Windstar Heads North for a New Alaskan Cruise
For adventure-seekers and cruise enthusiasts alike, nothing beats an Alaskan cruise. A place truly wild in every sense of the word, Alaska offers a glimpse at what life was like long before roads, skyscrapers and cell phones. The frigid north is renowned for its beauty and thrilling expeditions whic
Cruise Adventures in Curacao: 6 Spots You Have to See!
When I see Willemstad, Curacao on a Caribbean cruise itinerary, I’m immediately excited –the name alone acts like a hook and I invariably read on. Cruise-passenger-friendly Willemstad, the capital of Curacao is an architecture-buff’s delight –I’m one!– and the island, a consti
The Great Wall and Pandas of Chengdu
Few marvels of the ancient world compare in size and scale to the Great Wall of China. Spanning thousands of miles, it’s the longest man-made structure on Earth and played a pivotal role in the development of the region. The wall is really a collection of sections, each built during a different er
Gettin’ On The Ritz
It’s been said that there is a cruise for everyone. But what is an upper-echelon pleasure seeker to do when you don’t want a cruise that’s for everyone? You want one for you! Who do you turn to when generic five-star service just isn’t good enough? The answer lies with The Ritz-Carlton
Find the Best Deal on a Last Minute Cruise
What’s your relationship with procrastination? For some, putting things off until the last minute borders on an art form. Others, not so much. We’ve all heard that the early bird gets the worm, but when it comes to getting the best deal on a last minute cruise, you have some options at your disp
Forget the iPad, We’re All About the Sky Pad
A million-dollar makeover for Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas has guests jumping for joy, literally. The new Sky Pad, a virtual reality bungee trampoline experience, is the talk of the industry thanks to Royal Caribbean’s bold new adventures campaign. The feature is exclusive to Royal
Carnival Makes Splash with New Cuba Itineraries
Carnival Cruise Line made a splash recently with their announcement of new Cuba itineraries for the 2019-20 cruising season. The popular cruise line plans to offer 23 new cruises to Havana in the next two years, including three and five-day itineraries across five ships cruising from several of Carn
Unfriendly Skies; Here’s What Annoys Air Travelers the Most
Forget delays, there’s a whole lot more to complain about these days for those traveling by air. Booking giant Expedia released the results of their 2018 Airplane and Hotel Etiquette Study and their findings detail the worst faux pas airplane passengers can commit at 35,000 feet. Here are some of
Grape Destinations: Working the Mosel Vines
Have you ever gone to a small vineyard? Did you like their wines? I did. Over 20 years ago, I visited a small winemakers’ wine-tasting in Kröv, situated on the Mosel River. My family and I were on a week’s holiday in a bungalow park near Kröv. On the list of activities was the wine-tasting [&h
My Head’s in the (Sea) Clouds
The Monthly Mantra My Head’s in a Sea Cloud…My Head’s in a Sea Cloud…My Head’s in a Sea Cloud… A pair of Christian Louboutin red-soled stilettos A quilted black leather CHANEL drawstring hobo with chain straps A sailing with the uber-exclusive Sea Cloud Cruises Those are really the only
Virgin Voyages Tech Breakthrough: Underwater Wi-Fi
Cruise News – Apr. 1, 2018 Virgin Voyages’ founder Richard Branson has opened a new frontier of technical innovation by extending Internet service to the one place most people have never had access: under the water. If successful, the new “Wa-Fi” service promises guests full connectivity eve
Princess Cruises Unveils New Features and Upgrades on Sapphire Princess
Cruise News – Mar. 28, 2018 Sapphire Princess has emerged from an extensive two-week dry dock in Singapore now displaying Princess Cruises’ signature logo on her bow. The ship has also been upgraded with enhanced onboard spaces and product innovations. “Sapphire Princess is the latest sh
Carnival Paradise Resumes Cruises After Extensive Makeover
Carnival Paradise has returned to year-round cruise service from Port Tampa Bay following an extensive month-long dry dock that added a variety of spaces and innovations, including a water park, 38 new staterooms, 98 balconies added to existing accommodations, and an array of food and beve
Country Artist Camille Rae to Perform Aboard Norwegian Bliss
Country singer-songwriter and recording artist, Camille Rae, has committed to a three-month residency aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship Norwegian Bliss, which is set to debut in April. Accompanied by her four-piece band, Rae will be seen performing country music’s hottest hi
MSC Cruises Introduces Voice-Enabled Personal Assistant
MSC Cruises has revealed a brand-new feature of MSC for Me, the company’s digital innovation program. The new digital cruise personal assistant is a ground-breaking guest service, developed in partnership with HARMAN International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and l
Portugal Fashion Week Kicks Off at Lisbon’s New Cruise Terminal
The 42nd Portugal Fashion Week kicked off on March 17, 2018, at the new Lisbon Cruise Terminal in the building designed by architect Carrilho da Graça. The event opened with Storytailors’ duo João Branco and Luís Sanchez, who promised not a traditional catwalk show, but a fashion show performan
Lindblad Expeditions Names First Polar Ship National Geographic Endurance
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., a global provider of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, and Ulstein Group, Norwegian shipbuilder and ship designer, celebrated the keel laying of Lindblad’s first polar new build at the CRIST shipyard in Gdynia, Poland. The major milestone al
In Brief: Rapunzel’s Royal Table debuts on Disney Magic and more!
Among the many recent enhancements that guests began experiencing aboard Disney Magic last week was the debut of Rapunzel’s Royal Table, a Tangled-themed family restaurant featuring beloved characters and live entertainment. Upon entering the royal castle, guests are invited by the King and Queen
Royal Caribbean Plans Major CocoCay Upgrade Plus Ship Enhancements for Weekend Cruises
Royal Caribbean International has announced a multi-BILLION-dollar investment in its destinations, ships, and experiences. From amazing new features at its private island of CocoCay to a major investment in current ship upgrades as well as new high-tech ships on the horizon, here’s what you can l
Is Yachting the New Cruising?
Last week, Porthole Cruise Magazine attended Seatrade Cruise Global, the cruise industry’s largest event complete with information, networking, and news from the cruise lines themselves where we saw more than one yacht cruise on display. Sailing to remote, underdeveloped, stunning regions of the w