4 Night Cruise sailing from Funchal to Lisbon aboard Sea Cloud II.

In February 2001 the SEA CLOUD II turned fantasy into reality:
In the harbor of Las Palmas, godmother Sabine Christiansen broke a bottle of champagne across the bow of the gleaming white barque and proclaimed: "I christen you the 'SEA CLOUD II'".

Like no other ship, she combines the timeless elegance of windjammers of past with the highest safety standards and the luxurious comfort of modern cruise ships.

Sailing romantics will be fascinated while on board, where the 29,600 sq. feet of sails is set by hand..

What makes the SEA CLOUD II special is her unusual bounty and expanse for a sailing ship. You have almost limitless possibilities on the four decks to do exactly as your heart desires.

Highlights of this cruise:

Funchal
Funchal is the centuries old capital of Madeira, an island in a Portuguese Archipelago consisting of Madeira, Porto Santo and the uninhabited islands of Selvagens or Desertas. Funchal is located in an absolutely unique area. The almost 'amphitheatre' like formation it rests in begins on the beach and rises almost 1200 metres on gentle slopes.

Funchal is an enchanting town set on a glittering bay against a background of soaring green mountains. Its historic core overlooks the harbour and features some fine government buildings and stately 18th century mansions.

Attractions include the botanical gardens located on the edge of the city, and after that the famous Monte toboggan ride back into town. East of the city and rising to a height of almost 600 metres is Cabo Girão, the world's second-highest sea cliff. The rest of the island is easily reachable from Funchal, including the characteristic triangle-shaped houses at Santana on the north coast, and the secluded deep-valley location of Curral das Freiras, where nuns sought refuge from invading pirates in the mid 16th century.

Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal. a lively and multicultural place. Pre World War I wooden trams clank up steep gradients, past mosaic pavements and Art Nouveau cafes, and the medieval, village-like quarter of Alfama hangs below the city's castle.

Modern Lisbon has kept an easy-going pace and boasts a vibrant, cosmopolitan identity from large communities of Africans and Asians. In 1994, Lisbon was European City of Culture, while in 1998 the city hosted the last great Expo of the millennium.

There are few monuments and little art in Lisbon, largely due to the 1755 earthquake. There is one building from Portugal's golden age - the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos at Belem - that is the equal of any monument in the country. More modern developments include the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian museum complex and the Tomas Taveira's amazing postmodernist shopping centre at Amoreiras.