Art, Architecture & Antiquity
May 7-15, 2026
Capacity: 47-staterooms
The Trip
What better way to experience the coasts of France and Italy than with a group of like-minded travelers and a Carleton professor, aboard a magnificent, 47-cabin, three-masted barque that combines the seafaring elegance of a bygone era with the highest modern standards of luxury? Cannes, Monaco, Cinque Terre, Lucca, the Isle of Elba…these are names that conjure up images of sun-drenched beaches, glamorous seaports, and rich masterpieces of art and architecture—in short, the quintessential Mediterranean journey.
Early May is the perfect time of year to visit, with moderate temperatures and verdant gardens and landscapes awash with blossoms. We combine a three-night luxury hotel stay on the French Riviera with a four-night cruise aboard the Sea Cloud II from Nice to Livorno, with port calls in Porto Venere (for the Cinque Terre), the Isle of Elba, and Livorno (for a choice of day trip to Lucca or Florence). The short distances along this route allow for two half-days under sail to maximize the special experience of cruising aboard this majestic windjammer.
Cathy Yandell, Carleton College Professor of French and Francophone Studies, Emerita, is part of the onboard lecture team that will enrich your travel experience and understanding of the history and culture of this region through a series of stimulating lectures and informal discussions. In addition, excellent local guides will accompany you on excursions throughout the program.
A journey aboard the Sea Cloud II is an incomparable experience on one of the most elegant and luxurious vessels afloat. In the grand tradition of the world’s finest sailing vessels, guests experience this marvelous ship under sail, as the skilled crew hand-sets over 30,000 square feet of canvas (weather conditions permitting). The ship’s small size also allows us to moor centrally in the most scenic harbors, and anchor offshore of Porto Venere for a visit to the Cinque Terre.
This program is co-sponsored by several organizations, so we encourage you to reserve your space today by calling Alumni Adventures at (800) 811-7244 or emailing carleton@studytours.org.
Carleton Leader
Cathy Yandell, W.I. and Hulda F. Daniell Professor Emerita of French and Francophone Studies, has now “graduated” from Carleton, has moved to her native New Mexico, and is teaching literature courses in the UNM Continuing Education program as well as online at Roundtable in New York. She has published widely on the French Renaissance, focusing on such questions as the human body and cognition, time, and visual culture. In 2019, by some quirk of fate, Cathy was knighted by the French government in the Ordre des palmes académiques. Her first book for a general audience, The French Art of Living Well: Finding Joie de Vivre in the Everyday World, was published by St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan in 2023. Having led eleven student programs abroad (mostly to France, but also to Greece and India), as well as two Alumni trips (the best!), she is excited to explore southern France and northern Italy with Carleton alums and hopes that many of you will join her!
Tour Prices (7 nights)
Per person
Prices start at $6,990 double occupancy, and $10,990 single occupancy
Download the detailed brochure for cabin pricing.
Itinerary
Thursday-Friday, May 7-8: HOME / NICE, FRANCE
Saturday, May 9: CANNES / ANTIBES / SAINT-PAUL-DE-VENCE / GRASSE
Sunday, May 10: CÔTE D’AZUR / MENTON / SAINT HONORAT ISLAND
Monday, May 11: NICE / MONACO / EMBARK
Tuesday, May 12: PORTO VENERE, ITALY / CINQUE TERRE
Wednesday, May 13: LIVORNO / FLORENCE OR LUCCA
Thursday, May 14: PORTOFERRAIO, ELBA
Friday, May 15: LIVORNO / HOME
OPTIONAL POST-TOUR EXTENSION IN TUSCANY
May 15-19, 2026
Extend your stay in Tuscany with four luxurious nights at the Castello di Spaltenna, an enchanting, 5-star oasis that stands out in a breathtaking panorama of lush vineyards. Excursions include a visit to the exclusive Marchesi di Antinori Estate, with a private visit of the cellars. Enjoy a truffle hunting experience followed by a cooking class, explore Siena’s cultural traditions, and learn about the art of crystal engraving in Colle Val d’Elsa
Download the brochure for the complete detailed itinerary.
Additional Information
For more information or to reserve your space, please call 800-811-7244 or email Carleton College Alumni Adventures. To make a reservation online click here.