Embark on an extraordinary 11-day sailing cruise that combines cultural heritage and sunny scenery along the coastlines of Croatia and Sicily. This cruise offers a perfect balance between immersive cultural experiences on land and relaxing sailing hours on board. The journey begins in Venice, where you'll depart on a route exclusively reserved for small ships, providing an intimate and exclusive experience. Explore the harmonious blend of Roman and Venetian cultures in the enchanting Adriatic metropolis of Split. Discover the captivating Baroque town of Lecce in Italy, with its stunning facades and honey-colored tufa stone churches. Experience the picturesque beauty of Taormina, with its romantic alleys, flower-covered stairs, and sweeping views of the sea against a backdrop of volcanic landscapes. This sailing cruise promises a remarkable fusion of cultural immersion, breathtaking scenery, and the joy of sailing along these magnificent coastlines.
- Perfect balance of cultural program on land and relaxed sailing hours on board
- A hand’s width from the Doge's Palace: We leave Venice on a route reserved for small ships.
- In perfect harmony: the mix of Roman and Venetian cultures in the Adriatic metropolis of Split.
- The Baroque town of Lecce: Italian jewel with amazing facades and churches of honey-colored tufa stone
- Taormina – a beauty set against a volcanic panorama: romantic alleys, flower-covered stairs, and a view far over the sea
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Departure 07.00 pm Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails – today is all about sailing. The First Officer will provide deeper insights into the fascinating world of a tall ship.
Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 01.30 pm Rovinj lies on the western coast of Istria. The old town was built on a hill and was part of the Republic of Venice for over 500 years. St Euphemia's Basilica sits above the terracotta roofs in solitary splendour and its tower has become the town's landmark. A stroll through the winding lanes transports you straight into the Mediterranean lifestyle and the region's culinary delights. Istrian wines seem to embody the sun's rich heat, the oak forests conceal precious white truffles and the region's olive oil is among the finest in the world.
Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 01.30 pm Spend the day sunbathing, enjoy the fresh wind breeze, and relax into the day!
Arrival 01.30 pm, Departure 10.00 pm The Adriatic island of Korcula is one of the greenest in the region. Vineyards and olive groves stretch across rolling hills. The island's main town of the same name is protected by a city wall. It is one of the best-preserved medieval Mediterranean towns. Some buildings evoke the time when the maritime power of Venice ruled. Tintoretto is immortalised in the cathedral, and in one of the narrow streets you can search for the house where Marco Polo was born.
Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 01.30 pm Dalmatia is the southernmost region of Croatia, and Split is its most beautiful cultural center and secret capital. Gothic, Romanesque, Venetian, Roman and Baroque – a stroll through the old city of Split is like a journey through time. Diocletian's Palace, once the Emperor's retirement retreat, is at the heart of the beautiful old city, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A vast palace complex of around 30,000 square meterss (322,917 square foot) was erected in just 10 years at the end of the 3rd century AD. A city within a city.
Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails – today is all about sailing. Time to lean back and relax in the deck chair and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.
Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 07.30 pm Otranto is the most easterly port in Italy and, due to its geographic location in the Adriatic, has had an extremely eventful history over the centuries. Not far away is Lecce, one of the most beautiful and affluent cities in southern Italy whose heyday was immortalised in stone over 200 years. The Baroque cityscape, in the idiosyncratic "barocco leccese" style, is characterised by a marble-like stone known as Lecce stone. The numerous palaces and the Basilica di Santa Croce have profusely decorated facades and art feels right at home here. There is good reason why people are proud of its evocative nickname, the Florence of the South.
Just enjoy the perfect sailing conditions with fitness, cosmetics, massage or with a good book in a teak chair.
Arrival 07.00 am, Departure 02.00 pm Taormina is perched on a rock with a majestic view over the sea. In the 19th century, this small town had already developed into a dream destination for well-heeled travellers and artists. The town's fascination lies in its elegance, the many ancient buildings, the stunningly beautiful coastline, the mild climate, and the view over the silhouette of Etna. Europe's largest volcano is over 3,000 meters (9,843 foot) high, has four summit craters and around 400 subsidiary craters, and is covered with snow almost all year round. In ancient times it was considered the seat of the gods, but nowadays large sections of it are a nature reserve.
Arrival 06.00 am, Departure 01.30 pm The municipal area of Syracuse boasts relics from cultural history going back more than three millennia. In ancient times, the city was the most powerful in the known world and was famed for its splendour. The island of Ortigia, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was where Syracuse began its rise as an ancient city. The huge cathedral is at the heart of the old town, magnificent palaces line the Piazza and wide promenades invite you to take a stroll. The archaeological park brings Greek and Roman history back to life. Yet Syracuse exudes southern Italian charm, with washing drying outside the windows.
Arrival 08.00 am This strategically important location has always attracted foreign conquerors. More than 7,000 years ago, a civilisation existed here, leaving behind enormous temple complexes. Just like proud Valletta, these are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Jean Parisot de la Valette, Grand Master of the Order of St John, founded a modern fortified city on a rock in 1566, between the two splendid natural ports of Marsamxett and Grand harbor. Long rows of facades made from golden-yellow blocks of chalk stretch along the straight streets. Splendid Renaissance and Baroque buildings are evidence of riches and power, such as the Palace of the Grand Master and the impressive St John's Co-Cathedral.
Itineraries are subject to change.
Sea Cloud
| Launched | 1931 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 64 passengers |
| Length | 109 metres |
Sea Cloud is a ship with a soul, imbued by the original owners, Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband E.F. Hutton in the 1930’s. The ship has played host to royalty, known service in wartime, and sailed the world over. She is a vessel of incomparable grace that harks back to the golden age of ship travel. Once you’ve been on Sea Cloud under full sail, you’ll begin your own love affair.
Welcome aboard a legend Sea Cloud accommodates 58 guests in 28 outside cabins including two original owner’s suites that still feature original marble baths and fireplaces. At 360 feet she is an expansive ship with extensive public spaces on the top deck, where we luxuriate in deck chairs and watch the crew of 18 go aloft in the web of riggings to hand-set her 30 sails. Her dining room is hung with marine oil paintings of the period and accommodates all guests at once for a single seating. We’ll gather in the lounge each evening for Recap. Life aboard is a uniquely pleasing mix of elegance and informality—a return to the golden age of sailing in shorts and deck shoes. You’ll find all shipboard services impeccable.
Discover the romance of tall ship sailingExperience something many people don’t know exists in the 21st century—the romance of life under square sails. Discover the thrill of standing on deck as Sea Cloud gently glides through the water, her crew aloft in the riggings, running out and reefing sails. Settle in to your favorite areas on the top deck and bask in the incomparable experience of traveling aboard the finest tall ship to ever sail the seas. Lose yourself in an adventure that, in this day and age, is almost unimaginable.
Sea Cloud II
Vessel Type: Tall Ship (Sailing)
Length: 105 metres
Passenger Capacity: 96
Built: 2001
Launched in 2001, Sea Cloud II is a stunning vessel, built along traditional lines, but offering deluxe accommodation. She combines timeless elegance of sailing ships of the past with the highest safety standards and the luxurious comfort of modern cruise ships. Just like her legendary sister ship Sea Cloud, the 29,600 square feet of sails is set by hand which is a truly magical sight. Built to accommodate 96 passengers in five star luxury, she offers a range of beautifully appointed suites and cabins which are furnished with great style. All accommodations have outside views and the bathrooms, in light marble, are unusually spacious and extremely comfortable. The finest, carefully chosen fabrics, combined with leather, rattan and other materials, brass and gold, precious woods and marble together create an impressive ensemble.
No expense has been spared to create a sympathetic ambience in both the accommodations and public areas and this is reflected throughout the vessel. Public areas include an elegant lounge, library, fitness centre, boutique, lido bar and hospital. The single sitting dining room is airy and modern and the quality of the cuisine and service will be to the highest of standards, as one would expect on a Sea Cloud cruise. Relax on the Lido deck and experience the natural grandeur of travelling under sail, rekindling memories of a bygone age.
Sea Cloud Spirit
Building a three-mast full-rigged ship with traditional rigging in the 21st century may seem a little unusual. For SEA CLOUD CRUISES it is a commitment to true passion for sailing. With her clear, classic line she follows the example of her elegant windjammer sisters, but goes completely new ways. An entire deck with balcony cabins, an exclusive wellness and SPA area, a fitness room with sea view, a bistro on deck as an evening alternative to “fine dining” in the restaurant – the youngest member of the SEA CLOUD family offers plenty of room for individuality in addition to genuine windjammer romance.
The SEA CLOUD SPIRIT combines traditional windjammer experience with 21st century comfort with up to 136 passengers.
Cabins
Even more comfort: of the 69 cabins from the owner suite to the superior outside cabin, almost half have balconies or windows to open.
Public areas
Spacious decks, a generous wellness and SPA area, fitness with sea view and much more: on board the SEA CLOUD SPIRIT, one does not only enjoy the freedom under sails.
Includes
- Beautifully appointed cabin in selected category
- Gratuities
- Welcoming bottle of champagne in your cabin
- All meals from early-bird breakfast to the exquisite 4-course dinner menu with choice of main course
- 5-course gala dinner during the cruise
- Welcome and farewell cocktail with champagne
- Selected wines and beers thoughtfully chosen to complement lunch and dinner
- All soft drinks and juices throughout the cruise
- All alcohol-free coffee and tea specialties
- Bottled water on the excursions
- Fresh fruit basket in your cabin, replenished daily
- English-speaking tour guide
- Travel documents
- All port fees
- Use of watersports facilities such as snorkeling equipment, Stand-Up-Paddles and Towable Tube (weather permitting)
- Free laundry service for cat. A-C (SEA CLOUD) and cat. A+B (SEA CLOUD II and SEA CLOUD SPIRIT)