CORSICA & SARDINIA ABOARD SEA CLOUD
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01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com CORSICA & SARDINIA ABOARD SEA CLOUD This 10-night voyage is dedicated to the exploration of two fiercely independent islands–Sardinia and Corsica. These islands share many historic elements through millennia of empires and civilizations, but still maintain their identities and independent attitudes from their governing nations of Italy and France respectively. The platform for our exploration is the incomparable and legendary square-rig sailing yacht Sea Cloud. Plenty of time is built in to enjoy the sailing action of Sea Cloud under sail and all the other comforts of this historic vessel and its congenial crew, as well as the expert Lindblad-National Geographic staff. The voyage departs and returns to Naples, Italy, allowing the time and space for ample sailing around these spectacular and intriguing islands. ITINERARY DAY 1-2: Naples, Italy/Embark Fly overnight and arrive in Naples. Board the legendary Sea Cloud and cast off from the Naples’ active harbor. We’ll pass by the rugged coast of the island of Capri at sunset as we enter the Tyrrhenian Sea. (Day 2: D) DAY 3: At Sea Join the expedition leader for a play-by-play description of the crew in the rigging and the action of the setting of square sails, stay sails, and jibs as Sea Cloud shows her full glory. Bask in the comfort and intrigue of this legendary and historic square rigger--enjoy delicious meals, complimentary drinks, and talks by the expedition staff as we sail toward Sardinia. (B,L,D) DAY 4: Caligari, Sardinia
Transcript of CORSICA & SARDINIA ABOARD SEA CLOUD
01432 507 280 (within UK)
[email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com
CORSICA & SARDINIA ABOARD SEA CLOUD
This 10-night voyage is dedicated to the exploration of twofiercely independent islands–Sardinia and Corsica. Theseislands share many historic elements through millennia ofempires and civilizations, but still maintain their identities andindependent attitudes from their governing nations of Italy andFrance respectively. The platform for our exploration is theincomparable and legendary square-rig sailing yacht Sea Cloud.Plenty of time is built in to enjoy the sailing action of Sea Cloudunder sail and all the other comforts of this historic vessel andits congenial crew, as well as the expert Lindblad-NationalGeographic staff. The voyage departs and returns to Naples,Italy, allowing the time and space for ample sailing aroundthese spectacular and intriguing islands.
ITINERARY
DAY 1-2: Naples, Italy/Embark
Fly overnight and arrive in Naples. Board the legendary SeaCloud and cast off from the Naples’ active harbor. We’ll pass bythe rugged coast of the island of Capri at sunset as we enter theTyrrhenian Sea. (Day 2: D)
DAY 3: At Sea
Join the expedition leader for a play-by-play description of thecrew in the rigging and the action of the setting of square sails,stay sails, and jibs as Sea Cloud shows her full glory. Bask inthe comfort and intrigue of this legendary and historic squarerigger--enjoy delicious meals, complimentary drinks, and talksby the expedition staff as we sail toward Sardinia. (B,L,D)
DAY 4: Caligari, Sardinia
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We dock in Sardinia’s capital of Cagliari on the south end of theisland, dominated by its hilltop medieval Castello. In themorning we drive inland to the archeological centerpiece of SuNuraxi in Barumini, which is the most well-preserved of theBronze Age nuraghe, or stone fortresses, that characterize bothSardinia and Corsica from the enigmatic civilizations thatinhabited these islands over 3,000 years ago. Su Nuraxi, aUNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest and most wellpreserved of them all, and the morning will serve as anintroduction to the history, culture, and landscape of Sardinia.Return to Sea Cloud for lunch, and in the afternoon visit theimpressive Roman Amphitheater in Cagliari, which is carved intothe sloping limestone hill at the edge of the city. Continue to theoutstanding National Archaeological Museum in the medievalCastello before taking a walking tour of the old town. (B,L,D)
DAY 5: At Sea/Oristano/Sanluri
We set sail again for the full morning, then enter the largewestern bay of Oristano to dock for the afternoon. Visit theArchaeological Park of Santa Christina and Nuraghe Losa beforeenjoying some local food and entertainment. Dinner is servedonboard Sea Cloud as we sail to our next destination. (B,L,D)
DAY 6: Alghero
Anchor this morning off the northwest medieval city of Alghero, which reveals its historic Catalan influence and is still sometimes referred to as “Barceloneta.” The attractive old town is a joy to explore on foot, as are the protective sea walls. Local guides will give us a walking orientation to the old town to start the day. Next, travel to nearby Leda' d'Ittiri estate for a wine tasting and tour. In the afternoon we’ll take a local boat out to the dramatic Capo Caccia peninsula to visit the colorful and expansive cave of Neptune’s Grotto. Return to Sea Cloud and
sail by the dramatic cliffs of Capo Caccia in the golden sunsetlight on our way toward Corsica. (B,L,D)
DAY 7: Bonifacio, Corsica
Dawn's light finds us holding off the layered cliff of Bonifacio,with its signature perch overlooking the Bonifacio Straits. SeaCloud enters this small and spectacular narrow harbor to dockfor the day. We begin with a walking orientation to the Citadeland the town of Bonifacio on its cliffside perch, with the rest ofthe morning devoted to enjoying one of the most beautifultowns of the Mediterranean. In the afternoon we’ll offer anoption to drive inland to some of the menhir standing stonealignments of the Sarténe region of Corsica, or to experiencethe characteristic Corsican maquis herbal scrubland with itsstunning fragrances. (B,L,D)
DAY 8: Les Calanques des Piana
The rock formations of Les Calanques des Piana are some ofthe most stunning natural landscapes in the Mediterranean.Calanques are karst limestone rock ravines that have beenshaped by wind and water erosion, and the Calanques of Pianain Corsica are deservedly designated as a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site. Our morning is devoted to this landscape and thedelightful town of Piana, set in the midst of this disorientinglabyrinth of rock formations. If weather conditions are good, wewill access Les Calanques from the sea and, if not, then fromthe city of Ajaccio. In either instance, the scenery and theaccompanying fragrance of the maquis and the pure, clean airare one of the unforgettable highlights of Corsica. (B,L,D)
DAY 9: Calvi/At Sea
The gorgeous crescent bay, with its narrow white sand beach and the prominent Genoese citadel have made the northwest
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Corsican town of Calvi a renowned summer resort destinationfor the last century. In the shoulder seasons it is a very pleasanttown in a lovely setting to explore on foot, starting at the hilltopcitadel with its ethnographic museum and medieval shops andalleys, and working your way back down to the Port dePlaisance waterfront and the beach. Sea Cloud anchors at Calvifor the morning, then we set sail for an afternoon of sailingnorth around Cap Corse. (B,L,D)
DAY 10: At Sea/Bastia
With hopes for an overnight sail, we keep the morning free tocontinue sailing on the northeast side of Corsica toward the portof Bastia, where we dock for the afternoon. Bastia is a veryactive working port and the principal gateway to Corsica fromFrance. It is a rugged city made up of the upper Terra Novacitadel and the lower working district of Terra Vecchio with itslively food and fish markets. We will offer the option of drivingfrom Bastia to explore the wild nature of Cap Corse, which is theprotruding mountainous peninsula of north Corsica, beforereturning for the late afternoon and evening in Bastia. (B,L,D)
DAY 11: At Sea
We spend the final full day on Sea Cloud, hopefully enjoying theship under full sail, reflecting on our visits to the unique andextraordinary islands of Sardinia and Corsica, and sorting ourphotos for the evening’s “guest slide show” of favorite photoscontributed by all of our shipmates. (B,L,D)
DAY 12: Naples/Disembark
We return this morning to the port of Napoli for your flightshome. (B)
Please Note:
All day-by-day breakdowns are a sampling of the places weintend to visit, conditions permitting.
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YOUR SHIP: SEA CLOUD
YOUR SHIP: Sea Cloud
VESSEL TYPE: Tall Ship (Sailing)
LENGTH: 109 metres
PASSENGER CAPACITY: 64
BUILT/REFURBISHED: 1931
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 asSea Cloud gently glides through the water, her crew aloft in theriggings, running out and reefing sails. Settle in to your favoriteareas on the top deck and bask in the incomparable experienceof traveling aboard the finest tall ship to ever sail the seas. Loseyourself in an adventure that, in this day and age, is almostunimaginable.
