MSC Hosts the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders Annual Photoshoot Cruise
The Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders have officially wrapped up their 2019 annual photo shoot sailing aboard MSC Cruises’ innovative smart ships, MSC Seaside in the Caribbean and MSC Meraviglia in Northern Europe. More than 13 of the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders participated in this year’s photo shoot
What Would You Name Virgin Voyages’ New Craft Beer?
What happens when you mix one of Miami’s most popular brewing companies with one of cruising’s newest brands? Magic in a bottle. In collaboration with Wynwood Brewing Company, Virgin Voyages is brewing up an English Pale Ale to be sold exclusively on Virgin’s new ship, Scarlet Lady. The a
Vitamin Sea: Wellness in Bali
Bali is known for traditional medicine, healthy food, and spa culture — the perfect place to improve your physical and mental wellbeing. Sometimes a new health regimen needs a kickstart, and Bali has an entire town devoted to the cause: Ubud. This mountain haven with its vibrant, green rice terrac
Green Seas: Sustainable Cruising into the Next (Re) Generation
“Sustainability” is the tourism industry’s buzzword these days and appropriately so. According to NASA, 2018 was the fourth warmest year since 1880, and with the cruise industry’s reputation for carrying an unignorably large carbon footprint, something needed to change. Luckily, Intrepid Tra
SeaDream’s Hidden Caribbean
It’s a staggering vision: a massive cruise ship topped with a dizzying network of twisting, turning pool slides that resemble giant, vibrantly hued metal snakes. In the shadow of the behemoth sits a SeaDream yacht — SeaDream I or SeaDream II — a diminutive 4,253 grt, 112-passenger vessel that
Break a Sweat Before You Cruise from Miami
It’s called the Sunshine State for a reason. Those visiting the Miami area before boarding a ship for a cruise vacation are ready to enjoy some fun in the sun. However, those who like to stay active and healthy may be worried about all the unlimited food and drink that comes with a cruise. Thankfu
Cruising with a Group: The Do’s and Don’ts
Does “more the merrier” apply to cruise vacations? While cruising with a group may sound like a great idea in theory, without proper planning you may find it’s more than you bargained for. So, how do you ensure your cruising venture will be a success? Follow our list of Do’s and Don’ts
Amazon River Cruise Deal of the Week July 26, 2019
The Amazon River snakes its way through nine countries in South America and is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, some not found anywhere else on the planet. Far from the beaten path, cruisers are discovering the delights of cruising the Amazon River with Rainforest Cruises. Those
American Cruise Line’s American Constellation
I’ve always been an equal-opportunity cruiser. From the world’s largest ocean-going ships to the smallest hotel river barge, I’ve never met a ship I didn’t like. Each has its own character and its own draw. And while the biggies are great for nonstop onboard action, small ships boast their o
Fun Things to Do Near Port Tampa Bay
Bustling with culture, outdoor recreation, and world-class entertainment, the Tampa Bay area is a hot-spot for tourists, residents, and, of course, cruisers! According to Port Tampa Bay, the port hosts over one million cruisers every year on cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and
Small-Ship Cruising: So Civilized, So Celestyal!
Although brought up in San Francisco, I never forget that I was born in Greece. Like many Greek-Americans, I was raised to be “Greek first.” I have fond memories of my earliest pilgrimages as a young teen backpacking around Greece with wide-eyed wanderlust. I’ve traversed the cultu
The Gothic History of St. George, Bermuda
With St. George, Bermuda as a port of call on your cruise, you can expect a variety of different excursions that include water adventures or a casual tour to embrace the beauty of the island. What every visitor must embrace is the looming Gothic history of St. George and the island of Bermuda as it
Cruise Deal of the Week – July 19, 2019
How many of you have ever been on a solo cruise? Most people don’t cruise alone because of annoying single supplement charges where you’re essentially paying for a non-existent person to occupy your cabin. Paying for two when you’re only one didn’t seem fair to the people at
Virgin Voyages Teases Beach Club at Bimini With New Video
When the U.S. Department of State restricted travel to Cuba earlier this year, it sent most cruise lines into a scramble. Rescheduling itineraries and dealing with unhappy customers now unable to sail to Cuba caused more than a few headaches across the industry, but it was a cruise line that hasn’
VIP@Sea: Jetset Christina is Livin’ La Vida Luxury
Christina Vidal is living her best life. From being named one of Travel & Leisure’s top luxury travel Instagrams to making it onto our own list of influencers to watch, everybody is talking about this sun-kissed explorer. The blogger/influencer/swimsuit designer gives Porthole an insider’s l
Perfect Pre-Cruise Prep in Portugal
The Monthly Mantra The Transition … The Transition … The Transition Could it really be only one day since my butt was crammed into an airline seat aboard a trans-Atlantic flight with a temperature that had to be hovering at the freezing mark? Between shivers and trying to ignore the scre
Shore Excursion: Nude Beaches
Whether visiting a nude beach is a spontaneous whim or a long-planned rite of passage, that thrill of disrobing can be every bit as addictive as the feeling of the wind, sun, and water on your unclothed body. Fortunately for thrill-seekers, there are clothing-optional or fully nude beaches all aroun
Where Can I Smoke on a Cruise Ship?
Everyone has vices. Whether it’s a piece of chocolate cake, a glass of fine Scotch or lighting up a cigarette or a cigar, how you treat yourself is your business. However, one of the most popular questions we get asked is: where can I smoke on a cruise ship? Here’s our guide to lighting up [&h
Cruise Ship Review: Nieuw Statendam’s Very Oprah Inaugural
What happens when you get 2,400 women together on a cruise ship for a Girls’ Getaway with Oprah Winfrey? Tons of laughter, loads of camaraderie, and hugs and tears resulting from both. Even Oprah herself was moved by the experience. At the end of the cruise, as she was about to christen Holland Am
Perfect Day at CocoCay: Port Review
Royal Caribbean’s newly updated private island, aptly named Perfect Day at CocoCay, has been officially open since May. Garnering a great deal of attention from cruisers “loyal to Royal”, we too were very interested to see if the island lived up to this rather lofty title. Unable to resist any