Seatrade Interview with Gus Antorcha, Holland America Line President
https://youtu.be/LSbxDpnYRaA The cruise industry came together in Miami Beach this week for the annual Seatrade Cruise Global convention and Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bill Panoff was on hand to speak with the most important names in the industry. Bill caught u
Margaritaville at Sea Reveals Onboard Entertainment
During Seatrade Cruise Global yesterday, new cruise line Margaritaville at Sea unveiled new details about the entertainment for guests to enjoy on board their ship Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The ship’s inaugural sailing is scheduled for May 14, 2022 from the Port of Palm Beach, Florida to
Live from the Brand New Celebrity Beyond
When it comes to hopping around the globe, there aren’t many who log more miles annually than Scott Eddy. A veteran travel aficionado with with a laundry list of countries under his belt and his own show on Lifetime TV called Video Globetrotter, Scott is also an accomplished cruiser, having pr
Fort Lauderdale is Focused on Travel for All
Here at Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine, we’ve long been fans of the phrase “cruising is for everyone.” Travel, in general, is something that should be open and accessible to all who are curious enough to step foot in a new place. One tourism board is reaffirming their commitment to tr
Princess Cruises Debuts New Wild For Alaska Seafood Cruise Menu
With the first full Alaska cruise season in years set to begin, Princess Cruises has announced a new dining experience for their Alaskan cruise itineraries on board six ships this Spring. The “Wild for Alaska Seafood” program is an industry first, according to the cruise line, with an
Windstar Cruises Adds All-Inclusive Pricing Options
One of the most popular small ship luxury cruise lines is changing the way they sell cruises. Windstar Cruises announced today that the cruise line would now be offering all-inclusive cruise vacations where guests pay a flat fee for their booking which includes the base cruise fare, unlimi
Thailand Ends Travel Restrictions for Dozens of Countries
One of the world’s most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia is reopening for international tourism! Thailand has ended the mandatory quarantine requirements for vaccinated travelers from an approved list of more than 60 countries. The country is also opening up to locals as Thailand
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
Polar Prep: How to Get Ready for the Adventure of a Lifetime
Is the untouched nature of the polar regions calling you? If a polar expedition piques your interest, packing the right gear is the easy part — it’s the not-so-tangible tasks that prove most challenging. Don’t let the extreme weather, the distance, or even the threat of a bumpy Drake Passage
The Summer of ‘21 Travel Resumes Tour
Making up for the travel drought of 2020, a four month summer escape in the midst of pandemic pandemonium was just what the doctor ordered. Flying in the face of highly touted CDC warnings and after 12 flight segments, 6 cruises, 7 hotels, 15 different beds and 15 negative COVID tests, I’m surpris
Viking Sets Sail in Joint Venture with China Merchants
Viking has a new joint venture with China Merchants Shekou to offer 8-day China Coastal Cultural Cruises from Shenzhen Shekou Port and the first cruise left over the weekend. Viking first entered the Chinese cruise market around five years ago and since then, have established a reputa
Cruise Deal of the Week – September 24, 2021
Summer officially ended this week but instead of feeling down about the upcoming cold weather, why not get into the Halloween spirit! You could carve a few pumpkins and start stockpiling candy, or you could book yourself a Halloween-themed cruise from the Port of Palm Beach and spend your October wi
United Kingdom Overhauls Their Travel Rules
The old system for air arrivals to the United Kingdom is no longer in effect as the government announced an overhaul of the entire system to improve efficiency and make the process easier to follow. Starting October 4th, the UK will no longer have a three-color “traffic light” system whe
Pfizer Vaccine Safe for Kids Age 5 to 11
Just as schools all around the country are getting back into the swing of things, drugmaker Pfizer has announced their COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children ages 5 through 11 according to the results of the most recent clinical trials. The trials found that the vaccine produced a ̶
Cruising Returns to New Orleans
When Carnival Glory sets sail on a seven-day cruise from the Port of New Orleans this afternoon, it will mark the very first ship to sail from the port since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic well over a year ago. In honor of the occasion, Carnival held a “Back to Fun” ev
Ecoventura to Offer Photography-Themed Galapagos Cruises This Fall
Expedition cruise company Ecoventura has great news for photographers of all ability levels! The cruise line is embarking on photography-themed cruises this October and November and they’re bringing Galapagos Naturalist Guide and National Geographic certified photo instructor Antoni
France Bars Unvaccinated Americans from Visiting
A major tourist destination for Americans is now closed to those unvaccinated against COVID-19. Yesterday, France became the latest European country, and by far the most significant, to close their doors to anyone who hasn’t been fully vaccinated against the virus. The news from France followe
FDA Officially Approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
One of the most common criticisms from those hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19 now rings hollow. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, paving the way for more vaccine mandates from employers across the country. The approved v
Bahamas Bans Cruise Ships Without 100% Vaccinated Passengers
In documents posted to Twitter by Eyewitness News, the Bahamas has banned cruise ships unless all passengers over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The order comes as an amendment to the Emergency Powers Regulations which gives Prime Minister Hubert Minnis more authority to i
Port of Tampa Bay Announces Cruises Will Sail in October
One of Florida’s most popular ports announced that cruise ships will resume sailing in October. Port of Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson released a statement saying that Royal Caribbean will be the first line to sail from the port when Serenade of the Seas embarks on October 16th
