Deal of the Day – April 26, 2019
Here’s a fun challenge; hop on your favorite airline booking site and see if you can snag some free tickets to Antarctica. No dice? Well thankfully Hurtigruten is here to make sure your cruise vacation isn’t saddled down by high prices to fly. The price for those flying from select airpo
The Ultimate Game of Thrones Cruise
Do you think they take vacations in Westeros? Seems like after the last few years in the Seven Kingdoms, everyone could use a little rest and recuperation. If you’d prefer a ship full of tourists to a ship full of Iron-born, Variety Cruises is offering a unique way for Game of Thrones fans to get
Martha Stewart Celebrates Discovery with MSC Cruises (VIDEO)
From magazines to television and everything in between, Martha Stewart is as well known in the home, cooking and gardening industries as anyone. Now the famed decorating guru is taking her talents to the high seas thanks to a new culinary and discovery program with MSC Cruises. The partnership is be
Last Call: Cool Encounters at SKYY Vodka Ice Bar
The Place — SKYY Vodka Ice Bar Grab A Seat — Norwegian Epic, Escape, and Getaway. Standout Feature — Inspired by the original Scandinavian ice hotels, everything about this bar — the walls, the seats, the glasses — are made from expertly chiseled blocks of ice. The chilly chamber is kept a
Making it Safer to Fly with Pets
You can’t bring your pet with you on every vacation, but a new service from VistaJet is making it safer and easier to fly with your furry friends. VistaPet is a new service designed to make sure all passengers make it to their destination, no matter how many legs they have. Why VistaPet? VistaJet
For Shore: Animal Encounter Shore Excursions
There’s nothing like a shore excursion to really make your cruise memories magical: Taking in the scenery, enjoying the regional cuisine, and, of course, meeting the locals … including the kind with fur, feathers or fins. We’re talking, of course, about animal encounter shore excu
Captain Minnie Mouse Inspires Tomorrow’s Female Leaders on Disney Cruise Line
Family-friendly Disney Cruise Line has launched a new program aimed squarely at little girls and young women who dream of a life at sea. The collection of new initiatives – which include maritime scholarships, exclusive merchandise, and onboard programs with Captain Minnie Mouse – hopes to inspi
Scenes from the Porthole Cruise Party 2019!
The Porthole Cruise Party, Porthole Cruise Magazine’s afterparty event at Seatrade Cruise Global, was a huge success again this year with cruise line executives and industry partners flocking to the Paris Theater on Miami Beach for an action-packed evening full of singing, dancing and fun! Che
Cruise Deal of the Week – April 19, 2019
Have you ever gone all in? No, not at a card table, but on a much-deserved cruise vacation! MSC Cruises, one of the biggest names in the industry, wants you to go all in on your next vacation and they have just the deal to make it happen. Save big with unlimited drinks, free wifi […]
Vitamin Sea: Scents at Sea
If you’re among the millions who use essential oils on a daily basis and you enjoy taking sanity-saving cruise vacations, odds are you’ve often found yourself in a challenging quandary: Which of my oils should I take with me on the ship, and which ones can I leave at home? Not an easy question.
Vatican VIP – Miracles Do Happen
Monday Mantra It’s a Miracle … It’s a Miracle … It’s a Miracle Vatican VIP Room to breathe, a papal address — this is a trip with a difference. Life is full of surprises. Like today, I saw the Pope. Bam! Just like that. I guess I should explain that I’m in Rome
Behind the Cruise Line: Arnold Donald At The Wheel
Five years ago, cruise lines were reeling from several highly publicized cruise ship incidents around the globe. [Ed. Note: — Porthole may or may not have neglected to mention some of those less-sunnier subjects.] Many believed it would take years of incident-free cruise travel and millions of dol
Finding Your Emerald in Cartagena
Stopping in the beautiful port city of Cartagena, Colombia, cruisers often have one thing on their mind: find the perfect emerald. Shore excursions offer a limited time-period in which to view the sights, sounds and culture of Colombia’s premier seaside city, so knowing where to look first is smar
Don’t Forget This One Thing on Your Caribbean Vacation
Mountainous islands burst forth from crystal clear water. Tropical birds whistle and caw from palm to palm. Fish dart among coral reefs teeming with life. Happy vacationers sink their toes in soft, white sand, ice cold drinks and a great book in hand. There’s truly nothing on Earth like a great Ca
Mighty Fine River Rhine Aboard AmaPrima
The dominant narrative of river cruising consistently touches on the all-inclusive nature of the experience. The intimate camaraderie, complimentary excursions, fascinating villages, and delicious cuisine all make the case for almost any itinerary, but what makes the AmaWaterways adventure on the go
Cruise Deal of the Week – April 12, 2019
What fun is cruising without the people you care about most? Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has a new deal available on their website offering big savings when you bring someone special on your next cruise vacation to the Bahamas. Sail & Save Here’s what Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has to s
Aruba Is Your Next Great Vacation
Surely this place can’t be real. That’s along the lines of what most people think when they first lay eyes on the pristine beaches of Aruba. Water of the most brilliant aquamarine lapping gently against soft, white sand are what set the island apart as a vacation paradise for those who love the
Side Trip to Cinque Terre
Known as the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre (pronounced Ching-kwe Ter-ray) is a cluster of five picturesque villages in Northwest Italy that adorn the shoreline with colorful buildings, steep cliffs, beautifully rugged and rocky beaches, and small but completely charming ports and harbors. And if you
Something for Everyone at Tortola Pier Park
When it comes to the islands which dot the Caribbean Sea, few come close to the stunning history, unique culture and vibrant atmosphere found on the British Virgin Islands. Specifically the island of Tortola, the largest and most exciting in the BVI, where cruise ship passengers disembark for a day
Cruise Ship Friendship
Monthly Mantra Waves of Kindness … Waves of Kindness … Waves of Kindness … “Wait! Wait! I want to give this to you!” That was the older woman with the organza hat, waving me down as I gathered my luggage after disembarking Queen Elizabeth 2 in Southampton in 1983. At the time, I was [&h
