Those hoping to visit the Land Down Under as their first post-pandemic vacation will have to wait a little longer. This week Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the…
The Caribbean island of Jamaica tightened up their COVID-19 travel restrictions for visitors, reducing the time frame in which travelers need to get tested for the virus.…
Along with their Carnival Corporation brand sister line Holland America, Princess Cruises was forced to cancel select Alaska, Canada, New England and Pacific Coast cruises in 2021.…
When Canada banned cruise ships from visiting their ports until 2022, it created a whole host of headaches for cruise lines. We're now starting to see the…
Some more not-so-great news for cruisers. Carnival Cruise Line has announced a pause in operations until June 2021. The full press release from the company including a quote…
As we count down the days until cruise ships can sail from the United States once more, cruisers are turning to other getaways to satisfy their wanderlust…
One of the most common questions we get asked these days is will passengers need a COVID-19 vaccination to sail when cruise lines resume operation. There wasn't…
The past year (year!) has been difficult for everyone involved in the cruise and travel space. Empty planes, empty cruise ships and for travel agents, empty bookings…
Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that they've suspended all cruises until June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global travel climate. The news also applies to…
Ladies and gentlemen, we have good news! Royal Caribbean International today announced they will be extending Singapore season for their ship Quantum of the Seas following a successful restart…
Oh, Canada. By now you've probably heard that our neighbors to the North have taken extreme measures against the cruise industry, banning all cruise ships over 100…
In an effort to "monitor the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it is having on the marine and tourism sectors," Canada has issued two new Interim Orders…
As cruisers wait patiently for their chance to sail once again, a spokesperson for the Florida Ports Council has expressed doubts that the industry will see significant…
There's a lot to love about a cruise vacation, but at the top of the list for most people is the fabulous dining options found on today's…
Yes, we're still America. That's the message from U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte to travelers worried about the new COVID-19 restrictions put in place…
2020 was a long year for the cruise and travel industry, but the fact that the United States is currently administering more than 1 million COVID-19 vaccines…
IMPORTANT: As of January 26, 2021, the CDC requires all air travelers to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of boarding all airlines RETURNING TO THE…
Need something positive to help you break free from the doldrums of January? MSC Cruises has resumed operation in the Mediterranean on board their flagship MSC Grandiosa after a…
Cruise lines have made it clear throughout the pandemic that when they restart operation, it will be a phased approach. Today, Carnival Cruise Line released new details…
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism reminded visitors from the mainland United States that they must to use the Travel Screening Portal at usvitravelportal.com to submit the…
In a statement this morning, Norwegian Cruise Line announced they've made the difficult decision to further suspend their cruise operations through April 2021. Following in the footsteps…
After more than 30 years at the helm of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, it's safe to say chairman and chief executive officer Richard D. Fain is one of…
Most cruisers are familiar with Quintana Roo. Mexico's Eastern-most state is home to some of the most popular cruise and travel destinations in all the Caribbean, including Cozumel…
UPDATE 1:51pm: Carnival Corporation sub-brands Holland America Line and Princess Cruises have also pushed back their restart date. HAL will now resume operation in April of 2021…
Something is happening in the Caribbean. Across the islands, people are getting ready for tourists to once again flock to the pristine beaches, lush jungles and scenic…
April 17, 2019 was an important date for India’s Jalesh Cruises. It was the first time passengers set foot onboard the recently purchased Karnika for a cruise…
For those of you counting down the days, we're just a week away from 2021! From all of us here at the Porthole Cruise network, we hope…
When former Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford stepped down earlier this year, Carnival Corporation decided to promote from within, naming Carnival Cruise Line COO Gus Antorcha…
Barbuda may very well be the most untouched island in the whole Caribbean, but if Robert De Niro and other wealthy investors have their way, the island…
“Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean.” The Rime of the Ancient…
Citing passenger safety and the current global environment as the reason, Norwegian Cruise Line announced this morning that they had cancelled all cruises through February 2021. They…
‘Twas the night before cruising and all through the ship, the team at Royal Caribbean was stirring to make it a great trip! The masks were all…
The not-so-good news is that we’ll likely be wearing facemasks for the foreseeable future. The good news: Face coverings can be fashionable! Months after we considered ourselves…
Cruise lines continue pushing back their restart date as they work their way through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new framework for conditional sailing. The…
On Saturday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their travel advisory for cruise ships to level 4, meaning that there was a “very high”…
On the heels of Carnival Cruise Line cancelling all cruises until February 2021, their sister line Princess Cruises has decided to push back their restart as well.…
It's been an up and down week for the cruise industry. News of effective vaccines had people excited, but cruise lines aren't even close to taking on…
As friends cried out to me “are you crazy?”, I briefly contemplated that they might be onto something. With a pandemic raging throughout the world, why would…
In preparation for a return to cruising, Norwegian Cruise Line announced a docu-series which offers a closer look at the brand and it's long-awaited cruise comeback. The…
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted the no-sail order last month, you could probably hear the collective cheer from the cruise industry from outer…
A COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech SE is showing some promising results and that's great news for the prospect of cruising again! In a study,…
Back in October, the cruise industry came together for an event called Seatrade Cruise Virtual. The event provided a forum for cruise lines, executives, journalists and travel…
This election was important for any number of reasons, but for Key West, cruise ships were at the forefront of the voting. Residents of the popular vacation…
Cruisers were thrilled last Friday when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chose not to renew their no-sail order that had been in effect since March.…
The CDC announced this afternoon they would let the no-sail order expire, but in it's place they've instituted a conditional sail order with plenty of hoops cruise…
Earlier this summer, the cruise industry saw a return to cruising in Europe as an overwhelming positive. Now, four months later, both France and Germany have announced…
Another ally has emerged in the fight to get cruise ships sailing again, but how much impact he'll have is yet to be seen.as we enter the…
The CDC has updated a level 3 warning to avoid nonessential travel, citing cruises in particular as a known spreader of COVID-19. The update on the CDC…
It’s difficult to overstate how important Port Everglades is to not just Broward County, but South Florida as a whole. Along with being South Florida’s primary seaport…
One of the world's foremost luxury cruise lines is giving their guests the confidence to book a cruise vacation with an updated booking confidence program. Crystal Cruises…
After receiving approval from the Singapore Government to restart cruising operations, Royal Caribbean International unveiled a new comprehensive prevention protocols designed to keep guests safe. They're calling…
The writing was on the wall, we just didn't want to read it. Carnival Cruise Line, the last holdout for cruising in November, has officially cancelled all…
According to Vice President Mike Pence's Daily Guidance and Press Schedule, today is a big day for cruisers. At 2pm this afternoon, the Vice President will lead…
In a statement on their website this morning, Norwegian Cruise Line has cancelled all cruises embarking in November as well as all sailings on Norwegian Star, Norwegian Spirit,…
Earlier this week, the cruise industry had it's first piece of good news in a long time when news came down that the Centers for Disease Control…
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…
Last night, American news website Axios reported on a meeting held in the White House Situation Room and it could be good news for cruisers. According to…
One of our reader's favorite small ship cruise lines has a new President. Christopher Prelog will be tasked with leading Windstar Cruises forward in a post-COVID world. Prelog…
When Seatrade Cruise Global 2020 in Miami Beach was cancelled, it disrupted the plans of thousands of attendees just weeks before the show. There's a great saying about…
Already renowned for luxurious accommodations and signature butler service (voted best onboard enrichment and service in our 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards), Crystal River Cruises can trumpet that…
“I’ll take 2020 Travel Potpourri for $200 Alex” Answer: In 2020 ‘’It’ brought the travel industry to a standstill. Question: What is COVID-19? “2020 Travel Potpourri for…
Happy Monday, everyone! It's a particularly special Monday for those who love reading 65-page documents outlining on board health and safety protocol upgrades. That's right! Norwegian Cruise…
Considering she's been with Princess Cruises for nearly two decades, it's safe to say there's nobody better to give us the latest cruise news than President Jan…
One of the countries hardest hit by the Coronavirus is looking to reopen their borders by next week. According to Colombian Minister of Transport Angela Maria Orozco,…
When it comes to travel, few come close to the knowledge and experience of Emmy award winning investigative reporter and travel editor for CBS News, Peter Greenberg. …
Speaking to the Bahamian people in a national address on Monday, Minister of Tourism & Aviation Dionisio D'Aguilar announced additional details of the forward-looking recovery and reopening…
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt announced today that cruise ships will continue to be barred from entering the country's waters until December 17, 2020. The ban comes…
Yesterday morning, AmaWaterways made the difficult decision to suspend operation until November for all but one ship. The river cruise company pioneered the industry return to cruising…
UPDATE: A representative from AmaWaterways has confirmed that the pause until October does NOT apply to the newly restarted AmaKristina in Europe. It DOES however, apply to…
After considering the opinion of experts from the fields of health and science, Costa Cruises has implemented a COVID-19 testing protocol for all passengers embarking on Costa…
I’m pretty sure that we all glossed over the chapter on the rules for pandemic survival in the master plan of life. Regardless of our innocence and…
It seems like it's been forever since we had good news to report in the Caribbean, but thankfully today is the day! The U.S. Virgin Islands are…
It’s been a busy few weeks for MSC Cruises. First, they released a comprehensive health and safety plan for all ships and crew. Then they announced their…
Another Caribbean nation is gearing up for a return to normalcy and it's especially good news for cruisers! The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis announced in…
Earlier this month, the nation of India announced that cruise ships would once again be permitted to sail to the country beginning on October 1st. Realizing that…
‘Pivot’ might just be the word of the year for 2020. Countless small businesses and retailers pivoted to online sales. Grocery stores pivoted to home delivery services.…
The sky was falling if you listened to media outlets from all over the country. UnCruise Adventures had only been back in action for less than a…
It’s safe to say that Captain Dan Blanchard, CEO of UnCruise Adventures, loves the sea. In fact, he was just 18 years old when he received his…
The news is all positive AIDA Cruises, owned by Carnival Corporation, which hasn't sailed since March. The cruise line has announced its cruise operations will return on…
Just a week after announcing protocols for health and safety on board their cruise ships, MSC Cruises has a concrete start date for sailings in the Mediterranean. MSC Grandiosa and MSC…
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…
We've been waiting for a few months now as the Centers for Disease Control continue to push back their no-sail order for cruises from US ports. Even…
Sometimes—even during a pandemic—a girl needs to immerse herself in a turquoise sea, feel powder-soft sand between her toes and have some crispy, deep-fried conch fritters for…
While most of us here in America were still asleep, MSC Cruises’ CEO Gianni Onorato took the podium at a press conference in Italy to reveal the details…
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…
Welcome to the Thursday rumor mill! Today we have some juicy rumors about Carnival Corporation brands and a spokesperson for the company calling them false. Let’s dive…
Norwegian Cruise Line has updated the cancelled sailings page on their website and unfortunately it's more bad news. The cruise line has suspended sailings through the month…
Carnival Corporation, in conjunction with the World Travel & Tourism Council, hosted a virtual summit yesterday which included a series of panels focusing on critical areas of…
Congratulations to the 1,200 people who set sail for the Norwegian fjords on board TUI Cruises Mein Schiff 2, you’ve reached a major milestone in cruising’s return…
Citing the continued COVID-19 virus pandemic, Princess Cruises made the difficult decision to extend their pause in cruising operations for voyages in Asia, Caribbean, California Coast, Hawaii,…
One of the first places to see a return to cruising was the coast of Norway and now we have the full details as to how it’s…
With most cruises on hold around the world, you might be wondering what is happening with Royal Caribbean cruises today, and what to expect going forward. Despite…
In an address to his nation yesterday, Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced that the islands would be closed to American tourists beginning Wednesday due to surging…
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.…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention struck another blow to anxious cruisers who were hoping to be on board a ship for the end of summer.…
The latest cruise line to go above and beyond when it comes to the health and safety of their guests is not only improving their air filtration…
The year was 1969. Thanks to the development of the overseas highway, Key West was no longer an isolated little island cluster in the Caribbean, but a…
Mid-July in Bar Harbor, Maine is usually peak season for cruise ships, but not this year. Tuesday night struck another blow to an already beleaguered industry when…
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises released their ten-point hygiene and preventative plan for a return to cruising at the end of July 2020. The plan is to restart cruises from…
Following up on a successful return to cruising in June, Norwegian expedition cruise line Hurtigruten has announced plans to ramp-up operation through August and September to bring…
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…
Popular Italian line Costa Cruises has made the difficult decision to pause operation until August 15, 2020. The cruise line also announced the cancellation of all cruises…
A popular Mediterranean small ship cruise line is pressing pause until 2021. In their announcement this morning, Celestyal Cruises made the difficult decision to pause operation until…
SeaDream Yacht Club has resumed sailing on SeaDream I, embarking this week on the first of a schedule of 7-day and 12-day Norwegian sailings with itineraries selected…
According to a breaking news report from the New York Times this afternoon, Americans could be barred from entering European Union countries as they begin to reopen…
When I think of cruising in the Covid-19 era, the chorus of Eric Carmen’s 1975 pop hit “All By Myself” wafts through my mind because, more often…
We’re inching closer and closer to cruising again and another well-known cruise line has released a health and wellness program designed to give guests and crew confidence…
Australian cruise operator Captain Cook Cruises is returning their river cruise operations back to normal starting June 23rd on Australia’s Murray River. The 7-night ‘Welcome Back’ cruise…
I’m not one to moan about inconveniences, but take away my life’s passion and I’m likely to go off the deep end. Take away the ability to…
River cruise lovers are in luck, they could be on a ship in a matter of weeks. A-ROSA River Cruises announced today that their river cruise ship…
Last week, we reported several popular cruising destinations in the Caribbean were in the process of reopening to tourism. Over the weekend, the Turks and Caicos announced…
In a press release issued this morning, the Canadian Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau, announced that cruise ships with overnight accommodations allowed to carry more than 100 persons are prohibited…
We know, cruise gang, the waiting isn't fun. But! We've had plenty of good news this week with several popular cruise destinations announcing timelines to open up…
There’s good news from one of America’s most popular tourist destinations! The U.S. Virgin Islands will reopen its doors to leisure travelers on Monday, June 1, 2020.…
Some cruise lines are preparing their ships and crews for a return to normal, but that doesn’t mean cruising will be exactly the same when we get…
Earlier this month, Arnold Donald joined editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine, Bill Panoff, to discuss the latest in cruise news and Carnival Corporation’s response to COVID-19. Here…
I’m Hungry to Sail Again.. Stop what you’re doing right now (and if you’re like me, that pretty much means switching off the Law & Order reruns…
Virgin Voyages announced today in a press release that they will begin sailing again on October 16, 2020 after pushing back their initial return date of late July. …
One of the foremost small ship cruise lines in the industry announced their date for return following the pause in operation due to COVID-19. Windstar Cruises will…
The beautiful and popular cruise destination of Puerto Vallarta is taking the first steps towards reopening today after months of shutdowns and social distancing. May 18th marks…
We’ve been saying it since cruise lines began their pause in operation in March: there’s never been a better time to book a cruise. Well, apparently cruisers…
When COVID-19 first began spreading globally, the island of Nevis in the Caribbean took an aggressive approach to fighting the virus and it appears those measures have…
The sunny skies of South Florida were in for a treat today as the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron buzzed the skyline in a salute to COVID-19…
How important is Carnival Corporation to the cruise industry? The conglomerate holds nine of cruising’s most recognizable brands and employs hundreds of thousands of people both here…
We’ve all seen articles about what cruising is going to look like in the aftermath of COVID 19. Precautions like doing away with self-service buffets, not filling…
In a press release this morning, Carnival Cruise Line released their plan to phase-in cruising operations beginning on August 1, 2020. This is the first concrete plan…
The economic toll of COVID 19 on the cruise industry is devastating, but the people of Alaska may be the biggest losers in the whole ordeal. Mike…
How important is Carnival Corporation to the cruise industry? The conglomerate holds nine of cruising’s most recognizable brands and employs hundreds of thousands of people both here…
In an address to the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands yesterday, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. outlined a five-tier plan to reopen the islands for tourism by…
We’re starting to see what travel in a post-Coronavirus world will look like and for JetBlue passengers, that means masks are mandatory for all passengers beginning May…
Citing "the continued impact of COVID 19," Cunard Line made the decision to pause their voyages further past the initial date of May 15, 2020 previously announced.…
Social distancing is making celebrating a little different these days, but we wanted to give a big Happy Birthday shout out to Holland America Line, who turned…
In a nationally broadcast press conference on Sunday, Bahamian Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis spoke to his people about ongoing lockdown protocols to help prevent the spread…
Holland America Line followed suit with sister line Carnival in extending their pause on cruise operations until mid-summer. In a statement yesterday, company President Orlando Ashford explained…
Not one to cancel plans, travel guru Steve Leland decided to press on with his plans to explore the coast of Australia with True North Adventure Cruises…
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a 100 day extension on the no-sail order from earlier in March. The order did leave some…
In an order filed to the Federal Registry yesterday, the CDC shut down any hope that the cruise industry would return soon, extending the no-sail order for…
Some things really make you think of cruising, like Tortuga Rum Cake Company. The Caribbean brand of cakes, sauces, coffee and more was founded by Robert Hamaty…
Continuing our series of interviews around the Caribbean, today we interviewed Joseph Boschulte Commissioner of Tourism for the U.S. Virgin Islands about COVID 19 and what life…
New protocols instituted by the Trump Administration and the Centers for Disease Control restrict cruise ship passengers from flying commercial airlines. Passengers or crew getting off cruise…
Along with getting bigger and more luxurious, many new cruise ships are experimenting with virtual reality to enhance the passenger experience. Innovations like Royal Caribbean’s Sky Pad…
The weeks long ordeal for passengers and crew on board Holland America Line Zaandam and Rotterdam is finally over. The ship docked in Fort Lauderdale, FL today…
We’ve been covering a lot of news from cruise lines and their employees lately, but one thing getting neglected is how the numerous island nations across the…
In a Marine Safety Bulletin sent by the U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday, Rear Admiral E.C. Jones of the 7th District told cruise ships contacting Miami for…
For years, cruisers have donated to environmental causes that support the health and safety of whales in our oceans, but now in a bizarre twist of fate,…
Carnival Cruise Line made a disappointing, but not altogether stunning announcement today that they would extend the halt on all cruises across their fleet through May 11.…
As more and more ports turn their backs on incoming cruise ships, even those with a clean bill of health, the Caribbean island nation of Barbados is…
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…
Anyone looking west from the beaches of Great Harbour Cay today might see something unusual; a gathering of cruise ships. In fact, eight ships from three different…
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…
For well over a decade, Jason Bridge has travelled the world via cruise ship fulfilling one of the most important roles on board: Port Shopping Consultant. When…
The Monthly Mantra Ship out of luck … Ship out of luck … Ship out of luck … I’d like to drink a toast to the organizers…
“What’s your next vacation?” It’s only four words, but it’s a question that truly has it all. Curiosity. Instant aspiration. The promise of hope, the opportunity for…
Cruise lines are doing a lot to keep their crews busy while on board ships without passengers, but >Captain Jason Ikiadis and his crew decided to have…
The news that thousands of cruisers would have their vacations cancelled over the next 30 to 60 days sent shockwaves around the travel industry and rightfully so.…
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the cruise industry, but it’s safe to say that the current outbreak of Covid-19 is the most difficult challenge cruise…
In response to the current global health situation, the biggest event in the cruise and shipping industry is being postponed. Seatrade Cruise Global officially announced their decision…
Two of the world’s most recognizable cruise brands took major steps to help curb the spread of Coronavirus today. Princess Cruises and Viking Cruises have both announced…
UPDDATE :Editor’s Note: This article was published on March 2, 2020. Click here for the latest Coronavirus news and cruise updates. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed over the…
UPDDATE :Editor’s Note: This article was published on February 26, 2020. Click here for the latest Coronavirus news and cruise updates. Everyone is discussing the issue of Coronavirus…
Editor's Note: This article was published on February 17, 2020. Click here for the latest Coronavirus news and cruise updates. For the most part, cruisers like…
