Disney Cruise Line Approved for Test Sailings
Another day, another cruise line approved to begin operating test cruises by the CDC! Disney Cruise Line announced they are good to begin operating test cruises from Port Canaveral with volunteer passengers on board. The first test cruise will leave Port Canaveral on June 29th and return on July 1st
This Cruise Leaves from St. Maarten Next Weekend
For what seems like an eternity, pandemic related restrictions have reined in the flourishing popularity of cruising and worldwide travel. Regulations may have challenged the possibility of arrivals and departures from US ports but the old adage necessity is the mother of invention has intervened an
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Unveils 2023 Mediterranean Itineraries
When it comes to luxury brands, Ritz-Carlton is about as name-brand as it gets. The international hotel chain announced in 2018 that they would be entering the cruise space under the brand name The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed production of their new ship Evrima, but
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Announces Additional Cruise Ship Restarts and Deployments
One of the biggest names in cruising has announced a host of new ship restarts and deployments across their multiple cruise brands. Norwegian Cruise Line and sister brand Oceania Cruises are starting the process of getting back to normal later this summer with the announcement of new cruise itinerar
CDC Gives Royal Caribbean the Okay For Test Cruises in June
After more than a year of waiting, it finally looks like the cruise industry is about to be back to normal. Royal Caribbean International became the first cruise operator to receive approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to start sailing test cruises from U.S. ports. In a
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
Italy Reopens Borders for International Tourists
If you’ve been dreaming about touring the Colosseum or snacking on gelato on the Spanish Steps, you’re in luck! In a Facebook post on May 14, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio announced that there would no longer be a quarantine requirement for travelers visiting fr
Carnival Cruise Line “Working Towards” July Restart Says President Christine Duffy
Appearing on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt last night, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy confirmed that the cruise line is working with the CDC on a restart of operation and the goal is to begin sailing again this July. There was also no mention of a fleetwide vaccine mandate for Ca
Costa Luminosa Restarts from Trieste, Italy
Another cruise ship in the Costa Cruises fleet resumed operation from the port of Trieste, Italy! Costa Luminosa became the second Costa ship to restart and the first to resume cruises in the Adriatic Sea and Greece. The cruise line has plans to start two more ships for
Alaska Tourism Recovery Act May Save the Cruise Season
UPDATE May 20, 2021: The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 1318: The Alaska Tourism Recovery Act. The bill will now head to the desk of President Joe Biden for approval. Alaskan Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have been vocal over the past few
First Look at Norwegian Prima Cruise Ship Bound for Port Canaveral
Norwegian Cruise Line has a big announcement this morning! The cruise line is introducing a brand new class of cruise ships for the first time in a decade and the details sound incredible! Prima Class will feature six brand new ships, with the first, Norwegian Prima, coming in the summer of 2022.&nb
US State Department Relaxes Travel Advisory for Israel and the UK
Those looking to enjoy a vacation overseas this summer are waking up to some good news this morning. The US State Department has lowered their travel advisory for both Israel and the United Kingdom thanks to robust vaccine rollouts in both countries. The travel advisory for the United Kingdom is now
Seabourn “Very Excited” For July Cruise Restart Says President Josh Leibowitz
Following the retirement of longtime Seabourn President Rick Meadows last year, Josh Leibowitz was named the new President of the cruise line and his duties now include oversight of all aspects of the ultra-luxury brand’s operations, including revenue management, deployment and itinerary plan
Norwegian Cruise Line Introduces Norwegian Prima
The new Prima Class ships from Norwegian Cruise Line are on the way! In an announcement this morning, the cruise line released some new details about the very first ship. In an interesting change from the usual, Norwegian Prima will be slightly smaller than the previous Breakaway and Break
Fleet-Wide Crew Vaccinations Begin for MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises was one of the first to return to operation last summer when they began sailing in the Mediterranean. The cruises looked a little different due to the new health and safety protocols implemented by the cruise line, but guests reported enjoying the experience as whole. Now, MSC Cruises is
Norwegian Cruise Line Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week
It’s been a challenging year for everyone, but for teachers, the shift from in-person learning to virtual class had to have been one of the most difficult transitions for anyone. In recognition and celebration of the countless teachers who had to make the transition, Norwegian Cruise
British Virgin Islands’ New Plan to Relax Travel Restrictions
Travel is no longer as risky as it once was, particularly for those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. As a result, countries all over the world are getting ready to ease travel restrictions for vaccinated travelers. The British Virgin Islands have had one of the strictest sets of travel pro
25 Years of Cruising with Porthole Cruise Magazine
Time flies when you’re having fun! And trust us, there’s nowhere better to have fun than onboard a cruise ship. Porthole Cruise Magazine is proud to celebrate 25 years of publishing the world’s best consumer cruise and travel magazine and looking back, it’s been a long journe
No-Sail Order Officially Pushed to Halloween
CruiAs we reported yesterday, the rumor flying around the cruise world was that the Trump Administration, Vice President Mike Pence specifically, was planning on overruling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the issue of cruise ships. The CDC wanted to push their no-sail order back un
