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
This Cruise Line Now Requires Insurance for Unvaccinated Cruisers
Not only will unvaccinated cruisers have limited access to certain areas of the ship, there are going to be extra costs involved as well. Royal Caribbean International announced this morning that those on board their ships leaving from Florida without a COVID-19 vaccine will need to provide proof of
Florida Cruise Lawsuit Victory Won’t Affect Alaska Sailings
In a ruling late Friday, US District Judge Steven Merryday rejected the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s restrictions for cruise lines and granted the State of Florida’s motion for a preliminary injunction filed earlier this year. The 124-page ruling from Judge Merryday
Port Everglades CEO “Excited” for First Revenue Cruise in June
It’s been a quiet year for one of the world’s busiest cruise ports, but those who work at Port Everglades have been hard at work in anticipation of a return to cruising and their efforts will help make it one of the safest cruise ports for travelers once things get back to normal. P
Turkey Will Welcome Back Americans This Summer
The country of Turkey is ready for visitors to return in 2021 and they’ve developed a new system for keeping tourists and citizens safe. The Safe Tourism Certificate was created last year as a way for tourism-related businesses in Turkey to ensure they’re following the most up to date gl
When Will Australia Lift Their Travel Restrictions?
As countries all over the world begin gradually opening up their borders to tourists once again, one country remains on lockdown for travelers and there doesn’t appear to any end in sight. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia has employed some of the strictest travel restriction
Royal Caribbean Changes Plans for Bermuda Cruises
Porthole Cruise and Travel readers are no strangers to cruise cancellations these days. For the past year, you’ve read countless articles about cancelled, delayed and rescheduled cruises due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, for the first time, we have news of a major cruise cancellation that
Italy Reopens Borders for International Tourists
If you’ve been dreaming about touring the Colosseum or snacking on gelato on the Spanish Steps, you’re in luck! In a Facebook post on May 14, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio announced that there would no longer be a quarantine requirement for travelers visiting fr
Carnival Cruise Line “Working Towards” July Restart Says President Christine Duffy
Appearing on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt last night, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy confirmed that the cruise line is working with the CDC on a restart of operation and the goal is to begin sailing again this July. There was also no mention of a fleetwide vaccine mandate for Ca
US State Department Relaxes Travel Advisory for Israel and the UK
Those looking to enjoy a vacation overseas this summer are waking up to some good news this morning. The US State Department has lowered their travel advisory for both Israel and the United Kingdom thanks to robust vaccine rollouts in both countries. The travel advisory for the United Kingdom is now
CDC Releases Technical Instructions for Simulated Voyages
Welcome to Phase 2B of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Conditional Sail Order! What is Phase 2B, you ask? It’s a set of technical instructions for what cruise lines need to do when conducting simulated voyages in order to test the efficacy of the cruise ship operato
Did the CDC Just Kick Kids Off Cruise Lines?
The cruise industry was buzzing last night and this morning with the news that the CDC sent a letter to cruise lines updating and clarifying some of the rules set forth in their Conditional Sail Order. While many are rejoicing the news as a big step forward, there are some unsavory side effects that
British Virgin Islands’ New Plan to Relax Travel Restrictions
Travel is no longer as risky as it once was, particularly for those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. As a result, countries all over the world are getting ready to ease travel restrictions for vaccinated travelers. The British Virgin Islands have had one of the strictest sets of travel pro
Carnival Corporation Partners with Bureau Veritas on Cruise Return
Carnival Corporation today announced they are contracting Bureau Veritas, a worldwide testing, inspection, and certification company, on the safe restart of cruise operation. Carnival, the world’s largest travel and leisure company, has been dormant since last March when the COVID-19
Travelers Should Avoid the Bahamas Says CDC
Cruises are set to return to the Bahamas in a matter of weeks, so of course the CDC issued an upgraded warning for travel to the islands. In an update on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, the organization urges that travelers, both vaccinated and not, avoid all travel t
CDC Cruise Line Restrictions ‘Borderline Ridiculous’ says NCL CEO
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an update to their conditional sail order last week, many thought it meant good news for the cruise industry. Upon closer look, the new protocols instituted by the CDC actually make life more difficult for cruise lines and put them further f
St. Maarten Travel Restrictions You Need to Know About
With the news that cruise lines will begin sailing from St. Maarten in just a few months, cruisers all over America are booking their flight to the Caribbean island. However, there are a few important things to know about traveling to St. Maarten because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a rund
Bermuda Is Open for Travel – Here’s What You Need to Know
For the first time ever, a major cruise line is going to homeport in Bermuda and it’s going to be a major factor in the island’s post-COVID recovery. The island has done an incredible job limiting infections over the past year compared to some other popular cruising islands and the local
The CDC’s Technical Guidance for Cruise Ships Explained
In a classic Friday afternoon news dump, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an update to their conditional sail order with a number of new rules cruise lines will have to follow if they want to resume operation. After a week of taking heat from politicians, particularly in Florida
Royal Caribbean Extends Singapore Season to October
Since Royal Caribbean International began cruising from Singapore in December of 2020, more than 50,000 cruisers have sailed safely on board. As a result, Royal Caribbean International today announced Quantum of the Seas will continue sailing from Singapore through October 2
