1.2K SharesWhile there really isn’t a “bad” stateroom on a cruise ship, there are some cabins that are less desirable due to their location. Since it’s important that you have the best cruise possible, here are some cruise cabin locations that you may want to avoid.[embedded content]Cabins directly above or below clubs and lounges – Unless you plan on heading to your cabin after 1 a.m. each night … [Read more...]

 Royal Suite Class can best be described as, "luxury that’s anything but boring." This was what we felt from the moment we came to the terminal. Boarding   Our bags were tagged and quickly whisked away by the porters as we were escorted through the terminal, past long queues for a private check in before clearing immigration and meeting our Royal Genie who we had been in … [Read more...]

You have decided to book a Caribbean cruise. Great! Now what? Now, you must decide what you will do while ashore at each port of call. If you are new to cruising, you might not even be familiar with the term shore excursion. A “shore excursion” can refer to any number of different activities that occur at each port of call. Yes, the options might seem endless. So, we have put together our … [Read more...]

Once a sprawling textile factory before converting into a hybrid museum gallery, shopping, and cafe complex, Fabrica La Aurora is one of the most popular attractions in San Miguel. The spirit of the facility is fed by diverse artistic talents and the opportunity to exhibit conceptual designs in a retail setting. Far from a superstore for ubiquitous fridge magnets, Fabrica La Aurora offers an … [Read more...]

Carnival-owned Aida Cruises is suffering from major IT issues and does seem to be a possible cyberattack. This could now be the third major cyberattack against a cruise line this year and shows a worrying trend on keeping systems secure. Aida Cruises IT Issues, What We Know So Far The cruise line has already stated on its Facebook page that it’s currently being affected by IT issues but has not … [Read more...]

Quark Expeditions’ Ultramarine On December 18th, Hull 487, a passenger ship for polar expeditions which will be named “Ultramarine”, set sail for her maiden voyage to be docked at Viktor Lenac. The technologically advanced polar expeditions ship is contracted with the US company Quark Expeditions, part of the TravelopiaGroup. Most of the ship was practically built during the Covid-19 pandemic. … [Read more...]

by Kevin Griffin This week we look at more positive developments. From New Zealand comes news that Ponant will be operating one of its ships exclusively in New Zealand waters and for New Zealand locals this year. This follows earlier market openings in Germany, Norway, Italy and Singapore, among others. In US waters meanwhile American Queen and Victory Cruise Lines have announced 2022 itineraries … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean International has reportedly sold its venerable cruise liner Empress of the Seas to an Indian cruise start-up run by the same CEO as the now defunct Jalesh Cruises. The Indian cruise start-up has reportedly purchased the Empress of the Seas and intends to use her on Indian cruise itineraries, possibly even as far afield as Dubai and the wider Middle East. Jalesh Cruises operated … [Read more...]

The Disney Wish “Check out this brand new video of Disney Cruise Line’s next ship, the Disney Wish! This new clip showcases new details of the dazzling Grand Hall and a first look at the stunning character statue at the base of the grand staircase”, Disney Cruise Line announced on the Disney Parks YouTube channel. While the new LNG powered ship isn’t scheduled to set sail until summer 2022, the … [Read more...]

Quark Expeditions, the recognized leader in Polar Adventures, has unveiled the most comprehensive, traveler-focused COVID policy in the travel industry. Quark Expeditions® S.A.F.E. COVID Policy is an industry-leading program designed to bring much needed peace of mind and reassurance to potential explorers as they once again start planning expedition travel in the coming months. “We’ve spared no … [Read more...]

Right now, all the major cruise lines — including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian — have suspended cruises through February 2021. And while there are tentative plans to begin sailing in early March in a limited capacity, there is a strong reason to think that those return dates could be extended yet again. The reason? The plan put in place by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for a … [Read more...]

With Royal Caribbean having sold Empress of the Seas, I thought it would make sense to take one last look around the ship before she leaves the fleet.Empress of the Seas has been sold to an undisclosed party, based in Asia-Pacific and many cruise fans will miss being able to sail on this iconic cruise ship.Empress of the Seas was launched in 1990, transferred to Pullmantur Cruises in … [Read more...]

It was recently reported that the former Carnival cruise ship named Carnival Fascination will become a floating hotel in Asia. This came after the ship’s new name was seen on the aft. It’s lead us to some exclusive photos showing the Fantasy-class cruise ship in Gibraltar during December 2020 and some right before Christmas. When the vessel was still operated by Carnival Cruise Line, she had been … [Read more...]

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 from Mumbai. Less than a year later, the cruise line is out of business and the ship sold for scrap. COVID-19 is to blame, but sources tell Porthole Cruise that the cruise line’s financial issues were obvious onboard long prior to the … [Read more...]

One state in Mexico has announced it will increase its tourist tax, which may have an impact on cruise ship guests.The Mexican state of Quintana Roo, which is where the popular ports of Couzmel and Costa Maya are located, announced new $10 tourist tax on foreigners. This news was first reported by the Riviera Maya Times and does not mention cruise ships in the article.There are no … [Read more...]

Jurgen Bailom, the President and CEO of brand new cruise line Cordelia Cruises, recently announced the purchase of former Royal Caribbean cruise ship Empress of the Seas. Cordelia Cruises, a continuation of the recently shut down Jalesh Cruises, will be operating the vessel in the Indian Luxury market. Last month, Jalesh Cruises suspended all of its operations and sold their vessel MV Karnika for … [Read more...]

This week’s batch of special offers from Disney Cruise Line is similar to last week with sail dates ranging from April into June 2021. The Canadian Resident rate remains absent due to the continued uncertainty with the boarder closure and travel restrictions. Looking closer at this week’s offering, we see the Florida resident rate held at 15 sailings and the Military held at 19 sail dates. The … [Read more...]

Royal Caribbean International's Empress of the Seas may be heading to a new cruise line based in India, according to a press release from Cordelia Cruises which said it had bought the ship. Of note, the news statement quotes Jurgen Bailom, president and CEO of Cordelia Cruises. Bailom was most recently the head of Jalesh Cruises, overseeing an aggressive cruise line launch in India. Bailom … [Read more...]

This wave season, Star Clippers is bidding farewell to 2020 and saying Welcome 2021 with an unprecedented 21% off cruise fare on select itineraries in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. This generous offer also includes a complimentary bottle of champagne in the cabin to celebrate the return to cruising on Star Clippers tall ships. The Welcome 2021 offer is good on select bookings made by January … [Read more...]

We woke up early for our appointment with the ship’s nurse to complete a PCR test onboard in preperation for our consecutive sailing onboard Quantum of the Seas.A letter was sent to our cabin earlier in the cruise on the formalities we must complete before continuing our adventures onboard the ship, and of those was to complete this swab test on the last day before turnaround day.Most … [Read more...]