How Portamora works

1. You tell us how you like to travel

A short quiz asks who's going, whether it's your first cruise, what your perfect sea day looks like, and what matters most to you. You don't need to give an email to see your first results.

2. Software compares the cruise lines and ships

Portamora scores each cruise line on the things travelers care about, such as food, service, entertainment, quiet and value, and compares them with your answers. You see three cruise lines that fit you, why each one fits, and the trade-off to know about.

Add your trip details (where, when, how long, your budget) and you get specific ships that sail your route in your months, with an itemized estimate of what the cruise will really cost. Cruise lines can't pay to rank higher, and the matching can't see commissions.

3. A real person checks the results

I review every set of results. If I'd suggest something different, I email you and say why. When the software isn't confident about a match, it waits for my review before you see it.

4. Prices are estimates until confirmed

Estimates, not quotes. Prices come from typical published rates and change often. Your exact price is confirmed with the cruise line before you pay anything. Anything we can't price yet is shown as unpriced, never as $0.

5. Booking

When booking opens, I'll confirm the exact price with the cruise line and book it with you. Before you pay anything, you'll see in writing who takes your payment, and the cruise line's deposit, final payment and cancellation terms. Until then, join the launch list to hear when it opens.

6. After you book

You can check what's above, below and beside your cabin with the cabin map. Fares often move after booking; price watch explains how.

How Portamora is paid

Portamora is free to use. When you book, we earn a commission from the cruise line, which doesn't change your price. Commissions play no part in our matching: the engine can't see them.

More detail is on the Disclosures page. Questions? Contact me.