New Features for Kids on MSC World Europa
We’re just six months away from the inaugural cruise on board MSC Cruises’ MSC World Europa and today the cruise line announced their entertainment plans for the youngest guests on board. Not only will the ship feature the largest kids’ area ever for the cruise line at 8,245 square
An Up-Close Look at Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady
If anyone in the cruise industry was going to get Jennifer Lopez on the payroll, it surely fell to Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. That’s right: J. Lo — international film and music superstar and global style icon — has landed a job at Virgin Voyages. The fleet-wide partnership b
Barge Cruising In Southern France
I’m up to jumping on any cruise, anywhere and anytime. I’ve experienced every imaginable type of cruise, unheard of destinations and every type of vessel from mega ships, yachts, sailing vessels, Indonesian phinisis to polar expedition ships, each with its own identity and appeal. When it comes
Disney Cruise Line Honors Make-A-Wish Children As Godchildren of the New Disney Wish
Disney Wish is granting wishes this summer season. Disney Cruise Line announced today that all past, present, and future Make-A-Wish® children will be honored as godchildren at the ship’s christening next week at Port Canaveral, Florida. Disney Cruise Line is excited to recognize children for
Stretching the Star Pride by Windstar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD69IKXaeZc Star Pride by Windstar Cruises sets sail at full capacity after the ship’s stretch. Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bill Panoff was onboard with the Chris Prelog, President of Windstar Cruises, to discuss the new and impro
Princess Cruises Offers First Gelato Experience At Sea
Summer just got a whole lot sweeter! On June 23, 2022, Princess Cruises’ announced that they will be the first cruise line to offer a gelato experience at sea on three of their ships. This summer, set sail on Discovery Princess, Sky Princess, and Enchanted Princess to experience this famous Italia
Cruise Deal of the Week – June 24, 2022
Happy Summer! As of Tuesday, we are officially in the midst of everyone’s favorite season and that has some cruisers looking forward to a cruise vacation somewhere tropical when the weather starts to get colder in a few months. If you don’t have your next cruise vacation on the books, no
Ponant AND Smithsonian Journeys Announce Cruises In ANTARCTICA WINTER 2023
Look out for Winter 2023! Ponant Cruises announced they are collaborating with Smithsonian Journeys on a series of co-branded sailings offering 21 cruises to Antarctica. Two experienced Smithsonian Journeys Experts will lead each trip with backgrounds in art history, a solar astrophysicist, or an in
Cruising from Baltimore is Back and Better Than Ever
Feature Photo: Cruise Maryland One of America’s most convenient port cities is back in action and that’s great news for cruisers! Baltimore, also known as the Charm City, is one of the most convenient cruise embarkation ports and major cruise lines are once again sailing from the city to s
Carnival Cruise Line Announces ‘Costa by Carnival’ Collaboration
Carnival Cruise Line announced today that the company is teaming up with Costa Cruises for a sister brand collaboration. Beginning Spring 2023, guests can set sail with COSTA by CARNIVAL, a collaboration between the two cruise brands where Carnival Cruise Line will operate two Costa Cruises’ s
A&K Travel Group Buys Crystal Cruises’ Brand, 2 Ships
One of the biggest storylines to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic was the demise of luxury cruise operator Crystal Cruises. Long considered one of the top high-end cruise brands, the cruise line left behind a fleet of river and ocean ships that many believed would be scooped up by other cruise line
NCL Hosting Broadway Cruise from New York to Bermuda
Norwegian Cruise Line is taking 2,000 Broadway fans on the trip of a lifetime next Spring on their inaugural “The Broadway Cruise” sailing. Setting sail from New York City on March 31, 2023, Norwegian Gem will cruise to Bermuda and back over five nights with Tony Award-winning stars like Laura B
MSC WORLD EUROPA COMPLETES FIRST SEA TRIAL
MSC Cruises’ celebrated a significant milestone for their cruise brand on June 20th when, MSC World Europa completed her first set of sea trials in the Atlantic Ocean while operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG). “We made an important pledge last year to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissio
Windstar Celebrates 35 Years of Tahiti Cruises
In honor of 35 years sailing French Polynesia, Windstar Cruises will sail additional itineraries in Tahiti this October and year-round beginning in 2024. The cruise line will also host a 7-day President’s Cruise on October 9th on board Star Breeze which will feature events with Tahitian
Disney Wish Arrives at Port Canaveral
The newest cruise ship from Disney Cruise Line arrived in Port Canaveral this morning escorted by a flotilla of Port-based tugboats and the Port Canaveral Fire Rescue Fireboat 2 providing the traditional water cannon salute. The first LNG (liquefied natural gas) ship in Disney’s fleet, Disney
A New Hotel is Coming to Istanbul’s Galataport Cruise Port
The highly-anticipated new cruise port in Istanbul, Turkey is set to open later this year and is poised to bring about a new era of cruise and travel to the city. The Peninsula Istanbul will open in early 2023 in the city’s famous Karaköy district which is also home to Galataport, the city
Queensland Couple Sails On Two Year Coral Princess Cruise
Queensland Couple Jessica and Marty Ansen embarked on a two-year back-to-back cruise on Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess, the first cruise ship that began its cruise season following the restart of the Australian cruise industry. “Cruising offers the ultimate holiday experience. You go o
Costa Toscana Christening Ceremony
On June 16th, 2022, Costa Cruises celebrated the Christening ceremony of Costa Toscana, the newest Italian ship in the Costa Cruises fleet in the port of Barcelona. “It is a great thrill to celebrate the christening of our Costa Toscana in Barcelona, a city to which we are particularly attache
Small Ships: The New Face of Cruise
As travelers have ventured back out into the world during the past year, small-ship cruising has proven to be extremely resilient. It has become the vacation of choice for many travelers. Smaller ships were among the first to return to service after a long pandemic-related shutdown. This process was
Costa Luminosa Joins Carnival Cruise Line
On June 14, 2022, Carnival Cruise Line announced that Costa Luminosa will be joining the Carnival fleet starting in September 2022. The ship will join the Carnival fleet and operate seasonally from October through April from Brisbane, Australia, then reposition to Seattle, where she will sail A
Scenic Azure: Cruising Portugal’s Douro Valley
I’m sitting on the balcony of my suite aboard Scenic Azure hypnotized by the sun-drenched Douro River Valley with its patchwork of terraced vineyards and charming, rustic quintas. Tomorrow, Sharone and I head back to the States but, today, we find ourselves wistful, as if we’re about to vacate a
The Porthole Cruise and Travel Store Is Open!
We are excited to share the launch of our Porthole Cruise & Travel Amazon Storefront! Set sail on your vacation at sea with all your cruise necessities. While at sea, we want you to be prepared. Our storefront offers first aid onboard items, tropical cruise essentials, and sun care to use duri
Valencia’s Fresh Flavors
The city of Valencia straddles the line between the bounty of the Mediterranean and the agricultural abundance from the fields of the autonomous Valencian Community. The mild winters of the area’s subtropical climate combine with fertile farmland to bring the perfect menu of fresh and traditional
Cruising Beyond With Celebrity
Picturesque words like beautiful, chic and artistic compel verification when bandied about in cruise jargon. With no hesitation the new Celebrity Beyond has made her inaugural splash into the waters of cruising and with undeniable credibility checks all the boxes. This latest addition to the Celebri
Cruise Deal of the Week – June 10, 2022
Happy Friday! We’re just a few weeks away from the first cruises on board the brand new Disney Wish and today we have a cruise deal you won’t want to miss! It’s been a decade since the last time Disney built a new ship and the hype around Wish has been growing and growing the clos
