Cruising Returned to America This Weekend
For the first time in over a year, a cruise ship departed from an American port with passengers onboard. American Cruise Lines resumed service over the weekend and American Queen Steamboat Company is setting sail today and that is great news for cruisers! American Cruise Line set sail from Amelia Is
Choose Your Cruise – March 12, 2021
It was exactly one year ago today that Princess Cruises and Viking Cruises announced they’d be pausing operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s truly unbelievable but here we are a year later on the cusp of a vaccine that will jumpstart the cruise industry and get everyone back to no
Alcatraz Cruises to Resume Prison Tour Operations
For the first time in over a year, Alcatraz Cruises will resume ferry service operations to Alcatraz Island beginning March 15, 2021. Alcatraz, an island in San Francisco Bay, grew to infamy as a federal prison home to a whole host of unsavory characters like notorious mobster Al Capone. The is
Traditional Tlingit Tastes
The Last Frontier, otherwise known as Alaska, has always maintained a certain mystique to those in the Lower 48. One of the least populated and visited states in the country, many travelers have misconceptions of Alaska, its economy, its landscape, the food, and, naturally, its people. And nowhere i
WATCH:MSC Lirica Damaged by Fire
Anyone in and around the port of Corfu, Greece today saw something very unsettling, a cruise ship on fire. Black smoke and flames could be seen billowing from the starboard side of MSC Lirica as it sat in port early in the afternoon. It took local fire fighters around an hour to put out th
Cruises to Resume in the UK on May 17th
Cruising may be sailing out of England sooner than we thought! United Kingdom Maritime Minister Robert Courts appeared in a virtual meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Maritime and Group and announced the return of domestic cruising in the region starting May 17, 2021. The decision comes aft
This is the World’s Longest River Cruise
It’s never too early to start planning for the future so if you’re looking for the ultimate return to cruising, do we have a European river cruise for you! AmaWaterways announced they’ve put together the longest-ever river cruise which takes guests on a tour of 14 unique countries
Virgin Voyages Names 3rd Ship Resilient Lady
Resilient is certainly a great way to describe the cruise industry and according to Virgin Voyages, it’s also a great name for a ship! The new cruise line and lifestyle travel brand announced today that they’re naming the third ship in their fleet Resilient Lady. The announcement coincid
Choose Your Cruise – March 5, 2021
With the announcement earlier this week that America would have enough COVID-19 vaccines for the entire country by May, cruisers flocked online to check out the cruise deals still going strong across the internet. It will just be a few more months until the CDC gives the green light to cruise lines
Two Brand New Restaurants Coming to MSC Virtuosa
Specialty dining is all the rage in cruising these days and MSC Cruises has announced two new specialty dining concepts featured on board their new flagship MSC Virtuosa. Joining the five main dining rooms, the 1,336-seat buffet, 21 bars and restaurants and three other specialty dining venues w
Australia Extends International Travel Ban Until June
Those hoping to visit the Land Down Under as their first post-pandemic vacation will have to wait a little longer. This week Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the country would be extending their ban on international travelers until June 17th. The ban, known as the “human biosecuri
Jamaica Travel Restrictions Get Tighter for Visitors
The Caribbean island of Jamaica tightened up their COVID-19 travel restrictions for visitors, reducing the time frame in which travelers need to get tested for the virus. Currently, Jamaica requires tourists to present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or Antigen test within 10 days of travel to the
Heritage Expeditions Adds New Yacht to Their Fleet
One of New Zealand’s small ship adventure cruise lines has a new addition to their fleet! Heritage Expeditions announced the acquisition of the 18-passenger yacht Heritage Explorer which will be used on adventure tours around the coast of New Zealand. The new ship brings th
MSC Cruises Will Deploy MSC Seaside in the Mediterranean
Since August 2020, MSC Grandiosa has carried more than 40,000 passengers on cruises from Italy and the cruise line announced they’ll be adding another ship to the region. Beginning May 1, 2021, MSC Seaside will sail 7-night cruises calling Genoa, Valetta in Malta and C
Port Canaveral is Now Ready to Fuel the Cruise Ships of the Future
Something very special just arrived at Port Canaveral and it’s ushering in a new era of cruising! The Q-LNG 4000, a ship-to-ship articulated tug and bunker barge (ATB), made its way into port and it’s tasked with fueling up cruise vessels powered by liquefied natural gas.&
25 Years of Cruising with Porthole Cruise Magazine
Time flies when you’re having fun! And trust us, there’s nowhere better to have fun than onboard a cruise ship. Porthole Cruise Magazine is proud to celebrate 25 years of publishing the world’s best consumer cruise and travel magazine and looking back, it’s been a long journe
Choose Your Cruise – February 26, 2021
It’s Friday! And it’s also the last weekend in February. That’s a big deal because it means the 1 year anniversary of the cruise stoppage is only weeks away. It seemed unfathomable at the time we’d have to wait a whole year to cruise again, but here we are, a year old and a y
American Queen Steamboat Company CEO Explains Mandatory Vaccine Decision
As talk in America turns from preventing COVID-19 infection to administering the COVID-19 vaccine, all eyes are on cruise lines to see what their policy will be on a return to cruising. Will cruise lines require a vaccine for passengers? We got some clarity on that issue recently from American Queen
Princess Cancels More Sailings Due to Canada Cruise Ban
Along with their Carnival Corporation brand sister line Holland America, Princess Cruises was forced to cancel select Alaska, Canada, New England and Pacific Coast cruises in 2021. Earlier this month, Canadian Transport Ministry announced an Interim Order that extends the closure of Canadian po
Holland America Cancels Cruises That Depart or Conclude in Canadian for 2021
When Canada banned cruise ships from visiting their ports until 2022, it created a whole host of headaches for cruise lines. We’re now starting to see the repercussions of that decision as Holland America Line has paused all sailings that depart from or conclude in a Canadian port in 2021