Grape Destinations: Seize the Wine!
There is a quaint wine bar and restaurant called Carpe Diem in downtown Napa Valley. It serves ostrich burgers and house made burrata that makes me salivate at the thought of it. My mother discovered this wine bar within its first year of business. I had recently turned twenty one when she first too
Dish It Up: Premium Palates
Imagine nibbling caviar, the roe and accoutrements shaped like a flower. Picture tucking into a lobster tail adorned with truffled leeks, before a Grand Marnier soufflé is rushed tableside. Such extravagant repasts are the norm on luxury cruises, especially in seas like the Mediterranean or the Car
Enticed by the Flavors of Abruzzo
To my throngs of ardent Porthole Cruise followers (both of you!), you know I love to expound on regional foods. Well, it’s been two days since I posted anything about that dear to my stomach subject, so allow me fill the void in your never ending search for culinary enlightenment. In Abruzzo, It
Anthony Bourdain: Great Minds Don’t Go Down So Easy
See you Captain Crunch! I wrote that down as a comment on social media today. I feel sad, but relief for Anthony Bourdain, a man with a great mind. Most everyone saw chef Bourdain as a celebrity with a strong, unique personality. I saw him as a non-conformist. Since his book Kitchen Confidential was
Exploring Carnival Horizon
The Monthly Mantra Just a Tease … Just a Tease … Just a Tease … It’s not possible to do everything there is to do aboard Carnival Horizon in 18 hours … I really tried. On May 23rd, I found myself strolling up the gangway of the newest member of Carnival’s fleet. That’s the good [&helli
Ship Review: Crystal Bach
Gray skies hang over Germany’s Black Forest and there’s a hint of rain in the air, but I’ve stepped off the gangway of Crystal Bach into a world of shimmering light. Crystal Bach Rooms with a View Riverboats on Europe’s waterways are essentially limited in size by the many locks and bridges
Dish It Up: The Sky’s the Limit on Viking Ocean
Viking Ocean Cruises hit a culinary home run in the 930-passenger Viking Sky, which, like her sisters, matches the gastronomic finesse of higher-priced luxury cruise competitors. The dining experience includes numerous gratis perks such as lunch and dinnertime wine and beer, 24-hour room service, an
Made In China Part Three: Real Chinese Takeaway
The popular fall back response to the ‘what’s for dinner’ query is the ubiquitous “How about some Chinese?”. How can such a non-American food staple become so American? The fact that Chinese cuisine takeout is readily available in almost every suburban strip mall in the United States is
48 Hours: French Fix
Ah, the French. They know how to live. So, when I had the opportunity to experience the Parisian life for two days after my recent river cruise, I accepted quicker than you can pop a baguette in the oven. After all, this magical city is the perfect pre- or post-trip to any Europe-based cruise, and [
TRAVEL TIPS: Don’t Take a Vacation From Exercise
Everyone who works out enjoys a cheat day every now and then, but when you’re on a cruise ship vacation, cheat day tends to turn into cheat week. When you’re putting in the time and effort to exercise, eat right and generally live a healthy lifestyle, the last thing you want is to undo all [&hel
A New Menu Headlines Costa’s 70th Anniversary Celebration
Eat well. That’s the goal for future passengers aboard Costa Cruises. In honor of their 70th year cruising the world, Costa Cruises announced a new, fleetwide menu crafted by 7-time Michelin-starred chef Bruno Barbieri. The menu celebrates his more than 40 years as a culinary master from his child
Next Stop Flavortown: Guy Fieri Teams With Carnival Cruise Line
There’s a new port of call aboard Carnival Horizon and it has everyone’s mouth watering. Okay, fine. Flavortown isn’t a real place, but that’s no matter for celebrity chef Guy Fieri and his new restaurant onboard the ship, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse. Fieri, a Food Network
5 Dining Options to Try on Your Next Cruise
A great vacation captivates all the senses; touch, sight, sound, smell, and of course, taste. After a fun-filled day enjoying activities aboard the ship or exploring a port of call, most travelers have worked up quite the appetite. Cruise ships are known for sparing no expense to create a luxurious
Grape Destinations: Growing Your Own Home Vegetable Garden & Pairing Your Meals with Great Napa Valley Wines
Living in the Napa Valley, we’re blessed with a very moderate, almost Mediterranean climate, from average winter highs of 60 degrees to lows of 40, and in the summer, we typically average highs of 82 degrees and lows of 53. While we know it’s perfect for growing world-class wine grapes (my profe
In Brief: Costa’s New Look, Ritz-Carlton itineraries, and more….
Cruise News – Apr. 13, 2018 To mark the line’s 70th anniversary, Costa Cruises is introducing new livery – in the form of a stylized Italian flag curving underneath the ship’s name in larger, more decorative lettering. The new look has already debuted on Costa Mediterranea, and will soon be
Why Cruise? A Guide for the First-Time Cruiser
There’s something exciting about a cruise. The movies of the 1930s, showing Henry Fonda dressing up for dinner in a fancy tuxedo and being formally seated at a table with starched tablecloths, are mercifully a thing of the past. Today’s cruise is a glorious, fun-filled trip to anywhere: Bermud
In Brief: Horizon Delivered, Baseball Team-Up, and more…
Mar. 30, 2018 In a traditional maritime ceremony at Fincantieri shipyard, Carnival Cruise Line officially took delivery of Carnival Horizon this week. The 3,954-passenger vessel is the 26th ship in the fleet, and is en route to Barcelona to sail four cruises before crossing the Atlantic for New York
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
In Brief: Michelin-starred meals on MSC, and more….
Mar. 23, 2018 MSC Cruises has partnered with Michelin-starred Spanish chef Ramón Freixa. From this April, Chef Freixa will introduce exceptional main dishes and tapas across the fleet and will complete in-depth, interactive training, passing on his skill and expertise to enable all MSC Cruises’ c
Before Your River Cruise, Explore Budapest
Ranked by Forbes as Europe’s seventh-most idyllic place to live, Budapest is easily one of Eastern Europe’s most interesting cities. As Hungary’s capital and most populous city, Budapest is rich in history, culture, stunning architecture, and world-famous thermal baths. Budapest is also the st