Crystal Cruises Resumes Ocean Operation from Nassau
Over the weekend, Crystal Cruises became the latest cruise line to resume operation when their ocean vessel Crystal Serenity set sail from the Port of Nassau in the Bahamas. The embarkation was Crystal’s first since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 and was the start of Cry
Crystal Cruises to Require COVID-19 Vaccination for Guests
One of the most common questions we get asked these days is will passengers need a COVID-19 vaccination to sail when cruise lines resume operation. There wasn’t a concrete answer previously, but one major cruise line has come out and made the issue black and white. Crystal Cruises will require
Galley Superstars
Buzzy Burgers Carnival cruisers find their bliss at Guy’s Burger Joint, a spirited roadside burger shack reimagined and brought to sea by Food Network personality Guy Fieri. Follow the poolside scent to score sizzling patties and golden hand-cut fries. Purists may prefer Plain Jane cheeseburgers;
Crystal Cruises Expands Booking Confidence Program
One of the world’s foremost luxury cruise lines is giving their guests the confidence to book a cruise vacation with an updated booking confidence program. Crystal Cruises new Crystal Confidence 2.0 now offers extended no-money-down deposits until January 5, 2021 for new and existing
Crystal Clean
Already renowned for luxurious accommodations and signature butler service (voted best onboard enrichment and service in our 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards), Crystal River Cruises can trumpet that their attention to detail extends to the environment, too. Each of Crystal’s river ships, introduced i
CRUISE RECIPE: Crystal Cruises’ Cream of Forest Mushroom Soup
Hungry to Sail Again Face it. During this pandemic, there’s certainly not much to splurge on. Nobody’s really thinking about redecorating, buying an expensive pair of designer shoes or theater tickets. So why not take that money and order some morels—those rich, earthy and fragrant
Growing Up Cruising
We’ve been asking cruising from all over the world to share their cruise stories and our readers have emailed, tweeted, commented and videotaped themselves sharing their favorite cruise memories from over the years and many shared a positive outlook for the future of the industry. The stories and
Choose Your Cruise – April 10, 2020
It’s choose your cruise time! Last week we posted some of our favorite expedition cruises from companies who are really pushing the boundaries between luxury and adventure. Today, we’re skipping the remote environments for river cruises all over the world. If you love sipping wine, learn
Cruise Lines Curate Virtual Cruise Experiences
Along with getting bigger and more luxurious, many new cruise ships are experimenting with virtual reality to enhance the passenger experience. Innovations like Royal Caribbean’s Sky Pad or the laser tag arena on the new Norwegian Encore aim to blend the real world with elements of virtual reality
Cruise Memories with Porthole Cruise Founder Bill Panoff
Since we’re all taking a break from cruising for the time being, we decided the best thing to do was to share some of our favorite cruise memories! There’s nothing better than a cruise vacation and the memories we make while at sea and in port are some that will last forever! There
Yum Yum at Crystal Cruises’ Umi Uma
This month, the quest for the best onboard restaurants takes us on Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony. You must book a reservation at Umi Uma. Famed restaurateur and celebrity chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa created the restaurant’s Japanese-Peruvian fusion menu. His unique style c
River Cruising: Crystal Mahler and Me
Most people would be content sitting on their king-sized bed in their 253-square-foot Deluxe Suite, watching the Danube flow by their balcony window while their personal butler (yes, really) introduced them to a canapé and a glass of Champagne. But for this bright-eyed river ship novice, the shape-
Fall Repositioning Cruises You Need to Book
The air is crisp, the leaves are changing and cruise ships are going from one side of the world to the other on what’s known as repositioning cruises. These cruises may not jump off the page when you’re looking to book a vacation, but trust us, they’re often a great way to see something new [&
Red Sox Cruise Above the Clouds with Crystal Skye
Crystal Cruises is known for its luxurious cruise ships and fabulous itineraries, but what most don’t realize is their travel services don’t end there. In fact, Crystal owns and operates their own Boeing 777 and it very well be the most luxurious plane in the world. The Boston Red Sox found that
Into the Forest on Crystal Cruises
I am sailing on the 106-passenger, high-design Crystal Bach on the upper Rhine River, enjoying all the luxuries you would expect of top-end line Crystal River Cruises. Dining is extraordinary, suite accommodations are hotel-like with views and a butler who brings treats. I’m pleasantly plump and h
Editor-in-Chief Awards 2019
2019 Editor-in-Chief Awards As editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine, Bill Panoff travels a lot. So each year, he reports back on his favorite travel experiences around the world. Here are this year’s picks of those who left amazing impressions in terms of service, quality, and memorable mom
Dish It Up: Season’s Eatings
Stroll from deck to deck aboard any cruise ship during the holidays, and the wafting aromas are enough to knock your blinking-lights Santa socks off. Fresh-baked Christmas cookies here, latkes there, stuffing everywhere — what’s a foodie to do? Why, indulge, of course. We’ve got the goods (and
3 Unusual Ways to Break a Sweat on a Cruise
Hitting the gym used to be the only way to break a good sweat on a cruise vacation, but those days are over. As the health and wellness industry has embraced new disciplines, cruise lines have evolved, coming up with creative ways to make exercise feel like part of the adventure. Here are some examp
11 Reasons To Set Sail On Crystal Symphony
An icon of the ultra-luxury category in cruising, the Crystal Symphony is a 51,044-ton vessel with 848 berths, reduced from 922 during a redesign in 2017. The re-imagining resulted in more space per passenger: a 64.7 space ratio (the enclosed space per passenger measured in cubic feet) which is one
German Chancellor Speaks at Crystal Endeavor Keel-Laying Ceremony
At MV Werften, maritime tradition is taken very seriously. Those at the shipyard celebrating the keel-laying ceremony for Crystal Endeavor were lucky enough to hear German Chancellor Angela Merkel give remarks and the lucky coins were put into place as construction began on one of the most anticipat