This cruise will take you to the gems of the Medditeranean Sea. It passes its way through the main places that were once conquered by the Moors. Do not miss your chance to plunge in to the atmoshpere of both ancient and modern times.
The great body of water between continents that served as the “center of the world” to ancient Europe, the Mediterranean Sea gave birth to European-African civilization. The Pharaohs of Egypt built their pyramids along the lower Nile River, not far from the sea’s shores, the Phoenicians began their seafaring empire from the lands of today’s Lebanon, the Greeks followed suit from their city states, and eventually gave birth to the greatest ancient European civilization, the Roman Empire. The barbarian migration that followed the fall of Rome engulfed the entire Western Mediterranean, with each invading tribe influencing the national identities of just about all the countries that today raise their flags on its shore.
As a result, the Mediterranean Sea is recognized the world over. Palm trees and beaches are the hallmarks of a “Mediterranean climate” in places as far-flung as Chile and California in the Americas, Capetown in South Africa, and both Perth and Adelaide in Australia. Olive groves and vineyards dot the landscape in such places, and beaches there are renowned for, well, perfection.
Golden Ring Cruises is expanding its offerings into this region in collaboration with a new operator of a classic great dame of the waves, the MS Serenissima. A ship that got its start as a coastal cruiser on the Norwegian coast, the Serenissima was refitted famously in 2002 for use by an American touring company, which sadly went under in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis. Its restoration for use as a luxury cruise vessel in the Adriatic and the Mediterranean seas is both a promising sign for the economic health of the world as a whole, and for those who want a bit of Old World glamor with their luxury travel. In its spring sailing (late April and early May), the Serenissima will follow the Dalmatian coast to Montenegro’s Kotor Bay, and then cross the waters off the southern end of Italy on its way to Tunis and the African coast. After making three stops in Algeria, the Serenissima will again cross the Mediterranean back to the European coast, where it will finally disembark its passengers at the beachside city of Cadiz in Spain. In its late summer sailing (late August and early September), the Serenissima will sail first to the Balearics, and then onward to Sardinia and Corsica before reaching mainland Italy at Agropoli. From there, the ship will sail to the volcanic island of Lipari before returning to Syracuse. The journey follows a reverse course from the spring sailing, arriving at long last back in Venice. The trip between this city and Cadiz takes 13 days, each direction.
Of course, the real advantage of booking your cruise with Golding Ring is the ability to seamlessly transition your vacation from ship to shore with fantastic tour extensions into Eastern Europe, especially Russia. After all, what could be more memorable than a ship and train journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific through Eurasia? You will truly have plenty to tell after you return home.
