Virgin Voyages: New Kid on the Dock
Whatever you do, don’t call it a cruise. Call it a voyage. In fact, Richard Branson, founder of the world-renowned Virgin Group, was so inclined to stress the difference that he changed the original name of Virgin Cruises to Virgin Voyages in October 2016, less than two years after establishing hi
The New AmaMagna : Embrace the Bigger and Better
The lounge on AmaWaterways’ new AmaMagna comprises a large spacious area with incredibly comfortable seating areas. Each side of the lounge connects to a library, doubling a space that, on any other river ship, always feels more confined. I find this a peaceful place to sit and reflect for a momen
Emerald Azzurra … What a Gem!
The Monthly Mantra Worth the Wait! … Worth the Wait! … Worth the Wait! There are lots and lots of big things coming our way this year — Virgin’s Scarlet Lady, Celebrity Apex, Carnival Mardi Gras, P&O’s Iona, Princess’ Enchanted Princess, Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Sea
River, Ocean, And Now — Viking Expeditions!
On January 16, less than two weeks after the glittering Golden Globes took place at the historic Beverly Hills Hilton, the hotel’s spotlight was shining on another award winner: Viking Cruises. Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen, while no Ricky Gervais (thank God), hosted an evening that was a dazzlin
Cruise Ship Review: Norwegian Bliss
Bliss it is! Majestic Alaska! A land of infinite beauty, magnificent wildlife, fascinating history … and weather so changeable that the smart traveler will pack everything from skimpy tank tops to a parka, gloves, and certainly an umbrella before embarking on a journey to the Last Frontier. No que
For Princess Cruises, Bigger is Better
Technology is infiltrating the cruise industry in more ways than just Wi-Fi and all-purpose keycards. The ships themselves are becoming more advanced in terms of the technology found on the bridge, but also in their size and capacity. Princess Cruises is the latest cruise line to place orders with f
LUXURY Cruise Ships Setting Sail in 2019 (VIDEO)
The luxury cruise sector is on the rise, so let’s check out what’s on the horizon for 2019… Viking Jupiter | 930 Passengers | 47,000 Tons Viking Jupiter is the 6th ship in the Viking Ocean Cruises fleet. Built in 2018, the intimately sized ship will set sail in February 2019. Viking Jupiter cr
In Brief: Norwegian Bliss delivered, Pandaw cruises river-to-ocean, and more!
Cruise News – Apr. 20, 2018 Norwegian Cruise Line has taken delivery of Norwegian Bliss, receiving the Alaska-bound Breakaway Plus-class vessel in a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany. Bernard Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft, officially gave control of the ship to Captain Karl Staffan Bengts
Grand Classica Celebrates Inaugural
Cruise News – Apr. 18, 2018 A classic ship sailed to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, last weekend, as the second member of the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line fleet. The Italian-designed, 1,680-passenger Grand Classica (formerly Costa neoClassica) was greeted at the Port of Palm Beach by the Bak M
First Cruise Ship With Rotor Sail
The ferry-cruiser Viking Grace has become the world’s first passenger ship to capture wind power with a high-tech rotor sail, a cylindrical device that propels the ship by spinning. Viking Line, the Baltic company based in the Åland Islands, already had a reputation for ecologically friendly trav
Disney Gives First Look at New Ships
Cruise News – Mar. 8, 2018 Disney Cruise Line has revealed more details about their upcoming three ships – scheduled for maiden voyages in 2021, 2022, and 2023 – in the form of a rendering (posted above) that depicts the ships’ exterior design. The ships will each be approximately 140,00
Second Ship to Sail Daily to the Bahamas from Palm Beach
Cruise News – Feb. 20, 2018 Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, the only line with a two-night cruise departing year-round from the Port of Palm Beach, Florida, announced a new ship, Grand Classica, will join Grand Celebration, to begin sailing on April 13, 2018. The two ships expect to carry approxima
News Briefs – P&O Cruises builds largest British ship, SuperStar Gemini becomes floating hotel….
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 26, 2018 P&O Cruises has contracted for a new “green-cruising” ship which, on completion, will be the largest cruise ship built for the British market. The 5,200-passenger vessel will be built at Meyer Werft and delivered in 2022 as a sister ship to a
Cutting Steel Commences for Crystal Endeavor – Shipbuilders Begin New Luxury Expedition Yacht
Cruise News – Jan. 19, 2018 The newest member of Crystal Cruises’ fleet is officially on its way after the shipwrights at MV Werften in Stralsund began cutting the first piece of steel this week. Crystal Endeavor, the luxury line’s first polar-class expedition yacht, is set to debut in 2020 wi
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 5, 2018
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 5, 2018 American Cruise Lines has become a national underwriter for the iconic PBS series Washington Week, a roundtable discussion that’s been dissecting national news story once a week since 1967. “There is a certain synergy between our cruise itinerarie
Ponant to Build Electric Hybrid Cruise Icebreaker
Ponant to Build Electric Hybrid Cruise Icebreaker Cruise News – Dec. 19, 2017 French cruise line Ponant, a leader in luxury polar expeditions, has confirmed an order for the first electric hybrid cruise icebreaker that will be propelled by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). PONANT Icebreaker will b
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Dec. 8, 2017
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Dec. 8, 2017 Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam celebrated her coin ceremony this week. President’s Club member Anne Marie Bartels, the ship’s madrina, welded an 1898 Dutch guilder to the forward mast, marking the year the first Statendam came into servi
Carnival to Bring Newer, Larger Ship to Charleston in 2019
Carnival to Bring Newer, Larger Ship to Charleston in 2019 Cruise News – Dec. 7, 2017 Carnival Cruise Line will position a newer, larger ship to Charleston when the 3,002-passenger Carnival Sunshine kicks off a year-round schedule of 4- and 5-day cruises in May 2019. “With its convenient l
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Dec. 1, 2017
Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Dec. 1, 2017 This week, Puerto Rico welcomed over 7,000 cruise visitors from Freedom of the Seas, Carnival Conquest, and Disney Magic – the first cruisers after Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the island. Visitors were greeted with festivities ranging from free sal
Popular On-Air Personality Elvis Duran Named Godfather for Norwegian Bliss
Popular On-Air Personality Elvis Duran Named Godfather for Norwegian Bliss Cruise News – Nov. 29, 2017 Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that Elvis Duran, nationally syndicated radio and digital personality and on-air host of iHeartMedia’s top rated, “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show”