What a spectacular morning in Ithaca! With Sea Cloud anchored just offshore in the natural harbor of Vathy, we departed in Zodiacs to explore the island home of Odysseus, the Greek hero. Odysseus famously spent ten years cursed by Poseidon, toiling to return home after the Trojan War. All the while, his faithful wife, Penelope, and his dutiful son, Telemachus, fought off the advances of a host of suitors eager for Penelope’s hand and with it the Kingdom of Ithaca.
William Saturno is an archaeologist and storyteller specializing in the myths and histories of early civilizations and the politics of empire. A National Geographic Explorer and a former NASA research scientist, he has conducted fieldwork around the ...
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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.
Today, Sea Cloud anchored just outside of the Old Town’s city walls of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Guests spent the morning within the Old Town –some took on a more aerobic tour exploring high-up and among the city walls with a local guide, while others enjoyed their guided tour from sea-level within those walls. Tenders carried to and from the old harbor throughout the day for exploration. Some chose to enjoy the local culinary scene ashore, and others rejoined Sea Cloud for lunch and a refreshing swim in the bay. Later in the afternoon, all the guests were invited to the National Library for a traditional “Klapa” acapella performance that is famous in Croatia. The library provided wonderful acoustics for an experience that felt like front row seats for everyone. The Klapa Ostro Group moved everyone with their powerful voice performance, receiving a standing ovation from the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions audience.
