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Exclusive Journeys 2015

Mediterranean

Sailing the Jewels of the Riviera

The azure shores of the French and Italian Riviera have attracted the world’s rich and famous since the 19th century. Dazzling towns with elegant villas tucked into the hillsides and grand white hotels along beautiful beaches are international symbols for glitz, glamour, and chic. But there’s another side to this Mediterranean jewel chest of destinations—vestiges of the quaint fishing villages that these towns once were; green hillsides ablaze with Mediterranean flowers; delicious fresh food grown in neighborhood farms, delicious fish caught fresh that morning, and wine grown and bottled at small family vineyards.

On this trip, you’ll sail the French and Italian Riviera aboard the luxurious Seabourn Sojourn on a members-only cruise, immersing yourself in the best this coastal Mediterranean paradise has to offer, with interludes of celebrating and relaxing aboard ship in between.

Trip Highlights

  • Hike among the colorful coastal towns of the Cinque Terre
  • Drink champagne while people-watching in Portofino, St. Tropez, and Monte Carlo
  • Paddle the crystal clear waters around La Lavandou in a kayak
  • Explore the unspoiled beaches of Elba
  • Sample the wines of the regions with our personal sommelier
  • Let an expert photographer help you take unforgettable photographs of your trip

THE ITINERARY

:: day 1 ::

Rome, Italy

Your voyage begins in Rome, where you’ll board the Seabourn Sojourn and set sail for your first port of call. On the way, Sojourn has plenty of activities to keep you busy and plenty of places to relax and get into vacation mode. You’ll be presented with a bottle of bon voyage champagne when you board the ship, to celebrate your departure in the traditional grand manner.

:: day 2 ::

Portovenere, Italy

The playground of poets

Your entrée to the Italian Riviera and the utterly charming Cinque Terre villages of the Ligurian Coast, Portovenere is an old fortified town whose homes were traditionally painted in bright colors to guide fishermen home. Today, you can still see the small, colorful houses—some only 3 yards wide and 7 stories tall—lining the picture-perfect waterfront. Thick walls, narrow streets, a medieval fort and surrounding ramparts serve to remind us of the constant threat of warring families and nation-states throughout Italian history. In town, you can while away the afternoon at one of the many outdoor cafes along the seaside Palazzata, or you can venture down to Byron’s Grotto, a coastal rock hideaway where Lord Byron used to swim and meditate when he called Portovenere home.

Just north of the port, the lovely villages of Cinque Terre stretch along the coast for 11 miles. A series of hiking trails connect the villages (Monterosso, Corniglia, Vernazza, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, respectively), and exploring these quaint towns is the perfect way to spend the day.

:: day 3 ::

Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino, Italy

Two towns, worlds apart

Portofino is a hot destination on the Italian Riviera, but on your way there you’ll stop at the quieter but still elegant town of Santa Margherita Ligure. Sailing and sun are the orders of every day in this idyllic seaside town, but you’ll also want to pay a visit to the castle fortress built by the Republic of Genoa as a defense against pirates from North Africa.

If and when things start to get a little quiet, head south to Portofino, sitting in its impossibly photogenic glory on the tip of the peninsula. Portofino is a magnet for celebrities, with its chic cafes and shops and gorgeous beaches. See and be seen in the Piazetta, or head uphill to the Church of St. George, where you'll find the remains of the saint purported to be a dragon slayer. Keep going past the Brown Castle, an ancient fortress that once protected the city, and wind up at Punta Capo, the home of the famed Portofino Lighthouse. Take in one of the most beautiful views in Europe—the promontory, the gulf, and the coastal villages, bathed in beautiful Mediterranean light.

:: day 4 ::

St. Tropez, France

Sun and stars

Today you’ll sail from Italy to your first stop in France, St. Tropez. For more than a century, golden sun and sandy beaches have made St. Tropez a hotspot for artists and the rich and famous. The lively resort town keeps a hedonistic schedule, with residents and visitors preferring to party all night in fine restaurants and clubs and then lounge the day away on the beach (often topless). Well-known beaches include Pampelonne, lined with chic clubs and resorts, and Tahiti, made famous in “And God Created Woman”—the Roger Vadim and Brigitte Bardot film that put St. Tropez on the map.

But St. Tropez is a place for history buffs as well. While you’re here, visit Vueyx Port, St. Tropez’ oldest quarter, with its tiny squares graced by fountains, old homes and twisted streets leading uphill to the city’s ancient Citadelle. Built on top of an ancient Greek temple, the fortress now houses the Marine Museum, where you can see different marine artifacts and learn about the history of the siege of St. Tropez during World War II. Oh, and the view isn’t bad either. Art lovers shouldn’t miss the Musée de l’Annonciade. Housed in a former church, it features an impressive collection of art by French painters of the early 20th Century, including Bonnard, Braque, Derain, Dufy, Rouault, and, of course, Matisse, in whose paintings life on the Côte d’Azur features prominently.

:: day 5 ::

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Europe’s playground

No other place on Earth conjures up visions of luxury and glamour like Monte Carlo, longtime playground of the rich and titled. The fabulous casino, storybook Royal Family, fine beaches, and elegant shops distinguish Monte Carlo as a monument to style and exclusivity, exactly the kind of place that would have a movie star as a princess. The city, sandwiched between the Mediterranean and the Maritime Alps, with the old Grimaldi fortress sitting atop the promontory of LaRoche, presents a striking image as you sail into port.

Stroll through the old city within the fortress, known as Monaco-Ville, and watch the changing of the guard at the pink Palais du Prince. Visit the Cathedral to see the tomb of Princess Grace. And don’t miss Monte Carlo’s Musée Oceanographique, built into the sheer cliff, endowed by the Royal Family and established with the assistance of Jacques Cousteau. It has an impressive collection of marine life and an amazing view from the roof terrace. On a nearby hillside, visit the Jardin Exotique to see its extensive collection of rare cacti, and the Anthropological Museum, which displays Roman antiquities and even relics from area cave dwellers.

Then there’s the shopping. The Avenue des Beaux-Arts, is a shopping district that rivals Paris, where the world’s greatest couturiers, jewelers, and boutique owners all represent.

Fun Fact: Gaming’s Holy Grail

What’s the difference between the Casino de Monte Carlo and Vegas? Everything. There’s nothing artificial about the legendary casino that’s hosted everyone from genuine royalty and tycoons to the fictional James Bond in Ian Fleming’s novels. It’s the real deal. The main source of income for the Royal Family of Monaco, the casino is housed in a grand Belle Epoque building that looks more like a king’s palace than a place of gambling, with ornate gaming rooms and common areas and a sampling of the world’s most expensive cars out front. There are other casinos in Monte Carlo, but if you’re only here for one day, go big.

:: day 6 ::

La Lavandou, France

The essence of Provence

Once a charming Provençal fishing port, La Lavandou has become one of the area’s glittering resorts, with stretches of white sand beach, crystal-clear water, and verdant hillsides lined with picture-perfect Provence villages. A drive along the coast will reward you with fragrant fields filled with lavender and wildflowers and views of the Hyeres Islands. Fishermen still head out every day to bring in fresh seafood for local eateries and to stock the harbor fish market that opens at 8 a.m. every morning.

But Le Lavandou now attracts a more varied crowd to its shores. It’s become a favorite of artists and craftspeople, especially painters drawn to its colorful buildings and surroundings bathed in warm Mediterranean light. The marina is filled with luxury yachts whose owners come ashore to shop at the elegant boutiques of the esplanade and dine on fresh Provençal cuisine. Explore this delightful town by foot or by water—the Seabourn Marina will have kayaks and other water craft available for short paddling trips around the stunningly clear lagoons nearby.

:: day 7 ::

Portoferraio, Elba, Italy

Exile in paradise

The largest island in the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is probably best known as the first place of exile for the emperor Napoleon. In retrospect, he had it pretty good. If you have to go into exile, Elba is a great spot. The island boasts 90 miles of scenic coastline dotted with more than 50 beautiful, sandy beaches. The hills are covered in pine forests and wildflowers, and the pleasant, woody smell of coastal maquis shrubbery fills the air. It’s also a mineral-rich island, where abundant iron deposits made it the pawn of Mediterranean empires and nations for centuries.

Portoferraio, a lovely port town accented by lemon-yellow buildings, was home to ancient Etruscans and Romans and eventually acquired by Cosimo de Medici in 1548. It was Medici who built the fortifications, Forte Falcone and Forte Stella, which still stand today. The Palazzo de Mulini, also built by the Medicis, stands between the two forts and was Napolean’s main residence while in exile. Explore them all, unless a day at one of Elba’s fine beaches along the Bay of Biodola sounds like a more enticing plan.

Able I was, ere I saw Elba

Elba’s most famous temporary resident, Napoleon, began his exile in April 1814. Under the terms of the Treaty of Fontainebleu, Napoleon was allowed to rule Elba’s 12,000 residents and retain his title of Emperor. He received an annual stipend from the French of two million francs. He had two homes on Elba—an elaborate public residence at the Palazzino dei Mulini, and the Villa Napoleonica di San Martino, a relatively modest (for Napoleon) private residence set above the hillside vineyards about three miles southwest of Portoferraio. Not a terribly rough life, but then again, if you were the megalomaniacal former Emperor of France, it was probably hard to take.

For a little less than a year, Napoleon actively assumed his role of ruler, getting to know the island and its citizens and actually making improvements to life on Elba, attempting to improve the infrastructure, build hospitals and schools, and increase the availability of drinking water. He was under constant watch of Austrian and French guards. But on February 26, 1815, he cut his tenure short by escaping from Elba and returning to France to reclaim the throne. A few short months later, he was defeated at Waterloo and began exile number two on the South Pacific island of Saint Helena, never to return to Elba.

:: day 8 ::

Rome, Italy

Home again

On your last day, you’ll complete the circle and dock in Rome for your trip home. If your trip went as planned, you’ll be sun-drenched, relaxed, and already eager to come back. Arrivederci!

What Members Have To Say

“We just returned from the Club’s Italian Food and Wine Cruise, and it was awesome! We had a great time—made a lot of new friends, reconnected with old friends, and enjoyed delicious food and exceptional wines. We especially enjoyed having Chef Nick and Sean, the sommelier, onboard.”

- Albert G.
Italian Cruise: Food & Wine experience aboard the Seabourn Quest in 2012

ACCOMMODATIONS & DETAILS

Join us as we return to the Mediterranean for one of our much-beloved members-only cruises, back by popular demand! On this journey, you’ll discover the charms of several ports of call along the French and Italian Riviera, from ancient cities and quaint villages to pockets of unspoiled coastline. And you’ll do it all while calling one of the most luxurious, intimate cruise ships home—the Seabourn Sojourn.

Accommodations

Seabourn Sojourn

The second of Seabourn’s new class of ships, Sojourn is the sister ship of the Quest, used for previous Exclusive Resorts journeys in 2011 and 2012, and a cutting-edge luxury vessel. It’s definitely not your average cruise ship. Instead of just having a large common area, Sojourn is designed with an array of smaller, cozier public areas scaled to encourage sociable hanging out. Seabourn Square is the “living room,” a warm, welcoming lounge with easy chairs, sofas, and cocktail tables.

The Spa at Seabourn is the largest on any luxury ship, with 11,400 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. There are six whirlpool spas onboard and two swimming pools, including a “beach” style pool patio. There’s a fitness center, and the Seabourn Marina offers paddleboats, small sailboats, and other fun water craft at selected stops. The panoramic Observation Bar offers 270-degree forward views over the sea, and a Sun Terrace has double-tiered sun beds for catching the rays.

All suites come with plenty of natural light, sitting areas, and large beds. Suite categories range from comfortable Ocean View Suites with large picture windows to Veranda Suites, each with a private balcony, to large and stylish Penthouse and Owner’s suites, with expanded living areas and bars. All suites have wireless Internet capability.

Trip Details

Trip Length: 7 nights, 8 days

2015 Dates of Travel: July 18-25

Ideal for: Adults and families with children age 6 or older who are European history buffs, sophisticated travelers who enjoy a bit of glamour in their journeys, and food and wine lovers. This is also an excellent experience for families who want a luxurious summer getaway in Europe.

Travel with: Any group size from 2 to 9 people in up to 3 accommodation units. (Please note—Grand Suites can accommodate up to 5 travelers; all other cabin categories can accommodate a maximum of 2 travelers each.)

Getting there: Fly into and out of Rome’s Fiumicino — Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO).

Why You’ll Love It: There are so many gorgeous destinations along the French and Italian Riviera that it’s hard to pick just one. Now you don’t have to. We’ve hand-picked the best of the best for you on this custom itinerary, a trip designed in keeping with our wildly successful charter cruises from past years. The Seabourn Sojourn is perfect for people who hate typical cruises—the ship is intimate and ultra-luxurious, and the suites are large but the ports of call are not. You’ll be in great company and enjoy interesting lectures and activities that genuinely pique your interest. Sightsee, enjoy memorable excursions, sample fine wines with our dedicated sommelier, and take the best photos of your life, thanks to guidance from a professional Leica photographer who will be onboard to help.

Reservation Requirements:
1 Advanced Reservation
7 Plan Days (per accommodation unit)

Daily Fee: Daily Fees for this experience vary based on suite category selected. Suite categories and corresponding Daily Fees are as follows:

Suite Category Daily Fee (per suite)
Seabourn Suites $475
Veranda Suites $675
Penthouse Suites $1,395
Spa Suites $1,595
Owners Suites $1,695
Grand Suites $3,095

Notable Inclusions
  • Onboard suite accommodations
  • All meals
  • Open Bar in all bars, lounges and restaurants
  • Onboard wine expert hosting classes and tastings
  • Photo instruction provided by an onboard professional Leica photographer
  • All shipboard gratuities

For the complete list of inclusions, visit the Mediterranean page on ER Compass.

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