Cruise Deal of the Week – March 15, 2019
The week we spring forward’ is a tough one. Not only do we lose an hour of sleep, but we all have to readjust our internal clocks sunrise coming a little later. In order to help make your week just a little bit better, our cruise deal this week from Norwegian Cruise Line is one […]
Editor-in-Chief Awards 2019
2019 Editor-in-Chief Awards As editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine, Bill Panoff travels a lot. So each year, he reports back on his favorite travel experiences around the world. Here are this year’s picks of those who left amazing impressions in terms of service, quality, and memorable mom
Ship Shape on Norwegian Bliss
Take a calorie-burning indoor cycling class, work on your abs, or find your Zen in a yoga session on the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Bliss and your instructor just may be Henry Berry, a former rugby player from England’s Lake District. Having worked as a personal trainer and run his own boot camp on
3 Onboard Spa Treatments to Try on Your Next Cruise
Aboard cruise ships, spa treatments are anything but ordinary. Dim lights, soothing sounds and pleasant smells are all expected in a spa experience. However, laying comfortably on a zero-gravity massage table, thermal suites inspired by Turkish and Roman baths, or a mindful living program, all overl
Trick or Treat … or Travel
The Monthly Mantra Halloween, Ahoy! … Halloween, Ahoy! … Halloween, Ahoy! I just finished the final Twix in the massive bag of assorted Halloween candy I bought — obviously, a bit too early — for my trick-or-treaters. I finished the Twizzlers yesterday, so if the kids don’t like Th
Hurricane Michael Threatens Gulf Coast
Another week, another hurricane bearing down on Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. This storm, named Michael by the National Hurricane Center, is moving its way north through the Caribbean Sea and into the Gulf of Mexico where projected landfall includes Western Florida, Mississippi and Alabama. The 7t
Set Sail with this Grammy Award Winner
For those living on a prayer until their next cruise, do we have some great news for you. Cruising giant Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will host Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and Grammy Award-winner Jon Bon Jovi’s Runaway To Paradise cruise vacations in partnership with Runaway Tours, c
First Look: Norwegian Encore Hull Art Reveal
While ships are getting bigger and more technologically advanced, there’s another trend in the cruise industry that’s making ships stand out even more. Hull art is popular with modern ships as cruise lines are trying to make sure their ships stand out among all the other white behemoths cruising
Cruise Ship Review: Norwegian Bliss
Bliss it is! Majestic Alaska! A land of infinite beauty, magnificent wildlife, fascinating history … and weather so changeable that the smart traveler will pack everything from skimpy tank tops to a parka, gloves, and certainly an umbrella before embarking on a journey to the Last Frontier. No que
Celebrating National S’mores Day on a Cruise
There’s a fine line between perfectly toasted and blazing inferno, which do you prefer? The art of s’more making varies from person to person based on taste preference, but no matter what, the main idea stays the same; have fun! S’mores are sweet, gooey and make a big mess, how could you not l
Tips for Choosing the Best Cruise Vacation
Choosing your dream cruise involves some planning, knowledge and soul searching. What exactly do you expect from your experience? Are you looking to set a course for adventure, your mind on a new romance…wait… those are the words from The Love Boat and I’m not going there! There is a g
Norwegian Joy Headed Stateside After a Year in China
Norwegian Cruise Line made a splash with the announcement that their ship Norwegian Joy would be built with the Chinese market in mind. However, after just a year of sailing from Chinese ports, the cruise line announced Norwegian Joy would be headed back to the United States for future cruises. The
Mechanical, Interior Upgrades for Norwegian Breakaway
Cruise ships need some TLC every now and then and for Norwegian Breakaway, the time was right for an upgrade. Refurbishments, which just concluded at Damen Shiprepair in Brest, France, included mechanical work on the ship’s two ABB azipods, stabilizers and a fresh coat of paint and interior carpet
Is a Cruise Ship Onboard Spa Pass Worth It?
To buy the spa pass or not to buy the spa pass? For smart cruisers, that’s an easy question to answer! When my wife and I took our first cruise in 2012, we decided to spend a little extra and book a spa pass for the week. It was the best money we have spent […]
Travel Tips: Is Visiting Hawaii During a Volcano Eruption Safe? (VIDEO)
It started off as a tremor or two, but over the past few weeks, Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s largest island has grown increasingly more dangerous and it’s starting to affect tourism on the island. With clouds of dangerous gas, ash and smoke visible from miles away, officials on the island are doi
Norwegian Sun Embarks on Inaugural Voyage To Cuba
Norwegian Sun left its new homeport of Port Canaveral, FL on Monday, loaded with excited guests for its inaugural trip to Havana, Cuba and the start of the summer sailing season. Norwegian Sun is the first ship to cruise to Cuba with a homeport of Port Canaveral. Port Canaveral invested $35 million
Isn’t it good? Norwegian Bliss!
The Monthly Mantra Yeah Yeah Yeah … Yeah Yeah Yeah … Yeah Yeah Yeah …. If you ask people which period of history they would have loved to experience, chances are you’ll get some highfalutin responses: The time of Christ, the Renaissance, the Middle Ages. Not me. If I could travel back in his
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
In Brief: Cruise ship in D.C., Viking boosts Picasso, and more…
Cruise News – Apr. 27, 2018 For the first time since the 1950s, a cruise ship was docked at The Wharf on D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront last Sunday. American Cruise Lines’ American Constitution called at the port during her inaugural cruise, a 10-night Chesapeake Bay sailing that was also the lin
In Brief: Norwegian Bliss delivered, Pandaw cruises river-to-ocean, and more!
Cruise News – Apr. 20, 2018 Norwegian Cruise Line has taken delivery of Norwegian Bliss, receiving the Alaska-bound Breakaway Plus-class vessel in a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany. Bernard Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft, officially gave control of the ship to Captain Karl Staffan Bengts