12 Hours in Mykonos
When you’re named after the heir of a god, you better meet expectations. Mykonos, one of Greece’s most famous islands, is named for a descendant of the god Apollo (allegedly) and the first ruler of the island. And yes, it certainly does meet expectations. It exceeds them, in fact.&nb
Florida Judge Sides with Norwegian Cruise Line in Vaccine Fight
In a big win for not just Norwegian Cruise Line, but the industry in general, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that the state of Florida “fails to provide a valid evidentiary, factual, or legal predicate” for banning vaccine passports. This means that Norwegian can require all pa
Making Up for Lost Time: a Post-Pandemic World Cruise
They say that we make plans and God laughs. Well, God must have been doubled over in knee-slapping hysterics when last year’s lockdown coincided exactly with my retirement date. Gone were my lavish retirement party and, even more heartbreaking, two Caribbean cruises along with my ideal post-
ADA Accommodation Horizon Stateroom Review: Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator
Here at Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine, we feel very strongly that cruising (and travel in general) should be accessible for everyone of all ability levels. Cruise lines have taken steps in recent years to accomodate guests with limited mobility or those who require a wheelchair or other d
The Joy of St. Croix
If you were asked to name the three U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas would immediately roll off the tip of your tongue, with St. John coming a split second later. For seasoned visitors to the Caribbean, St. Croix would likely follow. Content to let its smaller siblings soak up a good portion of the C
Cruise Deal of the Week – August 13, 2021
It’s easy to forget about river cruises amidst all the news about large ocean liners getting back into service. Small ships are a large part of the cruise industry and many cruisers prefer the personalized service and unique ports of call available when cruising some of the most famous rivers
South Florida Brightline Train Scheduled to Return in November
South Florida’s high-speed rail system has a date for their return to operation! Brightline and President Patrick Goddard announced its plans to resume service in South Florida starting in November of this year. The train service hasn’t operated since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Th
Norwegian Gem Sets Sail from New Terminal at PortMiami
When Norwegian Gem began making its way down the main channel at PortMiami, it marked not only the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to sail from PortMiami in 17 months, but also the very first ship to use the recently completed NCL Terminal at the port. Norwegian Gem, the third of the cruise li
The Other Italy, Abruzzo Revisited
Have you ever visited a destination time and time again, never getting enough? I’ve been fortunate to travel to some of the most awe inspiring locations of the world, cruised on small gulets in Turkey, yachts in Australia and on some of the most glamorous ships at sea. What then is it that attract
St. Kitts Makes for the Perfect Destination Wedding
The opportunity to say “I Do” is a major milestone in life no matter where you are, but saying it while at a destination wedding on St. Kitts is an experience unlike any other. The island is a tropical paradise complete with gorgeous beaches, outstanding views and no shortage of specialty venues
I Went to the Most Instagrammable Place on Earth – Expectations Vs. Reality?
Despite being outside and with a blustery North wind dancing across my face, I put on my mask. For the first time in my week-long trip through the Greek islands, the crowds had become too much for a COVID-concious traveler like myself to ignore. Throngs of people from all walks of life jostled
Port of Tampa Bay Announces Cruises Will Sail in October
One of Florida’s most popular ports announced that cruise ships will resume sailing in October. Port of Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson released a statement saying that Royal Caribbean will be the first line to sail from the port when Serenade of the Seas embarks on October 16th
Bahamas Bans Cruise Ships Without 100% Vaccinated Passengers
In documents posted to Twitter by Eyewitness News, the Bahamas has banned cruise ships unless all passengers over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The order comes as an amendment to the Emergency Powers Regulations which gives Prime Minister Hubert Minnis more authority to i
NCL CEO Confident Ruling Allowing Cruise Line to Require Proof of Vaccination Will Remain
Norwegian Cruise Line hit an important milestone in their return from the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this week when Norwegian Gem set sail from PortMiami. The ship was the first from the cruise line to sail from Miami since March 2020 and in more good news, the ship embarked from the line’
Cruise Deal of the Week – August 20, 2021
What a week for cruising! First, we had Norwegian Cruise Line set sail from their hub at PortMiami for the first time since the pandemic began all those months ago. Norwegian Gem set sail with 100% of passengers on board fully vaccinated against COVID-19 thanks to the cruise line’s legal victo
How European Citizens are Getting Around the US Travel Ban
When the European Union decided to open up travel for American citizens, it looked like tourism was finally on its way back. However, as of now, it’s a one-way street and the Biden administration has yet to make a statement on whether the travel ban will be lifted in time for the holidays. Eur
New York City Will Reopen Cruise Terminals in September
According to a report from news outlet amNewYork Metro, New York City will reopen their cruise terminals starting in late September. The news comes as other popular ports like Boston and Tampa Bay are also in the process of reopening their terminals for cruise ships starting in the late Summer and e
FDA Officially Approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
One of the most common criticisms from those hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19 now rings hollow. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, paving the way for more vaccine mandates from employers across the country. The approved v
New Hurtigruten Ship MS Otto Sverdrup Embarks on Maiden Voyage
Popular adventure cruise line Hurtigruten Expeditions reached a new milestone today as their third battery-hybrid powered cruise ship, MS Otto Sverdrup, embarked on its maiden voyage from Hamburg, Germany. The voyage marks the cruise line’s first year-round expedition cruises from Germany, wit
FDA Approves Pfizer Vaccine – Will Your Cruise Line Now Require It?
The news this week that the Food and Drug Administration has officially approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was important for all industries, but cruising in particular. Just last week, the Bahamas announced that every cruise ship calling on Bahamian ports must include a passenger man
