Grape Destinations: Working the Mosel Vines
Have you ever gone to a small vineyard? Did you like their wines? I did. Over 20 years ago, I visited a small winemakers’ wine-tasting in Kröv, situated on the Mosel River. My family and I were on a week’s holiday in a bungalow park near Kröv. On the list of activities was the wine-tasting [&h
Grape Destinations: The Willamette Winemakers
The thick, weathered vines at Sokol Blosser attest to the decades that have passed since the rootstocks were first planted. It’s almost as if the vines are supporting the trellises and not the other way around. These days, it’s hard to believe that the vines were once small, timid, and so reli
Cruise Deal of the Week – Mar. 9, 2018
River operator Emerald Waterways is offering savings up to $2,000 per couple on select 8-day cruises on the Danube or the Rhine. Book by March 31 with the code EWUTHOU to receive $1,000 per person off your choice of select departures of the “Sensations of Southern France” itinerary, whic
In Brief: Viking Sun in Shanghai, new river ships, and more….
News Briefs – Mar. 9, 2018 Viking Ocean Cruises christened its fourth ship, Viking Sun, at a ceremony on The Bund in the heart of Shanghai. The ship was in the middle of sailing a sold-out 141-day World Cruise from Miami to London, and the naming marked the first time a Viking ocean ship calle
5 Faves: Presidential Pursuits for Women in Charge
Porthole’s 5 Faves Cruising’s leading women reveal their secrets to success, balance, and travel. Upcoming deadlines. A sea of emails (pun intended). Kid logistics when school is closed for Presidents’ Day. My to-do list seems never-ending! But every time I’m feeling overwhelmed betw
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
In Brief: Ultra-modern riverboats, Disney destinations, and more….
News Briefs – Mar. 2, 2018 American Cruise Lines has begun construction on the sister ship to their “modern riverboat” American Song, which will make its inaugural cruise on the Mississippi River this October. The second ship should launch in summer 2019. Ultimately, the “modern riverboa
Theme Cruise: Grape Expectations
By Judi Cuervo It’s 10:30 a.m. and I’m at the 20-acre Mt. Hood Winery, Oregon’s 2016 Winery of the Year. In the glass before me is a gold medal–winning 2015 Estate Pinot Noir that bears aromas of ripe cherry, pomegranate, and raspberry accented by subtle cedar overtones. I swirl. I sniff. I
Teen Scene | How 14-year-old twin boys fared on a river cruise with the ’rents
By Heidi Sarna Let’s face it. Most teenagers aren’t dying to go on a river cruise. But this mom of teen sons likes small-ship cruising and I’m still the boss (I think!). So last summer I signed the family up for a Bordeaux river cruise with the French line CroisiEurope. We boarded the 174-pass
Grape Destinations: Visit Vila Nova de Gaia. Feel Portuguese!
At last, I was on my way to Porto, the city by the Douro River. On the train, or comboio, that I took from Oriente station in Lisbon, I was expecting to arrive at night in Porto, an almost three-hour ride. Uhum, well, not exactly – because it took me to Vila Nova de Gaia, […]
How to Get the Most Out of Your European Wine Cruise
For wine lovers, there’s nothing as exciting as a European river cruise combined with wine tasting, wine education, and of course, gourmet food. Tasting wine in the South of France had long been on our bucket list, so when we heard about a wine cruise down the Rhone River, sailing from Lyon, we bo
Cruise Deal of the Week – Jan. 19. 2018
Expedition-cruise firm AdventureSmith Explorations is offering a two-for-one deal on bookings in the Amazon Basin aboard the eight-passenger Delfin I, 28-passenger Delfin II, and 43-passenger Delfin III. Book by January 31, 2018 for cruises running now through April. Contact AdventureSmith Explorati
Exploring Cambodia: Touring the temples of Angkor Wat, and searching the secrets of Siem Reap.
Cruising in faraway destinations such as Southeast Asia encourages consideration to pre- and post-cruise options. These opening acts and encores to the main event range from basic hotel stays to more spectacular, engaging adventures. In compiling a high profile destination bucket list, there are spe
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 5, 2018
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 5, 2018 American Cruise Lines has become a national underwriter for the iconic PBS series Washington Week, a roundtable discussion that’s been dissecting national news story once a week since 1967. “There is a certain synergy between our cruise itinerarie
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours offer Special Services
Special services from Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours go above and beyond. By John and Sandra Nowlan It was an unexpected welcome. We knew that a river cruise with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours offered all guests the services of a butler, but we didn’t expect to meet him before we even board
For Shore: The Grape Escape
Exploring France’s wine country with Uniworld By Steve Leland The memory of the first time never fades away: first date, car, job, or virtually first anything. My first cruise back in 1980 altered the trajectory of my entire life. Then, 35 years and more than 500 ocean cruises later, the summer of
Ship Review: American Duchess
Cruising the Mississippi River on its first all-suite paddlewheeler. By Suzanne Carmel On August 14, 2017, in New Orleans, American Queen Steamboat Company christened its newest ship, American Duchess. Godmother Marissa Applegate, daughter of the line’s chairman and CEO, John Waggoner, broke a bot
The Barge Bonus
Float your own boat aboard a private, small ship cruise. By Steve Leland The explicit benefits of river cruising are well documented: all inclusive, complimentary excursions and, the real clincher, typically fewer than 200 guests. The thought of binging on an open bar and great food is enough to flo
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Dec. 22, 2017
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Dec. 22, 2017 Norwegian Cruise Line has announced its 2019 summer itineraries, with cruises aboard five ships sailing in Europe, three cruising to Alaska, and two calling on Bermuda as well as itineraries that include the Bahamas and Florida, the Caribbean, Canada and
5 Faves: Save Our Ships
How you can contribute to preservation efforts. According to the website GivingTuesday.org, #GivingTuesday is “a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.” Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday is meant
