Leave Mallorca behind and head for the Italian coast aboard the Santa Maria Manuela. This voyage from Palma to La Spezia offers time to get to know a historic tall ship, try your hand at sailing and enjoy the freedom of being out at sea.
Before boarding in Palma, make time for a walk through the old town, where narrow streets lead to shaded squares and the cathedral rises above the waterfront. Once we leave the harbor, the focus shifts to life aboard and the Mediterranean stretching ahead.
There are plenty of ways to get involved. Help the crew set the sails, take a turn at the helm or join lookout duty, watching the horizon as the ship makes her way northeast. No sailing experience is needed, and participation is always optional.
Between maneuvers, find a favorite spot on deck, open a book or linger over a conversation with fellow guests. With fewer distractions, there’s time to notice the small things: the changing color of the water, the sound of wind in the rigging and the first lights appearing along the coast.
Our voyage ends in La Spezia, sheltered within the Gulf of Poets. Stay a little longer to explore the city, visit nearby Portovenere or continue to the Cinque Terre, where villages cling to the steep Ligurian coastline.