Call Me Virtuosa, A Masterpiece At Sea
Traditional launch parties are always full of fanfare but none more entertaining than the recent naming ceremony of MSC Virtuosa in Dubai, UAE. The gala event was attended by celebrities, dignitaries, the ruler of Dubai Sheik Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and for a touch of international elegance, chr
Asian River Cruise Line Pandaw Announces Their Return
The pandemic was terrible for everyone, but cruise lines in particular felt the financial wrath of an industry-wide shutdown and some weren’t able to make it. Pandaw looked to be one of those cruise lines when they announced late October that they would be shutting their doors. At the time, th
Cruise Deal of the Week – December 17, 2021
The holiday season is finally here and if you’re looking for the best possible post-holiday getaway, a cruise is one of the best things to do right now! Not only are most ships operating at a reduced capacity, but the deals and perks cruise lines are adding on make it truly the best time to [&
St. Kitts’ Lindsay F.P. Grant Named Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year
The island of St. Kitts announced today that Minister of Tourism Lindsay F.P. Grant has been named Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year in the Caribbean Journal’s 8th annual Caribbean Travel Awards. The editors chose Minister Grant for the award thanks to his leadership during the pande
Sea, Sky, and Mangroves
“That fish is walking!” gasps my wide-eyed son Freddie, pointing to a sludgy mud bank within Langkawi’s mangrove forest. He is right. Or rather, he is almost right. For this amphibious mudskipper is, in fact, shimmying with one fin fanned out like a sail on a boat; just one in a menagerie of s
Carnival Radiance Christened, Begins Sailing from California
The newly renovated and renamed Carnival Radiance was christened at ceremony at the Port of Long Beach, California with the ship’s Godmother Dr. Lucille O’Neal and her son, Carnival Chief Fun Officer and NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal as featured guests of t
Inside Dubai’s EXPO 2020
After a year long delay due to the havoc of the 2020 pandemic, the opening of Dubai’s EXPO 2020 has finally arrived. The grand scale of anything associated with Dubai is on full display stoking one’s wildest imagination, virtually a Disney EPCOT on steroids. Five years of development and the unp
Florida Paddleboard Rentals Have Never Been Easier
Now is the time of year everyone wants to be in Florida. The Sunshine State really starts to heat up in the wintertime when snowbirds and tourists alike flock to the beaches from Key West to Jacksonville and everywhere in between. Cruise ships are obviously a big draw for Florida this time of
Cruise Deal of the Week – December 10, 2021
It’s never too early to start planning your next vacation! If you’re looking for something a little more exciting than lounging on a Caribbean beach this winter, why not book your next cruise vacation for the great white north of Alaska? The cruise industry got a huge boost this past sum
Reaching The Apex
apex [ ey-peks ] noun,: the uppermost point, the highest or culminating point, peak, summit, climax. The latest addition to Celebrity Cruises’ fleet has been christened in perfect agreement with Webster’s Dictionary. Fifteen months of pandemic patience has been rewarded with the long-awaited lau
An American River Holiday
Climb back aboard with treasured purchases — homemade orange marmalade, perhaps, or hand-knitted scarves for the family. Check your watch — time for a gingerbread house-making workshop. The fragrance of pine cones wafts through the riverboat as holiday decorations twinkle. Sure sounds like a Chr
Do and Buy In Dubai
If you are sailing into or out of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the proverbial ‘so much to see, so little time’ is a gross understatement. If you can arrange a pre or post cruise stay, this arid outpost of rampant wealth, fueled by an urge to flaunt excess is well worth the effort. It may [&h
Cruise Deal of the Week – December 3, 2021
Did you miss out on the cruise deal bonanza that was Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Never fear! There are still a ton of awesome cruise deals to be had around the industry and there’s never been a better time to book your next cruise vacation. When things get cold up North, things really
Costa Cruises Takes Delivery of Costa Toscana
Costa Cruises has taken delivery of their newest ship at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland! Costa Toscana is the second ship under the Costa brand to feature LNG technology, the maritime sector’s most advanced technology for reducing emissions. The ship’s first cruise&
Antarctica’s Incredible Eclipse
Have you ever experienced totality? It happens during daylight every 18 months or so and lasts for just a few precious minutes, but typically only a few thousand people get to experience it. The result of the rare occurrence of the moon slipping perfectly across the sun to block its light, those bel
Virgin Voyages Gifts 500 Cruises to Healthcare Workers
Scarlet Lady just started sailing from PortMiami, but the team at Virgin Voyages is already making an impact on their new South Florida community. The cruise line is showing its appreciation for the community’s healthcare heroes by giving away 500 complimentary cabins for employees at Ba
Emerald Azzurra Completes Successful Sea Trials
The very first custom super yacht from Emerald Cruises recently underwent successful sea trials from Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam, meaning we’re one step closer to stepping foot on board! Conducted by Captain Jonathan Edwards and Marine Operations Manager Robert O’Leary, the sea trials t
The Best Tropical Treasure Hunt on St. Thomas
When Celebrity Edge made the first cruise ship call on St. Thomas in well over a year this past July, it marked a turning point for tourism to the island and the Caribbean as a whole following the COVID-19 pandemic. Those visiting St. Thomas via cruise ship or by air are in luck as the island [&hel
MSC Cruises Names New MSC Virtuosa in Dubai
Just last week, the team from Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine was on board the brand new MSC Seashore for its naming ceremony at Ocean Cay in the Bahamas. Over the weekend, MSC Cruises held another naming ceremony for the other ship they launched in 2021, MSC Virtuosa. On hand in Port
