Norwegian Getaway: Miami Flavor
Miami Flavor Norwegian Getaway brings the excitement of the Magic City to the high seas. By Fran Golden Check out the hot highlights of Norwegian Getaway’s christening celebration. If you’re going to bring out a ship that shows off the excitement of Miami, you either go big or go home. When it c
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
Carnival Shows off Pride in Tampa – Cruise News – Nov. 14, 2014
Carnival Shows off Pride in Tampa Cruise News – Nov. 14, 2014 Fresh from a $75 million redo, Carnival Pride has started its winter schedule from Tampa, cruising to Mexico, Honduras (Mahogany Bay on Roatan), Belize and, on some sailings, Grand Cayman, with such additional Fun Ship 2.0 features
Join the Club: Calling All Cat Lovers
Calling All Cat Lovers Board a Meow Meow Cruise and share your feline fervor. By Clark Norton Anna Conway, a Sarasota, Florida–based travel agent, loves cats — and has all her life. “When they brought me home from the hospital after I was born, our pet Siamese cat crawled into the cradle with
Mexican Riviera Aqua Adventures
Aqua Adventures Hit the water for some of the Mexican Riviera’s best at-sea experiences. By Christy Woodrow Born and raised in California, I’ve always considered Mexico to be my second home. I still visit at least once a year, attempting to explore a new area of the country each time. Inevitably
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
Five Faves: Halloween Thrills on Disney Cruise Line
Porthole’s Five Faves Five Fave Fearfully Fun Photos Halloween Thrills on Disney Cruise Line Celebrating the spooky season at sea can be sensational – especially if you’re on a Disney Cruise Line ship. These folks are experts at festivities. And dressing up? It’s better than seco
Norwegian Jewel Debuts in Houston… and more – Cruise News, Oct. 17, 2014
Cruise News – Oct. 17, 2014 Norwegian Jewel Debuts in Houston Houston, we’ve got a new ship. The recently updated Norwegian Jewel began sailing this week from the Bayport Cruise Terminal, where it will be homeported through April 2015. Norwegian Cruise Line had not been in the market for
Five Faves: Culinary Keepsakes – dining experiences at sea
Porthole’s Five Faves Culinary Keepsakes Five favorite dining experiences at sea Ask any cruiser and chances are they will admit that food is key to their overall shipboard experience. While there’s no doubt that today’s cruise ships serve cuisine that rivals top-notch, land-based restaurants
Five Faves: Coldest Cruises to Beat the Heat
Porthole’s Five Faves Coldest Cruises to Beat the Heat Cure the summertime blues in these cool destinations Christmastime in the Caribbean is warm and wonderful. There’s something extra special about sailing through the Med when there’s sleet and slush filling the streets back home. But this t
Cruise News – July 25, 2014
Cruise News – July 25, 2014 Norwegian Updates Cuisine With cruise passengers increasingly moving into the “foodie” category, Norwegian Cruise Line is updating its culinary offerings—part of its NEXT upgrade program. Among the changes: Gone is the old-fashioned chocolate buffet, n
Five Faves: Favorite Beers to Cheers – cruising’s best suds at sea!
Porthole’s Five Faves Favorite Beers to Cheers Lift a glass (or more) to the best suds at sea! There’s the bubbly you tip back with one hand whilst the other is still wheeling a suitcase to your new cabin home. There’s that white-or-red dilemma just as you sit down for that first dinne
Cruise News – June 27, 2014
Cruise News – June 27, 2014 Viking Star Floats Out in Italy Viking, known for its river cruises, celebrated the float-out this week of its first ocean-going ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star, set to debut in spring 2015, with a season of cruises in the Baltic and the Mediterranean. &n
Five Faves: Enjoy the Show – Five Favorite Performances at Sea
Porthole’s Five Faves Enjoy the Show Five Favorite Performances at Sea There’s something about that moment when the lights go dim, the audience hushes, and the curtain rises. Sometimes you might even forget you’re on a cruise ship. But make no mistake. From Broadway-style shows and worl
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
Five Faves: Belly Up!
Cheers to these five favorite onboard spots to grab a drink. There’s no denying that the themed bars, chic lounges, and bustling nightclubs found on today’s cruise ships rival any on land. The options are endless for cruisers seeking unique spots to enjoy their favorite drinks. So far, here are
Cruise Ship Review: Norwegian Breakaway
Cruise Ship Review: Norwegian Breakaway Start spreading the news… this floating mini-Manhattan is a New York dream come true! By Fran Golden When Norwegian Cruise Line recently christened its lively, new 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway in New York, Buddy Valastro, of TLC’s TV’s Cak
Just Desserts and Cocktail Culture
Brand-new treats on both Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line are geared toward an adults-only audience. On Disney, the indulgence is desserts. Exclusively on Disney Fantasy, a new experience for grownups is a five-course dessert tasting in the fancy French restaurant Remy. “Remy Fea
Carnival Brings the Sea to New Kid’s Program
Kids on Carnival ships will soon be making penguins out of Oreos, playing marine animal trivia, crafting their own sailboats, and designing their own aquariums in Camp Ocean, the line’s new marine-themed kids’ program. Launching in May on Carnival Freedom, Camp Ocean will replace Camp
Disney Cruise Line Heads to “Frozen” Norway & Iceland
It’s time to picture Mickey Mouse in his cute Viking-horns outfit. That’s because Disney Cruise Line has announced its newest destination: the Norwegian fjords. Cruises to the Land of the Midnight Sun will set sail in June 2015 when the recently revamped Disney Magic, with its AquaDunk thri