Five Favorite Stories from 2014’s Cruise News
Five Faves Five Favorite Stories from 2014’s Cruise News A fond look back at the year’s top cruise trends. New ships Norwegian Getaway, Regal Princess, and “smart ship” Quantum of the Seas, plus dozens of new river ships — including from Viking River Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Uniw
World Artisan: Jo Diggs
A Stitch in Time Portland, Maine, quilter creates warmth in her artwork. By Emma Trelles Admirers of Jo Diggs’ quilts have insisted that what she’s making are really paintings. It’s easy to see why. The fabric artist’s inspired assemblages are miles away from the typical diamonds, shepherd g
Blount Small Ship Adventures Explores the Atlantic Coast
A Coast with the Most Explore the Atlantic shoreline with Blount Small Ship Adventures. By Yvonne Yorke In 1949, shipbuilder and inventor Luther H. Blount founded a family-run company that built vessels ranging from dinner cruise ships to commercial fishing boats. Blount often spent his vacations on
Cruise Wisdom: Deal Watch
Deal Watch When is the best time to book a cruise? By Cindy O’Neil Q: My sisters and I are planning a cruise for our next vacation. We have sailed before and it always seemed like other passengers snagged a better deal than we had. So when is the right time to book our cruise? […]
Date Nights at Sea
Date Night Delights From candlelit tables for two to movies under the stars to stargazing strolls around deck, nothing’s more soothing than romance at sea. By Heidi Sarna and Matt Hannafin Matt: Oh, “romance”: one of the three or four nouns most commonly linked with “cruise.” And now you a
Fantastic Voyage – Pilgrimages at Sea
Fantastic Voyage A family of 10 embarks on a 49-day spiritual journey. By Marcia Levin Theo Kaufman wanted to give his wife and children an opportunity to make their Roman Catholic religion come to life — to see what they believe in and experience their globe-spanning faith. And last summer, the L
Improve your Selfie
Improve Your Selfie Why not return from your next cruise an even better you? By Theresa Norton Masek Tell someone you’re going on a cruise and they might joke about the 10 pounds you’ll gain. Maybe that was true back in the day (heck, it’s still true for some of us!), but we also know [&hellip
Just Add Land: Train Journeys
Ride the Rails If a weeklong cruise just isn’t enough, combine it with a train adventure for a trip of a lifetime. By Sherry Laskin It’s not a new concept. Rail-and-sail vacations have been around for years. But lately, word is getting around about these unique extended adventures. When combined
Like a Local: Auckland
City of Sails When cruising from Auckland, close the guidebooks and let a local lead the way. By Rosemary Neave Auckland has been my home since my 20s, when I came for a holiday, fell in love with New Zealand, and never left. As a web designer and passionate networker, I love sharing stories and [&h
Join the Club: Top Chef at Sea
Get Cookin’ Celebrity Cruises’ Top Chef at Sea cruises get participants fired up. By Fran Golden Chef Angelo Sosa tried to pull my white chef’s hat over my eyes. The chef/owner of the Michelin-recommended Añejo in New York, and former contestant on the TV show Top Chef, was coaching a two
Cruise Ship Review: Tauck Inspire
Tauck Inspire, the newest class of ships from Tauck, raises the bar in river cruising. By John and Sandra Nowlan As ocean cruise ships get bigger and bolder, various lines try to outdo each other with innovations such as giant atriums, poolside movie screens, skating rinks, and bumper cars. River cr
Monday Mantra: Promises, Promises
Monday Mantra Happy New Year!… Happy New Year!… Happy New Year! Promises, Promises I will set sail into the New Year with the best intentions. As we cruise into 2015, I find myself with a boatload of resolutions that are sure to make me a more pleasant shipmate … if I can keep them: I
Five Faves: New Ships, New Trips – Cruise Year’s Resolutions
Five Faves New Ships, New Trips Five Cruises to Consider in 2015 A new year brings a sense of excitement. New opportunities on the horizon. New hopes and dreams.… And new cruise possibilities! Why not make 2015 the year to try something different in the vast world of cruising? Whether it’s aboar
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 2, 2015
Porthole Cruise News Briefs Cruise News – Jan. 2, 2015 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced plans to use new pollution-reducing scrubbers to “meet or exceed” upcoming new international environmental standards. Thirteen Royal Caribbean International and six Celebrity Cruise
Cruise Deal of the Week – Jan. 2, 2015
Cruise Deal of the Week Cruise News – Jan. 2, 2015 [sf_iconbox image=”ss-star” character=”” type=”left-icon-alt” title=”Porthole’s Featured Cruise Deal of the Week!” animation=”fade-in” animation_delay=”100″] Save up
Port of Palm Beach Ship to Sail to the Bahamas – Cruise News – Jan. 2, 2015
Port of Palm Beach Ship to Sail to the Bahamas Cruise News – Jan. 2, 2015 The Port of Palm Beach is getting a new ship for Bahamas cruises. Arriving this year will be Grand Celebration, a 1,500-passenger ship that once operated as Carnival Cruise Lines’ Celebration. Built in 1986, the sh
Princess Makes a Splash at Rose Bowl – Cruise News – Jan. 2, 2015
Princess Makes a Splash at Rose Bowl Cruise News – Jan. 2, 2015 If you weren’t one of the 80 million or so people watching the Rose Parade on TV, you may have missed an industry first — a cruise-line logo made of blueberries — plus, the original cast of The Love Boat TV series [&hell
Holland America Crowns Second Dancing Champion – Cruise News – Jan. 2, 2015
Holland America Crowns Second Dancing Champion Cruise News – Jan. 2, 2015 Cruise passenger/”hobbyist” ballroom dancer Brenton Mitchell of Halifax, Nova Scotia, has been crowned Holland America Line’s second “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea” champion. Mitchell earne
Catch the Wave… It’s time for great cruise deals — and difficult cruise choices!
Monday Mantra It’s Wave Season!…It’s Wave Season!…It’s Wave Season! Catch the Wave It’s time for great deals — and difficult choices! In the travel industry, January marks the beginning of Wave Season, a time when cruise lines traditionally offer their best deals of the year. W
Five Faves: Cruise Ship Re-Creations
Porthole’s Five Faves Cruise Ship Re-Creations Shipyards will probably continue to use steel and teak wood, but not all cruise-ship builders fall back on the standbys. The intricately gorgeous design of a cruise ship has been a muse for decades, inspiring people to explore the globe with iconic tr
