Grape Destinations: The Willamette Winemakers
The thick, weathered vines at Sokol Blosser attest to the decades that have passed since the rootstocks were first planted. It’s almost as if the vines are supporting the trellises and not the other way around. These days, it’s hard to believe that the vines were once small, timid, and so reli
Grape Destinations: Walking around La Guardia
There are places that, frankly, you have to go back to. That happened to me in La Guardia – known in the local dialect, gallego, as “A Guarda” – a small city by the sea near Pontevedra, Spain. I bet almost everyone on the road is on the way to Santiago de Compostela, hiking and […]
Sushi Master Welcomed to Holland America Line’s Culinary Council
Cruise News – Mar. 5, 2018 Andy Matsuda, who brought Osaka’s sushi tradition to Los Angeles, has been invited to join Holland America Line’s esteemed Culinary Council, serving alongside Master Chef Rudi Sodamin as well as international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Elizabeth Falkner, Eth
In Brief: Ultra-modern riverboats, Disney destinations, and more….
News Briefs – Mar. 2, 2018 American Cruise Lines has begun construction on the sister ship to their “modern riverboat” American Song, which will make its inaugural cruise on the Mississippi River this October. The second ship should launch in summer 2019. Ultimately, the “modern riverboa
Theme Cruise: Grape Expectations
By Judi Cuervo It’s 10:30 a.m. and I’m at the 20-acre Mt. Hood Winery, Oregon’s 2016 Winery of the Year. In the glass before me is a gold medal–winning 2015 Estate Pinot Noir that bears aromas of ripe cherry, pomegranate, and raspberry accented by subtle cedar overtones. I swirl. I sniff. I
Perfect Pairings: Windstar Cruises serves sophisticated tastes
By Janice Wald Henderson Ah, Windstar Cruises. Who doesn’t love a line so passionate about its cuisine? As Windstar Cruises zeros in even further on upping its gastronomic excellence, expect more high-five–worthy changes this year. Check out how quality and quantity make a marvelous match aboard
Dig In! Celebrity Edge to Feature 29 Dining Venues
Cruise News – March 1, 2018 Celebrity Cruises has announced a lineup of 29 dining venues aboard its upcoming ship, Celebrity Edge, which is set to debut from Miami in December. The 29 world-class dining venues include four main dining restaurants, two exclusive Suite and AquaClass restaurants, sev
Teen Scene | How 14-year-old twin boys fared on a river cruise with the ’rents
By Heidi Sarna Let’s face it. Most teenagers aren’t dying to go on a river cruise. But this mom of teen sons likes small-ship cruising and I’m still the boss (I think!). So last summer I signed the family up for a Bordeaux river cruise with the French line CroisiEurope. We boarded the 174-pass
Grape Destinations: Visit Vila Nova de Gaia. Feel Portuguese!
At last, I was on my way to Porto, the city by the Douro River. On the train, or comboio, that I took from Oriente station in Lisbon, I was expecting to arrive at night in Porto, an almost three-hour ride. Uhum, well, not exactly – because it took me to Vila Nova de Gaia, […]
Freeport, Bahamas: To the Brewery and Beyond!
Any repeat cruiser knows that a stop in the Bahamas means “plan excursions ahead of time” or risk being stuck in the extremely-touristy-downtown shopping frenzy. As much as I enjoy bargain prices on knock-off purses, you can only really do this once or twice before it loses its novelty. The last
We love Isaac’s Love Boat–Inspired Cocktail
Even though it’s not Throwback Thursday today, Porthole is remembering Valentine’s Day 2015, when Princess Cruises debuted a crafty cocktail created by Ted Lange, who played the friendly red-jacketed bartender, Isaac, on The Love Boat. Lange said that he created the amorous concoction by drawin
News Briefs – Seven Seas Mariner’s amazing upgrade, and more….
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Feb. 9, 2018 Seven Seas Mariner is undergoing a major upgrade before returning to Alaska. The world’s first all-suite, all-balcony cruise ship will undergo a 20-day dry-dock this April, getting a new mosaic-tiled pool, an open layout and teak flooring on the poo
Celebrate the Best of Bollywood aboard Grand Celebration
Smaller cruise lines are shifting their focus to a more tailored cruising experience through theme-cruise offerings. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line launched their first-ever Bollywood cruise experience in January on a 2-day cruise to the Bahamas. Porthole Cruise Magazine was fortunate enough to have
Royal Caribbean Bartender Wins Bacardi Cruise Competition
Cruise News – Feb. 7, 2018 The North American Finals of the 2018 USBG Legacy Cocktail Competition, sponsored by Bacardi, was held in Miami last night to determine which bartenders in the Cruise, United States, and Canada divisions will go on to compete in the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition Gl
News Briefs – Cousteau in the Amazon and more….
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Feb. 2, 2018 Luxury river operator Aqua Expeditions has announced a series of theme cruises on the Amazon and Mekong rivers for 2018, including 3-, 4-, and 7-night departures hosted by conservationist and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau (February 9 to 16 and October 5-
How to Get the Most Out of Your European Wine Cruise
For wine lovers, there’s nothing as exciting as a European river cruise combined with wine tasting, wine education, and of course, gourmet food. Tasting wine in the South of France had long been on our bucket list, so when we heard about a wine cruise down the Rhone River, sailing from Lyon, we bo
5 Fave Theme Cruises for 2018
Porthole’s Five Faves Cruise fans are fans, first and foremost — and every fan’s got a theme cruise to make ‘em go “Oh, man!” It doesn’t matter what you’re into, from prosecco to pro wrestling, or NPR news quizzes to serene sun salutations, this year has an upcoming theme cruise that
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 19, 2018
Holland America Line has added Seattle-based master chef Ethan Stowell to its award-winning Culinary Council, working with five other world-renowned chefs to enhance menus and bring a deeper understanding of regional cuisines to your plate. Stowell, a specialist in flavors of Alaska and the Pacific
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
Glorious Food – Singing the Praises of Cruise Cuisine
Singing the praises of cruise cuisine I’m hungry for a cruise…I’m hungry for a cruise…I’m hungry for a cruise… One of the most vivid memories I have of my first cruise is a towering Statue of Liberty carved out of butter. She stood majestically at the foot of Carnival Mardi Gras’ midni
