Cruise Deal of the Week – February 18, 2022
Yesterday, Porthole Cruise and Travel published the latest piece from contributor Steve Leland about a small ship cruise line operating in Greece, Elixir Boutique Cruises. You can read it here. Elixir Boutique Cruises and their 25-cabin ship Elysium are spending 2022 sailing the Greek Islands and th
The 2021 Travel Resumes Tour 2.0
In spite of the pandemic purgatory of 2020 periodically rearing its ugly head again, cruising has resumed, albeit in a somewhat revamped style. Each month that goes by finds new ships being launched, older vessels being redeployed and destinations opening their doors to those of us eager to jump thr
Cruise Deal of the Week – December 10, 2021
It’s never too early to start planning your next vacation! If you’re looking for something a little more exciting than lounging on a Caribbean beach this winter, why not book your next cruise vacation for the great white north of Alaska? The cruise industry got a huge boost this past sum
Reaching The Apex
apex [ ey-peks ] noun,: the uppermost point, the highest or culminating point, peak, summit, climax. The latest addition to Celebrity Cruises’ fleet has been christened in perfect agreement with Webster’s Dictionary. Fifteen months of pandemic patience has been rewarded with the long-awaited lau
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
Flavor Stars: Chefs Anthony Sasso and Steven Raichlen
Two of the world’s greatest chefs are bringing their best to sea in radically different — but delicious — ways for diners sailing aboard three of Windstar’s small ships. The chefs, Anthony Sasso and Steven Raichlen, differ in their backgrounds and culinary styles. But what they have in commo
Fall Foliage Outside New England
BABCOCK STATE PARK Clifftop, West Virginia Let other tourists watch Maine’s Acadia National Forest turn from green to red and gold this autumn. The real fall connoisseur turns to the spectacular woods of West Virginia’s New River Gorge, dotted with waterfalls, a fully functional old-fashio
Aweigh We Go! Three Dream Destinations – St. Maarten, Athens, and Valletta
After ships sat idle for what seemed like an eternity, cruising has returned with a race to establish homeport advantage. Straight out of the gate, favorites like St. Maarten and Athens are making strong bids for prominence, and Malta is nosing ahead of a crowded field of Mediterranean options. Sail
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
Services like Port Valet Make Seattle a Top US Cruise Port
If you’re cruising to Alaska this summer, the city of Seattle is probably where you’re embarking from. The Port of Seattle has a been a flurry of activity in recent weeks as Alaska season is finally in full swing after a lengthy shutdown due to the pandemic. Seattle has long been a popul
The Joy of St. Croix
If you were asked to name the three U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas would immediately roll off the tip of your tongue, with St. John coming a split second later. For seasoned visitors to the Caribbean, St. Croix would likely follow. Content to let its smaller siblings soak up a good portion of the C
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-
Shop Around: Unique Hotel Boutiques
THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL SIGNATURE SHOP – Los Angeles, California The Beverly Hills Hotel has a storied history as a magnet for movie stars and moguls. It’s also a wonderful place to shop for preppy accessories that will make you look the part. The hotel’s Signature Shop sells classic
Galapagos of the East: Australia’s Kangaroo Island
It’s easy to visit Bali, the Island of the Gods, without encountering any gods. It’s impossible to visit Kangaroo Island without encountering a kangaroo or two, however. The roo-to-resident ratio is 14:1. But there’s more to Australia’s third-largest island than its namesake. Kangaroo Island
Recapping the FCCA-PortMiami Return to Sail Summit
Some of the biggest names in cruising gathered at PortMiami on Tuesday for a Return to Sail Summit with the goal of getting ready to cruise once again. The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) is a non-profit trade organization made up of 22 member cruise lines operating nearly 200 cruis
Taste of Italy: The Best Italian Restaurants at Sea
Every year, Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine asks its most-trusted sources — you, the readers — to vote for the best cruise offerings in our Readers’ Choice Awards. And as much as we love crowning the winners in each category, we love gleaming other intel from the big picture that readers p
Port Everglades CEO “Excited” for First Revenue Cruise in June
It’s been a quiet year for one of the world’s busiest cruise ports, but those who work at Port Everglades have been hard at work in anticipation of a return to cruising and their efforts will help make it one of the safest cruise ports for travelers once things get back to normal. P
Desperately Seeking Serenissmia
Pictures of wildlife returning to Venice’s canals, posted on social media during last year’s Covid-19 lockdown, were widely shared around the world. Images of chilled out ducks nesting on the canal banks and imperious swans reclaiming the canals, gliding through water the clearest and bluest it
Choose Your Cruise – May 28, 2021
Alaska is back! News came in all week of cruise lines gearing up to start sailing to Alaska this summer with calls on all your favorite ports! Ships haven’t called on the state since 2019 in a state where one in every ten people work in the tourism sector. That means we all need to […]
Go Behind-the-Scenes of Windstar Cruises’ Latest Cruise Ship Enhancements
There’s nothing quite as fascinating as witnessing the stretching of a cruise ship, and Windstar Cruises’ Star Plus Initiative has been a remarkable process to see firsthand from start to finish. In its simplest form, the lengthening of Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride is not unlike the