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…
After ships sat idle for what seemed like an eternity, cruising has returned with a race to establish homeport advantage. Straight out of the gate, favorites like…
It’s easy to find top name restaurants by perusing any guidebook, but discovering authentic eateries that locals keep for themselves is no easy task. While most visitors…
Malta has always been a popular port of call but with it becoming a new staging ground for cruising as a home port, I embarked on a…
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…
If you were asked to name the three U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas would immediately roll off the tip of your tongue, with St. John coming a…
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…
One look at me and you can accurately deduce that I don’t spend a great deal of time in a spa. However, you’ll find it amazing that…
You all know my MO by now. I’m in a foreign city, hungry and have a hankering for some local food. This time it’s in Athens, Greece.…
You won’t find St. John, USVI on any cruise itinerary and that’s both good and bad. It’s good because you’ll never have to share the island with…
For what seems like an eternity, pandemic related restrictions have reined in the flourishing popularity of cruising and worldwide travel. Regulations may have challenged the possibility of…
They say that good things come to those who wait and after a year of pandemic patience GREAT things are happening for lovers of ultra-luxury cruising. Starting in July, Seabourn…
The question of the day; You’re in Mexico and hungry. What’s the one quick bite you think of? It’s a taco of course! As a vicarious foodie…
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…
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…
After nine months of travel lockdown, 2020 hindsight takes on new relevance as we grapple with how things could have been done differently, but then again who…
In my 10 years of weekly visits to St. Thomas by cruise ship, it had never entered my mind that a food tour would be an excursion…
Cruising has always fueled the imagination with dreams of far-flung destinations, and 2020’s unimaginable pause in cruising has amplified those dreams tenfold. It is very likely that…
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…
Depending on your personal perspective or inclinations, the trendy playground of Los Cabos, Mexico can either be party time central or ultra luxury paradise. It’s swank and…
I’m always hungry. Hungry for travel, knowledge, friendship and it goes without saying, food! If presented with an à la carte menu of excursions or adventures, a…
Perched on the central plateau of the Guanajuato Mountain Range, there are very few destinations that can compete with the color, culture and character of San Miguel…
Although the ‘no sail’ mandate may be loosening its suffocating grip, cruising’s self imposed extension lingers with ships motionless at anchor or tightly tethered to their docks.…
“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…
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…
Savvy cruisers with a penchant for upscale travel will find a treasure trove of destinations to choose from in Seabourn Cruise Line’s catalogue of globetrotting itineraries. Few,…
In a land far, far away — from Porthole HQ, at least — lies the down under continent of Australia, flanked on the southeast by New Zealand…
CruisinSit down with anyone who has worked on a cruise ship and you will inevitably hear stories about 7 day work weeks and long hours. On the…
What appeared to be a brief pause in cruising at the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown has turned into a wanderlust nightmare. For three months we’ve had…
As the return of cruising seems to be within reach, it’s time to mitigate lockdown loneliness. My brother Nick Leland sets it up perfectly in the song…
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…
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…
Just when you think the world of cruising can’t get any better, along comes a new ship with novel ideas, incredible amenities and destinations that are virtually…
Although their names — The A and The B — couldn’t be more generic, these brainchild river cruise vessels of U by Uniworld couldn’t be more robust.…
The tiny Arabian peninsula of the United Arab Emirates is best known for the ambitious reputations of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. But let’s be honest: you would…
The chartered plane had left Copenhagen in the twilight of a Baltic summer night, but four hours and four time zones later, the brilliance of Greenland’s endless…
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…
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 first anything. My…
Float your own boat aboard a private, small ship cruise. By Steve Leland The explicit benefits of river cruising are well documented: all inclusive, complimentary excursions and,…
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 are embracing the…
Five Must-Do Moments in St. Petersburg, Russia One of the highlights of any Baltic cruise is the ever-popular St. Petersburg, Russia. Envisioned and built from the virtual…
Azamara’s Destination Immersion brings cruisers closer to the culture By Steve Leland Any journey that requires traveling halfway around the world demands some sort of enticement. A…
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…
Five Must-Try Cambodian Street Foods I profess to being a moderate foodie, backed up by my appreciation of food and the discovery of new tastes. And despite…
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…
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 adventure through the…
Three ways to experience a Viking cruise Is there anywhere this cruise line doesn’t sail? When Viking River Cruises, an industry leader in river cruising with more…
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…
