From Sky to Sea, Viking Orion Named by NASA Astronaut
For NASA astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher, exploration is just part of the job. As a veteran of NASA’s Discovery space programs and the first mother to ever leave our atmosphere, Dr. Fisher’s list of accomplishments is hard to top. She’s also an accomplished chemist, emergency room physician and than
Enticed by the Flavors of Abruzzo
To my throngs of ardent Porthole Cruise followers (both of you!), you know I love to expound on regional foods. Well, it’s been two days since I posted anything about that dear to my stomach subject, so allow me fill the void in your never ending search for culinary enlightenment. In Abruzzo, It
Sophia Loren Highlights Glitzy Christening for MSC Seaview
When MSC Cruises needs to bring the style, they only have one call to make. Over the weekend, they celebrated the christening of their newest ship, MSC Seaview, with help from famed Italian actress Sophia Loren. Loren, who is also the ship’s Godmother, made the christening in Genoa, Italy a glamor
6 Delights Of The Amalfi Coast Drive
Whenever I visit Sorrento, Italy, I am, well, driven. I always take the Amalfi Coast Drive, 30 miles of narrow, curving roads that are strung up on cliffs with waves crashing below. A UNESCO World Heritage Site facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Amalfi Coast is arguably one of the world’s most beau
La Dolce Vita Cruising: An Italian Vacation
Italy. The land of pizza, Pisa and pasta. I’m about to start my annual pilgrimage to my adopted, de facto homeland and can’t help but wonder why so few of my friends have not made this destination a bucket list priority. I’m absolutely convinced that if my Nebraska birthplace hadn’t encr
Ship Review: Crystal Bach
Gray skies hang over Germany’s Black Forest and there’s a hint of rain in the air, but I’ve stepped off the gangway of Crystal Bach into a world of shimmering light. Crystal Bach Rooms with a View Riverboats on Europe’s waterways are essentially limited in size by the many locks and bridges
New Ships On the Horizon for Costa Cruises
Italy’s legacy of oceanic exploration is famous the world over. From Christopher Columbus to Marco Polo, Italian navigators have a long and storied history at sea. Costa Cruises, a top name for luxury Italian cruises for more than 70 years, is continuing that legacy with an expansion of the
Viking Jupiter Float Out Honors Maritime Tradition
Viking Cruises strives to establish an intimate cruise experience for each and every guest. Their newest ship, Viking Jupiter, personifies that commitment in every way possible. Viking Jupiter recently reached a major building milestone as it was “floated out” for the first time since construct
Seabourn Ovation Maiden Voyage – What a Sight! (Video)
Few moments are as special as the maiden voyage of a new vessel, particularly for one as spectacular as Seabourn Ovation. The cruise line’s fifth ship and sister to Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation is the pinnacle of cruise ship craftsmanship and design. Porthole Cruise’s CEO Bill Panoff was
Silversea’s Silver Spirit Gets Cut in Two and Lengthened
A great spectacle of naval engineering, Silversea’s Silver Spirit has been cut in two at Fincantieri Shipyard in Palermo, Italy, as part of her planned lengthening. A prebuilt 15-meter (49-foot) segment was inserted and the ship is now being reconnected. The rare lengthening project will create
An Introduction to Abruzzo
Abruzzo, Italy Travel Guide The inevitable question is “where is that?” Followed by the predictable “is it near Tuscany ?” Once the Google Map imagery is set into the brain, then comes, “What made you decide to buy a house there?” Actually I was never been able t
Just Add Land: Ultimate Italy
Explore more on Italian shores during a luxury land tour By Judi Cuervo It is morning and I am in the Tuscan countryside, gazing through the French window of my room at Villa Le Maschere, a 16th-century luxury property that Caterina de’ Medici, Queen of France, once called home. A dramatic stone s
Five Faves: Passage to Paradise
Porthole‘s Five Faves Passage to Paradise The ever-popular 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise itinerary typically includes ports in Spain, France, and Italy, treating visitors to ancient cities, diverse architecture, amazing art, and historic treasures. Churches and cathedrals play an import
