Enticed by the Flavors of Abruzzo
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 posted anything about that dear to my stomach subject, so allow me fill the void in your never ending search for culinary enlightenment. In Abruzzo, It
6 Delights Of The Amalfi Coast Drive
Whenever I visit Sorrento, Italy, I am, well, driven. I always take the Amalfi Coast Drive, 30 miles of narrow, curving roads that are strung up on cliffs with waves crashing below. A UNESCO World Heritage Site facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Amalfi Coast is arguably one of the world’s most beau
7 Items on Every San Diego Bucket List
The defense for San Diego’s official “America’s Finest City” moniker is found in ever Pacific sunset, every climatically ideal afternoon, and every accommodation boasting fine coastal quality. It’s no secret that Southern California does easy living the right way, and a San Diego vacation
5 Bucket List Cruises to Experience
“I’m going to do that,” you’ve probably said at some point in your life after coming across a great vacation. When it comes to the best bucket list cruises, you’ve got a lot of options to choose from. Forget about the Caribbean, Alaska, or anywhere else cruise lines sail to regularly, thes
5 Faves: Montreal Highlights
Set on an Island in the Saint Lawrence River, Montreal is an ideal destination to start or end a cruise. The cruise terminal located in the heart of the Old Port, just five minutes from downtown. As the largest city in Canada’s Québec province, Montreal offers travelers old world charm in a c
La Dolce Vita Cruising: An Italian Vacation
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 so few of my friends have not made this destination a bucket list priority. I’m absolutely convinced that if my Nebraska birthplace hadn’t encr
What Are They Sniffing in Thailand?
The first thing you notice when you get off the plane after traveling to Bangkok, Thailand is the temperature and humidity. It’s stifling, compressing around you like a wet shirt. Actually, that is your shirt, drenched with sweat almost instantly from the oppressive heat. 90 degrees is average yea
5 Pre-Cruise Stay Options From Port Canaveral
Our family doesn’t need a fairy godmother to make a cruise out of Port Canaveral or Tampa even more magical – we just opt for a pre-cruise stay in Orlando. It’s easy: When we sail out of Port Canaveral (less than an hour away from Orlando) or Tampa (an hour and a half away from […]
Making Tracks To Machu Picchu
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 forests, the magnetism of this attraction establishes it as a perennial bucket list destination. In spite of the need for requisite planning and a certain
Windstar Heads North for a New Alaskan Cruise
For adventure-seekers and cruise enthusiasts alike, nothing beats an Alaskan cruise. A place truly wild in every sense of the word, Alaska offers a glimpse at what life was like long before roads, skyscrapers and cell phones. The frigid north is renowned for its beauty and thrilling expeditions whic
Made In China Part Three: Real Chinese Takeaway
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 American? The fact that Chinese cuisine takeout is readily available in almost every suburban strip mall in the United States is
Cruise Adventures in Curacao: 6 Spots You Have to See!
When I see Willemstad, Curacao on a Caribbean cruise itinerary, I’m immediately excited –the name alone acts like a hook and I invariably read on. Cruise-passenger-friendly Willemstad, the capital of Curacao is an architecture-buff’s delight –I’m one!– and the island, a consti
The Great Wall and Pandas of Chengdu
Few marvels of the ancient world compare in size and scale to the Great Wall of China. Spanning thousands of miles, it’s the longest man-made structure on Earth and played a pivotal role in the development of the region. The wall is really a collection of sections, each built during a different er
When Kings Were Gods; Cruising the Ancient Nile
Few rivers on Earth mean as much to a nation as the Nile does to the people of Egypt. Historically important, culturally essential, and necessary for survival, the Nile provides more than just water to one of the world’s oldest civilizations. It offers a glimpse into the tumultuous, yet resilient
Shanghai, On The Side
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 options, especially when it comes to exotic destinations. While Shanghai, China doesn’t really fall into that category, it certainly has an appea
Into the Heart of Cascadia: Cruising the Pacific Northwest
Home to slumbering volcanoes, lush forests, and rolling rivers, the Pacific Northwest is an intrepid soul’s paradise. Those looking to explore one of America’s most unique regions can now do so with UnCruise Adventures new Rivers of Adventure itinerary. Known for their small ship cruises that ar
The Holy Ganges: An India River Cruise Adventure
The Ganges river system in India is more than just a waterway, it’s a purveyor of life. For the millions of people who live near its shores, the river is the embodiment of the Hindu goddess Ganga and her life-bringing properties. Pandaw Cruises, a premier small-ship luxury cruise line, offers g
If You Build It, They Will Cruise
One of the things people love most about cruising is the variety of ports that can be visited on a single voyage. In fact, many travelers plan their Caribbean cruises based on the itinerary and its destinations. As the popularity of cruising has grown, so has the need for more ports of call with bet
Carnival Makes Splash with New Cuba Itineraries
Carnival Cruise Line made a splash recently with their announcement of new Cuba itineraries for the 2019-20 cruising season. The popular cruise line plans to offer 23 new cruises to Havana in the next two years, including three and five-day itineraries across five ships cruising from several of Carn
Grape Destinations: Park, Stay, and Wine Taste in Sonoma Plaza
Napa may have been the first California wine region to gain international recognition, but the first California grapes came from Sonoma County. In the 1820s, Franciscan monks planted vines at Mission San Francisco de Solano which still exists in the heart of the town of Sonoma. Today, Sonoma C
