CRUISE RECIPE: Carnival’s Fruit Loops French Toast
Hungry to Sail Again No question. We adults are going a little stir crazy during this global pandemic…but at least we have booze. Think of the little kids: No friends to meet up with, no sports to play, no slides and swings and no trips to Disney World. Why not put a smile on the [&hel
Carnival Extends Pause on Operations Once More
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a 100 day extension on the no-sail order from earlier in March. The order did leave some wiggle room for a return to cruising before the 100 day period, but as we commented last week, it was highly unlikely that the conditions for a re
Coast Guard Tells Cruise Lines to Arrange Private MEDEVAC
In a Marine Safety Bulletin sent by the U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday, Rear Admiral E.C. Jones of the 7th District told cruise ships contacting Miami for assistance with sick passengers that they’re more or less on their own. The increased demand for medical evacuations via helicopter (MEDEVAC) has c
Carnival Cancels All Cruises From San Francisco Through 2020
Unfortunately these days, cruises are getting cancelled no matter where you’re headed or which line you’re cruising with. Those booked with Carnival Cruise Line were dealt with more bad news today, particularly anyone sailing from San Francisco or onboard Carnival Radiance or Carnival Legend.&nb
45 Years at Sea! An Interview with Cruise Director Gary Hunter
For the past month, we’ve been sharing some of our favorite cruise memories from our readers and from the Porthole team. When Porthole Cruise Magazine Editor-in-Chief Bill Panoff was working on board Carnival ships in the 1970’s, one of his best friends on board was entertainer Gary Hunter.
Carnival Extends Cruise Stoppage Until May
Carnival Cruise Line made a disappointing, but not altogether stunning announcement today that they would extend the halt on all cruises across their fleet through May 11. Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise conglomerate in the world, owns and operates a number of prominent cruise brands includ
Cruise Memories: Just What We Needed
While we wait for cruising to come back into our lives, we’ve been asking cruising from all over the world to share their cruise stories from over the years. One story we received caught our eye for its message of hope, love, perseverance and the ability of a cruise to melt away the stres
Cruise Memories with Bill Panoff: Carnival Mardi Gras
It’s day three of Cruise Memories with Bill Panoff! Many of you have heard of the upcoming Carnival Mardi Gras, but did you know that this will be the second ship with that name operated by Carnival Cruise Line? The first Mardi Gras set sail under the Carnival brand in 1972 and our o
Cruise Memories with Bill Panoff: The Tom Jones Years
Welcome to the second installment of cruise memories with Bill Panoff! Yesterday, we asked Bill about his first memories of cruising on board TSS Carnivale where he worked as a magician. One of the events on board the ship was a talent contest and that’s when Bill decided to try his hand
Cruise Memories with Porthole Cruise Founder Bill Panoff
Since we’re all taking a break from cruising for the time being, we decided the best thing to do was to share some of our favorite cruise memories! There’s nothing better than a cruise vacation and the memories we make while at sea and in port are some that will last forever! There
Cruise Industry Executives Offer Encouraging Words
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the cruise industry, but it’s safe to say that the current outbreak of Covid-19 is the most difficult challenge cruise lines have ever faced. Last week saw every major cruise line, their sub-brands and other small ship lines included, halt operation for a
Top Ten Cruise Deals RIGHT NOW
Deals deals deals! Cruising isn’t being portrayed in the best light at the moment but there is a silver lining to this cloud: dirt cheap cruises to wherever you want to go! If cruising is your prefered method of travel, then nothing is going to stop you from taking your dream vacation. Now might j
First Look: Family Feud Live on Carnival Mardi Gras
Way back in 1972, Carnival Cruise Line acquired their first ship which they renamed Mardi Gras and positioned in Miami for sailings to the Bahamas and Caribbean. The newest ship from the cruise giant is scheduled to arrive this November and is named Mardi Gras in honor of the very first ship in Carn
Will Coronavirus Cancel My Cruise?
Editor’s Note: This article was published on February 17, 2020. Click here for the latest Coronavirus news and cruise updates. For the most part, cruisers like to read stories about new ships, private island resorts and the latest expedition cruise itineraries. Occasionally however, the
10 Reasons to Buy Art on a Cruise Ship
If you’re like most cruisers, the highlight of your year is stepping aboard a cruise ship for a week of fun in the sun. Everyone has a favorite part about a cruise. Some love the unique dining options, others the onboard amenities like pools, movie theaters, mini-golf courses and tons more. If you
Seven Seas Splendor: Regent’s Newest Cruise Ship
One of the top names in luxury cruising added a new ship to its fleet this week with the delivery of Seven Seas Splendor at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The ship is the fifth for Regent, who first began luxury cruises nearly 30 years ago. Regent also has plans to add a sixth s
Gone to Sea: Broadway at Sea
In 2010, an imposing trio of bald, blue madmen convinced me that onboard entertainment was about to take an extraordinary turn. At the time, I was seated in the Epic Theater aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s recently launched Norwegian Epic. On the elaborate stage before me, a riotous performance of
Carnival and KultureCity Collaborate for Sensory Inclusion
For many, the best part about taking a cruise vacation is how much fun today’s ships can be. They have movie theaters and arcades, roller coasters and waterparks. Everywhere you go there’s something exciting and new to explore. However, the sights and sounds can be challenging for those with sen
A New Day for Carnival Sunrise
The glow of a Caribbean sunrise ushers in a new beginning and likewise, so does the emergence of the innovative Carnival Sunrise. Keeping pace with cruise trends is something that every cruise line grapples with and announcements of new ship construction constantly grab the headlines. These floati
Theme Cruise: Sailing the Haunted Caribbean
You expect spirits on a cruise — but in a glass, with a little paper umbrella, right? You don’t expect the kind of spirits you talk to and that, if you’re lucky, answer you back. That is, unless you’re on a Strange Escapes cruise, where paranormal investigators guide you through otherworldly