Art Sails
ART SAILS Dramatic pieces aboard today’s ships do more than merely decorate the walls. By Matt Hannafin When you take a cruise, the idea — the ideal, really — is that you’re stepping out of your everyday life and into an amplified reality: The food and drink never run out. There a
American Queen: A Royal Ship Returns
The American Queen steamboat brings back the golden age of river cruising By Shawn J. Dake It begins with a hiss that builds into a melodic whoosh, as clouds of steam pour out of the brass whistles. A bright red paddle wheel churns the water. The steamboat American Queen is back, returning to the Mi
Join the Club: Ship-Deck Soccer
SHIP-DECK SOCCER Having a Ball at Sea. By Clark Norton In the spring of 2011, a girls’ soccer club in southern New Jersey called the Cape Express Bulldogs was casting about for a destination for a vacation soccer camp for its team of soon-to-be 14 year olds, many of whom had played together since
Food for Thought : Cooking Classes
FOOD FOR THOUGHT DIG IN Learning is full of flavor aboard today’s cruise ships. By Lynn and Cele Seldon Whether it’s for a hot new restaurant, a food and wine festival, or culinary classes that divulge chef secrets and recipes, culinary travel is tastier than ever. That’s especially true on cr
Sister, Sister
Sister, Sister Jan and Cindy Brady might disagree, but it’s not always the oldest sister who gets all the attention. In cruising, though there’s undeniable hoopla when a new ship in a new class debuts, it’s often the sister ships that represent new innovations and enticements that define the c
Join the Club: Astronomy
JOIN THE CLUB ASTRONOMY Sea-ing Stars A cruise ship is a perfect vantage point to study the sky. By Clark Norton During a 1998 cruise to Alaska, Neil Bauman — a self-described geek — recalls sitting on his verandah, alternately gazing at the glacial scenery and reading a technical manual about c
Jewish-Themed Cruises
JEWISH-THEMED CRUISES Mazel Tov! Everything you ever wanted to know about Jewish-themed cruises but were afraid to ask your rabbi. By Alison Lowenstein A Seder at sea? It’s not unheard of. Forget cruising’s misconceptions and start dreaming of Shabbat on a ship. From Passover to Purim, Jewish tr
Join the Club: Can You Sea PTV?
Can You Sea PTV? From airwaves to ocean waves, it’s smooth sailing for fans of public broadcasting shows. By Clark Norton Martha Danker, a self-confessed “public broadcasting groupie” from Everett, Washington, had an unusual item on her bucket list. She wanted to meet Gwen Ifill, moderator of
Beam Me Up, Scotty!
Beam Me Up, Scotty! A Star Trek theme cruise is a voyage like no other. By Clark Norton Do you dare to boldly go where no cruise-goers — well, comparatively few — have gone before? No, not to the middle of the Sahara desert (though that would make for some mighty bold cruising). Instead, how [&h
Carnival Magic: Magic Spell!
Cruise Ship Review: Carnival Magic Spell! Get drawn into the newest member of Carnival’s fleet. By Lynn and Cele Seldon When the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic sailed out of Venice on its maiden Mediterranean voyage this year, guests discovered why Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship is much more
Join The Club: Ukulele Cruises
UKULELE CRUISES The Key of the Sea–On a ukulele cruise, everybody comes out to play.. By Clark Norton Susan McCormick, a music teacher from Cypress, California, remembers when song books for her favorite stringed instrument, the ukulele, were as rare as hailstorms in Honolulu. “When I first
Disney Dream
Ship Review: DISNEY DREAM Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship grants all cruising wishes. By Jodi Ornstein If you’ve never seen a cruise ship christening, this is pretty much how it goes: Band plays. President of cruise line makes speech. Godmother releases bottle of champagne. Bottle breaks. Crowd
QUEEN ELIZABETH – Royal Redux
Ship Review QUEEN ELIZABETH – Royal Redux Cunard unveils yet another Elizabeth, and this one is a real queen By Vivian Holley Call it a new Elizabethan Age. Fittingly christened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in October 2010, Cunard Line’s newest vessel — and third to bear the royal monike
It’s About Time (15 Years of Cruising)
It’s About Time See how cruise ships have changed and evolved since you first started reading Porthole. By Fran Golden If you’ve been a cruiser for the past few decades (or even years), you’ve no doubt witnessed quite an evolution of cruise ship development. Certainly, we at Porthole Cruise
Cruise Ship Review: Norwegian Epic
Cruise Ship Review: Norwegian Epic Big Ship. Epic Achievement Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest and greatest is in a class all by itself. By Jodi Ornstein Epic, as defined by Webster’s dictionary, means “extending beyond the usual or ordinary, especially in size or scope.” With a name like this
