Holland America Line Opts into New Voluntary CDC Program
According to Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha, the cruise line will participate in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated program for cruise ships operating in U.S. waters. The announcement was made via press release. “Since resuming operations, Holland Americ
Carnival Cruise Line Announces New 2022 Ship Deployments
Carnival Cruise Line announced new details regarding their 2022 fleet deployment and it’s looking like by March, the cruise line will have resumed service in all 10 of its year-round U.S. homeports. The shakeup has a lot of moving parts, and Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy
Mainstream Travel Accessibility for All
There was a time when travel was a luxury only the able-bodied could fully enjoy. If you were free of disabilities and could afford vacations to fascinating distant lands, those opportunities were open to you. You could make domestic and transcontinental trips in comfort and ease. But what about tho
Bucket List Bonanza: Antarctica with Atlas Ocean Voyages
Having recently read Endurance, the story of Ernest Shackleton’s expeditions to Antarctica, the intrigue of the white continent grabbed my imagination and propelled me to venture into something entirely different than my usual cruise itineraries. Exciting as the journey itself was the fact that I
CLIA Calls Out New CDC Cruise Ship Guidelines
Your favorite oversight entity has a new plan for cruising, but some in the industry are already raising concerns about how well it will work. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a new COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships which not only seems to ignore the latest societal tre
Outfit Your Expedition with Ship to Shore Traveler
Cruising has changed quite a bit over the years. Many of us recall the days where packing for a cruise meant shining your shoes and practicing tying a bow tie for evenings in the dining room. These days, you’re probably not going to see many tuxedos or evening gowns on cruise ships, particularly w
Cruise Deal of the Week – February 4, 2022
Happy Friday, Cruisers! Today, we’re back with a cruise deal to Alaska but with an out of the ordinary cruise line that makes for a truly unique vacation. Cunard has long been a staple in the cruise industry as their transatlantic crossings were once the best way to get across the pond. Now, t
Port of Dover Prepares for Record Cruise Season
Port of Dover on the Southern coast of England has long been an important port in the history of the region with archeological sites dating settlements as far back as the stone age. In modern times, the port is a bustling center for commerce and as we put the pandemic behind us, cruising once again!
Princess Cruises Welcomes Discovery Princess to Fleet
Princess Cruises added a new ship to their fleet this morning with the delivery of Discovery Princess at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The 15th MedallionClass ship to enter the Princess fleet, Discovery Princess will make her way from Italy to Los Angeles for a series of Mexican Riv
You Can Now Book the Upcoming Carnival Jubilee
You’re still going to have to wait until 2023 to step on board, but now you can at least book your trip on board the upcoming Carnival Jubilee. Carnival Cruise Line opened bookings on their website for their third Excel-class cruise ship with itineraries in the Western Caribbean starting in Novemb
New Brightline+ Offers Door to Door Transportation in South Florida
The Brightline train is back and better than ever thanks to a new door to door transportation service the company is calling Brightline+. Through a mobile app, travelers will be able to get where they need to go around South Florida via the train as well as a fully electric Brightline-branded fleet
Carnival Pride Godmother Tamara Jernigan Welcomed on Carnival Miracle
It’s great to reach for the stars in a metaphorical sense, but Tamara Jernigan took the advice literally – logging more than 1,500 hours in space as a NASA astronaut and astrophysicist. After retiring from NASA in 2001, Jernigan was invited by Carnival Cruise Line to serve as the Godmoth
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
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 yo
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
