Carnival Cruise Line: Then and Now
My phone rings and on the other end of the line is Bill Panoff, editor-in-chief of this magazine and former magician with Carnival Cruise Line way back in the day. Panoff (or “Pandini,” as I call him) and I have been friends for over 40 years. I came to Carnival in 1996 as an entertainer [&helli
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,
Carnival Ship Review: Carnival Horizon
A New Horizon I stepped aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship in the Port of Barcelona on its second-ever voyage, expecting the 3,960-passenger Carnival Horizon to look and feel much like her predecessor, 2016’s Carnival Vista. I figured I knew exactly what to expect. I was wrong. The 133,50
Cruising Behind the Scenes
For cruisers fascinated by how ships function as small cities traveling across the oceans, behind-the-scenes tours can be a fascinating look into either the large scale of a mega ship (Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, for example, goes through 60,000 eggs per week! Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 se
48 Hours In: One Dam Fine Town
Amsterdam has always been a seafaring town. It started a thousand years ago as a fishing village on a narrow dammed strip of land surrounded by water and bog. But the town soon expanded with increased trade, and by the 17th century it was the richest port in the world. Amsterdam’s Golden Age was m
Cruise Connection: Peruvian Perfection
Under normal circumstances, one would be hard pressed to find any commonality between intrepid exploration of the Amazon, luxury cruising, and culinary creativity. Then again, cruising with Aqua Expeditions is anything but common. Scheduling a 4-night sailing out of Iquitos, Peru, on the Aria Amazon
Shore X: Lights, Camera, Excursion!
Hooray for Hollywood! Travelers cruising to California cities can celebrate movie magic — and not just in iconic Los Angeles. Beautiful San Diego and San Francisco offer up tons of filming locations to be admired by fans on a California cruise seeking to retrace their favorite movies and televisio
Private I’s
When cruise lines pioneered private islands as ports of call on Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries decades ago, they were an instant hit. They’ve been upgraded with new facilities and activities through the years, but still consistently earn high satisfaction ratings on guests’ comment cards. Man
Mmm Mmm Marina!
As a first-time visitor to French Polynesia aboard the 1,258-passenger Oceania Marina, I must admit that culinary pursuits were the last thing on my mind. I’d found an idyllic sun-drenched paradise here with a sparkling sea in a million shades of turquoise, overwater bungalows bordering emerald la
For Shore: Navigators Through the Millennia
From the Vikings and great European explorers to 20th-century sailing vessels and warships, maritime museums tell the stories of colonization, trade, and war that have shaped the world as we know it today. Detailed below are some of the best museums worth a visit during your next stop in popular por
Dish It Up: Premium Palates
Imagine nibbling caviar, the roe and accoutrements shaped like a flower. Picture tucking into a lobster tail adorned with truffled leeks, before a Grand Marnier soufflé is rushed tableside. Such extravagant repasts are the norm on luxury cruises, especially in seas like the Mediterranean or the Car
Blossom of the Costa del Sol
Though it may be a stretch to claim the sun is always shining on Spain’s Costa del Sol, it’s a safe bet that you’ll be treated to clear skies and mild, breezy days almost any time of the year. The Port of Málaga is located along the coast in the province of the same name, […]
Ship Review: Crystal Bach
Gray skies hang over Germany’s Black Forest and there’s a hint of rain in the air, but I’ve stepped off the gangway of Crystal Bach into a world of shimmering light. Crystal Bach Rooms with a View Riverboats on Europe’s waterways are essentially limited in size by the many locks and bridges
Nautical Nuptials
Cruise-loving couples looking for a blissfully simple big day should look no further than their favorite vessel or port city for a cruise ship wedding. There’s something incredibly romantic about saying, “I do” with the ocean as your backdrop, and — if you’re already thinking of tying the
Dish It Up: The Sky’s the Limit on Viking Ocean
Viking Ocean Cruises hit a culinary home run in the 930-passenger Viking Sky, which, like her sisters, matches the gastronomic finesse of higher-priced luxury cruise competitors. The dining experience includes numerous gratis perks such as lunch and dinnertime wine and beer, 24-hour room service, an
Island Style: Pascale Theard’s Passion for Fashion
By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon Even if you’ve never been to Haiti, you’ve probably seen Haitian art and craft. That’s because the island’s signature paintings (depicting multitudes of colorful stick-like figures crammed onto canvases) and creative pierced-tin and metalwork craft are sold througho
A Taste of Alaska’s Craft Distilleries
By Fran Golden Glaciers, wildlife, and adventure experiences of a lifetime aside, there’s a new way to get a taste of Alaska. Alaska’s craft distilleries are all the rage, especially in Skagway, Haines, and Juneau, three port cities of the state’s popular Inside Passage itinerary in the So
If You Build It, They Will Cruise
One of the things people love most about cruising is the variety of ports that can be visited on a single voyage. In fact, many travelers plan their Caribbean cruises based on the itinerary and its destinations. As the popularity of cruising has grown, so has the need for more ports of call with bet
48 Hours: French Fix
Ah, the French. They know how to live. So, when I had the opportunity to experience the Parisian life for two days after my recent river cruise, I accepted quicker than you can pop a baguette in the oven. After all, this magical city is the perfect pre- or post-trip to any Europe-based cruise, and [
Chills and Thrills with Hurtigruten
Living outside the borders of any discernible cruise demographic, I am well aware that I have an insatiable appetite for anything divergent or off the beaten path. Cruising the Antarctic on Hurtigruten’s MS Midnatsol (Midnight Sun) is the realization of a long-held yearning for travel to the froz
