American Cruise Lines Reveals New Ship Design
American Cruise Lines announced this morning a new fleet of go-anywhere cruise ships designed specifically for the U.S. market. Project Blue, the codename for the newbuilds, will more than double the nation’s current capacity for domestic coastal cruises when the 12 hybrid catamaran sister ships a
Captain Kate McCue sails on to success
During a meet and greet session aboard the Celebrity Edge in June 2021, Captain Kate McCue shared with passengers her journey in becoming the first American female captain of a modern American mega cruise ship. She fell in love with the sea after taking a cruise with her family. When teenage Kate to
Cruise Deal of the Week – January 14, 2022
We’re into the thick of January and if you’re missing the good tidings and cheer of the holiday season, it might be time to book your next cruise vacation. Cruises are still happening across the globe and there are deals to be had all over the place. Mix together an itinerary with plen
New NCL Ship Norwegian VIVa Coming in 2023
Norwegian Cruise Line announced the name and sailing location of their newest Prima-class cruise ship! Norwegian Viva will debut on her maiden voyage in June 2023 sailing the Mediterranean with four unique homeports: Lisbon, Portugal; Venice (Trieste) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Athens (Pir
NCL Redesigns Latitudes Rewards Program Tier System
Chances are you didn’t make much use of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Latitudes Rewards Program in 2020 or 2021. But there’s some good news for frequent NCL cruisers who are looking to make full use of the program in 2022. The cruise line has enhanced the rewards program with a newly redesigne
First Impressions: World Navigator
The world has so much to explore. Perhaps that’s why the team at Atlas Ocean Voyages decided to attach such a global moniker to their first luxury adventure cruise ship. Built for the world’s most remote locales, the 196-passenger World Navigator has the toys to do adventure cruising the right w
Cruise Deal of the Week – January 7, 2022
Welcome to 2022 and the new look Porthole Cruise and Travel! No, we don’t have flying cars or robot butlers, but that’s okay! What we do have is cruise deals and lots of them. If you’re fixing to make 2022 a year that makes up for the past two, we’re right there with you. W
The 2021 Travel Resumes Tour 2.0
In spite of the pandemic purgatory of 2020 periodically rearing its ugly head again, cruising has resumed, albeit in a somewhat revamped style. Each month that goes by finds new ships being launched, older vessels being redeployed and destinations opening their doors to those of us eager to jump thr
Call Me Virtuosa, A Masterpiece At Sea
Traditional launch parties are always full of fanfare but none more entertaining than the recent naming ceremony of MSC Virtuosa in Dubai, UAE. The gala event was attended by celebrities, dignitaries, the ruler of Dubai Sheik Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and for a touch of international elegance, chr
Do and Buy In Dubai
If you are sailing into or out of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the proverbial ‘so much to see, so little time’ is a gross understatement. If you can arrange a pre or post cruise stay, this arid outpost of rampant wealth, fueled by an urge to flaunt excess is well worth the effort. It may [&h
Emerald Azzurra Completes Successful Sea Trials
The very first custom super yacht from Emerald Cruises recently underwent successful sea trials from Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam, meaning we’re one step closer to stepping foot on board! Conducted by Captain Jonathan Edwards and Marine Operations Manager Robert O’Leary, the sea trials t
Dr. Lucille O’Neal Named Godmother of Carnival Radiance
She spent years watching her son Shaquille dominate the basketball court, now Dr. Lucille O’Neal has a new responsibility in her life; Godmother of the recently transformed Carnival Radiance coming this December following a $200 million drydock refurbishment and renaming from th
Cruising on Viking Venus: Just What the Doctor Ordered
Never say never, I suppose, but I’d be stunned if anyone even caught a cold aboard a Viking Ocean ship, much less contracted COVID-19. I just returned from a 12-night Mediterranean Odyssey voyage aboard Viking Venus, the latest addition to Viking’s gorgeous series of identical 930-passenger, 47,
Back in Bliss: On Board the Return ofNorwegian Bliss
Norwegian Cruise Lines has continued its Great Cruise Comeback with the restart of the Norwegian Bliss sailing out of Los Angeles on 7 night itineraries to the Mexican Riviera. As one of the line’s most successful ships ever launched in its 57 year history, seeing this beauty back in action is cau
MSC Cruises CEO ‘Confident’ Full Fleet Will Be Back by Winter 2022
While most cruise lines have been sitting idle for the past 13 months, MSC Cruises has proven time and again that cruising can be safe during a pandemic. The cruise line restarted ships in the Mediterranean on board MSC Grandiosa and Magnifica last August and since then, tho
From the Readers: A Portal Porthole to a New World
Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine readers are always sharing their best cruise and travel stories with us. Check out the latest submission below! A Portal Porthole to a New World I enjoy a good spoiler, so here it is: Take a cruise, at least, once in your life. It’s been two weeks since my
Explora Journeys Begins Construction on Second Ship
It wasn’t long ago we heard the news that MSC Cruises was launching a new luxury cruise brand called Explora Journeys and now we have new details about the line’s second ship slated for Spring 2024. The steel cutting ceremony for EXPLORA II took place at the Fincantieri shipyard near Nap
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
Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator Cruise Ship Review
Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator The first expedition vessel from Atlas Ocean Voyages offers an all-inclusive luxury experience to some of the most exotic places on Earth. Feet Decks Launched Guests Overview As the name implies, World Navigator is a ship well-equipped to sail from one end of the
Pioneering Women in Cruise Design: Interview with Dee Cooper of Virgin Voyages
Brand new cruise ships are incredible feats of engineering, but they’re also incredible feats of design and creativity. From the color schemes to the furniture and decoration, designing a cruise ship from top to bottom is a full time job and the people charged with the task have a whole lot to
