Through the Porthole

First Cruise: Queen Victoria

"Author, Gary cements growing reputation." – Salina Patel, Hounslow Chronicle
"Enjoyable and descriptive...very interesting." – J. Collins
"A rollicking good read." – Amazon Customer

In a world obsessed with speed and convenience, Through the Porthole offers a refreshing alternative: the slow, meditative rhythm of travel by ocean.

Join author Gary Troia and his wife Marina aboard Cunard’s majestic Queen Victoria for a ten-day cruise that docks in La Coruña, Cádiz, Malaga, Tangier, and Lisbon. This isn’t just a record of places visited—it's a wry, thoughtful, and often funny reflection on the deeper meaning of travel, family, and reclaiming the lost art of the journey.

From the absurdity of coach toilets to the existential misery of budget flights, Troia contrasts the rushed and the restful, ultimately celebrating the sea as the last true sanctuary for contemplation. Along the way, readers are treated to vivid descriptions, candid memories, and the quiet joy of slowing down in a world that rarely does.

With insight, humour, and a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures, this is a travelogue for those who believe that how you travel matters just as much as where you go.