Port Guide: Singapore
Singapore is the world’s second-busiest port city and a crown jewel of the former British colonial empire. The mostly Chinese ethnic city also has significant populations of people with Malay and East Indian lineage. With English as its official language, Singapore is a true international mel
Silver Shadow: From Sea to Silversea
A luxury cruise can sail in one of two divergent styles. The first is a liberating escape, coddled with ultra-luxe amenities and service; the second, an exploration of diverse cultures in remote destinations. Silversea’s Silver Shadow accomplishes both with a fabulous itinerary into exotic Southea
What to Do in San Juan for the Day
Welcome to San Juan, capital of Puerto Rico, USA. It’s one of the Caribbean’s favorite destinations welcoming cruise ship passengers from around the world. There’s much to explore in this tropical city whatever your interests. Whether you’re a history buff, a food maven, a shopper, a music l
Cruise Ship Review: Spectrum of the Seas Introduces the Royal Range
Typically, sister ships within a class are built in close succession, making it difficult to impose significant changes throughout the class. This is the reality Royal Caribbean understood, coupled with the knowledge that a new Quantum-class ship would also have quite a lot to live up to with stando
China’s River Run
Given that travel to China involves more than the short hop and skip to domestic cruise ports in the U.S., it makes sense to plan a detailed itinerary. A majority of the spectacular destinations within the country can be conveniently accessed by train or plane, but one can add a new dimension to a C
Super Typhoon Mangkhut Rattles South China
While the Eastern United States spent the weekend bracing for Hurricane Florence to bring heavy rains and high winds to the Mid-Atlantic region, it was another storm on the other side of the world that really left an impact on those unfortunate enough to be in its path. Super Typhoon Manghkut, which
Norwegian Joy Headed Stateside After a Year in China
Norwegian Cruise Line made a splash with the announcement that their ship Norwegian Joy would be built with the Chinese market in mind. However, after just a year of sailing from Chinese ports, the cruise line announced Norwegian Joy would be headed back to the United States for future cruises. The
Made In China Part Three: Real Chinese Takeaway
The popular fall back response to the ‘what’s for dinner’ query is the ubiquitous “How about some Chinese?”. How can such a non-American food staple become so American? The fact that Chinese cuisine takeout is readily available in almost every suburban strip mall in the United States is
Made in China Part 2: The Terra-cotta Warriors
China’s initial capital, Xian, with a population of over 8 million today, was for centuries a bustling yet virtually unknown metropolis. Then in 1974, it burst onto the burgeoning stage of Chinese tourism with the happenstance discovery of over 8,000 terra-cotta warriors buried on a rural farm. Ar
The Great Wall: Made In China
“Build the wall!” One of the first times a politician ever issued those controversial words was when the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang decreed the creation of the Great Wall of China. The initial construction of his Wan Li Chang Cheng, or “10,000-Li-Long Wall,” began in 220 B.C.E. and the fu
Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils Hull Art for China-Based Ship | Cruise News – July 27, 2016
Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils Hull Art for China-Based Ship Cruise News – July 27, 2016 Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it has commissioned renowned Chinese artist Tan Ping to design the hull artwork of its soon to-be-unveiled Breakaway-Plus class ship, Norwegian Joy, which is scheduled
Five Faves: “Calculated Risks” for Ovation of the Seas Cruising in China
Porthole’s Five Faves Cruiser Abroad Five “Calculated Risks” for Ovation of the Seas Cruising in China Pushing the envelope appears to be a core business strategy for Royal Caribbean International. And the recently launched Ovation of the Seas, a Quantum-class ship, marks an industry first, ha
Carnival Cruise Line Sending Two Ships to China | Cruise News – Oct. 28, 2015
Carnival Cruise Line Sending Two Ships to China Cruise News – Oct. 28, 2015 Following the initial announcement that Carnival Cruise Line would send one ship to China in 2017, the line officially announced an initial commitment of two ships to the China market beginning with Carnival Miracle in
Carnival Cruise Line to Set Sail for China in 2017 | Cruise News – Oct. 13, 2015
Carnival Cruise Line to Set Sail for China in 2017 Cruise News – Oct. 13, 2015 Carnival Cruise Line is the latest cruise line to announce that it will begin cruise operations in China starting in spring 2017. The line will base one ship there year-round to offer cruises marketed to Chinese gue
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Entry to China Cruise Market | Cruise News – Oct. 12, 2015
Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Its Entry to China Cruise Market Cruise News – Oct. 12, 2015 Norwegian Cruise Line will introduce its first purpose-built ship customized for the China market in 2017. Currently under construction, the new ship is designed specifically for the China market wit
Majestic Princess Bound for China | Cruise News – Oct. 9, 2015
Majestic Princess Bound for China Cruise News – Oct. 9, 2015 Princess Cruises has announced that its newest ship, the sister ship to Royal Princess and Regal Princess, will be named Majestic Princess – and outfitted with the Chinese market in mind. The 143,000-ton vessel will be homeported i
MSC Cruises Partners with China Travel Group | Cruise News – Sept. 2, 2015
MSC Cruises Partners with China Travel Group Cruise News – Sept. 2, 2015 On the heels of MSC Cruises’ recent announcement of their first sailing to China, the line has declared that Shanghai will serve as homeport for MSC Lirica, and the company has forged a strategic partnership with Ca
New Princess Ship Will Head to China | Cruise News – May 8, 2015
New Princess Ship Will Head to China Cruise News – May 8, 2015 Princess Cruises will send the as-yet-unnamed sister ship to Royal Princess and Regal Princess to China – marking the first Carnival Corp. newbuild destined for the Chinese market. The 3,600-passenger ship, currently under constructi
Cuba, China, and the Super Bowl | Cruise News – Mar. 20, 2015
Cuba, China, and the Super Bowl Cruise News – Mar. 20, 2015 [[Here’s what we learned this week at Cruise Shipping Miami 2015, the cruise industry’s largest annual gathering.]] On a “State of the Global Industry” panel, hosted by CNN’s colorful business correspondent R
Quantum of the Seas Moving to China
In a move that came as a shock to many, Royal Caribbean announced this week that after an initial season in the New York market the line would send its newest (and presumably greatest) ship, the 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas, to China – permanently. The ship, which debuts in November, has
