What Makes an Emerald so Special?
Emeralds hold a unique distinction in the world of gemstones as they are one of the four traditionally considered to be precious. Along with diamonds, rubies and sapphires, the emerald has a long history as a sought after gem thanks to its unique green color and relative rarity. Emeralds belong to t
Island Style: Handmade Modernism
You can’t help but be enchanted by Jamaican ceramicist Victoria Silvera’s sea urchin collection. Delicate yet eye-catching and seamlessly combining function and form, the handmade tableware and decorative pieces are must-have souvenirs, whether you’re a serious art collector or simply an enthu
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
Leiding Lady
Browsing Grenadian fashion designer Raquel Leid’s Mt. Sealey Garden collection is like taking a Caribbean vacation. The sunshine yellows, turquoise blues, and emerald greens of her fruit- and flower-motif fabrics reflect the hues of the islands. And the styles, which float away from the body and f
TRAVEL TIPS: Doha, Beyond Skyscrapers & Shopping Malls
In recent years, the Middle Eastern country of Qatar has become a major world power, and its capital Doha is a metropolis, complete with massive geometric skyscrapers that light up the Qatari sky at night. Thanks to the discovery of oil in this small country, located on the Arabian Peninsula, Doha h
Use Your Pre-Cruise Stay to Stock Up on Savings
Smart cruisers know the benefits of heading to your South Florida cruise port a day or two early. Not only do you avoid travel delays and other unexpected surprises ruining your vacation, but you can also spend your time pre-cruise saving a ton of money on things you’d otherwise spend more on at s
Island Finds: Pride of Puerto Rico
When it opened in Puerto Rico in 2015, the Mall of San Juan drew patrons to more than 100 stores, including Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, and the region’s first Nordstrom. But shoppers also beat a path to the second floor of the shopping shrine, where a striking 13-by-40-foot mural had pride of place
In Old San Juan, Time is on Your Side
Make the most of your San Juan port of call and engage in enchanting experiences, each less than an hour from your cruise ship terminal. Every year, Puerto Rico receives millions of cruise ship passengers from all over the world. Even though San Juan is a major international port of call, considered
Bermuda, Booze, Horizon: Three ingredients to a killer cocktail
The Monthly Mantra Hitting the bottle … Hitting the bottle … Hitting the bottle … People cruise for all sorts of reasons: to visit exotic ports of call, to relax poolside, to enjoy the fine dining and to meet new friends. I, meanwhile, cruised to Bermuda aboard Carnival Horizon last week to pi
Island Finds: Something to Say
When you think of Bahamian art, what comes to mind? Is it watercolors of curvaceous beaches, swaying palm trees, and jolly market vendors with bountiful baskets of fruit propped between their legs? If it is, think again. A new crop of creatives is turning those sun-drenched stereotypes upside down,
Making The Most Of Your Cruise Vacation
Around 27.2 million people are expected to take a cruise vacation in 2018, with the industry showing a consistent rise in passenger numbers since 2009 (a year in which 17.8 million passengers took to the seas). The Cruise Lines International Association’s newest report indicates that one big tren
St. Thomas Shopping Guide
Island Finds By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon When you pull into port in St. Thomas, no doubt you’ll be tempted by all the duty-free shopping on offer. After all, this busy Caribbean cruise port is packed with boutiques selling jewelry, watches, and fine leather goods from prestigious international brand
Porto Highlights
Porthole’s 5 Faves It’s hard to believe I almost missed visiting Porto the first time. During a recent Windstar cruise, I sailed from Dublin to Lisbon on Wind Surf. Porto was one of the last stops on our itinerary. We were only scheduled to be in this port for six hours. I considered not eve
Sampling South Beach: How to enjoy the best of Miami
So you have a day in Miami before your Caribbean cruise? Not sure what to do? Let me make a few suggestions. South Beach is the obvious first choice. There’s plenty to do, see, eat, and drink. You won’t need a car, and it’s less than seven miles from PortMiami! Still need a few things [&hellip
Carnival Cruise Line Brings Top Brands to Onboard Shops
Carnival Brings Top Brands to Onboard Shops Cruise News – Nov. 21, 2017 As part of an ongoing effort to provide a wide variety of choices at sea, Carnival Cruise Line is totally transforming its shipboard shopping experience with renovated spaces and popular items from some of the world’s
Savvy Shopper: Grand Cayman
How to be a savvy shopper when your ship calls on Grand Cayman By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon You’ll be tempted to spend all your time basking on Grand Cayman’s rightfully famous Seven Mile Beach or exploring its underwater wonders (this is the place where scuba diving was born, after all). But do sa
“Exclusively Crystal” Gift Collection Launches with One-of-a-Kind Keepsakes
“Exclusively Crystal” Gift Collection Launches with One-of-a-Kind Keepsakes Cruise News – Apr. 5, 2017 The latest luxury offering from Crystal Cruises has arrived with the launch of the “Exclusively Crystal” gift collection, an online boutique that offers a selection of one-of-a-kind
Savvy Shopper: San Juan
How to be a savvy shopper when your ship pulls into San Juan By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon Puerto Rico’s capital is a shopper’s smorgasbord, with not only the Caribbean’s largest shopping mall (the 300-store Plaza Las Américas), but also its most luxurious at the Mall of San Juan, which has more
Nautical and Nice – These are some gifts to win a cruiser’s heart.
Monday Mantra Gift Guide … Gift Guide … Gift Guide … Nautical and Nice These are some gifts to win a cruiser’s heart. To judge by the emails that pop into my inbox and the brochures that are delivered by my postman, a cruise is an enormously popular gift choice. If that’s the case,