Welcoming White Cliffs
Monday Tuesday Mantra Dover? Stay over! … Dover? Stay over! … Dover? Stay over! … There’s plenty to recommend in Dover and the towns of southeast England. Well, here I am spending the holiday season completely ashore in southeastern England (for full details of where and why
The Third Annual Judi’s Choice Awards – And the Winners Are!
Monday Mantra The Judi’s Choice Awards…The Judi’s Choice Awards!…The Judi’s Choice Awards… And the Winners Are! Cruising has plenty of biggest, first, and most wonderful accomplishments. The Judi’s Choice Awards recognize the best of the rest. Today, I look back on 2016 and recogni
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Dec. 16, 2016
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Dec. 16, 2016 Asian river operator Pandaw is welcoming a new ship to their fleet, a 12-cabin, Saigon-built cruiser originally named L’Amant. The ship will be renamed Kapuas Pandaw, refitted, and delivered to West Kalimantan, Borneo, in February 2017. Holland Ame
Cunard Launches Wine & Spirit Education Trust Courses
Cunard Launches First Wine & Spirit Education Trust Courses at Sea Cruise News – Dec. 13, 2016 Cunard Line has partnered with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the world’s largest provider of wine and spirits qualifications, to launch the first-ever WSET-certified wine and
Post-Cruise Blues – The hardest thing about a cruise is coming home – and the first time can be the worst.
Monday Mantra Too bad. So sad…Too bad. So sad…Too bad. So sad… Post-Cruise Blues The hardest thing about a cruise is coming home – and the first time can be the worst As we celebrate this magical time of year, I ask each of you to briefly pause and send kind and encouraging thoughts to [
BBC Earth Experiences Rolling Out Across Holland America Line Fleet
BBC Earth Experiences Rolling Out Across Holland America Line Fleet Cruise News – Nov. 29, 2016 Guests on Holland America Line ships can experience more of the world’s natural wonders, test their knowledge of our planet, and participate in family-friendly competitions through the cruise line
Going Down? – Viking Star soothes away everything — including the arrival of the elevator, every time.
Monday Mantra Viking SUPER Star…Viking SUPER Star…Viking SUPER Star… Going Down? Viking Star soothes away everything — including the arrival of the elevator, every time. Life is pretty darn good when everything is so perfect that an elevator’s “ping” is your big
Nun Better
Monday Mantra Heavenly…Heavenly…Heavenly… One of San Juan’s most divine hotels started as a Carmelite convent Now, here’s an eye-opener: Before sailing from San Juan last week, I spent an extraordinary night in a convent. I’d wager that few who know me would believe
Harvest Caye Welcomes First Cruise Passengers
Harvest Caye Welcomes First Cruise Passengers Cruise News – Nov. 18, 2016 Harvest Caye, the cruise industry’s newest private island port of call in southern Belize, officially welcomed its first cruise passengers when Norwegian Dawn arrived from New Orleans on November 17, 2016. Located just
Star Clippers to Offer Host of Expert Lecturers and Guest Speakers in 2017
Star Clippers to Offer Host of Expert Lecturers and Guest Speakers in 2017 Cruise News – Nov. 16, 2016 Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers has introduced a 2017 lineup of expert speakers that will be on board all three of its ships throughout the year. The complimentary 2017 Star Clippe
History in the Making – There are cruise fans … cruise obsessives … cruise experts … and then there’s Peter Knego.
Monday Mantra Salvaged!…Salvaged!…Salvaged! There are cruise fans … cruise obsessives … cruise experts … and then there’s Peter Knego “I’ll give you 20 bucks if you turn to that woman and say ‘Shut the f— up.’” That, I believe, was the first thing I ever said…we
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Nov. 11, 2016
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Nov. 11, 2017 Carnival Fantasy was welcomed to its new homeport of Mobile, Alabama, with a formal exchange of plaques and a charity competition. The activity, based on Carnival’s “Hasbro, The Game Show,” saw Carnival President Christine Duffy, Mobile Mayor S
Carnival Feast – A sneak peek at Carnival Vista is more than mouthwatering.
Monday Mantra Hooked … Hooked … Hooked … A sneak peek at Carnival Vista is more than mouthwatering. If you have a serious cruise addiction, particularly if you’ve had it for decades, chances are you can trace it back to Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival’s kind of like the cruise fan’s Marlb
Oceania Enthusiasm – When you can’t believe cruising can be like this.
Monday Mantra Oooooceania!…Ooooooceania!….Ooooooceania! Oceania Enthusiasm: When you can’t believe cruising can be like this ✓ A prestigious luxury cruise line. ✓ A stunning 684-passenger mid-size ship. ✓ Award-winning dining. ✓ Regular New York departures. ✓ Fabulous Bulgari
Design Time: Queen Mary 2
Behind the Remastering of Queen Mary 2 By Fran Golden When your task is to redesign and contemporize the 12-year-old Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line’s flagship ocean liner, you know a lot of eyes will be watching. Many cruisers dream of crossing the Atlantic aboard this iconic ship, so when it came time
MSC Cruises for Kids
Kids of all kinds will find something to love aboard MSC Cruises. By Jodi Ornstein Ahhhh, cruising. Days spent relaxing on deck with the sun in your face and a drink in your hand. Miles and miles of blue ocean and skies, hours and hours to spend with a good book on your balcony. This […]
Comforts of Home
Monday Mantra Something’s Missing … Something’s Missing … Something’s Missing … It’s strange what you miss while having the time of your life. By this time, you’ve probably figured out that I love to cruise — aboard big ships, small ships, yachts, riverboats, and expedition ships.
The Show Must Go Onboard – Cruise entertainment has really grown up.
Monday Mantra That’s Entertainment! … THAT’S Entertainment?? … That’s Entertainment! … THAT’S Entertainment?? … Cruise entertainment has really grown up I endured lousy comedians and jugglers. I attended an hour-long zither concert. I put up with marginally talented s
Five Faves: Saluting the First Nations
Porthole’s Five Faves Saluting the First Nations We kicked off the week with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the annual recognition of the accomplishments and heritage of the first Americans. Some of their music, food, art forms, and history will seem familiar to seasoned cruisers, thanks to eye-openin
Time and Tide and Major Hurricanes….
Monday Mantra Any port in a storm…Any port in a storm…Any port in a storm… Time and Tide and Major Hurricanes…. How do cruises cope with stormy weather? My heart goes out to everyone whose cruise was cancelled, rerouted, or adjusted because of the devastating power of Hurricane Matthew.
