Atlas Ocean Voyages Takes Delivery of World Traveller
Atlas Ocean Voyages has taken delivery of its brand new 200-passenger vessel, World Traveller, scheduled to be officially named on November 20, 2022. The handover ceremony took place on October 7, 2022, aboard the docked vessel where the yacht-style ship was constructed at the West Sea shipyard in P
Scenic Azure: Cruising Portugal’s Douro Valley
I’m sitting on the balcony of my suite aboard Scenic Azure hypnotized by the sun-drenched Douro River Valley with its patchwork of terraced vineyards and charming, rustic quintas. Tomorrow, Sharone and I head back to the States but, today, we find ourselves wistful, as if we’re about to vacate a
Madeira’s Cruise Recovery is in Full Swing
One of the best kept secrets in cruising is the Portuguese island of Madeira, a sub-tropical paradise visited by millions each year for its unique culture, outstanding flora and fauna and a bustling downtown port area with lots to explore. Now that we’re finally putting the pandemic behind us
Cruise Deal of the Week – October 8, 2021
Another week in the books! Wow does it seem like October is flying by. Before long we’ll all be getting our costumes ready for a fun Halloween evening and after that, it’s everyone’s favorite holiday season. We had some great news this week in the industry including new ships, new
Cruise Deal of the Week – August 13, 2021
It’s easy to forget about river cruises amidst all the news about large ocean liners getting back into service. Small ships are a large part of the cruise industry and many cruisers prefer the personalized service and unique ports of call available when cruising some of the most famous rivers
Riviera River Cruises Will Sail Douro River Cruises in July
A popular European river cruise line is getting ready to resume operation on Portugal’s Douro River! Riviera River Cruises is planning to restart their ship MS Douro Elegance on July 2, 2021 for eight-day itineraries on the Douro and Salamanca Rivers. All guests boarding Riviera
Check out this Epic 46-Day Cruise from Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
How would you like to spend 46 days cruising the world? Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is giving cruisers the chance to do just that with their new Rivers of the World itinerary setting sail on May 20, 2023. The cruise visits 9 countries on board five of Uniworld’s luxury river cruise ve
Fear of Flying Hurting Cruising, Says Mystic Cruises President
What started as a single cruise ship on the Douro Rivers has evolved into Mystic Invest, one of Portugal’s premier tourism brands thanks to company founder and president Mário Ferreira. Along with its many travel services, Mystic Invest owns and operates 40+ ships around the world with a focus on
CRUISE RECIPE: Viking’s Pastel de Nata
Hungry to Sail Again Today, I’m whipping up a sweet reminder of my glorious Viking Helgrim cruise down Portugal’s Douro River last summer. And I have all the ingredients on hand! The 262-foot, 106-passenger Viking Helgrim, is a baby longship, custom-built to navigate the short and narrow l
Gwyneth Paltrow Partners with Celebrity for goop Cruise (VIDEO)
You probably recognize her from the film Shakespeare in Love where she delivered an Oscar-winning performance or perhaps as Pepper Potts in the smash-hit Iron Man and other Marvel Comic movies. We’re of course talking about actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who recently announced a partnership between goop
What to Do During a Lisbon Layover
It is a well accepted fact that European cruise ports expose troves of historical architecture, reveal old world charm and cater to the culinary interests of intrepid cruise visitors. Lisbon, Portugal offers a significant dose of everything the more popular destinations tout minus the chaos that a
Viking Helgrim‘s Rivers of Gold
The Monthly Mantra The Dazzling Douro … The Dazzling Douro … The Dazzling Douro Pinhao! Gaia! Regua! Favaios! Lamego! No, I’m not cheering on a soccer team. I’ve just returned from a Viking Helgrim “Rivers of Gold” sailing and these unfamiliar towns located along the stunning Douro River
Grape Destinations: What is Port Wine?
Port, when used in the context of a cruise ship, usually refers to the left side of the vessel. However, when in the dining room of that very same cruise ship, port becomes something very different. In the Douro region of Northern Portugal, you’ll find thick bunches of touriga and tinta grapes cas
For Shore: Navigators Through the Millennia
From the Vikings and great European explorers to 20th-century sailing vessels and warships, maritime museums tell the stories of colonization, trade, and war that have shaped the world as we know it today. Detailed below are some of the best museums worth a visit during your next stop in popular por
Portugal Fashion Week Kicks Off at Lisbon’s New Cruise Terminal
The 42nd Portugal Fashion Week kicked off on March 17, 2018, at the new Lisbon Cruise Terminal in the building designed by architect Carrilho da Graça. The event opened with Storytailors’ duo João Branco and Luís Sanchez, who promised not a traditional catwalk show, but a fashion show performan
Grape Destinations: Visit Vila Nova de Gaia. Feel Portuguese!
At last, I was on my way to Porto, the city by the Douro River. On the train, or comboio, that I took from Oriente station in Lisbon, I was expecting to arrive at night in Porto, an almost three-hour ride. Uhum, well, not exactly – because it took me to Vila Nova de Gaia, […]
Porto Highlights
Porthole’s 5 Faves It’s hard to believe I almost missed visiting Porto the first time. During a recent Windstar cruise, I sailed from Dublin to Lisbon on Wind Surf. Porto was one of the last stops on our itinerary. We were only scheduled to be in this port for six hours. I considered not eve
5 Fave Theme Cruises for 2018
Porthole’s Five Faves Cruise fans are fans, first and foremost — and every fan’s got a theme cruise to make ‘em go “Oh, man!” It doesn’t matter what you’re into, from prosecco to pro wrestling, or NPR news quizzes to serene sun salutations, this year has an upcoming theme cruise that
