We boarded the tall ship in Civitavecchia, which is the port of Rome. After getting settled into our cabins, and dinner, it was getting dark. Time to go on deck, where they’ll be getting ready to leave for the final part of our Italian adventure.

Suddenly the sails started to raise and a deep, growling music started – this was the profound gravity of Vangelis’s ‘Conquest of Paradise’, from the movie “1492”. It sounded to me like the opening soundtrack of “Vikings”. The wind was blowing, the ship was moving and the shivers were running up and down my back.

The 3rd and final part of our Italian adventure was a cruise on the “Royal Clipper”, sailing towards Sicily with 7 stops, before finishing in Civitavecchia. This is a large square rigged clipper cruise ship carrying about 200 passengers, so it doesn’t overwhelm a visited community, like the 6000 passenger ocean liners. I didn’t feel like we were aggravating over-tourism. In fact, often while anchored off one of our destinations, private boats would circle our ship, waving to us and admiring the beauty of this vessel.

No broadway musicals, no tie and jacket needed, just the splendor of the ship, good food and great destinations – that’s what the Royal Clipper is all about.

One disappointment was the fact that there was so much commercialism in the ancient medieval settings. But you can’t blame the locals for trying to make a euro, and we could always find the authentic Italy.

Please enjoy the photos and the captions for the real description of the voyage.

Oh, and before you ask, the beautiful woman above wanted to take my picture.

[Click on any photo for the slideshow. Please leave comments at the bottom of the page.]

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Sailing at night to the sound of Vangelis’s ‘Conquest of Paradise’

The journey

The Roman ruins of Pompei

The Roman ruins of Pompei

Denise and Rick – from Collingwood to Sorrento, Italy

One of the tenders used for landings

Amalfi, Italy

Approchaing the Royal Clipper from Amalfi

Setting sail

The top deck of the Royal Clipper

These are the “White Lotus” girls.

The Royal Clipper, in Lipari, Italy

Taormina, Sicily

Syracuse, Sicily

Syracuse, Sicily

A very quiet cafe off the beaten tourist path in Syracuse

The market in Syracuse

This market vendor looks even more unhappy then the squid

Spices at the market in Syracuse

the market in Syracuse, Sicily

Sidewalk shopping in Syracuse, Sicily

Diane diving off the back of the Royal Clipper

That’s me diving off the back of the Royal Clipper

Len in the crows nest of the Royal Clipper

Street vendor in Lipari, Italy

Acolian Islands, Italy

Ponza, Italy

Ponza, Italy

Ponza, Italy

Ponza, Italy

Ponza, Italy

The caverns of Ponza, Italy

The rocks of Palmarola, Italy

The Royal Clipper

The Royal Clipper

The Royal Clipper