There is a reason that Portuguese explorers called Taiwan the ilha formosa, or “beautiful island.” Sitting over a hundred miles off the coast of mainland China, Taiwan is…

As a feature writer for Porthole Cruise Magazine, I spent a great deal of 2018 at sea.  While mainstream cruising is covered in great detail by writers…

Cruise line reputations are generally established on a wide range of subjective criteria: culinary creativity, elegant luxury, superior service, engaging itineraries, top-notch entertainment, and high-tech vessels. While…

Given that travel to China involves more than the short hop and skip to domestic cruise ports in the U.S., it makes sense to plan a detailed…

While the Eastern United States spent the weekend bracing for Hurricane Florence to bring heavy rains and high winds to the Mid-Atlantic region, it was another storm…

Seabourn, a top name in luxury cruising, has grand plans in store for its newest ship, Seabourn Ovation. The cruise line is sending Seabourn Ovation to Asia…

This summer I had the unbelievable opportunity to visit the city of Hong Kong, China. What made the experience even more memorable was being able to take…

Have you ever wanted to uncover the mysteries of the Orient? Thanks to a new Summer Special from Victoria Cruises, cruising the Yangtze River in China has…

Visitors to Shanghai are often in awe of the size and scale of the city. With a population of more than 24 million, it’s the largest in…

Norwegian Cruise Line made a splash with the announcement that their ship Norwegian Joy would be built with the Chinese market in mind. However, after just a…

In 2016 Shanghai’s international port saw nearly 3 million passengers. Not only is it China’s largest city, it is an amazing travel destination, boasting impressive architecture, delicious…

The popular fall back response to the ‘what’s for dinner’ query is the ubiquitous “How about some Chinese?”.  How can such a non-American food staple become so…

Few marvels of the ancient world compare in size and scale to the Great Wall of China. Spanning thousands of miles, it’s the longest man-made structure on…

I’m not particularly fond of the motor coach, follow the guide’s umbrella brand of sightseeing and I have an affinity to off the grid type of travel…

If you follow  my cruise escapades, it’s obvious that size doesn’t matter to me. It’s not that I’m not impressed by a ship with a bowling alley,…

China’s initial capital, Xian, with a population of over 8 million today, was for centuries a bustling yet virtually unknown metropolis. Then in 1974, it burst onto…

“Build the wall!” One of the first times a politician ever issued those controversial words was when the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang decreed the creation of…

News Briefs - Mar. 9, 2018 Viking Ocean Cruises christened its fourth ship, Viking Sun, at a ceremony on The Bund in the heart of Shanghai. The…

News Briefs - Mar. 2, 2018 American Cruise Lines has begun construction on the sister ship to their “modern riverboat” American Song, which will make its inaugural…

Stephen Schwartz, the Broadway genius behind such musicals as Pippin, Godspell, and Wicked, has seen his latest original production, The Secret Silk, debut aboard Princess Cruises’ Royal…

Porthole Cruise News Briefs - Jan. 26, 2018 P&O Cruises has contracted for a new “green-cruising” ship which, on completion, will be the largest cruise ship built…

Cruise News - Jan. 25, 2018 Some of the world’s most famous cartoon characters will set sail on their very own cruise ship, Cartoon Network Wave. This fully…

Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Nov. 17, 2017 American Cruise Lines has announced the name for the first ship in its Modern Riverboat Series: American Song. The…

Porthole Cruise News Briefs - Oct. 20, 2017 Foodies are flocking to Princess Cruises for the line’s third annual Culinary Cruise Series, featuring Miami-based chefs Brad Kilgore…

Porthole Cruise News Briefs - Jun. 30, 2017 Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Cruise Line’s first custom-designed ship for the Chinese cruise market, was christened this week in a…

Porthole Cruise News Briefs - Jun. 23, 2017 Viking Cruises’ third ocean ship, Viking Sky, was officially christened during a public celebration in Tromsø, Norway. The 930-guest,…

Cruise Deals of the Week – Apr. 21, 2017 DEAL 1: Cruising down China's Yangzi River and past the Three Gorges Dam is more enticing than ever…

Chinese Cruise Market Gets Two Brand-New Megaships Cruise News – Mar. 31, 2017 This week, two major cruise lines celebrated milestones with their dedicated debuts into the…

Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Feb. 17, 2017 Cunard, the only line to carry pets across the Atlantic, sponsored the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, welcoming four-legged…

Chef Emmanuel Renaut to Launch French Bistro Aboard Majestic Princess Cruise News - Nov. 2, 2016 Princess Cruises announced a partnership with three-Michelin-star Chef Emmanuel Renaut to develop the cruise line’s next specialty restaurant concept. La Mer – A French Bistro by Emmanuel Renaut will debut in…

Porthole Cruise News Briefs - September 23, 2016 R&B superstar Patti LaBelle made an exclusive performance aboard Royal Caribbean’s first-ever President’s Cruise, thrilling loyalty club members –…

Porthole Cruise News Briefs – September 9, 2016 New York Fashion Week was graced by a royal visit, as Queen Mary 2 joined the festivities bearing some…

State of the Asia Cruise Industry: No Signs of Slowing Down Cruise News - August 11, 2016 Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry…

Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils Hull Art for China-Based Ship Cruise News - July 27, 2016 Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it has commissioned renowned Chinese artist Tan Ping to…

Porthole’s Five Faves Cruiser Abroad Five “Calculated Risks” for Ovation of the Seas Cruising in China Pushing the envelope appears to be a core business strategy for…

Porthole Cruise News Briefs - May 20, 2016 * Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced a 2018 world voyage showcasing destinations across the Southern Hemisphere. The 137-night…

Royal Caribbean Announces Ovation of the Seas’ Godmother, Plus An 11,000-Piece Art Collection Cruise News - Apr. 13, 2016 Royal Caribbean International has announced that internationally acclaimed…

Carnival Cruise Line Sending Two Ships to China Cruise News - Oct. 28, 2015 Following the initial announcement that Carnival Cruise Line would send one ship to…

Carnival Cruise Line to Set Sail for China in 2017 Cruise News - Oct. 13, 2015 Carnival Cruise Line is the latest cruise line to announce that…

Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Its Entry to China Cruise Market Cruise News - Oct. 12, 2015 Norwegian Cruise Line will introduce its first purpose-built ship customized for the China…

Majestic Princess Bound for China Cruise News - Oct. 9, 2015 Princess Cruises has announced that its newest ship, the sister ship to Royal Princess and Regal…

MSC Cruises Partners with China Travel Group Cruise News - Sept. 2, 2015 On the heels of MSC Cruises' recent announcement of their first sailing to China,…

Discover why Costa Diadema is nicknamed “the Queen of the Mediterranean.” By Clark Norton Costa Cruises’ mammoth new flagship, Costa Diadema, dubbed Regina del Mediterraneo — the…

New Princess Ship Will Head to China Cruise News – May 8, 2015 Princess Cruises will send the as-yet-unnamed sister ship to Royal Princess and Regal Princess…

Cuba, China, and the Super Bowl Cruise News - Mar. 20, 2015 [[Here’s what we learned this week at Cruise Shipping Miami 2015, the cruise industry's largest…