MALTA & SICILY WITH A SIX-NIGHT LUXURY CRUISE ABOARD THE SEA CLOUD II OCTOBER 1-17, 2017 TOUR LEADER: ROBERT VEEL

Overview Academy Travel is proud to offer a tour that explores the islands of the Mediterranean in style. Located at the crossroads of ancient civilization, Malta and Sicily offer a wealth of sites that include prehistoric archaeological sites, the Greek colonies of the 8th-3rd centuries BC, the period of Roman dominance, the Middle Ages and the Modern Age. As well as the ancient sites, travellers will encounter masterpieces of medieval Arab, Norman and Byzantine society and the exuberant Baroque art and architecture of later periods. All this takes place in a setting of remarkable beauty – the spare, rocky shores of Malta, the dramatic mountains and volcanoes of Sicily and the countless bays and cliffs of the coastline. The tour has been designed to combine the best of land and sea travel. The itinerary comprises four nights on Malta, the cruise and then a further six days on Sicily. There are extended stays in carefully selected accommodation and no long coach journeys. We have also included a number of excellent meals and time to individually explore local culture. The six-night luxury cruise takes place on the yacht Sea Cloud II. This 45-cabin, three masted Barque is traditionally crafted in teak, but with modern features. On most days the Sea Cloud II will set its 40 or so sails for at least a few hours, an enchanting experience. The adventure of sailing on the Sea Cloud II is very, very different from mainstream ocean cruising. The tour takes place in October, generally a very pleasant time of year on land and sea. Winds are typically fairly gentle at this time, allowing for an enjoyable sailing experience. Like all Academy Travel tours, there will be a maximum of 20 people in our party.

Your tour leader Robert Veel has 20 years' experience designing and leading educational travel programs and is a director of Academy Travel. He has designed and led many tours to Italy, Turkey, the United States and Scandinavia, as well as travelling to Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, Russia and Canada. Robert's special interest is in Italian medieval and Renaissance history. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education from the University of Sydney, where he taught for many years.

‘Robert Veel was every traveller’s dream leader. Ever-present to be of assistance, energetic, enthusiastic and entertaining in his talks – a true professional.’

Feedback from Academy Travel’s New York: Music, Theatre, Art & Food tour, April 2016 ‘In every way, Robert was the best tour guide I’ve ever encountered.’

Feedback from ADFAS Malta and Sicily with Sea Cloud II tour, October 2014

MALTA & SICILY ABOARD THE SEA CLOUD II

Tour dates: October 1-17, 2017

Tour leader: Robert Veel

Tour Price: $12,440 per person, twin share

Single Supplement: P.O.A

Booking deposit: $500 per person

Recommended airline: Emirates

Maximum places: 20

Itinerary: Valletta (4 nights), Sea Cloud II (6 nights), Siracusa (2 nights), Agrigento (1 night), Palermo (3 nights)

Date published: October 5, 2016

Enquiries and bookings

For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Kathy Wardrop at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email kathy@academytravel.com.au

The Sea Cloud II

The 348-foot Sea Cloud II was launched in 2001, and offers a truly memorable travel experience. The design and fittings are modelled on her sister ship, the 1931 Sea Cloud, the private yacht of the renowned American heiress and businesswoman Marjorie Merewether Post. Teak decks, brass fittings, white cloth sails and luxurious decor create a unique environment, matching perfectly the historical themes of our tour. Although much of the journey takes place under motor, on several days the crew climbs the rigging to set the square sails and jibs and you experience the thrill of ocean yachting. The facilities onboard are excellent. With a maximum of 94 passengers and 50 crew, service is very attentive. (There is a maximum of 20 in our tour party.) Cabins are large and comfortable, with twin beds, a sofa, built-in wardrobes and private bathrooms (please see further information and diagrams later in this itinerary). There is a range of public spaces, including a salon, a library/internet station, a lido deck with a bar and seating and deck chairs running along the sides of the decks. There is a laundry, a small fitness centre, a day spa and a hospital room on board. A doctor accompanies all voyages. The food, wine and outstanding service on board is a real highlight of travelling on Sea Cloud II. All meals are included; the menu is interesting and varied and is complemented by a wide and varied range of wines. Dinners are served in the large and elegant dining room. Weather permitting, buffet lunches are served on the lido deck. Further information on the ship can be found at www.seacloud.com

Tour Price The tour price is $12,440 per person, twin share. This is based on a comfortable E-grade cabin, Academy Travel’s usual choice for Sea Cloud II tours. We have a maximum of six cabins in this category, and these will be allocated only to twin share/double room travellers. Once these have cabins have been booked only higher grade cabins will be available.

Upgrades to category B and D cabins We are also holding a limited number of category B and D cabins, at prices set out in the table below. These are available on a first-come first-served basis and will be allocated only to twin share/double room travellers. Please contact Hannah Kleboe by phone to check that the cabin is available before submitting a booking form.

Single travellers We are holding two cabins suitable for single travellers. Please contact Hannah Kleboe to discuss availability and price.

Tour deposit A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure a place on the tour. A second non-refundable deposit of $1,500 is required six months before departure.

Category Allotment Per person, twin share B – Junior Suite 2 cabins available $15,540 D – Deluxe Cabin 2 cabins available $13,350

Tour inclusions Included in the tour price Ten nights’ accommodation in selected four and five star hotels in

Valletta, Siracusa, Agrigento and Palermo Six nights aboard the luxurious Sea Cloud II All breakfasts Lunches and dinners, in local restaurants and on board the cruise

ship, as indicated in the itinerary Private shore excursions for Academy Travel group Land travel by air-conditioned coach Flight from Palermo to Rome at the end of the tour Background talks and extensive tour notes All entrance fees to sites mentioned on itinerary Local guides for most cities and sites Tips to local guides and drivers Group tip for cruise staff

Not included in the tour price International air fares, taxes and surcharges Travel insurance Individual tips to cruise cabin staff Meals not stated as included in this itinerary Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone or internet

Air travel OPTIONS The tour price quoted is for land content only. We recommend flights with Emirates, who fly into Malta and out of Rome. Please contact us for further information on competitive Economy, Business and First Class airfares. Airport transfers will be included for all passengers booking their flights through Academy Travel.

Detailed itinerary Included meals are shown with the letters B, L and D.

Sunday 1 October Arrive Malta

This afternoon meet tour leader Robert Veel at the hotel to take a short boat cruise of Valletta’s imposing harbour before a welcome drink and light dinner in our hotel. Overnight at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Valletta (D)

Monday 2 October Exploring Valletta

After a morning talk our local guide commences a walking tour of Valletta, Malta’s historic capital. The city was built immediately after the Great Siege of 1565 and is remarkably uniform in its layout and architecture. A highlight of our visit will be St John’s Co-Cathedral, which contains Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist, painted in 1608 while the artist was seeking refuge from Italy. After lunch in a local restaurant, the tour continues. The late afternoon and evening is at leisure. Overnight Valletta (B, L)

Tuesday 3 October Prehistoric temples and Mdina

This morning we travel a short distance to some fascinating prehistoric temples, dating to 3,000BC, among the oldest built structures on earth. Nearby is an equally ancient hypogeum (subject to availability), or underground burial chamber. We continue to the former medieval capital of Malta, Mdina. Here we have lunch, explore the imposing cathedral and wander the charming streets before returning to Valletta. Overnight Valletta (B, L)

Wednesday 4 October Gozo

The island of Gozo is the second largest in the Maltese archipelago, and it contains some remarkable sites. Today we take a private tour by boat and coach. Highlights of the day include the ‘Ggantija temples’, the world’s oldest religious structures, the fortress at Victoria and the fishing village of Xlendi, where we have lunch. We return to Valletta in the evening. Overnight Valletta (B, L)

Thursday 5 October Embark Sea Cloud II - Valletta

This morning you are free to explore the city at your own pace. Options include the National Museum of Fine Arts, containing works by Turner, Perugino and the Venetian Carpaccio. The National War Museum explores in particular the role of the British on Malta, and the National Museum of Archaeology has some magnificent displays of pieces more than 5,000 years old from Malta’s Neolithic cultures. In the later afternoon we transfer to the port of Valletta to board

Above: From Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist, for the co-cathedral of St John, to the prehistoric temples of Ggantija on Gozo Below: Valletta harbour

Sea Cloud II. At sunset we make the breathtaking exit from Valletta harbour. Dinner is included every evening on board. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II (B, D)

Friday 6 October At Sea

Our first day is spent at sea, with much of the day under sail. You will get to witness the crew setting sail and various technical aspects of the ship will be explained by staff. Weather permitting you should also be able to journey out from the ship on zodiac dinghies to get a view of the Sea Cloud II under sail. In the afternoon there will be a background talk on Sicily in preparation for our next day’s visit. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II (B, L, D)

Saturday 7 October TRAPANI – Mozia

We arrive at Trapani, a remote city on Sicily’s western side. Our private excursion will take us to the island of Mozia. Here, among the salt pans are the ruins of the former Carthaginian settlement which thrived in the 5th to 3rd centuries BC. The island houses a small museum with some unique pieces, and is associated with the Marsala wine production of the English Whitaker family. We rejoin Sea Cloud II for its early afternoon sailing. This afternoon there is a talk on the medieval Norman kingdom of Sicily. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II (B, L, D)

Sunday 8 October Palermo

Unlike other travellers on the cruise, we have the luxury of a return to Palermo at the end of the tour, so our first day will comprise an introduction to the city. We will visit the La Zisa hunting palace, built by the Normans in imitation of an Arab palace, visit the Vucciria markets and the Palazzo Arbatellis regional art museum. There is free time for lunch and further exploration before reboarding Sea Cloud II in the late afternoon. This evening’s sailing will take us past the picturesque town of Cefalù on the Sicilian coast. A short afternoon talk will introduce the Aeolian Islands. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II (B, D)

Monday 9 October Lipari – Aeolian Islands

We arrive at Lipari in the early morning. With a local guide we will explore the acropolis and the excellent archaeological museum. The Aeolian Islands have been known since the Neolithic period, when the island’s obsidian was a valuable trading commodity. We return to Sea Cloud II in time for lunch onboard. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II (B, L, D)

Above: the Sea Cloud II under sail as it heads across the Adriatic Below: Greek vases in Lipari’s Archaeological Museum; and a view over Lipari itself - the largest of the Aeolian Islands

Tuesday 10 October Taormina

This morning we sail into the Straits of Messina, separating Sicily from the Italian mainland. In the early afternoon we dock at Giardini-Naxos, beneath the town of Taormina. After lunch onboard we visit Taormina. Highlights include the superbly situated Graeco-Roman theatre, one of the great sites of the Mediterranean, the medieval palaces lining the main street and the views to Mount Etna and the sea. We return to Sea Cloud II for dinner and late night sailing. Overnight aboard Sea Cloud II (B, L, D)

Wednesday 11 October Disembark Sea Cloud II – Siracusa

Today we disembark the Sea Cloud II in the ancient city of Siracusa, one of the great cities of the ancient Greek world. This morning we visit the quarries where thousands of Romans were put to death and the famous Greek theatre, where many classics of ancient literature were first performed. The afternoon is spent exploring the island of Ortigia, close to our hotel. The cathedral is converted from a 5th century BC Greek temple, and there is a fine medieval castle and some beautiful piazzas to enjoy. Overnight Hotel Roma, Siracusa (B)

Thursday 12 October Paolo Orsi archaeological museum

This morning, after a brief visit to the Church of St Lucia alla Badia to see Caravaggio’s painting The Burial of Saint Lucy, we make our way to the excellent Paolo Orsi Regional Archaeological Museum. Reopened after extensive renovation the Paolo Orsi is one of the most important archaeological museums in southern Italy. Its artefacts, found throughout Sicily, survey the Greek, Roman, and early Christian epochs. This evening we dine in a local restaurant. Hotel Roma, Siracusa (B, D)

Friday 13 October Piazza Armerina and Agrigento

We depart Siracusa this morning, heading westward through the geographic centre of Sicily. Today’s highlight is the Villa Roman del Casale at Piazza Armerina, featuring a series of intact floor mosaics from the 4th century AD, created by North African artisans. After lunch we continue to Agrigento, located on the south coast of Sicily, arriving in the late afternoon. There is a group meal tonight in our hotel. Overnight Hotel Colleverde, Agrigento (B, D)

Saturday 14 October Agrigento and Palermo

Agrigento – ancient ‘Akragas’ — was founded in the 6th century BC and enjoyed a reputation as one of the wealthiest colonies of the Greek world. The extensive and

Above: the Graeco-Roman theatre, near the cliff top resort town of Taormina, offers spectacular views towards Mt Etna; and the striking facade of Siracusa Cathedral

Below: the ‘Valley of the Temples’ in Agrigento (actually a ridge) boasts well preserved and spectacularly situated Greek ruins

Fitness Requirements of THIS tour

Grade Two

It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness required to participate on our tours, we have given them a star grading. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you to carefully consider your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour.

Participation criteria for this tour

This Grade Two tour is designed for people who lead active lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of physical activity per day on most days, including longer walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or several internal flights.

You should be able to: keep up with the group at all times walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only

short breaks stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and

museums tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold,

humidity and heat walk up and down slopes negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites,

which are often uneven and unstable get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or

boat unassisted, possibly with luggage move your luggage a short distance if required

A note for older travellers

If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, it is highly likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. You will have to miss several activities and will not get the full value of the tour. Your booking will not be accepted until after you have contacted Academy Travel to discuss your situation and the exact physical requirements of this tour. While we will do our best to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of all group members, we reserve the right to refuse bookings if we feel that the requirements of the tour are too demanding for you and/or if local conditions mean we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition.

well-preserved sacred area is testament to this wealth, comprising four major temples in excellent preservation as well as a number of smaller structures. Today we tour the temple site with a local guide as well as visiting the archaeological museum, located on site. In the afternoon we travel north to Palermo, our final stopping place on the tour. We dine in a restaurant close to our hotel. Overnight Piazza Borsa Hotel, Palermo (B, D)

Sunday 15 October Norman splendour

Today we tour some of the main historic sites of the old city, including the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel, with its gold mosaics and the Byzantine-influenced church of La Martorana. We then travel to the hills behind Palermo to view the cathedral and abbey of Monreale, founded by the Norman King William II in the 12th century. Their superb architecture and vast mosaic decoration are testament to the aspirations of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily. Overnight Palermo (B)

Monday 16 October Segesta and Mondello

This morning we take a short journey to Segesta, an evocative Greek ruin in a hilltop location. Sacked in the 4th century BC and later abandoned, the rugged setting of the temple and theatre is truly memorable, and has inspired artists and writers for centuries. We then visit the relaxing beach resort of Mondello, just outside Palermo, for a farewell lunch. We return to Palermo via the mountain shrine of Santa Rosalia, protector of the city. Overnight Palermo (B, L)

Tuesday 17 October Departure

Our group flight departs mid-morning for Rome. (B)

Weather on tour October is one of the best times of the year for visiting Malta and Sicily. The summer hordes have departed and temperatures are still in the 20’s. Evenings are mild, around 12-15 degrees. There should be a good breeze for sailing. There is the possibility of rain and occasional thunderstorms at this time of year, but it is not expected to interrupt the program.

Teatro Massimo

Palermo’s 19th-century Teatro Massimo is one of the great theatres of Europe. If we are lucky we will be able to attend an opera or concert at the theatre during our stay. Performance details will not be available until April 2017.

Hotels

Valletta, Grand Hotel Excelsior (4 nights)

Set just outside the historic entrance to Valletta, this seafront hotel enjoys views of Marsamxett Harbour. www.excelsior.com.mt

Siracusa, Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel (2 nights)

Set on Ortigia Island overlooking the Ionian Sea, this elegant four-star hotel is right on the seafront. www.algila.it

Agrigento, Hotel Colleverde Park (1 nights)

This four-star hotel overlooks the Valley of the Temples, and is a 15-minute walk to the archaeological site. www.colleverdehotel.it

Palermo, Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa (3 nights)

This centrally located four-star hotel is within walking distance of many of Palermo’s historical sites. www.piazzaborsa.it

Onboard, Sea Cloud II (6 nights)

All cabins include private bathrooms. www.seacloud.com

Junior suites (Cat. B) Conveniently located on the Promenade Deck, rooms are well furnished and spacious with a panorama window, seating area, dressing table and walk-in closet. Rooms are 22 square metres. Deluxe Cabins (Cat. D) Located on the Cabin Deck, rooms are well designed, with three portholes, a queen or twin beds, a sofa, two chairs and a table and built in wardrobes. Rooms are 21 square metres. Deluxe Cabins (Cat. E) Located on the Cabin Deck, rooms are comfortable, with two portholes, a queen or twin beds, a sofa, built in wardrobes and private bathrooms. Rooms are 19 square metres. Upper/lower bed cabins (Cat. F) Located on the Cabin Deck, rooms are in the traditional windjammer style with upper and lower beds, including two portholes and built in wardrobes. Rooms are 14 square metres.

“What's so special about the Sea Cloud II is the ample space and sense of openness which are unusual for a sailing ship.”

Sea cloud II Deck Plan

Sun Deck

Lido Deck

Promenade Deck

Cabin Deck