Cruise News – August 15, 2014
Cruise News – August 15, 2014 Quantum of the Seas Floats Out with Giant Pink Bear Royal Caribbean International used the shipyard float-out of Quantum of the Seas to preview the ship’s multimillion-dollar art collection – including a 30-foot-tall, magenta-colored polar bear. As the 4,180-p
A Week Aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas
Ashley Castle’s week on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas I ventured on board Royal Caribbean’s recently refurbished Navigator of the Seas, now sailing from Galveston, Texas, for a week of fun on board and in the ports of call: Roatan, Honduras, Belize City, Belize and Cozume
Five Faves: Theme Cruises for 2015
Porthole’s Five Faves Five Theme Cruises Stargazing, yoga, and rock and roll – some of our favorite theme cruises for 2015 From country music cruises to chocolate lovers’ cruises, from golf to Goth, there is a theme cruise out there for everyone. Set sail with like-minded cruisers for
Cruise News – July 11, 2014
Cruise News – July 11, 2014 Windstar Adds Private Events to all 2015 Sailings Beginning in 2015, all Windstar Cruises itineraries will feature a complimentary Private Events offering on shore, designed to give passengers a local experience. The line debuted the perk with South Pacific itinerar
Island Time: South Pacific Cruising
Island Time The story of South Pacific cruising By Chris Frame If you’re like many travelers, the South Pacific conjures visions of a tropical paradise: sunny weather, relaxed and vibrant communities, pristine beaches, and turquoise oceans. Like the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, the beautiful S
Go Green
Go Green How some cruise ships are literally bringing the land to the sea By Gina Tarnacki When Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice-class debuted in 2008 with Celebrity Solstice, the new ship’s biggest claim to fame was its Lawn Club. Real grass — on a cruise ship. It was a first-ever at sea and alt
Cruise News – June 13, 2014
Cruise News – June 13, 2014 Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Entertainment Royal Caribbean International is going for the gold in terms of Quantum of the Seas‘ entertainment – if, that is, the gold involves robots and high-tech wizardry. Prepare to be wowed when the new class of ship de
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 30, 2014
Weekly Cruise News – May 30, 2014 The Debut of Regal Princess Princess Cruises’ new Regal Princess quietly debuted in Europe this month. The fanfare will come later when the 3,560-passenger ship arrives in its new homeport of Fort Lauderdale in November, but she’s no less a knockout than h
Cruise News – May 16, 2014
Cruise News – May 16, 2014 New Viking Ocean Ships Viking Ocean Cruises hasn’t even launched its first ship yet, but is already tripling its fleet. The ocean-going arm of Viking River Cruises has ordered two sister ships to Viking Star, which is set to debut in May 2015. Viking Sea and Vi
Weekly Cruise News – May 9, 2014
Weekly Cruise News – May 9, 2014 A Regal Birthday in Southampton Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 was welcomed by her sisters to a 10th-birthday celebration in Southampton. Festivities kicked off at sunrise today with the song “Happy Birthday” played on the whistles of Queen Victoria and Queen Eli
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
Quantum of the Seas Moving to China
In a move that came as a shock to many, Royal Caribbean announced this week that after an initial season in the New York market the line would send its newest (and presumably greatest) ship, the 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas, to China – permanently. The ship, which debuts in November, has
Royal Caribbean goes with “Dynamic Dining” for Quantum-class ships
In a bold move, Royal Caribbean International is shaking up the dining scene on its Quantum-class ships, eliminating main dining rooms and shipwide formal nights in favor of what the line is calling “Dynamic Dining.” Passengers on Quantum of the Seas (debuting in November) and sister
Trend Alert: Kids Cruise Free
Just in time for spring break, you’ll find cruise lines going after the family market big time. The major enticement? Kids cruise free! Cruise Deals Where Kids Cruise for Free Bring the kids along on a Royal Caribbean International cruise departing between May 1 and December 15, 2014, and they can
Royal Caribbean Goes Even-Higher-Tech with Virtual Balconies
Passengers in inside staterooms aboard Navigator of the Seas cruising from Galveston, Texas, have something new to crow about – virtual balcony views courtesy of high-tech wizardry. On the recently revamped ship, the first of five Voyager-class ships scheduled for rehab, Royal Caribbean Internat
Norwegian Epic Heading to Europe Full-Time
With a bunch of innovative features including a complex of cabins for solo travelers and Blue Man Group performing on board, Norwegian Epic made a big splash when it debuted in 2010. Spending the summers in Europe and winters in Miami, the innovative, 4,100-passenger Freestyle ship has since re
Look for a Wave of Deals
As cruise lines look to kick-start the new year by getting plenty of reservations on the books, the “Wave Season” deals are rolling in. Look for opportunities to save on cruise fares booked between January and March, the largest booking period for cruises, thanks to the annual sales event. The o
2014 Cruise Trends
As cruise executives let their creative juices flow in terms of finding ways to enhance their product, it brings impressive new cruise ships and a number of innovations. Here are our predictions on what 2014 will bring. River cruises will continue to be a hot vacation choice. In fact, some two doze
Cruising 2013: A Year in Review
Just as in years past, 2013 brought some great innovations and unique enhancements to the cruise experience. Here’s a look at some of the highlights. The 4,000-passenger, New York–based Norwegian Breakaway made waves with its Big Apple–inspired décor and a first-of-its-kind expansive water