The Ancient Beauty of the Red Sea Ports of Jeddah and Yanbu
“What are you doing here?” asked the boy playing on his scooter along Jeddah’s attractive waterfront corniche. It’s a question I was asked quite a few times in my visit to the Red Sea ports of Jeddah and Yanbu. The inquiries weren’t in any way threatening, they were genuine, good-natured e
A New Hotel is Coming to Istanbul’s Galataport Cruise Port
The highly-anticipated new cruise port in Istanbul, Turkey is set to open later this year and is poised to bring about a new era of cruise and travel to the city. The Peninsula Istanbul will open in early 2023 in the city’s famous Karaköy district which is also home to Galataport, the city
Embark with Cruise Saudi to Experience Saudi’s Breathtaking Beauty
Saudi is an exciting destination with a rapidly expanding tourism industry. The country offers not only deserts, but an incredibly rich marine ecosystem, stunning untouched beaches and islands, including the Red Sea’s unique and spectacular coral reef, historical and cultural sites, combined with
Eat, Heat and Sleep In Istanbul
Feature Photo Credit: Hurrem Sultan Hamami Other than a few layovers in the beautiful Istanbul airport, it’s been 20 years since I first set foot on the country’s terra firma. Turkey, or Turkiye as they now refer to it, is a fascinating country with Istanbul proudly depicting the history,
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
MSC Cruises Names New MSC Virtuosa in Dubai
Just last week, the team from Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine was on board the brand new MSC Seashore for its naming ceremony at Ocean Cay in the Bahamas. Over the weekend, MSC Cruises held another naming ceremony for the other ship they launched in 2021, MSC Virtuosa. On hand in Port
Cruise Saudi Is Now a Member of the World Travel & Tourism Council
The world’s newest cruise destination took another step towards their goal of becoming a top-tier cruise and travel destination. Cruise Saudi announced today that they’ve become a member of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), a community of travel and tourism professional
Saudi Arabia Wants 100 Million Visitors by 2030
In January of 2020, the world first learned of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s tourism initiative that hopes to bring in 100 million visitors by the year 2030. What many didn’t realize at the time was that cruising was set to be a large part of that plan. Thanks to the country’s proximity b
MSC Virtuosa Naming Ceremony To Take Place in Dubai
In recent years, Dubai has launched to the top of travel bucket lists for cruisers and MSC Cruises is banking on that popularity continuing well into the future. The cruise line announced today a partnership with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing to hold a naming ceremony f
Turkey Will Welcome Back Americans This Summer
The country of Turkey is ready for visitors to return in 2021 and they’ve developed a new system for keeping tourists and citizens safe. The Safe Tourism Certificate was created last year as a way for tourism-related businesses in Turkey to ensure they’re following the most up to date gl
Emirates Evolution
The tiny Arabian peninsula of the United Arab Emirates is best known for the ambitious reputations of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. But let’s be honest: you would likely be hard pressed to name any of the other Emirates. Or be able to point to them on a map. Bordered by the countries of Saudi Arabia, [&hel
TRAVEL TIPS: Doha, Beyond Skyscrapers & Shopping Malls
In recent years, the Middle Eastern country of Qatar has become a major world power, and its capital Doha is a metropolis, complete with massive geometric skyscrapers that light up the Qatari sky at night. Thanks to the discovery of oil in this small country, located on the Arabian Peninsula, Doha h
Maximum Middle East
The scene was a cruise ship sailing in the Middle East, but it felt more like a James Bond movie. While guests on the ultra-luxurious 600-passenger Seabourn Encore were sipping martinis and champagne around the pool, four burly armed guards arrived by small motorboat, under the cover of darkness. Th
Which Iconic British Oceanliner has a New Home in Dubai?
There are countless luxury hotels in Dubai for a weary traveler to rest and recuperate, but it’s one of the city’s newest hotels which has the richest history. The Queen Elizabeth II, a once stunning ocean liner operated by Cunard, is now a stunning hotel permanently docked at the Mina Rashid ma
2014 Brings New Ships, Exotic Destinations, says CLIA
The 2014 State of the Cruise Industry forecast from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) predicts a good year for cruising, of course, but there are some also some juicy tidbits in the report. CLIA’s 63 member lines are expecting 21.7 million passengers this year. That’s up
