Experience a Mediterranean voyage filled with vibrant cities and scenic landscapes. Start in Genoa, Italy, then sail to the French Riviera, exploring Nice and La Ciotat before venturing through the dramatic Calanques fjords. In Collioure, soak in the artistic legacy of the Fauvists, then move on to Barcelona for a deep dive into Gaudí and Miró's world. Continue to Tarragona, Palma de Mallorca, and Valencia, where you'll find a blend of historical charm and modern design. Conclude your journey in Cartagena and Málaga, enjoying a mix of cultural treasures and sunny Mediterranean allure.
- Narrow, dark and exciting: boat tour through the steep fjords of the Calanques
- On the trail of the Fauvists: Collioure’s golden light already enchanted Matisse.
- Creative Barcelona: Immerse yourself in architecture and art from Gaudí to Miró.
- Strolling, sightseeing, shopping: Palma de Mallorca between the Cathedral and the Royal Palace
- Architectural inspiration: Valencia between Gothic and Calatrava
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or [email protected]) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Departure 7:00 pm
Strange, really, that Columbus left his hometown of Genoa to explore the world. After all, the proud seafaring metropolis with its charming maze of alleys, hidden backyards, and magnificent palazzi is an excellent place in itself to go exploring. You can stroll along the arcade-lined Via XX Settembre past exclusive boutiques, sample the delicacies of the Mercato Orientale, admire the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, take a selfie in front of the fountain in the Piazza de Ferrari, and finally end up back at the old harbor, which has been beautifully redesigned by star architect Renzo Piano.
Arrival 8:00 am, Departure 1:30 pm
Nice lies in one of the world's most lavishly endowed natural landscapes. The sea glows azure and the mountains in the background rise picturesquely up into the sky. Castle Hill gives you a fantastic view over the rambling old town – a labyrinth of alleyways with Baroque churches, pastel-colored houses and red-tiled roofs. The Promenade des Anglais, a sophisticated, five-kilometer-(3 miles)long walkway along the magnificent Baie des Anges and its long beach, lies at the heart of the elegant new town, with its splendid palaces and aristocratic hotels in the Belle-Époque and Art Deco styles.
Arrival 8:00 am, Departure 11:00 pm
With exciting cities like Marseille, Cassis, Toulon, and Aix-en-Provence in the vicinity, it really isn't easy for La Ciotat to stand out. On the other hand, being overlooked also offers great opportunities: La Ciotat has managed to retain the authentic, unexcited charm of a small town and is a real insider tip on the Côte d'Azur. The coastal town is a great place to live in: Old mansions, chapels and churches line the town's airy squares; and the newly designed harbor promenade invites visitors to stroll and shop with a view of fishing boats, sailing yachts and the old shipyard cranes.
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 8:00 am, Departure 1:30 pm
On one side of the harbor a defiant church, on the other the old royal castle, in between a promenade on which gnarled plane trees provide shade – can so much picturesque idyll be real? In Collioure it can. The fishing village has been attracting artists since the beginning of the 20th century: Here, fauvists like Henri Matisse and André Derain revived in the golden light. Today, a theme trail along the harbor leads to the places where their works were created. Artists have again settled in the old town quarter and offer their works for sale in the flower-decorated labyrinth of alleys and stairways.
Arrival 8:00 am
Barcelona revels in contrasts. Many enthuse over the beautiful elegant squares and boulevards, while others look for medieval romance in the Gothic quarter. Some love the artistic treasures in the Picasso Museum or the Joan Miró Foundation, but for most people Barcelona is the capital of Catalan Art Nouveau and its glory is epitomised in the spectacular Palau de la Música. At every turn you encounter the playfully opulent creations of architect Antonio Gaudi. His exuberant fantasies are evident in the numerous houses, idiosyncratic parks and the famous uncompleted Sagrada Familia cathedral which he created.
Departure 07:00 pm
Barcelona revels in contrasts. Many enthuse over the beautiful elegant squares and boulevards, while others look for medieval romance in the Gothic quarter. Some love the artistic treasures in the Picasso Museum or the Joan Miró Foundation, but for most people Barcelona is the capital of Catalan Art Nouveau and its glory is epitomised in the spectacular Palau de la Música. At every turn you encounter the playfully opulent creations of architect Antonio Gaudi. His exuberant fantasies are evident in the numerous houses, idiosyncratic parks and the famous uncompleted Sagrada Familia cathedral which he created.
Arrival 8:00 am, Departure 10:00 pm
Welcome to ancient times! Roman history comes alive in the Catalan port city of Tarragona. It all began in 218 B.C.: that was when the Romans conquered the city, gave it the name Tarraco and began to build monuments that are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage. If you walk along the old city wall and visit the amphitheatre, the triumphal arch and the forum, you will feel as if you have been transported back thousands of years into the past. A little younger, but equally worth seeing is the Cathedral de Santa Maria: its construction lasted from 1171 to 1331, which is why it combines Romanesque and Gothic style elements.
Arrival 5:00 pm
Majorca's beautiful capital is an elegant city and its picturesque old town and architectural mix of Arab, Catalan and Art Nouveau elements are part of its success story. In the center you will be lured by shops behind splendid facades, and cafés and bars set on beautiful squares invite you to stay a while. Not far from the sophisticated marina you will find the dignified cathedral, affectionately known as "La Seu" for short. With pure Gothic beginnings, none other than Antonio Gaudi created part of its interior at the start of the 20th century.
Departure 1:30 pm
Majorca's beautiful capital is an elegant city and its picturesque old town and architectural mix of Arab, Catalan and Art Nouveau elements are part of its success story. In the center you will be lured by shops behind splendid facades, and cafés and bars set on beautiful squares invite you to stay a while. Not far from the sophisticated marina you will find the dignified cathedral, affectionately known as "La Seu" for short. With pure Gothic beginnings, none other than Antonio Gaudi created part of its interior at the start of the 20th century.
Arrival 5:00 pm
On one corner its centuries old and around the next totally modern – Valencia is everything all at once. Today the beautiful old town and the old silk market "La Lonja de la Seda", which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, still bear witness to the city's wealth in the Middle Ages. A brand new part of the city is situated in a drained river bed and has avant-garde buildings including a futuristic opera house, the largest aquarium in Europe, a botanical garden and a public park. Valencia is one of the few cities that has a heritage of over 2,000 years and is also so intriguingly combined with the future. And no other city in Europe can proudly make the claim that the America’s Cup has already taken place twice right on its front door.
Arrival 1:30 pm, Departure 7:00 pm
An important port as long ago as Carthaginian and Roman times, Cartagena can look back on an eventful history. The "La Manga" headland, over 20 kilometers (12 miles), is a geographical curiosity which divides the long sandy beach of the "Mar Menor" salt water lagoon from that of the Mediterranean. Inland, the Fuensanta convent is mainly famous for a vision of the Virgin Mary which appeared there around 200 years ago and sits high up above the town of Murcia. It affords a delightful view over this lively university town. The huge Cathedral of Murcia was built in 1394 on the former site of a Moorish mosque.
Enjoy fitness, cosmetic treatments, a massage or sun and sea with a good book in the deck chair. The last sailing day gives you all the options for your perfect personal wellness program.
Arrival 8:00 am
Málaga has spruced itself up. In 2003, the Museo Picasso opened in a 16th century Renaissance palace and is dedicated to the artist's extensive life's work. This historic old city invites you to take a stroll and its buildings gleam like new. And above everything towers the Alcazaba, a mighty walled fortress. The port was completely redesigned when the city was opened to the sea and you can now take a lovely stroll along the promenade. In Malaga's hinterland you can see the most beautiful aspects of traditional Andalusia. From a distance the typical Andalusian villages look like white dabs of paint shining out from the brown of the barren mountain landscape.
Itineraries are subject to change.
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.