One Cruise at a Time – The first step is admitting you have a cruising problem.
Monday Mantra I need a fix… I need a fix… I need a fix… One Cruise at a Time The first step is admitting you have a cruising problem. On one hand, there are the casual cruise vacationers. They are those who might mention they’re going on a cruise but, when pressed for details, won’t [&hell
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Feb. 27, 2015
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Feb. 20, 2015 Cunard will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth with a special black-tie Big Band Ball on October 3. The evening will begin with a commemorative menu at a black-tie gala dinner. Then there will be tributes to swing and jazz, performed by a
The Judi’s Choice Awards – It’s time we recognized the little things that make cruising great.
Monday Mantra And the winner is…And the winner is…And the winner is…. The Judi’s Choice Awards It’s time we recognized the little things that make cruising great. We all love Porthole Cruise Magazine’s “Readers’ Choice Awards,” those annual, prestigious honors that are determined e
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Feb. 6, 2015
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Feb. 6, 2015 Viking Cruises has launched a new sponsorship deal with PBS (after the line’s success with sponsoring MASTERPIECE with Downton Abbey). The line is now also sponsor for The Great British Baking Show, featuring Mary Berry, godmother of the Longship Vi
Queen Victoria gets a redo – Cruise News — Jan. 30, 2015
Queen Victoria gets a redo Cruise News — Jan. 30, 2015 Fresh off a 20-day refurbishment in Hamburg, Germany, Queen Victoria is showing off a new look that includes the addition of nine cabins designed and priced for solo travelers. Enhancements were made to outdoor spaces including the Upper Grill
Five Faves: Cruise Ship Re-Creations
Porthole’s Five Faves Cruise Ship Re-Creations Shipyards will probably continue to use steel and teak wood, but not all cruise-ship builders fall back on the standbys. The intricately gorgeous design of a cruise ship has been a muse for decades, inspiring people to explore the globe with iconic tr
Five Faves: Cruise Ship Superlatives
Five Faves Cruise Ship Superlatives We’ve lined up five of cruising’s top … most … best … to the extreme!!! Cruising is an experience that always asks for more. One more day on vacation. One more mojito. One more shrimp at the buffet. So it’s no surprise that cruise lines take great prid
Five Faves: Unique Stores At Sea
Porthole’s Five Faves Unique Stores At Sea Not all ship shops are stocked with brand-stamped hats and duty-free booze. In honor of Black Friday, we highlight our favorite onboard, one-of-a-kind proprietors. The fourth Wednesday of November has always been a day devoted to two worthwhile pur
Porthole Cruise News Briefs of the Week – Cruise News – Oct. 31, 2014
Porthole Cruise News Briefs of the Week Cruise News – Oct. 31, 2014 Costa Diadema, the brand-new flagship of Costa Cruises, left Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Venice and will reach its first port of Trieste on October 31. As “Regina del Mediterraneo” (“Queen of
Cruise News — August 29, 2014 – Celebrity Cruises debuts new package tours… and more
Cruise News — August 29, 2014 Celebrity Cruises debuts new package tours Celebrity Cruises is debuting more than 20 new cruisetours with a twist — the Celebrity Explorations take you well beyond the cruising region. For instance, one tour combines an African safari with a Celebrity cruise to the
Cruise News – August 22, 2014
Cruise News – August 22, 2014 Carnival Cruise Lines beefs up Baltimore options Carnival Cruise Lines will, for the first time, operate a one-of-a-kind series of 10- to 14-day Caribbean cruises from Baltimore on Carnival Pride. The line is also adding a pair of 5-day Bermuda, 6-day Bahamas
Cruise News – August 15, 2014
Cruise News – August 15, 2014 Quantum of the Seas Floats Out with Giant Pink Bear Royal Caribbean International used the shipyard float-out of Quantum of the Seas to preview the ship’s multimillion-dollar art collection – including a 30-foot-tall, magenta-colored polar bear. As the 4,180-p
Remembering the Black Dress – Worn – and worn out – on the best of cruises
Monday Mantra Ode to The Black Dress Worn – and worn out – on the best of cruises. I need a new dress…I need a new dress…I need a new dress… It was black. It was elegant. And it seemed to have a magical ability to expand or contract in order to perfectly fit my body […]
Cruise News – July 18, 2014
Cruise News – July 18, 2014 Oceania Cruises Adds 180-Day World Cruise for 2016 After making headlines with a pair of “Around the World in 180 Days” sailings scheduled for 2015, Oceania Cruises has scheduled an equally expansive itinerary for 2016 — calling on five continents, 45
Island Time: South Pacific Cruising
Island Time The story of South Pacific cruising By Chris Frame If you’re like many travelers, the South Pacific conjures visions of a tropical paradise: sunny weather, relaxed and vibrant communities, pristine beaches, and turquoise oceans. Like the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, the beautiful S
Cruise News – May 30, 2014
Weekly Cruise News – May 30, 2014 The Debut of Regal Princess Princess Cruises’ new Regal Princess quietly debuted in Europe this month. The fanfare will come later when the 3,560-passenger ship arrives in its new homeport of Fort Lauderdale in November, but she’s no less a knockout than h
Cruise News – May 23, 2014
Cruise News – May 23, 2014 ‘NEXT’ for Norwegian: $250 Million Upgrades Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that it will spend $250 million through 2015 for its “Norwegian NEXT” fleetwide enhancement program – including adding Breakaway-class dining and entertainment featur
Cruise News – May 16, 2014
Cruise News – May 16, 2014 New Viking Ocean Ships Viking Ocean Cruises hasn’t even launched its first ship yet, but is already tripling its fleet. The ocean-going arm of Viking River Cruises has ordered two sister ships to Viking Star, which is set to debut in May 2015. Viking Sea and Vi
Weekly Cruise News – May 9, 2014
Weekly Cruise News – May 9, 2014 A Regal Birthday in Southampton Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 was welcomed by her sisters to a 10th-birthday celebration in Southampton. Festivities kicked off at sunrise today with the song “Happy Birthday” played on the whistles of Queen Victoria and Queen Eli
Look for a Wave of Deals
As cruise lines look to kick-start the new year by getting plenty of reservations on the books, the “Wave Season” deals are rolling in. Look for opportunities to save on cruise fares booked between January and March, the largest booking period for cruises, thanks to the annual sales event. The o