A Modern Voyage into the Age of Sail
- Step aboard the Sea Cloud II, a hand-sailed tall ship blending classic craftsmanship with modern comfort.
- Hear from Road Scholar’s Zoe Fox-Mailer on what makes this vessel ideal for lifelong learners.
- Experience hands-on sailing — raise the sails, climb the mast and learn directly from the crew.
- Enjoy outdoor lectures, classical concerts and expert-led discussions as you sail from Venice to Dubrovnik.
Step aboard the Sea Cloud II with insider insight from Road Scholar’s Zoe Fox-Mailer
Road Scholars have always been drawn to the sea — to that blend of curiosity, possibility and calm that comes with a horizon stretching endlessly ahead. Through the decades, our learners have crossed the world’s waterways on river barges, expedition ships and even transatlantic voyages. Now, with Sea Cloud II, we’re bringing that timeless spirit of discovery to a new kind of sailing adventure — one that captures the romance of the past with all the comforts of today.
Zoe Fox-Mailer, our director of program operations for the Floating Campus® program, knows Sea Cloud II well. She recently joined the ship for a familiarization voyage, and what she found was a vessel perfectly suited to Road Scholar’s lifelong learners — a ship that is as much an inspiration as it is a source of transportation.
“It doesn’t feel like a ‘cruise’ ship at all,” Zoe says. “It’s elegant and traditional — very much that golden age of cruising kind of feel.”
Modeled after a 1930s sailing yacht, Sea Cloud II is an authentic tall ship where sails are still raised by hand. Zoe says that authenticity is what makes it so special for Road Scholars. “You’re not just watching the crew work from afar — you actually see them hauling the ropes on deck while feeling the wind and learning how the whole sailing mechanism works,” she says. “They even give you a diagram of all the sails and wind directions. For people with curious minds, like our Road Scholars, it’s fascinating.”
And for those feeling adventurous? You can even climb the mast. After a quick fitness check (think balancing on one leg or climbing a few stairs), guests are invited to ascend partway up the rigging for a truly unforgettable view.
Between those moments of excitement, life aboard is serene. Zoe describes afternoons reading in the mahogany-paneled library, evenings listening to a classical concert at sea and long stretches of deck, perfect for resting, photography lessons or informal discussions with onboard experts. “There’s so much outdoor space,” she says. “It’s ideal for the kind of hands-on learning we love to do on our Floating Campus voyages.”
Sea Cloud II is at the heart of our Floating Campus program, Voyage Through History: Discover the Adriatic on Sea Cloud II, where that mix of education and adventure come to life. As they sail from Venice to Dubrovnik, participants hear from historians and art specialists, explore ports along the Adriatic and experience the rare pleasure of sailing under full canvas — the wind carrying them toward each new discovery.
“It’s romantic,” Zoe says simply. “To be on a true sailing ship, listening to lectures on deck, feeling the wind, watching the sails fill — it’s like stepping back in time.”
The Sea Cloud II may be our most classic vessel yet, but for Zoe, it represents something very modern: Road Scholars continuing to seek, to learn and to embrace the wonder of the world — one voyage at a time.
