DETAILS
Bask under the billowing sails of Sea Cloud II en route from Nice to Naples. Discover enticing ports, including Ligurian cities like Genoa and Camogli, known as The City of a Thousand Sails. Visit maritime museums, stroll along beautiful harbor fronts and explore well-preserved waterfront old towns. See Pisa’s iconic Leaning Tower; discover Genoa’s cultural treasures like the Strada Nuova and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo; on the isle of Elba, explore the fortified town of Portoferraio and Napoleon’s villa; and spend time in Amalfi, with its enviable views of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
- Pricing from
- $8,990
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International Ocean & Sea Voyages
- Departure Dates
-
May 15, 2024 - May 22, 2024
A Ship Befit for Celebrated Ports
Inspired by the legendary tall ship Sea Cloud—the lavish yacht built by heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post in 1931—and designed with modern amenities to give her a unique sailing style, Sea Cloud II combines the spaciousness of a contemporary vessel with the splendor of a classic square-rigger. From elegant bathrooms and silk-upholstered furnishings to flat-screen televisions and minibars, each of the 44 outward-facing cabins on Sea Cloud II is outfitted with luxurious amenities. Sleep like royalty amid mahogany and marble and wake up to bedside views of sapphire seas or the colorful harbor of a quaint fishing village.
The Art of Sailing
One of the great joys of traveling aboard a traditional tall ship is witnessing the daily theater of her spirited crew as they raise and lower the sails by hand en route to our next destination. Whether they are climbing the rigging, loosening the heavy cloth, or hauling lines in from the deck, the sailors of Sea Cloud II are eager to show you the art of their daily work. And the captain’s bridge is always open for an in-depth look at the intricacies of turn-of-the-century navigation before steamships dominated global waters. While at sea, the ship engines are only used when necessary, allowing you to become fully immersed in a tranquil sailing experience.
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY
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day 1
NICE, FRANCE/EMBARK
Arrive in Nice and embark Sea Cloud II in the late afternoon. (D)
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day 2
AT SEA/GENOA, ITALY
Gather on deck for a play-by-play description of the crew in the rigging and the action of setting square sails, staysails, and jibs as Sea Cloud II shows her full glory. Relax with a book on deck, and enjoy delicious meals and complimentary drinks. After lunch, begin your exploration of La Superba (Genoa’s nickname meaning “The Proud One”). See its old city center, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the old port (Porto Antico) and the Arco della Vittoria, a monument to fallen solders of WWI. You can’t miss the dramatic Cathedral of San Lorenzo, built originally as a Romanesque Basilica in the 1100s, remodeled in the Gothic style in 1307, and topped with a Renaissance dome in 1557. Inside, the large 15th-century Cappella San Giovanni Battista is the earliest example of Renaissance architecture in Genoa, built to hold what are believed to be the remains of St. John the Baptist. Explore Plaza Ferrari and pay a visit to Palazzo Ducale, or “Doge’s Palace.” Doges were chief magistrates during medieval times and the Renaissance, found particularly in Venice and Genoa. Originally constructed in 1298, the palace is now the cultural center of Genoa. Here you’ll enjoy a tasting of some local delights such as gelato, Genoa’s famous pesto, extra virgin olive oil, and—of course—wine and salami. Return to Sea Cloud II for the captain’s welcome evening and an overnight docked in Genoa. (B,L,D)
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day 3
CAMOGLI/AT SEA
Take a drive along the stunning Italian coast to the town of Camogli—once one of the Mediterranean’s most powerful naval ports, Nicknamed “City of a Thousand White Ships” and inhabited since pre-historic times, today, Camogli is one of the Italian Riviera’s most picture-perfect villages. Take in its stunning panoramas, a charming harbor, narrow lanes lined with towering pastel-colored buildings, lovely cathedral, and ruined castle. Hear about 12th-century Castle Dragone’s fascinating history and visit the Camogli Maritime Museum to learn about the city’s maritime prowess and traditions. The basilica Santa Maria Sunta is the town’s largest church, elegantly decorated with art and gold left by many of the town’s seamen after they died. During your visit, enjoy a taste of Camogli’s specialty: focaccia al formaggio, a staple street food in the region. Return to Sea Cloud II to enjoy onboard presentations, free time to enjoy sailing, and more, as she sails south along the picturesque coast of Italy. (B,L,D)
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day 4
VIAREGGIO/PISA/PIETRASANTA
The leaning tower—a UNESCO World Heritage site—has long been the best-known attraction in the town of Pisa due to its uncanny stature as a result of the sandy base on which it was built. However, the tower is just a single component of a city with many notable architectural and historical achievements. Nowhere else in Italy are a city’s key buildings aligned with such precision and or is there so beautiful a contrast of stonework and surrounding meadow. The Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), Duomo, Baptistery, and Camposanto complete an unrivalled quartet of medieval masterpieces. These—along with more than a dozen churches and palazzos—belong to Pisa’s “Golden Age,” from the 11th to the 13th century, when the city, then still a port, was one of the leading maritime powers of the Mediterranean.
After time in Pisa, head to Pietrasanta, which grew to importance during the 15thcentury, mainly due to its connection with marble. Michelangelo was the first sculptor to recognize the beauty of the local stone. Today, artists and sculptors from all over the world are drawn to the city, known as “Little Athens” due to its marble studios. These studios mingle with small, elegant shops in the long alleyways lined with ochre-washed buildings with wooden shutters that radiate from Piazza del Duomo. Pietrasanta is the foremost place in the world for marble work, and you’ll visit local artists and shops to see this time-honored artisanry in action. (B,L,D) -
day 5
AT SEA/PORTOFERRAIO
Portoferraio is the main town on Elba Island, and its complex history is matched only by the labyrinth of small alleys and monuments to the passing ages found in its city center. The town was founded by the Romans (with the name of Fabricia) on a pre-existing Tuscan settlement. After the fall of Rome, it was destroyed by buccaneers and rebuilt in the 7thcentury under the name of Ferraia. In 1442 the Saracens destroyed it, and in the 16thcentury, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I of the Medici family, ordered the construction of imposing fortifications. The town was named Cosmopoli after him. Napoleon, after his forced abdication following the Treaty of Fontainebleau, was exiled to Elba Island, a time during which he enacted several reforms to improve the quality of life for its residents. Finally, under the reign of the Lorena family, the name Ferraia was reestablished and then changed into the present name of Portoferraio. Pay a visit to Villa dei Mulini (literally “Villa of the Mills”), Napoleon’s primary residence on the island. After visiting the town, you will stop in a wine bar along the promenade to taste typical Elban dishes paired with local wines. (B,L,D)
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day 6
AT SEA
A day at sea presents another opportunity to witness Sea Cloud II’s sails aloft. Enjoy the ship plying the surf and sip on complimentary drinks as you catch up on reading, sort your photos, and learn from expedition staff presentations. (B,L,D)
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day 7
AMALFI/AT SEA
Sea Cloud II anchors off Amalfi this morning. This storied town, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that comprises the entire Amalfi Coast, is known for pastel-hued houses that cling to steep-sided mountains. Stroll the waterfront, with its marina and shops; visit the ornate cathedral, with bronze doors dating from 1066; and wander the winding streets and alleyways to make your own discoveries. After exploring Amalfi, enjoy the captain’s farewell evening as Sea Cloud II makes her way to Naples. (B,L,D)
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day 8
NAPLES/DISEMBARK
Arrive in Naples this morning. After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)
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