Barcelona’s Best: Where to Go and What to See in Spain’s City of Counts
Over the past several years, we’ve enjoyed Barcelona on so many occasions, experiencing great places, unforgettable sights, and wonderful cuisine. The streets feature amazing architecture and world-class shopping opportunities. Las Ramblas may be the most well-known pedestrian avenue but there are
Swan Hellenic’s Old World Gateways
There’s nothing more stimulating than thumbing through a cruise brochure with an appetizing menu of exciting travel destinations. As I perused the myriad of expedition cruises offered by Swan Hellenic, one itinerary caught my wandering eye. How could I resist the opportunity to explore the tre
Cunard’s New Queen Arrives
With all the fanfare you’d expect, the stunning Queen Anne recently arrived in Southampton for her inaugural season of cruising. Accepting an invitation for a one-night introduction to sample the amenities, dining, and entertainment, we boarded the ship with anticipation. It’s hard to get a true
Cruising The Heart of Normandy With Viking
Paris In The Springtime We sat in a French sidewalk cafe, the chill of an early spring morning mitigated by a piping hot cafe au lait and croissant. To the left, the iconic spire of the Eiffel Tower. Directly in front of us, the longship Viking Radgrid preparing to welcome us on board. As we [&helli
A Day in Malta
Blend a background of Roman, French, and English history with a touch of Greek and Arab culture, and you will get a fascinating peek into Malta’s appeal. The amazing movie set visuals and dichotomy of ancient vs. modern-day life in Valletta tip the scale in its favor as a popular cruise port a
Sun Princess Sets Sail
This Sun’s For You Whatever you want from a cruise vacation, you’ll find it in the brand new Sun Princess. I had the privilege of getting a sneak peek at this marvelous project in the shipyard back in December while she was still a work in progress. Counting the days until her official launch,
Eating Well in the Neighborhood
Growing up in Nebraska, my dining routine consisted of daily servings of meat, potatoes, and canned vegetables. Fast forward a few decades and my culinary horizons have expanded through extensive travels around the world. I still have a dislike for beets and onions, but I’m open to trying anyt
The Bites, Sights, and Nights of Southeast Asia
Street Eats in Hoi An, Vietnam In the bustling streets of Vietnam, where the motor scooter reigns as the king of the road, embarking on a food tour with Vespa Adventures was an obvious choice for exploring the culinary delights of Hoi An. With our skilled driver navigating through the chaotic traffi
The Sights and Heights of Sa Pa, Vietnam
The allure of Vietnam’s intrigue and rich historical past is undeniable, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) leading the way. While I had previously relied on guidebooks for my visits to these major destinations, my desire to explore hidden gems led me to seek the assistance of my Vietnam
Look Directly Into The Sun
After a sneak peek of the new Sun Princess at Italy’s Fincantieri Shipyard, let me assure you, it will be well worth the wait. Witnessing the 3,500 craftsmen working around the clock on this work in progress is mesmerizing. From a concept scribbled on paper just a few years ago to the final st
Celebrity Ascent Rises To The Occasion
The new Celebrity Ascent was recently showcased and christened as the newest addition to the cruise line’s popular Edge Class of ships in a celebration in Port Everglades, Florida. The ship retains every amenity and attribute that has made its siblings, the Edge, Apex, and Beyond, so popular,
Elixir Boutique Cruises Expands With New Vessel
Elixir Boutique Cruises is expanding its offerings with the acquisition of the M/Y Gemaya, building upon the achievements of its popular Elysium ship. With individual suite bookings available, this yacht presents an excellent opportunity to experience the luxurious world of yacht cruising without th
Oceania Cruises Brings New Vista Ship To Miami
Oceania Cruises’ Vista dazzled passengers and onlookers alike as she set sail from the Port of Miami on a two-day showcase cruise. This stunning new addition to the fleet is a true gem, initiating a series of irresistible Caribbean itineraries with Miami as her home port. There’s a
Come Sail Aboard Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady
Act my age? Not a chance! At 72, acting my age isn’t one of my more admirable personality traits, and there’s everything to assist me in avoiding it by sailing on Virgin Voyages’ new Resilient Lady. I’ve sailed on dozens of cruises geared for my demographic, and while I’
Swan Hellenic’s Hidden Waterways of Norway
Having been thoroughly impressed on a brief three day inaugural cruise from Nova Scotia to Boston with Swan Hellenic’s newly launched SH Vega last fall, I was anxious to see if a longer cruise would measure up. Slotting in a 12 day summer cruise of discovery from Tromso, Norway to Amsterdam aboard
Barging in Burgundy
The pastoral landscape and kaleidoscope of color greeting us as we stepped out of our cabin was reminiscent of a Monet painting. Fields of vibrant yellow sunflowers blanketed the hills and the purple of wild lavender painted the banks of the serene Canal du Nivernais. Were we really on a cruise? In
Piraeus, An Athens Alternative for Cruisers
Every port city has Its day in the sun and none shine brighter than Piraeus, Greece. No seafaring sailor is worthy of the title without a call on this ancient port sometime in his career. Of course Athens gets its fair share of the Aegean spotlight, but without Piraeus it would be landlocked for cru
NCL Renewed Spirit
Technically she’s not brand new but with a $100 million dollar facelift you could fool me. You might not recognize the reimagined Norwegian Spirit and you can forget the old saying beauty’s only skin deep, because this striking gal is gorgeous to the core. It’s a textbook case of what money wi
Ama Waterways AmaMagna Danube Experience
In 2023, set sail with AmaWaterways and Porthole Cruise and Travel’s Editor-in-Chief Bill Panoff on the one-of-a-kind AmaMagna to experience the Danube river! While we are waiting, let’s take a look back at our writer Steve Leland’s seven-night experience on board the AmaMagn
Quintessential Quito in 48 Hours
Photo: Illa Experience Hotel If you enjoy the charm of old cities, the traditions of South American colonial culture and unfettered authenticity, Quito, Ecuador is your kind of place. Built on the foundations of an ancient Inca settlement, this capital city oozes old world charisma. Perched high at
