South Seas Trifecta
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 and the petite island paradise of Fiji to the northeast. A marathon flight to these far-flung destinations may require diligent planning, but there is nothin
It Must Be Something In The Water
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 flip side you will also hear tales of visiting fascinating destinations and a unique lifestyle unlike any other. Granted, certain positions carry enviable be
“Cruising” California By Land
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 our bags packed with fingers crossed, desperately scanning the news for a sign from the travel gods blessing us with an end to the grueling absence
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
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 […]
The Last Man Cruising
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 as the COVID 19 outbreak was shutting down the world piece by piece. The cruise was the last leg of a journey that saw him imbibe in […
Cruising in 2019, It’s A Wrap!
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 out of this world. (Or at least the world we think we know.) If you’re making New Year’s Resolutions, I can’t think of anything be
Millennial River Cruise Simplicity of U by Uniworld
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. With the introduction of these two vessels, parent company Uniworld has initiated a foray into the upward potential of river cruising specificall
Emirates Evolution
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 likely be hard pressed to name any of the other Emirates. Or be able to point to them on a map. Bordered by the countries of Saudi Arabia, [&hel
The True Colors of Greenland
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 daylight blazed through the plane’s window. The terrain was a blinding white. Ice and snow blanketed the surface as far as the eye cou
Mighty Fine River Rhine Aboard AmaPrima
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 the case for almost any itinerary, but what makes the AmaWaterways adventure on the go
Traveling to Bhutan, The Land Of The Thundering Dragon
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 flung corners of the earth is one thing, but a visit to the remote Kingdom of Bhutan provides a litany of serendipitous experienc
The Best Street Eats in Kolkata
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. To plot your course through a city like this is a daunting task and to experience the food scene, an even more challeng
The Return Of Nile River Cruising
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 along the Nile had been a quintessential component of bucket list adventure until, without warning, the Arab Spring uprising of 2011 dea
Sailing Indonesia With Star Clippers
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 under unfurled ivory sails stokes the imagination of any would-be sailor, and nowhere can you savor the experience better than in and around the exoti
Steve Abroad: Recapping a WILD 2018
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 from all backgrounds, it’s been my mission to seek out off-the-radar cruise itineraries that go virtually unnoticed. Here’s a synopsi
Five Fave Adventure Tours in Southeast Asia
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 and old intrepid travelers. Entrepreneurs from around the globe have created ingenious activities deviating from traditional, “
Food To Thai Me Over
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 hasn’t felt the urge to make the phone call to your local Thai restaurant and order the quintessential Pad Thai, Tom Ka Gai or Chicken Sa
A Star Performance
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 every brand is quick to expound on specific hallmark qualities, Windstar Cruise
China’s River Run
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 itinerary. A majority of the spectacular destinations within the country can be conveniently accessed by train or plane, but one can add a new dimension to a C
