Holland America Line Extends Temporary Pause
Holland America Line followed suit with sister line Carnival in extending their pause on cruise operations until mid-summer. In a statement yesterday, company President Orlando Ashford explained the extension was due to a number of factors surrounding the COVID 19 pandemic, including the extension o
Talking FOOD & Carnival Mardi Gras with Master Chef Rudi Sodamin
Whether he’s sprinkling parsley on flaky filets of dover sole at Rudi’s Sel de Mer or cutting the ribbon at Carnival Kitchen on board the new Carnival Panorama alongside celebrity chefs Guy Fieri and Emeril Lagasse, Rudi Sodamin is a staple in the cruise industry. His resume serving up gourmet c
Zaandam, Rotterdam Finally Dock in Florida
The weeks long ordeal for passengers and crew on board Holland America Line Zaandam and Rotterdam is finally over. The ship docked in Fort Lauderdale, FL today after numerous countries turned down their request to port due to positive cases of COVID 19 confirmed onboard. The ships are just two of ma
Carnival Extends Cruise Stoppage Until May
Carnival Cruise Line made a disappointing, but not altogether stunning announcement today that they would extend the halt on all cruises across their fleet through May 11. Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise conglomerate in the world, owns and operates a number of prominent cruise brands includ
Zuiderdam Crew Jam Out To Their Own Radio Station
Anyone looking west from the beaches of Great Harbour Cay today might see something unusual; a gathering of cruise ships. In fact, eight ships from three different cruise lines have chosen to wait out the cruise delay in the calm, Bahamian waters, including Holland America Line Zuiderdam. Sinc
Cruise Director Christine LaVonna Shares an Update from MS Koningsdam
While cruise ships prepare for the next crop of happy cruisers to come aboard, one of the most common questions we’re getting is about what the crew is up to without any passengers. Today, Porthole Cruise Magazine Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bill Panoff caught up with the Cruise Director Chri
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
Cruises Cancelled Amid Coronavirus Concerns
UPDDATE :Editor’s Note: This article was published on February 26, 2020. Click here for the latest Coronavirus news and cruise updates. Everyone is discussing the issue of Coronavirus and what cruise lines were doing to prevent the virus from entering a ship’s ecosystem to ensure passenger
Cruise Deal of the Week – February 14, 2020
Few place on Earth are more romantic than the Mediterranean. Whether you’re sampling the gelato in Naples, shopping for flowers at the Central Market in Cadiz, or lounging on a beach chair in the Greek Islands, this part of the world is simply too good to be true. Today we’ve got a repos
Discovering the Canadian Rockies by Rail
It’s been 30 years since luxury train company Rocky Mountaineer embarked on its first journey through the Canadian Rockies, but as you gaze out through the oversized and glass-dome windows of the train’s coaches into the surrounding wilderness, it’s clear the pristine landscapes of Western Can
Floats My Boat: Saltwater Painter Stephen Card
Tucked away in Sandys, Bermuda, you’ll find the home and studio of maritime artist Stephen Card. It’s a yellow house with dark green shutters — “The color scheme,” Card explains, “of the old Rotterdam’s lifeboats.” And with that statement alone, you realize that for this 67-year-old
The Judi’s Choice Awards 2019
The Monthly Mantra Judi’s Choice Awards … Judi’s Choice Awards … Judi’s Choice Awards … It’s time for the 2019 Judi’s Choice Awards! Unlike all those hum-drum “best-ofs” that tackle the obvious aspects of a cruise like dining, entertainment, and itineraries (anyone could do that)
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
Cruise Deal of the Week – October 4, 2019
Do you feel that, cruisers? The dog days of summer have given way to the crispness of Autumn and that means sailing season is just around the corner. As the days grow shorter and colder, picture yourself on a beach somewhere exotic, like Fort Lauderdale, Bonaire, Willemstad/Curacao, Oranjestad, Amb
Cruise Deal of the Week – August 9, 2019
Last minute cruise deals are one of the best ways to save money on your next cruise vacation, but it’s not always easy to book one. You have to be flexible with your schedule as you often only have a matter of weeks from when you book to when the cruise sails. This week we […]
Cruise Ship Review: Nieuw Statendam’s Very Oprah Inaugural
What happens when you get 2,400 women together on a cruise ship for a Girls’ Getaway with Oprah Winfrey? Tons of laughter, loads of camaraderie, and hugs and tears resulting from both. Even Oprah herself was moved by the experience. At the end of the cruise, as she was about to christen Holland Am
Cruise Deal of the Week – May 17, 2019
You can buy a lot of things for $600. That’s how much cruisers are saving with the latest deal from Holland America Line! A new deal called Oceans of Extras means guests are getting hundreds to spend at sea and a bunch of other perks that are sure to make your cruise vacation a great […
Cruise Deal of the Week – May 10, 2019
What does Mom really want for Mother’s Day? You could go with the traditional route of flowers and the like, or you could step it up with year and show your Mom how much you really care! Holland America Line has revamped their gift card services so it’s easier than ever to give Mom the [
Cruise Ship Friendship
Monthly Mantra Waves of Kindness … Waves of Kindness … Waves of Kindness … “Wait! Wait! I want to give this to you!” That was the older woman with the organza hat, waving me down as I gathered my luggage after disembarking Queen Elizabeth 2 in Southampton in 1983. At the time, I was [&h
