Cruise Control: Cartagena, The City of Colors (Video)
Have you considered a cruise along the Panama Canal? Bill Panoff set sail on his most recent cruise adventure. Here are a few highlights from his stop in Cartagena: The Mixture of Old & New The city of Cartagena stretches just about 220 square miles. The city is made up of 16th-century b
We love Isaac’s Love Boat–Inspired Cocktail
Even though it’s not Throwback Thursday today, Porthole is remembering Valentine’s Day 2015, when Princess Cruises debuted a crafty cocktail created by Ted Lange, who played the friendly red-jacketed bartender, Isaac, on The Love Boat. Lange said that he created the amorous concoction by drawin
Royal Caribbean Amps Up Mariner of the Seas with High-Tech Features
Cruise News – Feb. 13, 2018 Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas is undergoing an extensive $90 million makeover before kicking off quick Bahamas getaways from PortMiami in June 2018. The 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises will call on Nassau and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private
Cruising with – and without – kids.
I JUST WANT TO BE ALONE! For parents everywhere, Greta Garbo said it best. A cruise would seem to be just the ticket (and well deserved) to garner precious moments of solitude, but how do you escape the munchkins of others? Several cruise lines have answered the call with innovative ways to claim yo
Carnival Dramatically Expands Cruises from the West Coast
Cruise News – Feb. 12, 2018 Carnival Cruise Line has announced several significant initiatives designed to further bolster its West Coast presence: the deployment of Carnival Panorama to Long Beach in 2019 — the first new Carnival ship based in Southern California in 20 years; the grand re
News Briefs – Seven Seas Mariner’s amazing upgrade, and more….
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Feb. 9, 2018 Seven Seas Mariner is undergoing a major upgrade before returning to Alaska. The world’s first all-suite, all-balcony cruise ship will undergo a 20-day dry-dock this April, getting a new mosaic-tiled pool, an open layout and teak flooring on the poo
Cruise Deals of the Week
Cruise Deals of the Week – Feb. 9, 2018 DEAL 1: Tall-ship line Star Clippers is offering a sweet deal for couples booking and 2018 or 2019 sailing by February 14 (using the promo code VALENTINES18) – sweet treats upon arrival, a bottle of bubbly, and a complimentary one-hour massage (per person/
Celebrate the Best of Bollywood aboard Grand Celebration
Smaller cruise lines are shifting their focus to a more tailored cruising experience through theme-cruise offerings. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line launched their first-ever Bollywood cruise experience in January on a 2-day cruise to the Bahamas. Porthole Cruise Magazine was fortunate enough to have
Miami Dolphins Fan Cruise to Set Sail on the City’s Newest Ship
Cruise News – Feb. 8, 2018 MSC Cruises will bring beloved football legends, the Miami Dolphins alumni, to the sea on a Dolphins Fan Cruise on March 17, 2018, aboard the brand-new MSC Seaside. The Miami Dolphins Fan Cruise is the result of a three-year partnership between MSC Cruises and t
Royal Caribbean Bartender Wins Bacardi Cruise Competition
Cruise News – Feb. 7, 2018 The North American Finals of the 2018 USBG Legacy Cocktail Competition, sponsored by Bacardi, was held in Miami last night to determine which bartenders in the Cruise, United States, and Canada divisions will go on to compete in the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition Gl
Total Eclipse: Celebrity Cruises is the perfect backdrop for a music cruise.
The Monthly Mantra I loved the Eclipse! … I loved the Eclipse! … I loved the Eclipse! And I’m not talking about that thing last August where, in New York at least, we all piled out of our office buildings with silly glasses on to watch something that turned out to look like nothing mor
A Scenic Sequel: Scenic Eclipse II to Launch in 2020
Cruise News – Feb. 5, 2018 A Scenic Sequel: Scenic Eclipse II to Launch in 2020 Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, having already piqued the interest of adventurous cruisers and luxury-accommodation lovers alike with the upcoming summer debut of Scenic Eclipse, has announced a second “6-star”
News Briefs – Cousteau in the Amazon and more….
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Feb. 2, 2018 Luxury river operator Aqua Expeditions has announced a series of theme cruises on the Amazon and Mekong rivers for 2018, including 3-, 4-, and 7-night departures hosted by conservationist and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau (February 9 to 16 and October 5-
Cruise Deals of the Week
Cruise Deals of the Week – Feb. 2, 2018 DEAL 1: Luxury small-ship operator Scenic is offering cruisers on their European river ships and their upcoming “discovery yacht” Scenic Eclipse early-bird rates up to 10 percent off regular fares. The deal extends to 13 different itineraries between
How to Get the Most Out of Your European Wine Cruise
For wine lovers, there’s nothing as exciting as a European river cruise combined with wine tasting, wine education, and of course, gourmet food. Tasting wine in the South of France had long been on our bucket list, so when we heard about a wine cruise down the Rhone River, sailing from Lyon, we bo
Norwegian Starts Construction on Newest Ship, Norwegian Encore
Cruise News – Jan. 31, 2018 Norwegian Cruise Line has marked the start of construction for its newest ship — and the 17th ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. Named Norwegian Encore, the new ship will sail the Caribbean from Miami seasonally beginning fall 2019. Norwegian Cruise Line Ho
Cunard Partners with The New Yorker to Present “Cartoonists at Sea”
Cruise News – Jan. 31, 2018 Cunard Line and The New Yorker magazine have partnered to offer the opportunity to explore the world of cartoons while sailing aboard the line’s flagship ocean liner, Queen Mary 2. During select 2018 Transatlantic Crossings from June to November, the magazin
Cruise Control: Which Beach in Aruba? Baby Beach! (Video)
You finally made it to nearly all the islands the Beach Boys sing about… but there’s just one left. You’re crossing Aruba off your list! Imagine docking at the port of Oranjestad. When you disembark the ship, you look around to see the streets flooded with colorful buildings and shopping touri
Holland America Line Expands Denali Experience in Alaska
Cruise News – Jan. 30, 2018 Holland America Line is expanding its Alaska Land+Sea Journeys with the addition of new guest accommodations at its Denali operation. The 99-room addition will feature the first-ever junior suites at the resort and is expected to be open for the 2019 summer Alaska c
News Briefs – P&O Cruises builds largest British ship, SuperStar Gemini becomes floating hotel….
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 26, 2018 P&O Cruises has contracted for a new “green-cruising” ship which, on completion, will be the largest cruise ship built for the British market. The 5,200-passenger vessel will be built at Meyer Werft and delivered in 2022 as a sister ship to a
