After mooring Sea Cloud alongside in the coastal city of Durres, we drove to the medieval town of Kruje where our local guides exposed us to the fascinating history of Albania. We had lunch in a lovely restaurant where local dancers performed for us and some of us even burned off the delicious meal by dancing with them. After shopping in their bazaar, we came back on board where Albanian wine and our staff recaps were waiting for us. Next stop: Greece!
Maria Intxaustegi is an internationally awarded maritime archaeologist, naval historian, commercial diver, professional offshore sailor, and expedition guide from the Basque Country.
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On the last day of our voyage, we spent the morning on the lovely island of Hvar, known for its fragrant fields of lavender and rosemary. Our walking tour started with the Franciscan monastery, featuring a centuries-old cypress tree and a 17th-century painting of the Last Supper attributed to Matteo Ponzoni. We continued on to tour one of the oldest community theaters in Europe (dating to 1612), the Hvar Arsenal (instrumental in building and repairing Venetian ships), and the town’s stone buildings which often feature the winged lion of St. Mark. This afternoon, after a lunch featuring the famous Sea Cloud pasta wheel, we enjoyed a lecture by cultural specialist Zrinka Šapro on the history of Croatia, focusing on the 20th century. Hearing about the rule of Josip Broz Tito and the wars of the 1990s from someone with personal experience was a particularly fitting conclusion to our tour of this region so rich in history. Our final evening aboard included a cocktail hour and the guest slide show on the lido deck, followed by the captain’s farewell dinner in Sea Cloud’s elegant dining room, after which we bid our travel companions and newfound friends a fond farewell.
What a full and active morning at sea aboard Sea Cloud ! Sailors hit the rigging at 08:15, and once the ship was under sail, interested guests met on the foredeck to be instructed on how to climb the foremast up the shroud to the first platform and back down the other side. Although a bit scary for sure, we had success, safety, and smiles all around! As this was going on, three engine room tours were offered to eager and interested guests. After these, a Zodiac Photo Safari was conducted for views of the ship “under sail” in ideal conditions. After another wonderful lunch on deck, Historian Rebecca presented “Venetian Maritime Empire” on the Lido as the ship approached the formerly Venetian town of Korcula. In the mid- afternoon, guests proceeded to the pier for a guided walking tour of the town followed by independent time to explore. At 1800, we met for a performance of Moreska, an elaborate sword dance dating back to medieval times and a long tradition in Korcula. Happy guests tendered back to the ship for dinner aboard while others opted to dine ashore in the charming town.
As we wiped the sleep from our eyes and looked to the sky above, dreamy clouds splayed out, luffing in 18-plus knots of wind. These clouds, the sails of the magnificent Sea Cloud , were set not for viewing pleasure but for making way, tacking onward through the Aegean Sea off the coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula. With Captain Starostin on the bridge guiding his seaworthy crew through the sail plan, Chief Officer Alex took charge on the spanker deck walking the guests through a play-by-play of the mechanics of sailing the Sea Cloud. While winds gusted heavily, some rain clouds appeared, but this did not deter guests from the exhilarating demonstration happening above them. Between the weather and the waves, it was the perfect storm for Sea Cloud and her crew to show off what this ship was truly built for—sailing. Guests enjoyed being out on the decks in the action with the crew as they handled various lines working the sails above. We continued onward as Sea Cloud made way for our next destination in Katakolon, Greece.
