A Magic Carpet Ride

By Georgina Cruz

British lexicographer Samuel Johnson once pointed out that "the grand objective of travel is to see the shores of the Mediterranean."

My husband and I set out to do just that, booking a 10-day voyage on Silversea Cruises' Silver Cloud that called on ports in Europe and northern Africa.

The elegantly yacht-like, six-star ship was like a magic carpet, whisking us from one port to another of this fabled sea.

"A Mediterranean cruise is just incredible," said Ron Goodman, cruise director aboard the Silver Cloud. "The history, the culture, the food, the adventures one finds here satisfy everyone -even the most demanding traveler."

After embarking in Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, our first call was in Naples, where we opted for an optional full-day excursion to the Amalfi Drive. The tour, which passed Mt. Vesubius, made a stop in Sorrento, where according to myth, Odysseus encountered the sirens, and modern-day travelers find treasures of cameos and inlaid wood music boxes. Afterwards, we proceeded on the Amalfi Drive with its breathtaking vistas of cliffs plunging into emerald green waters to Positano.

A picture-postcard-perfect hillside village facing the Bay of Salerno, novelist John Steinbeck once called Positano "a dream place" with its narrow, winding streets lined with designer shops, cafes, and houses and buildings in pastel hues leading to the beach. We had lunch on a terrace at a Relais & Chateaux restaurant, San Pietro di Positano, where the gourmet fare, including local fish, was as delicious as the views of the Mediterranean.

One of three restaurants aboard the Silver Cloud, La Saletta, is coincidentally operated by Relais & Chateaux Relais Gourmands with exquisite dishes paired with award-winning wines. One evening the menu celebrated Spain, with delectable tapas and such specialties as zarzuela de mariscos (a heavenly seafood soup).

In addition to gourmet food, impeccably served, the all-suite Silver Cloud pampered us with such touches as a welcome bottle of Perrier Jouet champagne; complimentary ensuite mini-bar replenished daily; open bars throughout the ship; Bvlgari and Acqua di Parma soaps, shampoos and lotions; daily activities and nightly entertainment. A favorite pastime of ours was attending enrichment lectures about our Mediterranean ports of call. Onboard amenities include a Mandara Spa, gym, library (stocked with books and DVDs), show lounge, pool and jogging track.

Bejaia, Algeria was the favorite port of call of two of our cruise mates, Bob and Peg Mistarz of Stuart. The couple told us they had visited 102 countries, but never Algeria. They took a tour, "Meet The Berbers" with us that introduced us to a typical Berber village.

"The villagers had never seen American tourists before," said Peg Mistarz. "They were taking pictures of us -as curious about us as we were about them."

At the Berber village, the two oldest residents, two women in traditional dress with henna coloring their hands red (to signify a joyous occasion) welcomed us. They led us to various points of interest including their olive press and served us their olive oil along with a variety of breads and snacks.

Other port highlights included the following:

* Valletta, Malta -- We took a walking tour to see the Co-Cathedral of St. John with the inlaid-marble tombs of more than 400 knights of St. John who provided hospital care in Jerusalem to pilgrims during the Crusades and the Grand Master's Palace with priceless tapestries, armor and decorated ceilings.

* La Goulette, Tunisia - We visited the ruins of Carthage, the Bardo Museum with a wealth of Roman mosaics, and Sidi Bou Said, an Andalusian-style hilltop village -with white buildings with blue doors and shutters and beautiful views of the sea.

* Heraklion, Crete - One of the highlights here is the Palace of Knossos, one of the palaces of the Minoan civilization, considered to be one of the oldest in Europe. Reconstructed by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, the palace ruins include the throne room with the original stone throne and frescoes, the Queen's Chamber with a private bath (unheard of in antiquity) adorned with frescoes of dolphins that seem to be smiling.

Just like we were every day of our Mediterranean voyage on the Silver Cloud.

IF YOU GO - Silversea Cruises' four vessels roam the world in style. For information, contact a travel agent or visit www.silversea.com.