ANTI-SOCIAL DISTANCING? Solo Cruising in the Covid-19 Era
When I think of cruising in the Covid-19 era, the chorus of Eric Carmen’s 1975 pop hit “All By Myself” wafts through my mind because, more often than not, I sail solo. People sail solo for a lot of reasons. Perhaps they’re single, divorced or widowed, or maybe they’re stressed-out bu
Choose Your Cruise – June 19, 2020
You might think that you have to fly all the way to Europe to get the full river cruise experience, but people forget that America has rivers, too. Darn good ones, at that. We have three American river cruises to choose from on three of our favorite small ship operators. These cruise lines have an [
Virgin Voyages Releases ‘Voyage Well’ Plan
We’re inching closer and closer to cruising again and another well-known cruise line has released a health and wellness program designed to give guests and crew confidence in the safety of a cruise vacation. Virgin Voyages has introduced their new ‘Voyage Well’ plan for the soft opening of Sca
Take a Summertime Road Trip to Find Utah’s Best Milkshakes
Utah may be known for having some of the best skiing in the country, but it has a little secret. The state transforms into hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking paradise during the summer months. With five national parks (Zion’s, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef) a
Bali Resort Looks to Entice Guests with Extended Stays
The Indonesian island of Bali takes up a spot on most bucket lists and one resort on the island is offering extended stay options for people looking for an isolated vacation away from the crowds. Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana has a new “Extended Stay for Greater Value” package in which gues
Vacationing in Porto Back Yarda
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 he wrote and recorded, Porto Back Yarda, a domesticated ode to travel wanderlust when travel isn’t possible. The song serves as a roadmap t
Caribbean Icon Robert Hamaty Passes Away
The cruise and travel industry lost a familiar face over the weekend as Robert Hamaty, founder of the Tortuga Rum Company, passed away at the age of 72. The company’s famous rum flavored treats and souvenirs have been a staple of the Caribbean since they first began back in 1984. Hamaty was origin
River Cruising Returning to Australia
Australian cruise operator Captain Cook Cruises is returning their river cruise operations back to normal starting June 23rd on Australia’s Murray River. The 7-night ‘Welcome Back’ cruise on board the beautiful paddlewheel river ship PS Murray Princess from Renmark to Mannum in the Australian
Choose Your Cruise – June 12, 2020
One of the most amazing things about cruising these days is what the ships look like compared to just a decade or two ago. Cruising has grown from a leisure activity to one which has certain ships cater to a younger demographic of fun-seekers. There’s still plenty of relaxation to be found, bu
Why Geocaching Needs to Be Your New Summer Hobby
It’s summertime! Luckily for us the weather is gorgeous with a vast array of sunny days ahead. Now is the time to explore some outdoor activities, take that long-awaited vacation, or spend time with friends and family doing backyard barbeques, and other fun get-togethers. But in the wake of COVID-
Cruising Will Return…But When is the Question
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 cruise to the four corners of the earth and you will definitely hear from me. Not to cast blame on anyone in particular or throw caution to the […]
10 Boutique Oregon Wineries That Need Exploring
Oregon wine industry has evolved in recent decades from an agricultural afterthought to a major player on the worldwide viticulture stage. The state now has 18 American Viticultural Areas (AVA). Among the oldest AVAs are the Willamette Valley, the Columbia Valley, the Walla Walla Valley, and the Ump
CRUISE RECIPE: MSC Cruises’ Neapolitan Pizza
I’m Hungry to Sail Again… When it comes to MSC’s pizza, I’m something of an expert since that’s pretty much all I consumed during the 2013 and 2014 Moody Blues Cruises aboard Poesia and Divina, respectively. Unlike the typical sailing where leisurely meals in the ship’s dining room or sp
Choose Your Cruise – June 5, 2020
Thanks for checking out the most popular hypothetical vacation guessing game on the internet! We’re all about river cruises in today’s installment of ‘Choose Your Cruise’. It’s looking more and more like river ships will be the first to sail and their estimated ret
CRUISE RECIPE: Disney Cruise Lines’ Chocolate Fudge Brownie Milkshake
When you cruise with Disney, you can expect there will be some sweet treats along the way. In honor of National Donut Day, we’ve got a recipe for a milkshake served with a donut on top! You can find this delicious treat at Sweet on You on board Disney Fantasy. It’s a popular spot fo
Is 2020 the Year of the Log Cabin Vacation?
After being cooped up since March, everyone is dreaming about summer vacation. We quite literally want to get away from it all. But with COVID-19 still out there, the idea of sitting on a plane or even walking through an airport gives me the heebie-jeebies. Road trip, anyone? It’s time to head for
Eco Oceans: Getting to Zero Emissions
Climate change is a hot-button topic these days and for good reason: 2020 will likely rank among the five warmest years on record, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Fortunately, several organizations are taking urgent action to combat and prevent further impact. In 201
This European River Cruise Sails June 17th
River cruise lovers are in luck, they could be on a ship in a matter of weeks. A-ROSA River Cruises announced today that their river cruise ship ALVA will recommence operation on June 17th for all sailings along Portugal’s Douro River. Itineraries on the Rhine and Danube restart on the 19th and 20
TikTok & Its Travel Influencers: Where to Start Your Virtual Escape
If you’re over 25, maybe you first heard about TikTok about the 400th time you heard “Old Town Road.” I’m not sure I had. But then we did one as a WFH team-building exercise after our millennial assistant sent a couple celebrity tag-team brawls and Zoom meeting pencil passes as inspiration.
#BlackLivesMatter: Statement From Porthole Cruise
Over the weekend, the streets of Miami stood in solidarity with the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota and dozens of other major cities around the country protesting police misconduct and systemic racism within law enforcement. The images and videos from media outlets across the country were powerful
