Today we had a full and relaxing day sailing the Ionian Sea. Captain Svendsen gave a weather update and then a detailed “play-by-play” as the Sea Cloud sailors braced the yards, went aloft to loosen the gaskets on the sails, and returned to the decks to set and trim the sails. Afterward, certified photo instructor Linda Burback presented “Photography Basics: Composition +” providing tips and insights on how to best capture our adventures. After a delicious buffet lunch on the lido deck, historian David Brotherson presented “Sicily: Crossroads of the Mediterranean” in preparation for our first stop in Sicily tomorrow. A few guests were lucky enough to spot passing dolphins as we watched rain clouds in the distance.
10/3/2024
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Sea Cloud
Amalfi and Napoli, Italy
Anticipating rough weather, we woke early today to attempt a morning visit to the city of Amalfi. Unfortunately, the seas were already too rough to safely disembark, and we were compelled to make other plans. We instead spent a quiet morning at sea, including a presentation by National Geographic-Lindblad Historian Rebecca on shipwreck archaeology, a fitting topic for a ship prudently avoiding rough weather. Today’s lunch on the lido deck featured the famous Sea Cloud pasta wheel, a large wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano in which a delectable pasta is prepared. We managed to dock in Napoli around midday, and interested guests accompanied Expedition Leader John on a walk around some of Napoli’s historic neighborhoods. Our leisurely walk took us past the medieval Castel Nuovo, through the soaring Galleria of Umberto I, and alongside the expansive Royal Palace of Napoli. Back aboard Sea Cloud this evening, we enjoyed the guest slide show during cocktail hour followed by one final, sumptuous dinner in the ship’s elegant dining room.