WATCH: Costa Toscana Float Out Ceremony
A fresh layer of snow covered the ground at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland today as Costa Cruises held a float out ceremony for their newest ship. Costa Toscana is named for the Tuscany region of Italy and is the third ship of the Costa Group powered by liquefied natural ga
Oceania Cruises Announces 180-Day World Voyage
In Jules Verne’s epic adventure story, it takes protagonist Phileas Fogg 80 days to circumnavigate the globe. Oceania Cruises wants to take cruisers on a similarly epic journey, though a much slower pace. In a press release today, the cruise line announced a 2023 Around the World in 180 Days c
Construction Begins on Carnival Celebration
One of the most important milestones in shipbuilding took place at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland today. Construction on Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Celebration is now underway for the Exel-class ship set to debut in Miami in November 2022. The sister ship to the b
Terminal V by Virgin Voyages Coming to PortMiami
On a cool, overcast day at PortMiami, a row of bright red shovels waited diligently, their blades stuck in white limestone gravel, for the ceremony to start. Virgin Voyages was hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for their new terminal at PortMiami which will soon be home to their first ship, Scarlet
‘Pent-up Demand’ for Cruising Says CEO Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd
After more than 30 years at the helm of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, it’s safe to say chairman and chief executive officer Richard D. Fain is one of the most important people in the industry. The cruise conglomerate operates 63 ships across all its brands and in a normal year, would see m
Mexico Reports a Holiday Travel Boom
Most cruisers are familiar with Quintana Roo. Mexico’s Eastern-most state is home to some of the most popular cruise and travel destinations in all the Caribbean, including Cozumel and Cancun. While the area has been hit hard by the lack of visitors in 2020, it looks like things may be tu
Choose Your Cruise – January 8, 2021
Welcome to 2021! We are going to be able to cruise this year, but the vaccine rollout is going to be a major part of when that happens. Some major cruise lines pushed back their restart date into the Spring, but there’s plenty of optimism that our favorite vacation will be back sooner rather t
Galley Superstars
Buzzy Burgers Carnival cruisers find their bliss at Guy’s Burger Joint, a spirited roadside burger shack reimagined and brought to sea by Food Network personality Guy Fieri. Follow the poolside scent to score sizzling patties and golden hand-cut fries. Purists may prefer Plain Jane cheeseburgers;
Florida Legislature Looks to Void Key West Cruise Ship Ban
On election day in November, the citizens of Key West passed a ballot initiative that would limit cruise ships over a certain size from calling on Mallory Square. Now, the Florida Legislature is looking to void that initiative with a new bill filed in the state legislature yesterday. The bill,
Carnival Cruise Line Extends Pause Until April
UPDATE 1:51pm: Carnival Corporation sub-brands Holland America Line and Princess Cruises have also pushed back their restart date. HAL will now resume operation in April of 2021 and Princess Cruises will resume operation in May 2021. Carnival Cruise Line issued a press release this morning ann
Atlas Ocean Voyages Teams with L’OCCITANE en Provence
One of the world’s most recognizable skin care brands is teaming with Atlas Ocean Voyages to establish Luxury SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE on board their ship World Navigator when it sets sail on the its inaugural Holy Land and Black & Mediterranean Seas season in July 2021. The sp
AmaWaterways Announces New Wine Hosts for 2021
It won’t be long now until we’re sipping wine on board a luxurious river cruise and to help with the anticipation, AmaWaterways has released a new list of wine hosts for their 2021 cruise season. The list includes notable wine experts, certified sommeliers, and vineyard owners who h
Pandaw Unveils New Double-Size Suites
The popular Asian river cruise line Pandaw has something for guests to look forward to in 2021; brand new double-size suites on board their P Class ships in Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. Measuring 336 square feet and with a private balcony and lounge, these new suites are designed with comfort a
Choose Your Cruise – December 30, 2020
When the ball drops in Times Square this New Year’s Eve, make sure you’re tuned in to watch. It’s going to be a little bit different this year, but the spirit of the season remains. It seems like our collective New Year’s resolution for 2021 is to get out and do EVERYTH
Deep In The Art Of Mexico
Once a sprawling textile factory before converting into a hybrid museum gallery, shopping, and cafe complex, Fabrica La Aurora is one of the most popular attractions in San Miguel. The spirit of the facility is fed by diverse artistic talents and the opportunity to exhibit conceptual designs in a re
Chukka Caribbean Adventures Gears Up for Tourism
Something is happening in the Caribbean. Across the islands, people are getting ready for tourists to once again flock to the pristine beaches, lush jungles and scenic hiking trails that make the region so famous. It’s been a long break, but the Caribbean is ready and waiting for you to come have
Bankrupt Jalesh Cruises Leaves Employees High and Dry
April 17, 2019 was an important date for India’s Jalesh Cruises. It was the first time passengers set foot onboard the recently purchased Karnika for a cruise from Mumbai. Less than a year later, the cruise line is out of business and the ship sold for scrap. COVID-19 is to blame, but sources tell
The Myth of the Storm Petrel
Poets have called them “gypsies of the sea” and “black lightning.” Some sailors see them as omens of bad luck, while ancient sailors are said to have named them for the walking-on-water apostle Peter. Other seamen know them as Mother Carey’s Chickens, probably a corruption of Mater Cara, o
Choose Your Cruise – December 23, 2020
For those of you counting down the days, we’re just a week away from 2021! From all of us here at the Porthole Cruise network, we hope you spend the next couple of days having a safe and wonderful holiday with the people who matter the most. It’s been a trying year for just about [&helli
Europe’s Best Christmas Markets
Is there anything better than wandering through the warm glow of a European Christmas market while the smell of candied nuts and chimney cakes waft under your nose? From late November through the New Year, European cities transform into festive examples of Yuletide cheer and one of the best ways to
