A Cruise to Norway Means Magical Memories
A cruise to Norway means magical memories. By Susan Zimmerman Ahoy, voyagers headed to Norway! Take heart; adventure awaits at every port. With its coastline of more than 64,000 miles, which includes some 240,000 islands, getting one’s bearing prior to making port is a good idea. Even after numero
Cruise Wisdom: Bottom Lines
Cruise Wisdom: Bottom Lines How to Better Budget Your Shipboard Costs By Cindy O’Neil Q: My wife and I are planning our next cruise. Can you give us tips on how to better manage onboard spending so we don’t suffer from sticker shock when we receive our final bill? George G., Denver, CO A: Ah, [&
Like a Local: Alaska
Like a Local: Alaska Close the guidebooks and let a local lead the way. By Loren Holmes Alaska has a name for recent transplants to the 49th state: cheechakos. It’s only after you’ve spent a winter here that you become a local, or a sourdough. Luckily for me, I was born in Anchorage more [&he
Bucket List: New Zealand
Bucket List: New Zealand Plunge into the natural wonders of this island nation — from penguins to pinot noir. By Louise Goldsbury National Geographic takes a closer look at kiwis For many people, New Zealand burst into global awareness when its almost mythical landscapes were used as the se
Following the Argonauts
Following the Argonauts Delve into Greek mythology aboard a Mediterranean cruise . . . but without the fire-breathing dragons. By David Belcher Behold the trailer for the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts! Of all the great myths and quests in history, the 3,000-year-old story of Jason and the Argona
Join the Club: Smoke on the Water
Join the Club: Smoke on the Water Aficionados who take their cigars to sea enjoy more than just an open-air view. By Clark Norton Craig Carringer enjoys a good cigar — actually, about two a day during the week and four to five a day on weekends — and keeps about 400 on hand in […]
Cruise Character: Leader of the Club
Cruise Character: Leader of the Club As president of Disney Cruise Line, Karl Holz is more than merely second mate to Captain Mickey. By Fran Golden Here’s how Karl Holz toasted the Disney Fantasy sailaway. The only person with carte blanche to boss around Disney Cruise Line president Karl Holz is
A Page in Time… Yangon’s colonial past.
A Page in Time… Take a walk through Yangon’s colonial past By Kevin Revolinski A Myanmar travel guide Historical Perspective I stroll through the streets of Yangon, past men and women still wearing the traditional longyi, a wraparound skirt. A vendor spins a large iron wheel and its inertia
Curaçao’s Captivating Coastline
Discover the Adventures Along Curaçao’s Captivating Coastline By Richard Varr Willemstad, Curacao: Faces of a City I hear the rustling sounds of lizards scurrying through the brush as we hike along the winding trails of Christoffel National Park. Prickly pear and columnar cacti shoot up fr
MSC Preziosa: Cosmopolitan Cruising
Cruise Ship Review: MSC Preziosa Gear up and then unwind through memorable moments aboard MSC Preziosa. By Jonathan Beaumont See some of the exciting moments from the MSC Preziosa christening ceremony in Genoa, Italy, including the ribbon cutting by Sophia Loren. Picture this: You’re in a Formula
What’s Your Favorite Cruise Line?
By Cindy O’Neil After having sailed on more than 50 cruises, I’m often asked that ever-popular question: Q: What is your favorite cruise line? A: And the answer is — drum roll please — whichever cruise line I’m on! I’m an equal-opportunity cruiser. I look for great deals, fascinating iti
Cruise Ship News of the Week
The 30th Cruise Shipping Miami conference, the premier event for the global cruise industry and its largest annual gathering, produced a lot of news this week, with several lines reserving big announcements for the event. Here are the week’s top highlights. Homeport News Some of the bigger announ
The Cruise Experience of the Future
The Cruise Experience of the Future Floating islands, indoor snow and starlight voyages: cruising into tomorrow By Clare Emmett Cruise ships have come a long way since the earliest days of steam-powered passenger vessels. Today’s ships boast luxurious accommodations, modern conveniences
Editor-in-Chief Awards 2014
Each year, Porthole Cruise Magazine’s editor-in-chief, Bill Panoff, has a tough time picking his favorites from the cruise and travel industry. With so many amazing options that await cruisers, these awards give kudos to those who go above and beyond in terms of service, quality, and memorable mo
Executive Spotlight: The Un-Cruise Captain
Executive Spotlight: The Un-Cruise Captain From kayak paddles to corporate decisions, storytelling seaman Dan Blanchard keeps a steady hand. By Fran Golden Captain Dan Blanchard, dressed in casual North Face attire, strolls up to a passenger about to board an Un-Cruise Adventures small shi
Join the Club: Blue Sea, Red Sea
Join the Club: Blue Sea, Red Sea Beyond just uniting the similarly minded, political cruises actually make waves in the overall governing landscape. By Clark Norton The tenor of the onboard discussions couldn’t be more different. On some cruises, the right can do no wrong. On others, the
Like a Local: Marseille
Like a Local: Marseille The unspoiled heart of the French Riviera By Lisa Gerard-Sharp “There are only two kinds of people in the world — the Marseillais, and those who wish they were.” I first fell in love with the French Riviera as a child when exploring the wild creeks and secret
Bucket List: Hong Kong
Bucket List: Hong Kong Four ways to make the Far East unforgettable by Kevin Revolinski In 1997, Hong Kong ended 156 years as a British colony and became a Special Administrative Region of China. The operative word here is “special.” The energy of this city, one of the most densely popul
Director’s Cut
Director’s Cut Like the mayors of a city, cruise directors are more than just the face of the ship. By Douglas Kurt Aboard a cruise ship are many hallways and doors unknown to guests. Those with “Crew Only” blazoned on them speak of mysteries that await. In this issue, we speak with s
Aranui 3: Tahitian Delivery
Tahitian Delivery In the wake of Gauguin, Melville, and Stevenson, Aranui 3 plies the remote Marquesas in the most unique of ways. By Clark Norton It’s a day of celebration on the island of Ua Pou, one of six inhabited islands in the Marquesas archipelago of French Polynesia, among the mo
