Travel's Best Cruises 2015 Advisors

Meet our panel of experts who helped choose our coveted list, Travel's Best Cruises 2015, including Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine.

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We assembled a panel of advisors to help choose Travel’s Best Cruises 2015. Meet the travel experts behind our coveted list, including Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine; Fran Golden, cruise expert and writer for USA Today’s Experience Cruise site; and Stewart Chiron, president and CEO of CruiseGuy.com.

And don't forget to check out our photo gallery of cruise ships that made our list this year.
Anne Campbell, Editor of CruisingFromNewYork.com and ShipCriticBlog.com

Anne Campbell is the editor of CruisingFromNewYork.com and ShipCriticBlog.com. As a journalist, she has been covering the cruise industry since 1993 and is the co-founder and former editor-in-chief of both CruiseMates and Cruise Critic.

Anne has cruised to every continent on Earth, including Antarctica, on vessels ranging from the tiniest crafts to the largest megaships, as well as tall ships, expedition vessels, riverboats and even a self-driven houseboat.

As an expert on the cruise industry, she has been interviewed by major publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, and she has appeared on CNN, Good Morning America and MSNBC.

Stewart Chiron, President and CEO of CruiseGuy.com

Stewart “the Cruise Guy” Chiron is one of the most quoted cruise industry experts in America. He has sailed on more than 219 cruises in 26 years, and his expertise includes cruise trends, events and deals. 

He has appeared on the 4 major TV networks, as well as CNBC, Travel Channel, Fox Business and CNN, and on shows including Good Morning America and NBC Nightly News.

In addition to his countless TV and radio appearances, Stewart has offered his cruise expertise and recommendations in The New York TimesThe Wall Street JournalThe Washington PostUSA TodayFamily CircleTravel + Leisure, Frommer's Budget Travel, the Huffington Post and many other publications. Follow Stewart on his website, CruiseGuy.com, or on Twitter @CruiseGuy.

Fran Golden, Cruise Expert and Writer for ‘USA Today’ Experience Cruise
Fran Golden

Fran Golden

Fran Golden is a well-known, award-winning cruise writer and expert for USA Today’s Experience Cruise site.

She also writes regularly for Porthole, Virtuoso Life, New York’s Daily News, Cruiseline.com and other publications and websites. She is the author of several cruise travel books, including Frommer's EasyGuide to Alaskan Cruises and Ports of Call.

As part of her research, Fran has been on more than 125 ships and makes it a habit to always keep up on the best and most recent cruises. When she's not cruising, she spends time with her husband, writer David Molyneaux (thetravelmavens.com), at their home in Cleveland, where they enjoy the beauty of Lake Erie.

Follow Fran at GetAwayWithFran.com and on Twitter @FranGolden.

Jason Leppert, Editor of PopularCruising.com

Jason Leppert is a travel writer, photographer and videographer. He has been cruising since he was 2 years old — thanks to his parents’ shared passion for traveling and their desire to experience their journeys together as a family. At 31 years old, he has hopped aboard more than 85 cruises, allowing him to provide a fresh, youthful perspective on the industry. Jason was recently nominated as one of the best cruise bloggers by USA Today and 10Best.com.

He publishes his own website, PopularCruising.com, and produces the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and iTunes podcast. In addition to the Travel Channel, he contributes to PortholeCruise Travel and Destination Vacation magazines, Onboard.com, The San Diego Union-Tribune and MiceChat.com. Jason also is a contributor for Cruise Radio, Tripfilms and the Weekend Travel Show podcast. Follow him and his travels on Facebook and Twitter @PopularCruising.

Bill Panoff, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of ‘Porthole Cruise Magazine’
Bill Panoff

Bill Panoff

Bill Panoff began his career in 1980 as a professional magician aboard cruise ships before becoming a cruise director. In 1987, he headed for land to establish PPI Group and create custom magazines for various cruise line clients.

In 1996, he founded Porthole Cruise Magazine, today’s leading cruise and travel lifestyle magazine, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2016. Available on newsstands and by print or digital subscription, Porthole covers all cruise experiences, from megaships to sailing ships, expeditions to luxury getaways. Bill says he loves to try all of them so he can report back to readers.

Follow Porthole Cruise Magazine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

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