Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine — Since 1996

Travel Smarter. Cruise Better. Avoid Costly Mistakes.

Subscribers Only.

Written by world-class journalists from National Geographic , BBC, and Condé Nast Traveler, bringing you insider access and travel intelligence most travelers never see.

30 Years of Experience. Zero Sponsored Content. Just Honest Travel Intelligence.

This Subscription Can Save You Thousands

Subscribe from $19.99
Why Subscribe?
30 Years of Trusted Cruise Journalism
100% Editorially Independent — Never Sells Cruises
Cancel Anytime — Secure Payment

Free on porthole.com

News, snippets & short excerpts

Latest cruise news
First 200–300 words of magazine articles
Travel blogging
Social media videos

Subscriber Access (FOR SERIOUS CRUISERS)

The full story — every time

Complete, in-depth articles - No missing context
Honest ship reviews based on real voyages
Insider knowledge on what to book - and what to avoid
Exclusive features not published anywhere else
Porthole|Pro - industry insights for serious travelers help you avoid mistakes, save money, and travel better

Why Subscribe

Access You Won’t Find Anywhere Else Because It Doesn’t Exist Elsewhere

The free web is saturated with cruise content, but Porthole subscribers gain access to something fundamentally different—journalism that delves deeper than any travel blog can.

01

First-Look Exclusives from Award-Winning Writers

Every article in Porthole makes its debut here, offering you an exclusive preview of content unavailable elsewhere for a significant period.

Our esteemed contributors, hailing from prestigious publications like National Geographic, the BBC, Smithsonian, AFAR, and Condé Nast Traveler, are world-class journalists. They journey further, pose incisive questions, and deliver narratives that transcend the ordinary cruise blog.

02

Honest Ship Reviews — From Writers Who Truly Know Travel

Our reviews are penned by seasoned professionals, including experts like Jason Leppert (with over 225 cruises under his belt), Ben Lyons (Chief Officer of QM2 and founder of Eyos Expeditions), and Judi Cuervo (cruising since the 1970s). They embark on these voyages to bring you the unvarnished truth. Porthole is not a cruise seller; our sole motivation is to provide honest, invaluable information to our readers.

03

Archives Plus Experience — Over 30 Years of Cruise Expertise

No other publication has documented the cruise industry as thoroughly as Porthole since 1996. 

Every ship reviewed.
Every destination explored.
Every trend tracked.

Our writers, editors, and directors give subscribers access to a decades-deep digital compendium of cruise knowledge, with both new issues and archived editions available online. The archive goes back to 2013 and is packed with experience you won’t find anywhere else.

04

Destinations That Don't Make the Travel Blogs

  • The Outer Hebrides
  • The Maasai Mara
  • PAZ, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the Faroe Islands.
  • The dizzyingly beautiful stations of the Tashkent Metro.

Porthole takes you to places that demand genuine travel expertise and not just a fleeting trip to the Caribbean.

If you are a serious traveler, you deserve a publication that treats travel with the
same seriousness.

05

Porthole|Pro — Your Gateway to Industry Insider Access

Inspired by the caliber of insider reporting found in leading publications like Rolling Stone, Porthole|Pro delves into the business and future of cruising.

Subscribers gain exclusive access to:

  • Fleet orders and shipbuilding trends
  • Executive interviews
  • Market intelligence
  • Emerging technology shaping the cruise industry
06

Award-Winning Photography & Editorial Design

Porthole is meticulously crafted as a premium magazine, reflecting its commitment to excellence. 

Our photography is sourced from top professional stock houses, leading
destinations, cruise lines, talented artisans, and our dedicated contributors. 

Every issue is a masterpiece, carefully art-directed by experienced designers. Reading Porthole offers a distinct experience, far superior to merely scrolling a website. 

It is designed to be savored.

Why Subscribe

A Glimpse Inside: Your Next Adventure Awaits

Every issue of Porthole is a meticulously curated journey.

Here’s a taste of the exclusive content our subscribers are devouring right now – content you simply won’t find anywhere else online.

Ship Review · Feature

Dazzling on the Danube

Riviera Radiance sails Europe with a special sensibility — a first-hand review of the new generation of European river ships.

by Jason Leppert — Cruise Editor, TravelAge West · 225 voyages
Full article — subscribers only

Destination · Shore Leave

Korea's Kaleidoscope

South Korea blends ancient and modern with rare grace — from royal palace rituals to K-pop modernity.

by Lina Zeldovich — National Geographic, BBC, Smithsonian
Full article — subscribers only

Adventure · Feature

Wild at Heart: The Faroe Islands

Sampling fermented meat, counting sheep, and standing on the edge of the North Atlantic.

by Cat Thomson — The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday, The Times
Full article — subscribers only

Education · Feature

Teaching on the High Seas

A school day aboard the 90-year-old Norwegian tall ship Sørlandet.

by Lindsey Johnson — maritime educator & tall-ship sailor
Full article — subscribers only

Travel Smarter, Not Harder

The Porthole Advantage

Porthole isn’t just a magazine. It’s the difference between taking a trip and traveling well.

Our subscribers leverage Porthole to navigate the world with unparalleled intelligence, foresight, and expertise, consistently outperforming the average traveler.

Know before everyone else

Gain exclusive foresight into ships, destinations, and experiences before they become mainstream, overcrowded, or overpriced. Be the first to discover the next big thing in travel.

First-look access you won’t find anywhere else

Every captivating story and groundbreaking insight debuts here, granting subscribers an
invaluable early glimpse into the future trends shaping the world of travel.

Written by the world’s best — not influencers

Benefit from the profound depth, unmatched expertise, and authentic reporting of contributors from National Geographic, BBC, Smithsonian, and Condé Nast Traveler. This is
journalism you can trust, not fleeting social media trends.

Insider knowledge that changes how you travel

Unlock critical insights on what to book, what to skip, and where to venture next. This insider knowledge empowers you to elevate your trips without incurring additional costs.

Avoid costly mistakes

One overlooked detail can ruin an entire cruise. Conversely, a single expert tip from Porthole can transform your voyage into an unforgettable experience. Invest in knowledge, save on regrets.

Stay ahead of the curve

Explore uncharted territories and discover hidden gems before the crowds descend. Porthole guides you to destinations that are truly unique, ensuring your travels are always one step ahead.

This subscription pays for itself — fast

One smarter booking decision and your subscription has already earned its value.

Anyone can travel, but only a select few truly master the art of traveling well.

That,precisely, is the Porthole difference.

Written by the World's Best Travel Journalists

Porthole publishes experts. Every contributor is a seasoned adventurer, credentialed insider, or award-winning professional — the kind of writer who has fished for piranhas in the Amazon, sipped Malvasía Volcánica in the Canary Islands, and reported from some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations.

What Our Readers Say

Choose Your Journey: Simple, Transparent Pricing

Embark on your next adventure for less than the cost of a single port excursion. Enjoy instant digital access and the flexibility to cancel anytime.

1-Year Digital

$19.99

per year · 6 issues

6 full digital issues

First-rights exclusive content

Digital archive back to 2013

Porthole|Pro industry insider content

Subscribe from $19.99

Most Popular — Best Value

2-Year Digital

$24.99

for 2 years · 12 issues

12 full digital issues

First-rights exclusive content

Digital archive back to 2013

Porthole|Pro insider content

Save 65% compared to buying individual issues (12 issues individually: $71.88)

Subscribe from $24.99

Ultimate Reader Plan

3-Year Digital

$29.99

for 3 years · 18 issues

18 full digital issues

First-rights exclusive content

Digital archive back to 2013

Porthole|Pro insider content

Save 72% compared to buying individual issues (18 issues individually: $107.82)

Subscribe from $29.99

Available where you want to read — Magzter, PressReader, App Store Public librarians: Ask us about access!

All plans include instant digital access. Also subscribe by emailing [email protected] or calling (800) 776-PORT (7678).
Public librarians: Ask us about access.

What Our Readers Say

Trusted by Serious Cruisers Worldwide

Join a community of passionate travelers who rely on Porthole to plan better voyages, discover new destinations, and stay ahead of what’s happening across the world of cruising.

“The ship reviews are the most honest I’ve ever read. They actually sailed the ship — they’re not just repeating the press release. That’s why I subscribe. You can’t get this level of detail anywhere else.”

M

Margaret T.

Subscriber since 2018  ·  14 cruises

“The back-issue archive alone is worth the subscription. I’ve been going through reviews of ships from the early 2000s to understand how the industry has evolved. There is nothing else like it.”

R

Robert & Carol S.

Subscribers since 2015  ·  22 cruises

“Porthole|Pro is what sold me. I’m a travel agent and the industry content is genuinely useful — not the kind of thing you find in consumer travel media. It’s written for people who take cruising seriously.”

J

Jennifer K

Travel Agent  ·  Florida

Give the Gift of Cruising

The Perfect Gift for the Cruiser in Your Life

Six beautifully designed issues a year. Destinations they’ve never considered. Ship reviews they can trust. Give a Porthole subscription — the gift that arrives six times a year and never goes out of style.

Gift a Subscription

The Full Story Is Waiting for You.

Don’t settle for the excerpt. Subscribe today and read the journalism that serious cruisers have trusted since 1996.

Subscribe Now — From $19.99
Subscribe Now

Prefer to subscribe by phone or email?

[email protected] | US Toll-free: (800) 776-PORT (7678)

Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm Eastern

© 2025 Copyright Porthole Cruise & Travel. All rights reserved.