOCCER Having a Ball at Sea. By Clark Norton In the spring of 2011, a girls’ soccer club in southern New Jersey called the Cape Express Bulldogs was casting about for a destination for a vacation soccer camp for its team of soon-to-be 14 year olds, many of whom had played together since
Head for Hong Kong
HEAD FOR HONG KONG There’s something for every taste in this world-class metropolis. By Irvina Lew Hong Kong is an extraordinarily exciting and elegant city for cruise ship passengers to explore. This dynamic destination lures 33 million visitors annually. It’s so posh that bakery-like lines for
Food for Thought : Cooking Classes
FOOD FOR THOUGHT DIG IN Learning is full of flavor aboard today’s cruise ships. By Lynn and Cele Seldon Whether it’s for a hot new restaurant, a food and wine festival, or culinary classes that divulge chef secrets and recipes, culinary travel is tastier than ever. That’s especially true on cr
Amazing Amazon: M.V. Aria
AMAZING AMAZON Adventure meets luxury aboard Aqua Expeditions’ M/V Aria. By Gail Harrington Anticipation takes over when you’re heading off to one of the world’s great wonders like the Amazon. In my case, expectations soared in Aqua Expeditions’ beautiful waterfront air-conditioned, outdoor
Jetting There: Travel Services
JETTING THERE: TRAVEL SERVICES Travel expert Johnny Jet shares several travel services that you might not even know exist. By Johnny Jet Obviously, I travel a lot. Otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this column. As a frequent traveler, I see things that the average person often ignores, which is a hu
Destination Discovery: Easter Island
DESTINATION DISCOVERY: EASTER ISLAND For Cruisers Who Have Done It All By Joyce Gregory Wyels Next Stop: Easter Island People voyage to this tiny speck of land in the South Pacific for one reason: to see for themselves those enigmatic great stone heads that have, quite literally, put Easter I
Like a Local: Rio de Janeiro
LIKE A LOCAL: RIO DE JANEIRO Sure, there are guidebooks that list every restaurant and attraction in destinations around the world. But Porthole’s “Like a Local” department goes straight to the natives, who truly know the way to go. By By Alexandra de Vries I have been living in Rio de Janeiro
