Mediterranean Expeditions Aboard Sea Cloud

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Uncover the storied Mediterranean on a unique sailing vessel

The Mediterranean, literally meaning “the sea in the middle of the Earth,” has deeply influenced Western history and culture. There is no better way to delve into the region’s history and myths than under sail—hopping among the islands and exploring the coasts as the ancients did. Discover its myth and magic aboard Sea Cloud. This historic tall ship is far more than a souvenir of a golden age. It is full of the glamour and sophistication of the ’30s and her original owner, Marjorie Merriweather Post, and also a thoroughly modern yacht in terms of safety technology and creature comforts. It is the perfect platform to travel among islands and along storied coasts, a bridge to history in a land bursting with it.

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Expedition Highlights

Sun, steady winds, far-reaching Mediterranean culture and history, archaeology, mythology, and the tranquility of small islands—Sea Cloud’s season in the iconic Aegean, Ionian, Tyrrhenian, and Adriatic Seas is historically rich and scenically beautiful. Our itineraries are studded with archaeological landmarks, with sites both legendary and seldom seen. But our expedition style is also designed to balance active exploration with reflection and relaxation—so plan to discover isolated beaches, small fishing villages, welcoming people, and quiet beauty. And to have unplanned moments—a gathering in a Greek taverna perhaps—you’ll remember forever.

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Life Aboard

Polished brass capstans and portholes gleam, teak decks glow, and interiors are fitted with Italian marble and paneled in carved oak. Enjoy the grace and refinement of Sea Cloud, an extraordinarily elegant ship and a direct descendant of the opulent '30s—as you also enjoy the casual attitude and informal style of our small ship cruise of the Mediterranean.

The Seductive Allure of Santorini

Strikingly beautiful, Santorini has an equally dramatic history and an intersection of geology and architecture that’s apparent.

Sail the Legendary Sea Cloud

Wherever she sails, Sea Cloud is a destination and a reason to travel all in one. Experience the epitome of elegance aboard the historic Marjorie Merriweather Post sailing yacht.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

1.800.397.3348

1.800.397.3348

Opened a new world for me.

Sheila Ann S.

Expedition Leader

Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.

Naturalist

Our naturalists, passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly), illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Our guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of our staff as key reasons to repeatedly travel with us.

Historian

Our historians will share the stories, tumults, and triumphs of the people and places we explore. Their colorful personalities and passion for history, from the minutiae to the big picture, make them engaging travel companions.

Certified Photo Instructor

Every expedition aboard Sea Cloud offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings, and the basics of composition and to help you become a better, more confident photographer.

Cultural Specialist

Sail with cultural commentators aboard who further illuminate local life. They are leaders in their fields, some still engaged in conducting research, who know the region intimately. Learn from them in onboard presentations, and engage with them on a one-to-one basis to learn more about their topic or backgrounds.

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Daily Expedition Reports

Daily Expedition Reports

10/2/2022

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Sea Cloud

Amalfi

Amalfi is an intriguing mix of sophistication and simplicity. A harbor full of super yachts, expensive boutiques, and five-star hotels clinging to the cliffs above the town greeted us this morning, but as we scanned the hillsides above the town as we anchored, we could still witness the rural reality of this stunningly beautiful region. Hillside villages precariously perched on steeply terraced mountain sides, where farmers still cultivate small plots of lemon trees, vines, and vegetables, and tiny fishing communities still make a living from the sea. Given the diminutive size of the town nestled at the entrance of a steep sided ravine, it was hard to conceive that this was once one of the great Italian medieval maritime republics that rivaled Pisa, Genoa, and Venice in wealth. From the 9th to the 12th century, Amalfi traded salt, grain, and slaves with Egypt in exchange for silver to buy silks in Constantinople, which it then traded to its European neighbors. We started our tour in the Piazza Duomo at the foot of a flight of 60+ steps leading up to the Cathedral of St. Andrew, which is literally the heart of Amalfi. The cathedral dates to the 11th century, but its interior was extensively rebuilt in the late Baroque style. In 1206, the relics of St. Andrew were brought to Amalfi from Constantinople by Pietro Capuano following the sack of that city at the beginning of the Fourth Crusade. We also visited the magnificent, frescoed crypt containing the relics and the Cloister of Paradise that is surrounded by 120 overlapping arches in Arabic-Norman style. As Sunday mass started, we left the church and walked through the narrow alleys of the town to visit the newly restored maritime museum that is in the last two vaulted halls of the original 12th century Arsenali della Repubblica. We learned that the original hall contained 22 vaults, but twelve have been lost due to coastal erosion. After the tour, many of us chose to stay in town for a few hours to browse the shops or sit in one of the many cafes surrounding the Piazza Duomo for a coffee, gelato, or a glass of their famous limoncello. Back aboard, the chefs brought out the legendary “pasta wheel”–a full round of parmesan in which they scrape the sides of the cheese and toss in the hot pasta for a sinfully delicious meal. The swim platform appeared after lunch for a few hours before we repositioned to drift off Capri for the Captain’s cocktail party, the guest slide show of our trip, and one final Mediterranean sunset!

Daily Expedition Reports

10/1/2022

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Sea Cloud

Pompeii and Ravello

Travelers and poets have often rhapsodized about the Mediterranean’s spectacularly capricious geology in this area, but for those living in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79, the end came swiftly and cruelly. As we followed our guides through the silent, deserted streets (save the 21st century tour groups jostling for position in the Forum), the three dimensionality of the buildings and frescoed scenes painted on the walls of the houses allowed us to connect with the city’s doomed citizens in a way that is not possible at ordinary archaeological sites. All too soon, we had to return to the ship for an Italian buffet, and then it was on to Ravello. The enchanting views of the Amalfi Coast and the late fall gardens from the terrace of a villa were certainly worth the trip through the mountain switchbacks!

Daily Expedition Reports

9/30/2022

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Sea Cloud

Agropoli/Paestum

The weather was perfect for sailing this morning, so the deck crew raised several sails during breakfast and shortly after. Our historian, Dr. Robyn Woodward, gave a talk on Pompeii, followed by the captain doing a few sailing maneuvers. These special maneuvers involved teamwork from both the deck and the hospitality crew. After lunch, we took Zodiacs ashore to the coastal town of Agropoli before driving 30 minutes to the city of Paestum, which was founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC. Our local guides gave a narrated tour of the three major Greek temples that were built in the Doric style and are thought to be dedicated to Hera and Athena.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/29/2022

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Sea Cloud

Lipari, Aeolian Islands

Sea Cloud slipped through the Straits of Messina at sunrise, much to the delight of a group of bathrobe-clad “early risers” who witnessed our navigation through this narrow, legendary passage. The strong currents caused the ship to abruptly heel 5 degrees to port, demonstrating once again the power of Mother Nature. The winds were initially less than expected as we entered the Tyrrhenian Sea, but the 1.5-2.0 m swells we experienced were the outer edge of the strong weather front that was clearly visible off our starboard bow all morning. Captain John Svendsen gave an engaging presentation on sailing, seamanship, and the need to have a situational awareness of weather and currents so you can make a tall ship “dance” with the wind. Paula Tagle, our Expedition Leader and geologist, also gave a presentation on the tectonic nature of this corner of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Sea Cloud passed through a few rain squalls as she approached the Aeolian Islands from the southeast, making way to our anchorage directly below the Spanish castello situated atop the ancient acropolis of Lipari Island. The archipelago is named after the Greek god of the winds and the sheer cliffs of pumice and rock, smoking fumaroles, and craggy volcanic plugs jutting out of the sea that speak to their volcanic origins and nature. The sun came out as the Zodiacs were lowered so we could make our way to our landing at the Marina Corta, the smallest of the two ports. We followed our guides through this incredibly picturesque little town with its narrow basalt-paved lanes and soft, pastel-colored limestone houses to board buses in Marina Lungo for our drive around the island. We made a few viewing stops on our circumnavigation of the island, which enabled us to see all the islands in the archipelago, including Vulcano (with its smoking crater) and Stromboli, which erupted as if on cue at each stop. On our return to the town of Lipari, we had a choice of wandering the streets to enjoy the laidback island life or hiking up to the castle to see the wonderful archaeological museum that houses a rich collection of both prehistoric and classical finds from the island. The museum has an outstanding collection of Greek black and red figure vases that were found in a necropolis (cemetery of the ancient city), amphorae from ancient shipwrecks, and miniature masks and votive mythological figures from classical Greek plays. After a marvelous Italian deck buffet, we all grabbed our cameras as Sea Cloud approached Stromboli to see if the volcano was going to put on a light show for us. It did not disappoint! The “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean” was already lit up as we neared the island and stayed in a constant state of eruption for the next hour as we drifted off its north coast. It was hard to tear ourselves away, but eventually the engines started up so we could make our way to our next stop, the ancient city of Paestrum on the Italian mainland.

Daily Expedition Reports

9/28/2022

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Sea Cloud

Taormina, Castello degli Schiavi, and Giardini Naxos

We wake up to a magnificent view of Mount Etna sporadically smoking. We can see the colorful Sicilian fields from the shore of Giardini Naxos, all the way up to its very summit at 3,350 meters of elevation. I cannot yet believe that I have in front of me a volcano that has been active for several thousands of years, the largest in Europe and a protagonist in so many legends. The cyclops are said to forge the lightning bolts thrown by Zeus here, and this is where Odysseus blinded Polyphemus. We land on the shores formed by Etna’s ancient lava to take buses for our excursion. Our first stop is Taormina, a romantic and colorful city perched on a ridge of Monte Tauro, 250 meters above sea level. The city’s coat of arms decorates the fountain at Piazza del duomo: a half cow / half woman with a crown (a Taormina?). Everything about this town is charming: its narrow streets, colorful ceramics, ice cream and cannoli shops, the gardens hanging from any possible corner, and elements of Arabian and Norman art merging in a splendid and uniquely Sicilian blend. We visit the famous theater of Taormina at the end of our walk. It is built of brick for the most part, so it is probably of Roman date, rebuilt upon Greek foundations. However, the best part is the view you get of the omnipresent volcano, the most spectacular backdrop a theater could have. The next stop is Castello degli Schiavi, where scenes of The Godfather were filmed. Baron Platania, the owner of the Castello, welcomes us and proudly shows us his 18th century property. We are treated to an Italian meal with antipasto, pasta, and a main course. We enjoy Sicilian music and wine in the wine cellars built with lava from Mount Etna, always Etna. We come back to the ship to enjoy sunset while the half moon sets behind this volcano of my heart, while denser fumaroles rise up. They seem to come from its craters on the “other” side because Etna has four craters today. The volcano seems to be stating, “I am the Godfather,” “the Godfather sono Io.”

There’s nothing sacrificed by having this traditional relationship with sailing. This is the height of luxury; and the height of luxury these days, in many ways, is arguably, your ability to get away from it all.

Sven-Olof Lindblad

1.800.397.3348

1.800.397.3348

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Expeditions By Private Charter

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Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud

Expeditions By Private Charter

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Explorations 2022-25

Multi

Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud

Explorations 2022-25

2022-25 Voyages | Expeditions.com

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