Nothing to Declare but Décor
Monday Mantra Nothing to Declare but Décor Pack light on the way out … so you can pack heavy coming home! I will bring my cruise home with me…I will bring my cruise home with me…I will bring my cruise home with me…. “Do you have any alcohol or cigarettes?” the customs officer barked. At
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
Cruising the World Cup? Goooal!
Monday Mantra Cruising the World Cup? Goooal! Soccer fans have plenty to shout about at sea today. We get a kick out of cruising…. We get a kick out of cruising…. We get a kick out of cruising…. Some people are surprised by the interest and excitement that this year’s World Cup generated in
Five Faves: And the Living’s Easy – Summer river cruise favorites.
Porthole’s Five Faves And the Living’s Easy With summer comes great reasons to river cruise! River cruises operate nearly year-round, stopping only in the dead of winter. Fall foliage sailings are popular as trees along the riverside show their brilliant colors. Turning colder, Christmas market
All Good Things…
Monday Mantra All Good Things… There is no Monday like the Monday after a cruise. I must book my next cruise… I must book my next cruise… I must book my next cruise… Boom. I knock the bedside phone to the floor and yet that shrill tone continues. My God! Maybe it’s an emergency! I’m [&he
Five Faves: Cruise, American Style!
Porthole’s Five Faves Cruise, American Style! We crown the good… from sea to shining sea! One of the joys of cruising is getting to visit exotic places in faraway lands, whether tropical islands or icy fjords. But those distant ports of call are not the whole picture. In honor of Independence D
Out on the rails
Monday Mantra Out on the rails The White Pass & Yukon Route opens Alaska I want to remain on track…I want to remain on track…I want to remain on track… “Look! There’s the sun!” It was my husband Michael’s exclamation as we stood on deck aboard Silver Shadow docked in Skagway. “
Five Faves: Lands of the Free
Porthole’s Five Faves Lands of the Free 5 Independence-Seeking Cruise Destinations For as worldly as we like to consider ourselves, Porthole is unabashedly American, loving our independence from sea to every-cruisable-shining sea! With our Independence Day a little more than a week away, we wante
Hot Rocks, Cool Vacation
Monday Mantra I want gloves…I want gloves…I want gloves… Hot Rocks, Cool Vacation Alaska is still Alaska, even on a luxury cruise. If I ever say I plan to leave for a cruise directly from the office, just slap me. A full work day, a rush hour commute to JFK, and a 6-hour flight to […]
Five Faves: Breakfast Buffet Items
Porthole’s Five Faves Start the Day Off Right! 5 Favorite Items at the Breakfast Buffet Who doesn’t love a good buffet? What about a gourmet breakfast? So what could possibly be better than when these two come together?! One of the best amenities of a cruise ship is the all-you-ca
In the Bag
Monday Mantra In the Bag A luxury cruise to Alaska stretches packing strategies to the limit. I will begin packing…I will begin packing…I will begin packing… In just two days, I’ll be off to Vancouver to board Silver Shadow for an 11-day Alaska cruise. I’ll be combining two of the
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
All Things Grape and Small
Monday Mantra All Things Grape and Small On a luxury cruise, nothing (and we mean nothing) is overlooked. I need jaw-droppin’ attention to detail… I need jaw-droppin’ attention to detail… I need jaw-droppin’ attention to detail… Allow me to set the scene. My husband, Michael, and
Five Faves: Theme Cruises
Porthole’s Five Faves Five Theme Cruises … From gourmands to ghost hunters, there’s something for every cruiser to love. Who doesn’t love a good theme cruise? Board a ship with other like-minded folks and set sail for a week of, well, anything you can image! From country music cruises to
Wine Not?
Monday Mantra Wine Not? The Virgin Islands offer great deals — and good cheer — in unexpected places…. I want to drink in an alley…I want to drink in an alley…I want to drink in an alley… Duty-free shopping in St. Thomas is like a reunion with old friends. Shops like The Belgian Chocolat
Five Faves: Cruise Indulgences
Porthole’s Five Faves Five Cruise Indulgences … And the Science Behind Why You Shouldn’t Say No Inhibitions are like lighthouses — those things are best left on land! The next time you go on a cruise and start hearing yourself make up excuses for why you shouldn’t do something, remember th
Hit the Deck – Chair Hogs
Monday Mantra Hit the Deck-Chair Hogs! If reserved seats get you hopping mad…. I will get revenge on deck-chair hogs…I will get revenge on deck-chair hogs… Don’t get me started. It was still early morning as my husband and I made our way to the pool for a glorious, sun-drenched day at sea. O
Five Faves: Bands, ho!… with Carnival LIVE
Porthole’s Five Faves Bands, ho! Five favorite things to love about a Carnival LIVE concert cruise There’s something to be said about mixing a cruise with your favorite music. Let’s face it, we love to walk around the ship and hear music in the lounges and on the Lido Deck – it enhances your
Those Freestyle Pretzel Rolls
Monday Mantra Those Freestyle Pretzel Rolls Take a taste of Norwegian Cruise Line’s bread heaven home with you. I must have a pretzel roll…. I must have a pretzel roll…. I must have a pretzel roll…. Mention Norwegian Cruise Line to most cruisers and you’ll hear tales about the line’s
Five Faves: The Old Cruiser and the Sea
Porthole’s Five Faves The Old Cruiser and the Sea Five favorite ways to enjoy reading Hemingway on board There’s something absolutely satisfying about a warm deck chair, a cool sea breeze, and a great book – it’s totally indulgent and totally good for you at the same time. Few writers
