Spending a day at sea is never wasted on me and sailing between Palma de Mallorca and Messina, Sicily on the Costa Smeralda provides the perfect opportunity…
It wasn't long ago we heard the news that MSC Cruises was launching a new luxury cruise brand called Explora Journeys and now we have new details…
Have you ever visited a destination time and time again, never getting enough? I’ve been fortunate to travel to some of the most awe inspiring locations of…
I’ll admit it. I have a problem. I’ve been involved in a love affair with Italian food for most of my adult life. With the gastronomic trinity…
Slowly but steadily, cruise ships are returning to operation all around the world with the latest being MSC Splendida. The ship embarked on a 7-night Eastern Mediterranean itinerary…
Pictures of wildlife returning to Venice’s canals, posted on social media during last year’s Covid-19 lockdown, were widely shared around the world. Images of chilled out ducks…
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…
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…
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…
While most cruise lines have been sitting idle for the past 13 months, MSC Cruises has proven time and again that cruising can be safe during a…
When Neil Palomba departed his role with Costa Cruises last summer, he left some pretty big shoes to fill. We now know who will be filling those…
Costa Cruises announced today they have a new timeline for restarting operation and we couldn't be more excited about it! The cruise line is now planning on…
Since August 2020, MSC Grandiosa has carried more than 40,000 passengers on cruises from Italy and the cruise line announced they'll be adding another ship to the region. Beginning…
Would I be alone in sharing that over the past ten months of travel isolation, I’m tired of the ritualistic trip to the supermarket, the daily perusal…
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…
When cruise does come back, at least we'll have some brand new ships to enjoy! Costa Cruises officially took delivery of their newest ship Costa Firenze from Fincantieri's Marghera…
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…
It was a big day for MSC Cruises at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The cruise line watched their latest megaship float out for the first…
No one needs an actual excuse to push the reset button on personal well-being. Lifestyle brand goop, the brainchild program of celebrity Mediterranean , is joining Celebrity…
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…
It was a beautiful March morning in Miami when Virgin Voyages’ first ship Scarlet Lady slid gracefully into her berth at PortMiami. The excitement was palpable as…
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 Venice Art Biennale is the most important contemporary art show in the world. For six months every other year, it takes over the entire city of…
Cruise passengers arriving into Port Genoa are gliding through waters steeped in history and mystery. Some of the world’s most notorious explorers hail from this hearty seaport…
A shining aquatic star of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, the island of Capri has long been the haunt of literati, glitterati and heads of state ranging from regal…
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…
If any port encapsulates the heart and soul of Italy, it’s the lively and picturesque fishing village of Portofino. Like an Italian Renaissance painting springing to life…
Everyone has a bucket list, but according to Travel Leader's Group, a lot of you are dreaming the same. One of North America's largest travel agencies conducted…
Located approximately one-hour north-west of Rome, the port of Civitavecchia sees almost two million passengers pass through it annually. This popular port has eight cruise terminals and…
Soon Scarlet Lady will have a twin sister cruising the Mediterreanean. Virgin Voyages announced in a press release this morning that their second ship will be named…
Traffic moves at a painstaking crawl as it snakes along Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, heading from Sorrento, on the Bay of Naples, onto the world-famous Amalfi Coast, framing…
A decades long fight for Venice’s historic city center is over, and it's the residents who are claiming victory. Amidst concerns of the impact of ships docking…
Monday Mantra It's a Miracle ... It's a Miracle ... It's a Miracle Vatican VIP Room to breathe, a papal address — this is a trip with…
Known as the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre (pronounced Ching-kwe Ter-ray) is a cluster of five picturesque villages in Northwest Italy that adorn the shoreline with colorful buildings,…
Newlyweds are some of the most adorable people you will see. As they head out to start their new lives together, many new couples celebrate their wedding…
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…
The ultra-luxury cruise market has a new player thanks to a renewed partnership between MSC Cruises and famed Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The duo announced the signing of…
Fleet expansion is all part of the plan for Princess Cruises, who announced the name of their latest build scheduled to launch in 2020. Enchanted Princess, as…
We often get asked, when is the best time to cruise? Most are shocked when I tell them that cruising off-season is one of the best vacations…
Bubbles come in handy when you are fashionably late. That was a great lesson learned on a trip I recently took to Tuscany. You and your travel…
For NASA astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher, exploration is just part of the job. As a veteran of NASA’s Discovery space programs and the first mother to ever…
To my throngs of ardent Porthole Cruise followers (both of you!), you know I love to expound on regional foods. Well, it’s been two days since I…
When MSC Cruises needs to bring the style, they only have one call to make. Over the weekend, they celebrated the christening of their newest ship, MSC…
Whenever I visit Sorrento, Italy, I am, well, driven. I always take the Amalfi Coast Drive, 30 miles of narrow, curving roads that are strung up on cliffs with waves…
Italy. The land of pizza, Pisa and pasta. I’m about to start my annual pilgrimage to my adopted, de facto homeland and can’t help but wonder why…
Gray skies hang over Germany’s Black Forest and there’s a hint of rain in the air, but I’ve stepped off the gangway of Crystal Bach into a world…
Italy’s legacy of oceanic exploration is famous the world over. From Christopher Columbus to Marco Polo, Italian navigators have a long and storied history at sea.…
Viking Cruises strives to establish an intimate cruise experience for each and every guest. Their newest ship, Viking Jupiter, personifies that commitment in every way possible. [caption…
Few moments are as special as the maiden voyage of a new vessel, particularly for one as spectacular as Seabourn Ovation. The cruise line’s fifth ship and sister…
A great spectacle of naval engineering, Silversea’s Silver Spirit has been cut in two at Fincantieri Shipyard in Palermo, Italy, as part of her planned lengthening. A prebuilt 15-meter…
Abruzzo, Italy Travel Guide The inevitable question is "where is that?" Followed by the predictable "is it near Tuscany ?" Once the Google Map imagery is set into…
Explore more on Italian shores during a luxury land tour By Judi Cuervo It is morning and I am in the Tuscan countryside, gazing through the French…
Porthole's Five Faves Passage to Paradise The ever-popular 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise itinerary typically includes ports in Spain, France, and Italy, treating visitors to ancient cities, diverse…
