Editor-in-Chief Awards 2016
2016 Editor-in-Chief Awards Each year, Porthole Cruise Magazine’s editor-in-chief, Bill Panoff, has a tough time picking his favorites from the cruise and travel industry. With so many amazing options that await cruisers, these awards give kudos to those who go above and beyond in terms of servic
Cruise Ship Review: Norwegian Escape
Meet Norwegian Escape, the cruise line’s newest and largest ship. By Theresa Russell A godfather you say? How many ships have a godfather? But there we were on an incredibly hot day in Miami, as Norwegian Cruise Line christened its newest and largest ship, Norwegian Escape, in a pier-side ceremony
Twenty Years of Onboard Innovations
All Decked Out A look back at 20 years of our favorite onboard innovations. 1996: Carnival Destiny debuted as the first passenger ship ever built to be over 100,000 tons, and boasted a three-deck show lounge and the longest water slide at sea at 214 feet. 1997: Holland America Line introduced Rotter
Tried & True: Johnny Jet Travel Tips
Tried and True Travel expert Johnny Jet answers your most common questions. Traveling 150,000 miles a year, it’s no wonder Johnny Jet knows a thing or two about the subject. From money-saving tips to how to get an upgrade, he’s constantly asked travel-related questions from both first-time and e
Cruise Control: Arnold Donald
Grand Ambassador A Day in the Life of Arnold Donald By Sharon Kenny During a typical week, which will eventually end at home in Miami, Arnold Donald puts in thousands of miles visiting multiple cities and ports. He shakes countless hands and answers thousands of questions. And despite his much-deser
Building a Cruise Ship
If You Build It, They Will Cruise What it takes to build a ship. By Kari Reinikainen Have you ever looked around a cruise ship and wondered, “How in the world do they build this?” From the lighting and the plumbing to the logistics and the sheer size, it’s hard to imagine where one would [&hel
Cruising California with Kids
Down by the Seaside of San Diego A guide to cruising the California coast with kids. By Suzanne Carmel The sun beat down steadily in the middle of what was to be one of the hottest weeks in San Diego. My children and I were just steps from our air-conditioned rental car, navigating throngs of [&hell
Design Time: Royal Caribbean’s Smart Ships
High Tech on the High Seas Discover Royal Caribbean’s smart ship design. By Matt Hochberg When you think of smart technology, devices such as smartphones, smart watches, or smart home gadgets probably come to mind. But Royal Caribbean International offers a whole new kind of “smart” in its lat
Epicurious: Appetizing Alaska
Appetizing Alaska Discover what’s on the menu while cruising the 49th state. By Janice Wald Henderson The first time I cruised Alaska, I flew to Taku Glacier Lodge for a wild king salmon feast. As the freshly caught fish sizzled over alder wood, I laughed at the size of the giant filets. Then I at
International Flavor Aboard Europa 2
International Flavor How an English-speaking cruiser fares aboard a German-market cruise ship. By Judi Cuervo Imagine you’re a theater buff. You’ve immersed yourself in the subject for decades and believe that your knowledge is absolute and your passion unsurpassed. And then, suddenly, some play
Like a Local: Fort Lauderdale
Finding Fort Lauderdale Close the guidebooks and let a local lead the way. By Jessica Chesler Fort Lauderdale’s famous canals have earned it the moniker of “The Venice of America.” Year-round, on any given morning, you can see the fortunate who get to live and visit here out on their paddleboa
Jazz at Sea, Queen Mary 2
Grooving Across the Atlantic Enjoy the sounds of Jazz at Sea aboard Queen Mary 2 By Kim Foley MacKinnon Once in a while something comes along that seems so obvious, people wonder, “Why didn’t anyone think of that before?” At least, that’s what I was thinking as I sailed on the inaugural Jazz
Vitamin Sea: Best Bath Amenities
Get the low-down on cruising’s best bath amenities By Judi Cuervo The lovely young suite attendant arrived moments after I had settled into my extraordinary Seabourn Sojourn penthouse. She was bearing an elegant silver tray on which, I assumed, was an assortment of welcome aboard hors d’oeuv
