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 by Evan Gove 1 Feet 1 Decks 1 Launched 1 Guests Overview As the name implies, World Navigator is a ship well-equipped to sail from one end of the world to the other. The hybrid power vessel mixes intrepid exploration with outstanding luxury from bow to stern f
MSC Bellissima Cruise Ship Review
MSC Cruises MSC Bellissima by Evan Gove 1 Feet 1 Decks 1 Launched 1 Guests Overview Launched in March 2019, MSC Bellissima is truly the future of cruising. A focus on enhanced technology, including the new “MSC for Me” and Zoe, the first digital assistant at sea, is changing the way travele
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
Making Up for Lost Time: a Post-Pandemic World Cruise
They say that we make plans and God laughs. Well, God must have been doubled over in knee-slapping hysterics when last year’s lockdown coincided exactly with my retirement date. Gone were my lavish retirement party and, even more heartbreaking, two Caribbean cruises along with my ideal post-
Cruising Returns to Scotland
The very first cruise ship returned to the shores of Scotland yesterday, the first call on the country since the start of the pandemic. With 66 passengers on board, MS Sky Island operated by Noble Caledonia called on Lerwick Harbour, Shetland, one of 16 ports now open to cruise ships.
Carnival Cruise Line Announces New September and October Sailings
Carnival Cruise Line is in the midst of the their operation restart and today they announced that three more ships will resume guest operations in September, and another four in October – bringing the total number of ships to 15. The three ships slated for a September restart
Crystal Endeavor Embarks from Reykjavík on Maiden Voyage
One of the most anticipated expedition cruise ships in recent memory embarked on her maiden voyage over the weekend. Crystal Endeavor, the new ship from Crystal Cruises set sail from Reykjavík, Iceland on a ten night circumnavigation of the island. The itinerary is the first of five&
The Spa Of Good Intentions on Celebrity Apex
One look at me and you can accurately deduce that I don’t spend a great deal of time in a spa. However, you’ll find it amazing that one of the first places I visit when boarding a ship is the gymnasium and spa. It’s a gesture of good intentions that may or may not have […]
Florida Governor Nullifies Key West Cruise Ship Limits
In last November’s election, Key West voters overwhelmingly chose to limit cruise ship calls to the city, including capping the number of people who disembark to 1,500 per day, limiting the size of ships which can call on Key West to 1,300 passengers and giving priority to cruise ships an
Life Onboard the First Cruise from the U.S. in 15 Months
Looking over the lounge chairs on Celebrity Edge’s Resort Deck, it feels just like any other sea day. After three days onboard this first cruise from the U.S. in 15 months, travelers have fallen back into routine. For some, this means enjoying the ocean breezes at the midship pool on Deck 14 or th
