45 Years at Sea! An Interview with Cruise Director Gary Hunter
For the past month, we’ve been sharing some of our favorite cruise memories from our readers and from the Porthole team. When Porthole Cruise Magazine Editor-in-Chief Bill Panoff was working on board Carnival ships in the 1970’s, one of his best friends on board was entertainer Gary Hunter.
Cruise Memories: Just What We Needed
While we wait for cruising to come back into our lives, we’ve been asking cruising from all over the world to share their cruise stories from over the years. One story we received caught our eye for its message of hope, love, perseverance and the ability of a cruise to melt away the stres
Royal Caribbean Ships Will Return May 12
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., one of the world’s foremost cruise operators, released a statement last night extending the suspension of their fleet until May 12, 2020. While every cruise line imposed a 30-day stoppage, Royal Caribbean is the first major cruise conglomerate to extend the date past
Shop ‘Til You Drop in St. Thomas
If you enjoy shopping…and getting a deal while doing it…you are going to love to shop ‘til you drop in St. Thomas. This duty-free port in the U.S Virgin Islands is truly a shopper’s paradise and offers cruise ship guests the experience of a lifetime as they stroll along the island’s st
‘Valiant Lady’ Announced by Virgin Voyages
Soon Scarlet Lady will have a twin sister cruising the Mediterreanean. Virgin Voyages announced in a press release this morning that their second ship will be named Valiant Lady and will sail the Mediterreanean upon her completion in 2021. The line’s first ship has yet to debut but is one of the m
What is a ‘Soft Adventure’ Cruise?
Adventuring cruising is a popular vacation genre these days, but many think that an expedition cruise means giving up the comforts and amenities found on modern cruise vacations. While there are adventure cruise lines that place expedition over comfort, thankfully there are cruises out there wh
Thirsty? Virgin Sailors Can Shake for Champagne (VIDEO)
Did you know that there are around 49 million bubbles in a single bottle of champagne? Virgin Voyages wants their sailors to experience each and every one with their new Shake for Champagne service. With just a shake of their smartphone, Virgin sailors can have Möet Chandon Impérial delivered anyw
Do You Call It a Ship or a Boat?
It was supposed to be a regular week in the “Cruising With Carnival” Facebook group with over 31,000 members, but Dana, a regular in the forum, didn’t get that memo. A fellow cruiser made the mistake of calling the ship “a boat” and the calamity that ensued was Oscar-worthy drama. We laugh
Kelly Clarkson Named Godmother to Norwegian Encore
What’s better than music and cruise ships? Norwegian Cruise Line announced that Grammy Award winning recording artist and television show host Kelly Clarkson has been named the Godmother of the new Norwegian Encore, which is set to debut this fall. As godmother, she will perform at the christening
River Cruising in Kerala: India’s Southern Charm
India. It wasn’t a place that I had my heart set on visiting and like many Americans, I knew very little about the country. I was acutely aware of the Taj Mahal and I had seen Bollywood movies and certainly loved curry, but beyond those symbolistic icons I’d have to claim ignorance. But th
Tips for Easing Your First-Time Cruise Anxiety
Are you about to schedule your first cruise vacation but can’t seem to ease your cruise anxiety? You are not alone. AllianzGlobal conducted a survey and found 53 percent of the respondents avoided cruising based on worries related to high-profile ship-related incidents, fear of contracting an air
5 Overlooked Cruise Destinations
Cruises to places like the Bahamas and the Caribbean are a dime a dozen. To get the most for your money, consider a cruise destination that isn’t the typical choice of the masses. There are a few you may never have thought of, that you owe it to yourself to check out. Here are five […]
Why You Should Try a Windjammer Cruise
Do you like to cruise but not with the masses? Do you enjoy good food and great conversation? Are you looking to travel differently this year? If you answered yes, you should consider a Windjammer Cruise off the coast of Maine for your next vacation. Sailing on a historic tall ship is an extraordina
Cruise Deal of the Week – February 8, 2019
There’s plenty of good cruise deals floating around the web, but not many of them actually make you say wow! Royal Caribbean is running a flash sale this weekend with some pretty awesome deals and savings and they’re calling it the WOW Sale. The sale runs through Sunday the 10th of Febru
Viking Announces 2020-2021 World Cruise
Are you ready to relive the most fascinating wager in fiction? When Jules Verne wrote Around the World in 80 Days, the fiction trip he imagined was a perilous one. The one major gripe most have with the novel is the lack of time protagonist Phileas Fogg had to spend in each new place as […]
A Grand Entrance for Celebrity Edge
For the first time, Port Everglades Terminal 25 has a tenant: Celebrity Edge. The newest ship in Celebrity Cruises fleet sailed into Fort Lauderdale, FL, yesterday, her new home for cruising to the Caribbean. It took the ship 15 days to sail across the Atlantic Ocean from the French shipyard where s
Windstar Announces $250 Million in Fleet Improvements
Have you ever wanted to be a little longer? If you’re a Windstar Cruise ship, you’re in luck! The luxury cruise giant announced a new $250 million initiative this week to increase the length of three of their vessels by more than 25 meters. The initiative will expand guest accommodation
Adventure Unbridled: A Galapagos Expedition
As she glides through the brilliant turquoise waters of Gardner Bay, there’s already a crowd forming along the top deck of Celebrity Xpedition. They’ve gathered for the sea lions. Weighing in at around 600 pounds and prone to guttural barks and yelps, these salty dogs are a staple of any trip to
Ahoy! Let’s Hunt Some Treasure
From shore, Polly-L looks more like an oil rig than a ship. Her black stanchions rise high above the water, dwarfing even the flag pole which sits atop the living quarters. The legs, which lift the working deck up out of the water, makes it easier for the crew to do what they’ve set out […]
Cruising with Teens; Here’s the Scoop
Little kids may appear to have the advantage on cruising with dedicated children’s programs, but tween and teens also have spectacular programs that are geared for their ages. You won’t have to worry about them being bored while they are hanging out with their new friends. With these six
