Final Week: End-of-Year Savings: 25% Off All 2023 Departures
Book August 14 - September 29, 2023. Save 25% on the cabin fare when booking any Category 1 cabin, including solo cabins, or Category SU on National Geographic Islander II, for departures in 2023 when you pay in full at time of booking. Valid for new bookings only, based on availability at time of booking, cannot be combined with other offers, and is not applicable on airfare or extensions. To qualify for the discount, non-refundable payment in full is due at the time of booking. Call for details.
Mediterranean expeditions aboard the Sea Cloud fleet
Medieval walled cities and crumbling hilltop castles, imposing volcanoes, and ancient Roman ruins—the treasures of the Mediterranean are seen in their full splendor when exploring aboard an elegant tall ship from the Sea Cloud fleet. Few experiences on the water rival the sheer joy of sailing on one of these traditional windjammers, where nostalgia imbues every deck and cabin, and the prevailing winds chart your course through a bygone era. Join us aboard the historic Sea Cloud or her modern counterpart, Sea Cloud II, and set off on a timeless journey, where your transportation is as intriguing as your destination.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged. More details.
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
May
Jun
From
$18,602
Prices are per person
Highlights
Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud Fleet
Corsica & Sardinia aboard Sea Cloud
Duration
12 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
May
Jun
From
$18,602
Top Highlights
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Su Nuraxi di Barumini, one of the largest and most well-preserved Bronze Age stone fortresses known as nuraghi
Get a taste of Alghero and its surroundings: discover the medieval city, Neptune’s Grotto nestled in Capo Caccia’s peninsula, and Leda’ d’Ittiri wine-tasting estate
See the stunning karst limestone rock ravines of Les Calanques de Piana, one of the region’s most stunning landscapes
Bask in the comfort and intrigue of the legendary and historic Sea Cloud as you sail from Calvi to Bastia and around wild Cap Corse
Explore Naples & Pompeii on a 3-day pre-voyage extension
New
Isles of Antiquity: Malta, Sardinia, and the Balearic Sea aboard Sea Cloud
Duration
15 days
Apr
From
$29,344
Top Highlights
Sail aboard the historic Sea Cloud and discover the romance of tall ship sailing as you effortlessly visit major islands of the Mediterranean like Sicily, Malta, and Corsica
Encounter multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites—including Sardinia’s Su Nuraxi di Barumini and the city of Valletta—brought to life by expert historians and archaeologists
Explore Menorca’s Bronze Age village of Torralba d’en Salord and see the characteristic T-shaped stone monuments left by the Talayotic peoples
Savor celebrated culinary specialties on visits to markets and vineyards
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jun
Sep
From
$18,602
Prices are per person
Highlights
Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud Fleet
Mediterranean Gems: Southern Italy and Sicily aboard Sea Cloud
Duration
12 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jun
Sep
From
$18,602
Top Highlights
Explore Greco-Roman sites, the baroque city of Lecce, and the medieval island town of Ortigia, and take in their vibrant life and culture
See the Amalfi Coast, with its pastel-colored buildings and stunning vistas
Visit Pompeii, abruptly destroyed by Vesuvius in the year A.D. 79, and witness its extraordinarily well-preserved homes
Enjoy a private lunch at Castello degli Schiavi, an 18th-century castle used as a locale for the Godfather films
Savor ample time at sea sailing aboard Sea Cloud, the world’s most beautiful tall ship
Explore enchating Split, Trogir, Mostar & Dubrovnik on a four-day trip extension, and/or historic Naples on a two-day trip extension
New
Navigating Southern Italy and Coastal Croatia aboard Sea Cloud II
Duration
11 days
Aug
From
$13,765
Top Highlights
Unwind aboard the elegant Sea Cloud II, a romantic tall ship with every modern comfort
Spend a day in picturesque Amalfi where pastel clifftop villas have never-ending views of the Tyrrhenian Sea
Stand in Taormina’s Greco-Roman Theater, built into a cliff in the third century and still in use today
Discover the living history of UNESCO-designated Diocletian’s Palace, an extraordinary complex in Split that has been consistently occupied for nearly two millennia
Explore the cobblestone streets and markets of medieval towns like Trogir and Hvar
New
Northern Italy Under Sail: Genoa, Pisa, and the Amalfi Coast aboard Sea Cloud II
Duration
8 days
May
From
$9,173
Top Highlights
Bask under the billowing sails of the square-rigger Sea Cloud II along the coast of Northern Italy
Discover Genoa’s cultural treasures like the Strada Nuova and the stunning Cathedral of San Lorenzo, believed to hold the relics of St. John the Baptist
In Pisa, see the iconic Leaning Tower, part of a complex of medieval architectural masterpieces
On Elba Island explore the fortified town of Portoferraio and Napoleon’s villa
Spend time in Amalfi, the crown gem of the storied Amalfi Coast
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
May
From
$19,354
Prices are per person
Highlights
Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud Fleet
Sailing the Ancient Shores of Sicily and Malta aboard Sea Cloud
Duration
12 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
May
From
$19,354
Top Highlights
Sail the shimmering waters of the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, and Ionian Seas
Explore enchanting piazzas and winding alleyways of picturesque towns from Lipari to Taormina and Ortigia
Visit an array of UNESCO World Heritage sites, from Greco-Roman ruins in Siracusa and Agrigento to the ancient temples of Ġgantija
Experience Sicily’s unique cuisine at a wine tasting in Marsala, at Erice’s renowned Pasticceria Maria Grammatico, and at a private lunch in a historic castle near Taormina
Savor ample time at sea sailing aboard Sea Cloud, the world’s most beautiful tall ship
Explore Naples & Pompeii on a 3-day pre-voyage extension
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Aug
Sep
From
$15,569
Prices are per person
Highlights
Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud Fleet
Sailing the Greek Isles aboard Sea Cloud
Duration
9 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Aug
Sep
From
$15,569
Top Highlights
Experience the Cyclades while under full sail aboard a romantic tall ship
On Delos, the mythological birthplace of twin gods Artemis and Apollo, explore the Temple of Apollo, an important archaeological site
Immerse yourself in the lively culture, mythology, and Venetian legacy of age-old villages
Ride a cable car down a cliffside in beautiful Santorini
At Tinos, see the active pilgrimage site of Panagia Evangelistria and terraced hillsides
Explore Athens on a two-day pre-voyage extension, or Crete on a three-day post-voyage extension
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jun
Aug
Sep
From
$18,989
Prices are per person
Highlights
Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud Fleet
Under Sail: Greece and the Dalmatian Coast aboard Sea Cloud
Duration
12 days
NOTE: For expeditions departing April 2024 onward, Day 1 of our itineraries will no longer reflect “departure from the U.S.” and will reflect “arrival to the city” where your expedition begins. Durations of expeditions will remain unchanged.
Jun
Aug
Sep
From
$18,989
Top Highlights
Discover the romance of life aboard a hand-sailed tall ship in the waters of the Aegean, Ionian, and Adriatic Seas
Step back in history at four UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the evocative ruins of Olympia, Greece, and Albania’s historic city of Butrint
Skim across Montenegro’s Gulf of Kotor to Our Lady of the Rocks, a tiny islet built of rocks from the mainland and sunken fishing boats
Spend a day among the marble-paved lanes and ramparts of Dubrovnik’s Old Town
Stand on deck and watch the orchestrated frenzy of crew members go aloft in the web of Sea Cloud’s riggings to handset 30 sails
Explore Split, Trogir & Mostar on a three-day voyage extension and Athens on a two-day voyage extension
A legend of both her time and today, the 30-cabin Sea Cloud was built in 1931 for the heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. The last of the private tall ships, she carries 30 sails, which are raised by hand as you venture out to sea. Settle into the banquette of the “blue lagoon,” or enjoy refreshments at the covered Lido Bar. Every detail—from the marble fireplaces to the French antiques—reflects the extravagant charms of American royalty.
Inspired by her splendid predecessor, Sea Cloud II celebrates the time-honored traditions of her fleet: the hand-raising of her sails and nightly sundowners on deck. She combines the elegance of a classic square-rigger and the spaciousness of a contemporary vessel, with each of the 44 outward-facing cabins outfitted in modernized amenities. Expansive outdoor viewing areas tempt guests to savor the romance of traveling under billowing sail.
Expedition Highlights
Sail Europe’s most storied waters on an expertly crafted itinerary, stepping ashore in captivating places from Corsica to Croatia and beyond, where the vestiges of antiquity come vibrantly to life. Discover sights both storied and secret, and gain unique perspectives from our expert guides on the threads that connect the region’s histories and cultures. Enjoy an unhurried pace under sail, with time at leisure to amble picturesque harbors and sample the many culinary delights this region has to offer.
See more
Highlights
Life On Board
One of the great joys of traveling aboard a traditional tall ship is witnessing the theater of her spirited crew raise and lower the sails by hand. Watch acrobatic sailors climb the rigging, loosen the heavy cloth, and haul the lines in from the deck—performing a grand choreography that never ceases to mesmerize.
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.
Sailing the Mediterranean Aboard Sea Cloud II
Let the Mediterranean's prevailing winds chart your course through a bygone era as we sail to lesser-known sites, such as Napoleon’s home on the isle of Elba, and enjoy exclusive experiences, like a private lunch at a Sicilian castle with a riveting Hollywood story.
Traveling Under Sail with the Historic Sea Cloud Fleet
Sailing aboard a Sea Cloud ship is both a grand and effortlessly casual experience. Whether on the namesake vessel or Sea Cloud II, it's a rare chance to get immersed in old-world elegance and comfort.
Wonders of the World: Exploring 9 UNESCO Heritage Sites
On a voyage through history, certain locations and landmarks stand out as especially monumental, such as the world’s largest Buddhist temple or North America’s earliest known European structures.
Voyages through the Mediterranean offer abundant opportunities to discover local cultural traditions, including special music and dance performances curated by ethnomusicologist Jacob Edgar on select departures. Enjoy a preview of these soulful sounds. Follow Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic on Spotify to find playlists showcasing music from the Mediterranean and beyond, specially curated by Jacob Edgar.
See, do, and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades. Go with an expedition leader, naturalists, historians, and more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On select voyages travel with a bona fide National Geographic Expert. These top pros at your side and at your service—providing insight, knowledge, and presentations as you voyage along storied coasts.
For our last full day aboard the Sea Cloud we sailed through some of the hundreds of islands located off the coast of Croatia. We headed for Hvar, an island which has been inhabited for around three thousand years; Indigenous Illyrians, Greek colonists, and the later Roman Empire have all left their mark on the landscape. Eventually Slavic peoples migrated into the area, and later still Italian merchants left a lasting imprint on the local culture, most evident in its architecture and cuisine. Hvar’s elongated topography is typical of this region; it is forty miles long but averages just two miles wide. It is separated from the mainland and neighboring islands by narrow straits. Rugged limestone formations rise from the seabed, capped by clusters of trees and shrubs. While this fragmented landscape presents numerous sheltered harbors, it also provides cover for more nefarious operators — the Dalmatian Coast was plagued by pirates for centuries. After tendering to shore, we took a walking tour of old Hvar. The town is built from locally sourced limestone, its pavements polished smooth by generations of pedestrian traffic. In the 13th century Hvar became part of the Venetian Stato da Mar, having requested their protection. Venetian rule brought with it substantial urban development, including the hilltop fortress, city walls, and the Arsenal. The Franciscan monastery is another institution of this era, providing shelter, provisions, and medical aid for the Venetian galleys that passed through. After returning to the ship, we set course for our destination in Dubrovnik. In the afternoon our cultural specialist Zrinka Sapro talked us through the sometime complicated history of the Balkans, from ancient times to the 20th century. As the day drew to an end, we gathered once more at the lido bar for Farewell Cocktail Hour, the guest slideshow, and the Captain’s Farewell Dinner.
The day began with an opportunity to watch the crew climbing the rigging and setting the sails. This was followed by a fascinating talk by Captain John Svendsen showing the numerous restoration projects that have been undertaken to keep the Sea Cloud in tip-top shape. Interested guests had the chance to go down below for a tour of the Sea Cloud ’s very unique engine room. After lunch certified photo instructor Linda Burback presented “Photography Basics: Composition +” before we headed ashore for a walking tour of Korcula. One highlight of the day was a traditional Moreska sword dance performed in an open outdoor venue. The clashing of the heavy swords choreographed to music was exhilarating. Guests had the choice to stay ashore for dinner. Back on board the Sea Cloud there was an after-dinner showing of the film Around Cape Horn, featuring original footage shot on a square rigger.
The walls on the outside may seem imposing, but the Old Town and people of Dubrovnik are resilient and welcoming. The pride of the Old Town is apparent in the lovingly restored buildings and monuments. The work continues today as we saw workmen on rooftops and statues and buildings surrounded with scaffolding. Our explorations took us through a myriad of narrow alleyways, up polished limestone steps, around the perimeter wall and, finally, to a shady table with a cold beverage. The photos accompanying this paragraph display the diversity of experiences from our day spent in Dubrovnik.
As our expedition aboard the Sea Cloud continued, we progressed up the Dalmatian Coast of the Adriatic Sea and arrived at Montenegro — one of the world’s youngest countries. Montenegro had been part of Serbia since 1992, but they voted for independence by referendum in 2006. Montenegrins are a Slavic people and are predominately Orthodox Christian, but also include a sizeable Muslim minority. Yet the name Montenegro — Italian for “Black Mountain” — and the small number of Roman Catholic adherents alludes to its medieval history. During the 15th century, as the Ottoman Turks expanded westward, this region came under the protection of the Venetian Empire, their Stato da Mar. Kotor became a key naval base and supply station for their fleets of galleys which plied the trade routes across the Mediterranean Sea, bringing foreign exotica into Western Europe from the Levant. Today the cultural diversity of Montenegro reflects the regional influence of these foreign powers — Italian and Catholic along the coastline, Islamic and Turkish further inland. In the early morning we cruised into the Bay of Kotor, one of the most spectacular harbors in the world. Passing by steep mountain slopes on either side of the narrow entrance channel, we saw bell towers and small villages along the shores. We spent the morning in the bay, first heading to the island of Our Lady of the Rocks. This charming little chapel was founded in the 17th century and came to be venerated by sailors — and some of their anxious family members — to ensure they returned home safely. Afterwards we explored Kotor; this Venetian fortress has great bastions and ramparts along the waterfront, and a great curtain wall which defends the eastern approaches and encloses the town across the towering slopes of Mount San Giovanni 900 feet above. In the afternoon we took a coach tour to explore the hinterland, passing by the resort and casino city of Budva before ascending into the highlands. We drove through mile after mile of an incredibly fragmented landscape, with crags and outcrops of jagged limestone interspersed with clumps of shrubs and small trees. Our destination was the small village of Njegusi, situated in a small vale with what seems to be the only patch of arable land for many miles. Here we were treated to the local specialties, smoked hams and cheeses, washed down with a glass of wine. Our return journey to the ship was itself a spectacle, as we negotiated the narrow winding roads and twenty-five switchbacks during our descent to Kotor. When the Sea Cloud pulled out from the dock, we enjoyed another beautiful evening on the lido deck, with locally produced oysters and champagne.
During our second day in Albania we travelled inland to explore the historic capital of Krujë, located at the foot of Mount Krujë. Here we visited the National Skanderbeg Museum and learned about the Albanian national hero for whom it is named. As leader of the League of Lezhë, Skanderbeg successfully defended the castle against three Ottoman sieges until his death in 1468. At a local restaurant we were treated to authentic Albanian food and a rousing performance of traditional Albanian music and folk dancing. Before returning to the ship we had free time to explore the unusual collection of shops in the medieval market, including locally made rugs and memorabilia from Albania’s communist period. Before dinner, expedition leader John Frick gave a presentation about the history of the Sea Cloud and we enjoyed a tour of several original cabins.
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.
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