Royal, Carnival Cancel Cruises Through October
In a move that was not unexpected, but certainly disappointing, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International joined Norwegian Cruise Line in cancelling all cruises through the month of October. Royal Caribbean updated their website to reflect the change while Carnival sent a press release
Cruising Will Be Safe Says NCL’s Harry Sommer
When Norwegian Cruise Line President Harry Sommer took over for departing president Andy Stuart in December of 2019, everything was looking up for the cruise line and the industry as a whole. However, just a few months later, a global pandemic came out of the blue and the cruise industry has been on
Choose Your Cruise – July 24, 2020
Cruising is back in some parts of the world, but the rest of us will have to wait a little longer until we can cruise again. Cruise lines are practically giving away cruises and if you haven’t booked for 2021 and beyond, you’re missing out on some awesome deals. Three of your favorite cr
Royal Caribbean Implements New Safety Drill
It’s the least exciting, but most necessary part of any cruise vacation; the muster drill. We’ve heard a lot about safety-first cruising lately, and it appears Royal Caribbean Group is taking that seriously. The Muster 2.0™ is a mobile and smart tv service on board the ship where guests learn
Royal Caribbean Extends Pause Until Oct 1
Cruisers woke up to some not-so-great news this morning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their no-sail order, pushing the date back to October 2020. As a result, one of the biggest names in cruising is pushing back their sail date as well. Royal Caribbean International h
Royal, Norwegian Enter Historic Collaboration
Two of the biggest names in cruise are collaborating for the first time ever on new health and safety standards for the cruise industry. Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings are working with leading public health experts to oversee the new protocols and standards aimed at keeping
Cruising: The Ultimate Thrill Ride
The amusement industry, much like the travel industry, is evolving by leaps and bounds. Cinephiles, for instance, can now enter and interact with the world of Star Wars — like getting on board the Millennium Falcon or an Imperial Star Destroyer — with Star Wars: Galaxy Edge at both Disneyland in
Choose Your Cruise – May 8, 2020
What’s better than getting a great deal on something? For today’s choose your cruise, we’ve got three of the best possible deals we could find on sailings from three of your favorite cruise lines. They all sail from the sunny shores of Miami so you can pick which one suites you bes
COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Isn’t for Cruise Lines
A key provision in the new COVID-19 stimulus bill currently awaiting the President’s signature provides $500 million in aid for large corporations, but there’s a catch. In order to qualify for the aid, corporations must be “created or organized in the United States or under the laws of
Royal Caribbean Ships Will Return May 12
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., one of the world’s foremost cruise operators, released a statement last night extending the suspension of their fleet until May 12, 2020. While every cruise line imposed a 30-day stoppage, Royal Caribbean is the first major cruise conglomerate to extend the date past
BREAKING: Introducing Royal Beach Club at Antigua
Every major cruise line has them these days. No, not deck chair hogs, private island-style resorts where only guests on board the ship are privy to the many activities to be found. Today, Royal Caribbean International put pen to contract with the the government of Antigua and Barbuda, along with the
Gone to Sea: Broadway at Sea
In 2010, an imposing trio of bald, blue madmen convinced me that onboard entertainment was about to take an extraordinary turn. At the time, I was seated in the Epic Theater aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s recently launched Norwegian Epic. On the elaborate stage before me, a riotous performance of
Cruise Ship Review: Spectrum of the Seas Introduces the Royal Range
Typically, sister ships within a class are built in close succession, making it difficult to impose significant changes throughout the class. This is the reality Royal Caribbean understood, coupled with the knowledge that a new Quantum-class ship would also have quite a lot to live up to with stando
Perfect Day at Lelepa, Vanuatu Coming in 2022
When Royal Caribbean revamped their private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, earlier this year, it followed a trend seen across the cruise industry. More and more cruise lines have started their own private island resorts in the Caribbean and it’s rare these days that a cruise itinerary doesn’t h
Music Theme Cruises Rock the Boats!
It’s late night on the dimly lit dance floor, and music feeds the festive atmosphere. Two ladies wearing black dresses and Mardi Gras masks adorned with peacock feathers glide over and catch my attention. We form a little dance circle, and several others join in as the energy rises at the masquera
The Belly Flop Competition: Keys to Victory!
Royal Caribbean is one of the world’s most popular cruise lines and there’s something special for everyone to enjoy while on board. Passengers can go ice skating, scale the rock climbing wall, go roller skating, enjoy some quiet time in the Solarium, and even attend the “Love & Marriage
Editor-in-Chief Awards 2019
2019 Editor-in-Chief Awards As editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine, Bill Panoff travels a lot. So each year, he reports back on his favorite travel experiences around the world. Here are this year’s picks of those who left amazing impressions in terms of service, quality, and memorable mom
Trick or Treat … or Travel
The Monthly Mantra Halloween, Ahoy! … Halloween, Ahoy! … Halloween, Ahoy! I just finished the final Twix in the massive bag of assorted Halloween candy I bought — obviously, a bit too early — for my trick-or-treaters. I finished the Twizzlers yesterday, so if the kids don’t like Th
Cruise Deal of the Week – September 21, 2018
When Royal Caribbean has extra cabins to fill, they offer some of the best deals on cruises all over the world. Their latest deal, the Thrill-A-Thon Sale, combines great savings with a number of different itinerary options across the Caribbean and more for the perfect family vacation. THRILL•A•T
What’s New at The Bamboo Room? The Royal Zombie Signature Cocktail
When Royal Caribbean International put $120 million in upgrades into Mariner of the Seas, one of the highly anticipated new features was a laid-back Polynesian style bar and lounge called The Bamboo Room. The cruise line recently released the recipe for the hottest drink on the menu, The Royal Zombi
