Is Yachting the New Cruising?
Last week, Porthole Cruise Magazine attended Seatrade Cruise Global, the cruise industry’s largest event complete with information, networking, and news from the cruise lines themselves where we saw more than one yacht cruise on display. Sailing to remote, underdeveloped, stunning regions of the w
Royal Caribbean Plans Major CocoCay Upgrade Plus Ship Enhancements for Weekend Cruises
Royal Caribbean International has announced a multi-BILLION-dollar investment in its destinations, ships, and experiences. From amazing new features at its private island of CocoCay to a major investment in current ship upgrades as well as new high-tech ships on the horizon, here’s what you can l
Cruise Deal of the Week – Mar. 16, 2018
Victory Cruise Lines is offering a 2-for-1 deal on select Canada and St. Lawrence cruises aboard Victory II. Sailing between Halifax and Detroit, the 10-night French Canadian Maritimes & St. Lawrence Seaway itineraries call on Charlottetown, Quebec City, Montreal, and Cleveland. Contact Victory
In Brief: Rapunzel’s Royal Table debuts on Disney Magic and more!
Among the many recent enhancements that guests began experiencing aboard Disney Magic last week was the debut of Rapunzel’s Royal Table, a Tangled-themed family restaurant featuring beloved characters and live entertainment. Upon entering the royal castle, guests are invited by the King and Queen
Lindblad Expeditions Names First Polar Ship National Geographic Endurance
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., a global provider of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, and Ulstein Group, Norwegian shipbuilder and ship designer, celebrated the keel laying of Lindblad’s first polar new build at the CRIST shipyard in Gdynia, Poland. The major milestone al
A Little Luxury Becomes Me
There may be higher-level accommodations aboard Oceania Cruises’ Marina but my way-more-affordable Concierge-Class stateroom and all its perks knocked my socks — or should I say flip-flops — off during my amazing 12-day French Polynesia sailing. Let’s begin with my Marina cabin itself:
TRAVEL TIPS: Ketchikan, Alaska, a Picture-Perfect Port
Ketchikan is a popular cruise port in Alaska’s Inside Passage, which runs along the southeastern coast and is characterized by fjords, wooded islands, and snow-topped mountains. Despite being home to only 8,000 residents, there’s plenty to see and do in this quaint, adorable seaside t
Spectrum of the Seas Is Coming Together One Block At A Time (VIDEO)
Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas hits a milestone today in its unique construction process. Spectrum’s Floating Engine Room Unit mega-block set sail on its 3-day, 296 nautical mile journey down the River Ems to the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Royal Caribbean Internation
Portugal Fashion Week Kicks Off at Lisbon’s New Cruise Terminal
The 42nd Portugal Fashion Week kicked off on March 17, 2018, at the new Lisbon Cruise Terminal in the building designed by architect Carrilho da Graça. The event opened with Storytailors’ duo João Branco and Luís Sanchez, who promised not a traditional catwalk show, but a fashion show performan
Grape Destinations: The Willamette Winemakers
The thick, weathered vines at Sokol Blosser attest to the decades that have passed since the rootstocks were first planted. It’s almost as if the vines are supporting the trellises and not the other way around. These days, it’s hard to believe that the vines were once small, timid, and so reli
MSC Cruises Introduces Voice-Enabled Personal Assistant
MSC Cruises has revealed a brand-new feature of MSC for Me, the company’s digital innovation program. The new digital cruise personal assistant is a ground-breaking guest service, developed in partnership with HARMAN International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and l
Yoga Transformation in Costa Rica
With some luck and a little fate, I found myself on a 7-day yoga retreat at the Goddess Garden in Costa Rica. One word describes my experience: transformation. This retreat was truly a transformation of mind, body and soul. Everything you would expect of a yoga retreat happened. Classes, meditation,
Cruise Deal of the Week
Italian line Costa Cruises is making it easier for families save on Mediterranean cruises with “Kids Sail Free” and “Senior Fare” specials. Seniors have $100 deducted from Comfort Classic, Comfort Premium, or Deluxe fares on Costa Pacifica, Costa neoRomantica, Costa neoRiviera and Costa Vict
In Brief: Michelin-starred meals on MSC, and more….
Mar. 23, 2018 MSC Cruises has partnered with Michelin-starred Spanish chef Ramón Freixa. From this April, Chef Freixa will introduce exceptional main dishes and tapas across the fleet and will complete in-depth, interactive training, passing on his skill and expertise to enable all MSC Cruises’ c
Country Artist Camille Rae to Perform Aboard Norwegian Bliss
Country singer-songwriter and recording artist, Camille Rae, has committed to a three-month residency aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship Norwegian Bliss, which is set to debut in April. Accompanied by her four-piece band, Rae will be seen performing country music’s hottest hi
Carnival Paradise Resumes Cruises After Extensive Makeover
Carnival Paradise has returned to year-round cruise service from Port Tampa Bay following an extensive month-long dry dock that added a variety of spaces and innovations, including a water park, 38 new staterooms, 98 balconies added to existing accommodations, and an array of food and beve
TRAVEL TIPS: Rappel, Climb, Swim and Zip-line in San Juan
You COULD spend a few hours walking around historic Old San Juan…or you could step outside of your comfort zone and climb, rappel, swim, jump and zip-line through caves below the earth’s surface. With Aventuras Tierra Adentro you’ll explore Angeles’ Cave, which is truly a once in a
Grape Destinations: Napa’s Renaissance after the California Fires
As soon as I boarded the airplane to Newark on my way to San Francisco, I was wondering: How was the Valley after last year’s fires? Some vineyards, houses, and structures were burned. Well, I was coming from the longest hurricane aftermath in Puerto Rico. If we managed, I figured, then California
Princess Cruises Unveils New Features and Upgrades on Sapphire Princess
Cruise News – Mar. 28, 2018 Sapphire Princess has emerged from an extensive two-week dry dock in Singapore now displaying Princess Cruises’ signature logo on her bow. The ship has also been upgraded with enhanced onboard spaces and product innovations. “Sapphire Princess is the latest sh
Cruise Deal of the Week
Adventure line Lindblad Expeditions is offering two reasons to explore: free roundtrip air from Miami to Guayaquil, Ecuador, for select, 10-day expeditions on National Geographic Islander and National Geographic Endeavour II through Dec. 2018, and, on Galápagos voyages in 2019, complimentary
