The dominant narrative of river cruising consistently touches on the all-inclusive nature of the experience. The intimate camaraderie, complimentary excursions, fascinating villages, and delicious cuisine all make…

Following curiosity as opposed to guidebook spiels, I embrace the deep rooted impulse to get ahead of the crowd and visit stimulating destinations.  Venturing to the far…

The gritty metropolis of Kolkata, India, displays a raucous, kinetic image framed by the Ganges River, a navigational artery directly connected to the country’s heart and soul. …

The Nile, referred to as the Father of African Rivers, has always been an essential conduit of life for Egypt, both in agricultural and tourism activity.  Cruises…

Cruising on a cruise ship holds the inherent promise of a dream come true, but sailing on a sailing vessel is an experience of sheer fantasy. Sailing…

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…

As if travel to Southeast Asia isn’t exciting enough, there have been enormous strides to develop shore excursions that appeal to the adventurous spirit of both young…

Thai food has long held a special place in my professed obsession with searching for ultimate culinary bliss.  It is definitely my ‘go to’ ethnic food. Who…

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…

Choosing your dream cruise involves some planning, knowledge and soul searching. What exactly do you expect from your experience? Are you looking to set a course for…

People always ask me, “What is the food like on a seventeen day expeditionary cruise?”.  Well, to be honest no one has actually asked me that, yet,…

Indonesian cuisine has always been one of my favorites since my first exposure to it on the Caribbean island of Curaçao.  Why Curaçao you ask....(You did ask…

Under normal circumstances, one would be hard pressed to find any commonality between intrepid exploration of the Amazon, luxury cruising, and culinary creativity. Then again, cruising with…

I’m onto the France vacation segment of this summer’s epic cruise and travel adventure, so it’s Arrivederci, Roma and after a two hour flight, it’s Bienvenue, France.…

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…

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…

Any travel to Peru is certain to include a visit to the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Shrouded in the clouds and enveloped by dense mountaintop…

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…

It’s been said that there is a cruise for everyone. But what is an upper-echelon pleasure seeker to do when you don’t want a cruise that’s for…

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’re anything like me, you likely spent leisure time of adolescent years perusing iconic National Geographic magazines in search of natural phenomena, half-naked jungle tribes, and…

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,…

As a general rule, Caribbean cruises conjure up images of white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters, while Europe destinations offer up iconic cathedrals, castles and assorted antiquities…

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…

By Steve Leland Location, location, location is a well-known incantation in reference to real estate potential, but in the world of cruising that mantra is more appropriately,…

I JUST WANT TO BE ALONE! For parents everywhere, Greta Garbo said it best. A cruise would seem to be just the ticket (and well deserved) to…

I’m of the belief that you can never get enough of a good thing. So, when a fantastic 7-day cruise just isn’t enough to fill those precious…

Cruising in faraway destinations such as Southeast Asia encourages consideration to pre- and post-cruise options. These opening acts and encores to the main event range from basic…

The Grape Escape Exploring France’s wine country with Uniworld. By Steve Leland The memory of the first time never fades away: first date, car, job, or virtually…

The Barge Bonus Float your own boat aboard a private, small ship cruise. By Steve Leland The explicit benefits of river cruising are well documented: all inclusive,…

Porthole’s 5 Faves Hanoi Highlights 5 Faves of Vietnam’s Capital City For cruisers looking for that next exotic itinerary, today’s major cruise lines and river cruise operators…

Porthole's 5 Faves Treasure Trove Five Must-Do Moments in St. Petersburg, Russia One of the highlights of any Baltic cruise is the ever-popular St. Petersburg, Russia. Envisioned…

The Difference Down Under Azamara’s Destination Immersion brings cruisers closer to the culture. By Steve Leland Any journey that requires traveling halfway around the world demands some…

Magic on the Mekong Luxury awaits for travelers ready to cruise Asia. For been-there-done-that cruisers, an Asia itinerary is often next on the list. And lucky for…

Porthole's 5 Faves Dig In! Five Must-Try Cambodian Street Foods I profess to being a moderate foodie, backed up by my appreciation of food and the discovery…

Visually Classic, Stunningly Chic Discover the grand style aboard Oceania Cruises’ Riviera. By Steve Leland I don't pretend to be a design aficionado. I wouldn't know the…

The Wheel Deal Modern-day exploration aboard American Empress By Steve Leland I'd had Tina Turner belting out “Proud Mary” in my head since first planning this cruise…

From the Rivers to the Oceans Three ways to experience a Viking cruise Is there anywhere this cruise line doesn’t sail? When Viking River Cruises, an industry…

Savor Your Sea Days Five Favorite Things to do During a Trans-Atlantic Cruise I never thought I would enjoy a trans-Atlantic cruise. I envisioned a version where…