World Premier: Cruising Back to Alaska with Holland America Line
The day Alaska cruises opened up for Summer 2021 was a huge step forward for the cruise industry. Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bill Panoff couldn’t wait to get back on board a ship and visit one of cruising’s best regions. When Holland America Li
Aweigh We Go! Three Dream Destinations – St. Maarten, Athens, and Valletta
After ships sat idle for what seemed like an eternity, cruising has returned with a race to establish homeport advantage. Straight out of the gate, favorites like St. Maarten and Athens are making strong bids for prominence, and Malta is nosing ahead of a crowded field of Mediterranean options. Sail
Viking Sets Sail in Joint Venture with China Merchants
Viking has a new joint venture with China Merchants Shekou to offer 8-day China Coastal Cultural Cruises from Shenzhen Shekou Port and the first cruise left over the weekend. Viking first entered the Chinese cruise market around five years ago and since then, have established a reputa
Cruise Deal of the Week – October 1, 2021
If you were at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami Beach all week then you probably didn’t notice those mornings growing colder and the days growing shorter. The rest of the country did, however, because it’s October 1st and that means we’re smack-dab in the middle of Fall! When the co
American Queen Steamboat Announces Rebrand with Victory Cruise Line
One of America’s most prominent steamboat river cruise companies used their platform at the Seatrade Cruise Global convention in Miami this week to announce a major rebrand with big implications for the future! American Queen Steamboat Company, the sister line of Victory Cruise Lines and a sub
Emerald Cruises to Build Second Superyacht Emerald Sakara
Not only does Emerald Cruises have another brand new superyacht on the horizon, but they’ve got a brand new place to sail it as well! The cruise line announced today that Emerald Sakara would join the fleet by 2023 and will offer cruises to the gorgeous Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. It will
First Loggerhead Turtles Hatch at Ocean Cay Marine Reserve
MSC Cruises’ new private island resort Ocean Cay Marine Reserve is popular with cruisers and sea turtles alike according to a press release from the cruise line! MSC Cruises announced that since August, hundreds of Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings have made their way from egg to sand to s
What Makes the Caribbean the “Fifth C” in Buying Diamonds
They sparkle, glisten, and always capture attention. Yes, the waters of the Caribbean are enough of a reason to visit but the islands that make up some of the world’s top tourist destinations are also a great place to shop for a diamond as stunning as the azure Caribbean Sea. Plentiful and usually
Barcelona’s Backstreet Eats
It’s easy to find top name restaurants by perusing any guidebook, but discovering authentic eateries that locals keep for themselves is no easy task. While most visitors to Barcelona follow guidebook narrative and flock to the touted tourist trail of Las Ramblas, our challenge is always to seek ou
Cruise Deal of the Week – September 24, 2021
Summer officially ended this week but instead of feeling down about the upcoming cold weather, why not get into the Halloween spirit! You could carve a few pumpkins and start stockpiling candy, or you could book yourself a Halloween-themed cruise from the Port of Palm Beach and spend your October wi
Carnival Corporation Aims for 50% Fleet Restart by October
The largest cruise conglomerate in the world announced today they hope to have 50% of their fleet back in operation by the end of October and 65% of the fleet back by the New Year. Carnival Corporation was hit hard by the pandemic, but the news that their eight distinct cruise brands will have 42 [&
Alaska Cruise Countdown
What a great (albeit abbreviated) summer it has been for the great state of Alaska. For all the beauty, pristine wilderness and tales of gold that the state represents, the glitter faded when Canada’s pandemic-related travel restrictions took a toll on cruises last year. But thanks to forward-thin
American Cruise Lines CEO Talks American Melody, Return to Cruising
When American Cruise Lines became the first to resume operation in the U.S.A this past March 13th, it marked an important milestone for not just the cruise line, but the industry itself. Now, a few months later, more ships are starting up all over the country and many bear the American Cruise Lines
NCL Reveals Entertainment on Upcoming Norwegian Prima
We have new details about the entertainment and features on the upcoming ship from Norwegian Cruise Line! When the ship first sets sail in the Summer of 2022, Tony Award®-nominated musical “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” will be its interactive headlining act in terms of enterta
United Kingdom Overhauls Their Travel Rules
The old system for air arrivals to the United Kingdom is no longer in effect as the government announced an overhaul of the entire system to improve efficiency and make the process easier to follow. Starting October 4th, the UK will no longer have a three-color “traffic light” system whe
Pfizer Vaccine Safe for Kids Age 5 to 11
Just as schools all around the country are getting back into the swing of things, drugmaker Pfizer has announced their COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children ages 5 through 11 according to the results of the most recent clinical trials. The trials found that the vaccine produced a ̶
Cruising Returns to New Orleans
When Carnival Glory sets sail on a seven-day cruise from the Port of New Orleans this afternoon, it will mark the very first ship to sail from the port since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic well over a year ago. In honor of the occasion, Carnival held a “Back to Fun” ev
Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator Cruise Ship Review
Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator by Evan Gove 1 Feet 1 Decks 1 Launched 1 Guests Overview As the name implies, World Navigator is a ship well-equipped to sail from one end of the world to the other. The hybrid power vessel mixes intrepid exploration with outstanding luxury from bow to stern f
Cruise Deal of the Week – September 17, 2021
Happy Friday! As the days grow shorter and the weather a bit cooler, people tend to start planning their holiday travel season. Trepidation surrounding holiday travel these days is a real thing, so we’re curious to know whether or not you’re planning a trip and what steps you’re ta
Ecoventura to Offer Photography-Themed Galapagos Cruises This Fall
Expedition cruise company Ecoventura has great news for photographers of all ability levels! The cruise line is embarking on photography-themed cruises this October and November and they’re bringing Galapagos Naturalist Guide and National Geographic certified photo instructor Antoni
