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
A Lifetime of Painting Cruise Ships
The Monthly Mantra Artist on Board … Artist on Board … Artist on Board … “Can we go to Cucina for dinner?” That was Bermudian maritime artist Stephen Card’s immediate reaction to me telling him I’d be visiting the island aboard Carnival Sunrise’s 4-day sailing from New Yo
Cheers to the Newest Renewed Carnival Cruise Ship
The Monthly Mantra Cuervo Makes the Sunrise … Cuervo Makes the Sunrise … Cuervo Makes the Sunrise … “Cuervo Makes the Sunrise” was Cuervo Tequila’s ad slogan when I was a teenager and I’d like to apologize now to the good folks at Cuervo for the poster I swiped off the subway when I wa
Theme Cruise: Bare Boat Couples Retreat
First things first — yes, the cruise my husband and I went on was a nude cruise. This was the Bare Boat, organized by Bare Necessities Tour & Travel for the continued quest of liberation and self-acceptance. Where the shedding of physical clothes helps to also shed “mental clothes,” overco
Things to Do When You Skip a Shore Excursion
Just like all cruises, Carnival cruise ships are like hotels on the ocean when you are sailing to your vacation destination. The excursions may be delightful and offer lasting memories, but what if you are not up for going out for the day? Lucky for you, there are still things to do when you are [&h
Behind the Cruise Line: Arnold Donald At The Wheel
Five years ago, cruise lines were reeling from several highly publicized cruise ship incidents around the globe. [Ed. Note: — Porthole may or may not have neglected to mention some of those less-sunnier subjects.] Many believed it would take years of incident-free cruise travel and millions of dol
Cruise Deal of the Week – April 5, 2019
It’s never too early to start thinking about your summer vacation. The cruise pros over at Carnival Cruise Line know that summer is about having fun with the whole family, that’s why they’ve introduced the Summer Pack & Go Sail which runs through the weekend. Book by Sunday, A
1 Millionth Passenger Cruises Through Port of New Orleans
More than a million cruise passengers grabbed their feather masks and loaded up on beignets for a cruise out of New Orleans in 2018, up 2.3% from the previous year. It’s the fifth straight year the Big Easy has topped a million cruise passengers and its estimated the yearly cruisers bring near
First Look: Carnival Mardi Gras Roller Coaster
One of the most anticipated ships in production today is Carnival Mardi Gras, a top of the line vessel slated to be the first in North America powered by liquid natural gas when she sets sail in 2020. Carnival released some new renderings which included a look at the very first roller coaster at sea
The Judi’s Choice Awards 2018
The Monthly Mantra And the winners are in! … And the winners are in! … And the winners are in! It’s time for the Judi’s Choice Awards and this year my head is spinning! 2018 has seen explosive developments in the cruise industry, big and small, far and near – so here are this year’s
Coming up Roses: Carnival Poised for HUGE 2019
You already know Carnival Cruise Line as one of the most popular names in vacationing, but did you know that Carnival is set to make 2019 a banner year across many of the cruising brand’s they own and operate? With four new ships coming in the new year, Carnival has decided to make the debut [