Eleven Day Core Itinerary
Sailing From Florence to Malta
May 13 - 23, 2026
with Trip Hosts
Steve & Catherine Eason and Matthew & Sarah Ruffner
Aboard the Legendary
SEA CLOUD II
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Depart United States
Depart the USA on a transatlantic flight to Florence, Italy (airport code FLR).
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Arrive in Florence
Florence Skyline
Welcome to Firenze! Try to arrive in time to join the Easons and the Ruffners for an early evening welcome reception at the IL Tornabuoni Hotel, where we will gather for the first toast of the trip. This evening, enjoy dinner with whomever and wherever you please, or retire early in your luxury accommodations in Il Tornabuoni.
Friday, May 15
Florence, Livorno & Embarkation
This morning we will enjoy breakfast at our hotel followed by the highlights of a morning in Florence. The Galleria dell'Accademi is renowned primarily for housing Michelangelo’s David, a masterpiece that epitomizes the grandeur of Renaissance sculpture. The Carrara marble was used and discarded twice before Michelangelo brought forth David. The museum is treasury of Christian art, depicting the narrative of Scripture and complex theological concepts for its original audience, who were primarily illiterate.
Other morning highlights include the Duomo and the Santa Croce Square where the basilica is the final resting place of some of the most influential figures in art, science, and government including Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Niccolò Machiavelli.
After lunch at leisure, we will board our comfortable motorcoaches for transfer to the port at Livorno where our majestic ship, SEA CLOUD II graces the pier. By mid-afternoon, the regal SEA CLOUD II ship's captain and crew will warmly welcome you aboard with enthusiasm and a glass of sparkling libation. Within an hour, lines are loosed; the anchor is hoisted and we set sail on the luminous waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Michelangelo's David in Galleria dell'Accademi
Piazza del Duomo
Saturday, May 16
Day at Sea
Sea Cloud II Lido Deck
Today we relish in a full day at sea. With no port calls today, sleep in if you wish. Join the chefs for a midmorning Seamen’s Brunch. Our ship sails past the Isle of Elba, known for hosting the exiled Napoleon after he was forced to abdicate the French throne. Our captain skillfully navigates the SEA CLOUD II toward the Sorrentine Peninsula, rising from the sea with its dramatic cliffs and citrus-scented breezes.
For those with a curiosity for seafaring, the officers on our open bridge are always eager to share their knowledge, offering insight into the intricate workings of our historic vessel as we slice through the currents. Guided visits to the engine room can also be arranged for those wishing to explore the heart of the ship in greater depth.
Sunday, May 17
Salerno & Pompeii
Our first port call this morning is the vibrant port city of Salerno, which serves as our gateway to visit the iconic archeological site of Pompeii. A time capsule of ancient Roman life, the city’s tragic end in 79 AD remains overshadowed by the ominous presence of Mount Vesuvius. Prepare to be awed by the sophistication of Pompeii’s art and culture, but simultaneously moved by the sense of tragedy—ordinary people and everyday scenes preserved in the suffocating ash spewed by Vesuvius.
As we savor lunch on the Lido Deck, our ship draws closer to the stunning southern Italian coastline, where towering limestone cliffs plunge into the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea and pastel villages cling gracefully to the rugged terrain. We come ashore at Amalfi via SEA CLOUD II’s tenders, where you are free to wander through the city’s narrow streets and sample locally produced Limoncello and dark chocolate tegole with a freshly pulled espresso.
The streets are lined with shops along the way to Duomo di Sant’ Andrea— the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. Saint Andrew’s colorful, brightly decorated façade dominates the adjacent piazza. Tradition holds that the remains of the disciple Andrew are buried in the church’s crypt. Should a rejuvenating plunge into the Mediterranean waters of the Amalfi Coast grace your bucket list, or if a leisurely hike to Ravello's breathtaking vistas aligns with your sense of adventure, now presents the perfect opportunity to indulge.
Mount Vesuvius
Monday, May 18
Lipari & Aeolian Islands
Stromboli
This afternoon we anchor by the coast of Lipari, the largest and most populated of the Aeolian Islands, named for the mythical god of the winds, Aeolus. Boasting an intriguing and distinguished history as well as charming cobbled streets lined with flower-bedecked window sills, the day is yours to explore this island as you wish. Your adventures might include a visit to the fortified, impressive castello and former Lipari city center, or a leisurely stroll along the seafront, sunbathing with a cool beverage in hand. May we suggest you wander through the town center to pay a visit to the Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew, long regarded as the center of worship for the entirety of the Aeolian archipelago? As you seek out sustenance, remember that coastal dishes speckled with capers, goat cheese, fresh herbs, eggplant, and nuts can be found in abundance.
Depending on those fabled winds and our speed-of-advance under sail, we hope to reach a quiet anchorage just off the volcanic island of Stromboli for tonight’s barbecue on deck. As darkness falls, we hope to see the redhot glow of molten lava on the uppermost slopes of the volcano. On three previous SEA CLOUD trips, we have seen the fiery spectacle of an eruption every time!
Tuesday, May 19
Palermo, Sicily
Today we venture into Palermo, Sicily’s northwestern capital city elegantly framed by fertile plains of citrus groves and peaks of the Madonie mountain range. Our must-visit sites include the Norman Palace, initially constructed as an Arab military fortress at the highest point of elevation in the city, which, following Norman conquest in the early 11th century, was transformed to become the royal palace of the rulers of Sicily, replete with gilded apartments and opulent interiors. Within the royal complex we will tour the Palatine Chapel, largely regarded to be one of the most stunning chapels in all of Italy for its intricate layers of Arab, Byzantine, and Norman craftsmanship— a UNESCO World Heritage Site and impressive multicultural cooperation for the ages!
We venture just outside the city to the Monreale Cathedral to admire similar mosaic artistry on a much larger scale. This grand cathedral was in fact built to rival the beauty of the Palatine Chapel during King William II’s reign. The Byzantine mosaics here, whose restoration took 10 years of attentive toil, amass one of the largest collections in existence, depicting an Old Testament cycle, the life of Christ, and lives of St. Peter and St. Paul. We retire to the ship this evening with today’s vivid Biblical imagery animating conversation and impossible to forget.
Norman Palace
Monreale Cathedrale
Wednesday, May 20
Taormina, Sicily
Relish a morning under sail on the Lido Deck with your morning coffee and fellow seafarers. The passing scenery is the strategic and historic Strait of Messina. Brush up on your WWII history and learn about the fascinating plan of deception, “Operation Mincemeat,” organized to facilitate the Allied invasion of Sicily.
During lunch, we’ll anchor in Naxos Bay just below Taormina, Sicily. Sicily is the Mediterranean’s largest island and Taormina is its crown jewel. During our excursion ashore, we will visit the city’s 3rd-century BC Greco-Roman amphitheater where whispers still carry from the stage to the back row cheap seats! The Greeks, famous for building their theaters in places of natural beauty, really outdid themselves here. Surely, the views of land, sky, and sea alone were worth the price of a ticket. Behind the stage is Mt. Etna, Europe’s highest, still-active volcano. Taormina is also a shopper’s delight. To sample Sicilian cuisine, some of us might stay ashore for dinner. Don’t miss the last tender back to SEA CLOUD II at 9:00 p.m.!
Greek Theater, Taormina
Thursday, May 21
Siracusa, Sicily
Siracusa, Sicily
Perhaps you might read from Acts 28 where we find the story of the Apostle Paul sailing to Syracuse and staying there for three days on his way to trial in Rome. We will only stop over for part of a day. The history of Siracusa, our last port of call in Italy, goes back to the 8th century BC when it was a Greek trading colony. Sitting at one of the crossroads of the ancient Mediterranean world, over the centuries the port city became a melting pot— Phoenicians first, then the Greeks, followed by Roman influences, Spanish, Arabic, Norman, and French. And let’s not forget General Patton’s U.S. Seventh Army blazing through Sicily in July, 1943 on their way to the European continent after finishing off Rommel in North Africa.
Two tours are planned today—one focused on the Ancient Greek and Roman theaters and the Paradise Quarry where you can experience the acoustics of the famous Ear of Dionysius. The other affords leisurely wandering-around time in the Old City, Ortigia Island, with its cobblestone roads and palaces from past centuries. Wear the best you brought tonight for the Captain’s champagne party before a grand finale dinner one deck below.
Friday, May 22
Disembarkation in Malta
Enjoy a full day in Malta
Every ship at sea has an official port of registry whose name is lettered on the stern of the vessel and whose national flag the ship always flies. Since its inception, SEA CLOUD II has flown a red-and-white flag with the Maltese Cross. The port of Valletta is emblazoned across her stern. Though she may only spend one or two days each year in her official port of registry, we could easily refer to today as "sailing home". After breakfast, we bid a fond but sad farewell to our beautiful sailing yacht and her wholly attentive crew. Walking down the gangway, one always hopes to return soon—but there is so much to see in Malta!
Dubbed “the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen,” Valletta was founded in 1566 by the fabled Knights of St. John as part of their campaign against the Ottoman Empire. Appropriately, we will start our touring at St. John’s Co-Cathedral, an excellent example of high Baroque artistry combined with subtle engineering. It has fulfilled dual roles as a military installation and religious center. The carvings and paintings that fill St. John’s from floor to ceiling detail the life of this beloved saint. And his death! A must-see is Caravaggio’s monumental painting, The Beheading of John the Baptist.
We have also arranged a tour of the Grand Master’s Palace, historically the residence of the head of the Order of the Knights of Saint John, but now home to Malta’s Parliament. Next our local guides will lead us from the magnificent halls of the Knights to the modest Grotto of St. Paul. According to tradition, this is where the apostle was held captive for three months after his shipwreck.
Our hotel for tonight is the brand new Hyatt Regency in the heart of St Julian’s Bay. The property is fresh and welcoming. Please dine at one of the many tasty restaurant choices located nearby or check with your concierge for recommendations.
Saturday, May 23 | Departure
Unless you are staying for the Malta Extension, enjoy your final breakfast at your hotel and godspeed home with hearts full of warm memories.
Valletta, Malta
St. John’s Co-Cathedral
Saturday, May 23
One-Day Extension in Malta
Ggantija Temples
Ta’ Pinu Basilica
This morning, we’ll hop on a local ferry to Malta’s neighbor, Gozo, mythological home of the nymph Calypso of Odyssey fame. This second largest island in the Malta archipelago was reputed to be the land of the enchantress who held the hero Odysseus and his men captive for seven years. With its inviting landscapes and idyllic ambiance, Gozo’s reputation as “enchanting” is well-deserved.
Once we arrive on Gozo, we’ll venture inland, through a countryside dotted with farmhouses and Baroque churches. Our first visit is to the Ggantija Temples, which many consider to be the oldest freestanding structures in the world. Dating back to 3,500 BC, these Neolithic sanctuaries with their rudimentary altars are a mysterious reminder of mankind’s innate desire to worship.
Then we’ll fast forward a few millennia, where a peasant girl’s answered prayers spurred the restoration of Ta’ Pinu Basilica. During our brief stop, we will visit the remains of a 16th-century church upon which Ta’ Pinu is built. Famous as a place of miracles, the basilica’s “Room of Gratitude” is full of letters of thanks and mementos sent from all over the world expressing gratitude for answered prayers.
After a lunch at a countryside taverna, we’ll take in panoramic views of Gozo from atop the Citadel of Victoria, the heart of the island. For centuries, this keep was Gozo’s strongest defense against marauding pirates, whose slave trade plundering regularly decimated the local population.
Late this afternoon, we’ll return by ferry to the main island of Malta. Dinner choices are as varied as the island’s multi-ethnic heritage. Before retiring for the evening, take a moment to savor the beautiful places, warm friendships, and inspiring teaching that have filled your days. Traveling mercies for your return home on May 24th.
MALTA EXTENSION INCLUSIONS
Hotel night at Hyatt Regency, St. Julian’s Bay in Malta on May 23 • breakfasts at your hotel • lunch on May 23 • all gratuities, entrance fees, expert local guides and luxury motorcoach transportation
MALTA EXTENSION PRICE DETAILS
Cabin Category A: $795/person
Cabin Category B & C: $710
Cabin Category D, E, F: $655/person
$195 single supplement for category E, F
Map of Your Journey
