Going Forward with Azamara Onward
Welcome to Azamara Onward. Now get off the ship! Don’t take that the wrong way; take it as a gift. Azamara’s mission is to give its guests the one thing no one ever has enough of: time. Time to explore unusual, offbeat destinations. Time to have a late dinner at the cute little brasserie y
Carnival Reveals New Details About Upcoming Carnival Celebration
We’re just a few months away from sailing on board the new Carnival Celebration as well as enjoying Carnival Cruise Line’s 50th birthday festivities and the cruise line has released new details about the upcoming ship! From the Cloud 9 Spa to Loft 19 and the Serenity Adults-Only Retreat, the
Cruise Deal of the Week – August 12, 2022
Happy Friday, Cruisers! It was a big week in cruise news as Norwegian Cruise Line, along with their luxury brand Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas, announced a new protocol for COVID testing that makes things a whole lot easier for vaccinated travelers. That’s great news for the rest of
A Viking Has Conquered The Great Lakes
No, it’s not a burly, bearded guy wielding an ax but rather the brand new Viking Octantis cruise ship. This striking beauty has established her reign by capturing the bounty of nature in the majestic waters of the Great Lakes. Over the past 25 years Viking has established itself as a premier playe
7 Days in the Galapagos with Hurtigruten
“Close your eyes and picture a moving tortoise,” instructs our orientation leader. “Because that’s how fast our WiFi is.” He isn’t joking. The internet connection on the Santa Cruz II brings us all back to the days of dial-up. Forget posting videos. Simply uploading a photo is an overnig
American Cruise Lines Announces First-Ever California Cruise
American Cruise Lines is expanding their cruise offerings to California with a new 8-day cruise itinerary from San Francisco beginning in 2023 on board American Jazz. It’s the first time ever American Cruise Line has offered a California cruise itinerary. Sailing round trip from San Francisc
Sir Richard Branson Surprises Guests in Bimini
Photo: Carlos Pita/Virgin Voyages Guests on board Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady this week had a very special event to enjoy while cruising! This week was Sir Richard Branson’s special Birthday Voyage and while in Bimini, Sir Richard made a surprise appearance at a three-day Small Business
Cruise Deal of the Week – July 22, 2022
Happy Friday, Cruisers! If you haven’t booked your cruise in Alaska this summer, no worries! There’s still time to book your trip and today we have a cruise deal up the Inside Passage in Alaska from Princess Cruises that you aren’t going to want to miss. The cruise stops at a numbe
Vote Now! Porthole Cruise and Travel Readers’ Choice Awards 2022
The annual Porthole Cruise and Travel Readers’ Choice Awards are here and we want YOU to tell us your favorites when it comes to all things cruising. We’re talking cruise lines, ships, destinations and a whole lot more, so cast your ballot today. Click the link below to get started! One lu
Cruise Deal of the Week – July 15, 2022
Happy Friday, cruisers! If you haven’t gotten around to booking your cruise for this winter, we have a fantastic deal for you today! Holland America Line is sailing the Caribbean all winter long and the deals are some of the best we’ve ever seen. If you want to be sitting on a beach in
Tips for Packing for Comfort
For those of us who aren’t the backpacker/mountaineer type, the hardest part of travel is doing without the comforts of home. Luckily, though, there are some designers (what the backpacker type would call “outfitters”) who specialize in items that make anywhere in the world feel as comfortable
New Season of “Embark with NCL” Premiers Tonight
After the first season of “Embark with NCL” garnered nearly 3 million views in it’s first season, Norwegian Cruise Line is bringing back the show for a second season with a focus on what’s happening on their ships and ashore. In this season, American television personality an
Holland America Adds 2nd Transatlantic to 150th Celebrations
To commemorate their 150th anniversary, Holland America Line is adding a second transatlantic crossing for guests to enjoy on board their new ship Rotterdam. Departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 3, 2023, the 16-night itinerary sails to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, retracing in reverse th
An Up-Close Look at Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady
If anyone in the cruise industry was going to get Jennifer Lopez on the payroll, it surely fell to Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. That’s right: J. Lo — international film and music superstar and global style icon — has landed a job at Virgin Voyages. The fleet-wide partnership b
Stretching the Star Pride by Windstar
Star Pride by Windstar Cruises sets sail at full capacity after the ship’s stretch. Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bill Panoff was onboard with the Chris Prelog, President of Windstar Cruises, to discuss the new and improved ship. “The ships were always already g
Carnival Cruise Line Announces ‘Costa by Carnival’ Collaboration
Carnival Cruise Line announced today that the company is teaming up with Costa Cruises for a sister brand collaboration. Beginning Spring 2023, guests can set sail with COSTA by CARNIVAL, a collaboration between the two cruise brands where Carnival Cruise Line will operate two Costa Cruises’ s
Windstar Celebrates 35 Years of Tahiti Cruises
In honor of 35 years sailing French Polynesia, Windstar Cruises will sail additional itineraries in Tahiti this October and year-round beginning in 2024. The cruise line will also host a 7-day President’s Cruise on October 9th on board Star Breeze which will feature events with Tahitian
Disney Wish Arrives at Port Canaveral
The newest cruise ship from Disney Cruise Line arrived in Port Canaveral this morning escorted by a flotilla of Port-based tugboats and the Port Canaveral Fire Rescue Fireboat 2 providing the traditional water cannon salute. The first LNG (liquefied natural gas) ship in Disney’s fleet, Disney
Small Ships: The New Face of Cruise
As travelers have ventured back out into the world during the past year, small-ship cruising has proven to be extremely resilient. It has become the vacation of choice for many travelers. Smaller ships were among the first to return to service after a long pandemic-related shutdown. This process was
Scenic Azure: Cruising Portugal’s Douro Valley
I’m sitting on the balcony of my suite aboard Scenic Azure hypnotized by the sun-drenched Douro River Valley with its patchwork of terraced vineyards and charming, rustic quintas. Tomorrow, Sharone and I head back to the States but, today, we find ourselves wistful, as if we’re about to vacate a
