Could Christopher Columbus have been Jewish?
A lecture on board a luxury boutique cruise around the Canary Islands sheds some light on the intrepid explorer
‘In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. And he may even have been a Jew!’
Nope, I haven’t been on the rum… though there was plenty of bubbly on offer as I made my maiden voyage with the luxury yacht firm Sea Cloud. And among the joys, during lazy days at sea, was listening to guest lecturer Dr Constantin Elfe, who suggested Christopher Columbus could actually have been of the faith.
My partner, Ilisa, and I were on the crest of a wave during an eight-night trip on Sea Cloud Spirit. The yacht is one of three in the company and, although the first one dates back to 1931, they are not all that known on these shores. But I will happily spread the word after a classy and unique experience on a three-masked vessel, which made you feel like you were travelling in the 1700s – but with all mod-cons, and more.
Marjorie Merriweather Post, then the wealthiest woman in the United States, launched Sea Cloud as a private yacht nearly a century ago. The original is still very active as is Sea Cloud II and, of course, our stunning ship, which only made its debut in late 2021.
If you want to experience sailing with actual sails, far fewer folk than on traditional cruise ships, and pampering personified, then look no further. Our ship has a capacity of just 136 passengers and there are staff galore to ensure all is shipshape for you.
Our journey started on land in Casablanca where I’d be more than happy to ‘play it again’ at our pre-cruise hotel, the Hyatt Regency. The staff were the kindest and finest I have experienced at any property in the world. Their warmth put us in the perfect mood for the sunny Canary Islands that awaited us after boarding Sea Cloud Spirit.
As is often the case, the first day was at sea and it does not take long to find your bearings on such an intimate vessel. Cabins range in size – some have a balcony while others have just a small window. The Spirit is unique in boasting balcony cabins for such a relatively-small ship… and we were pleased to have one, plus both a jacuzzi bath and shower, set in spectacular gold and marble, with skincare products from L’Occitane.
A word of warning, the bath may feel a bit smaller by the end of the cruise such is the delicious food on offer, plus unlimited wine and beer when dining. We particularly enjoyed the live cooking stations at lunch, including the freshest of fish. If you feel like you have over-indulged, then seek out the well-equipped gym. I ran a mile myself… in the other direction!
Below deck is an excellent steam room and sauna plus two cosy rooms for wonderful massage treatments. Ilisa and I both booked the Laver Shell Massage, where the shell works its magic into any tense muscles – a bit like hot stones but, for me, even better. I chose a coconut oil to complement it and came away feeling totally relaxed and with much softer skin. We both did. Oh, and a mention for the library, where you can read a book in a charming room and enjoy lovely views in between pages.
Our first stop was Lanzarote and, ahead of the trip, I was thinking there would not be much to see and we’d probably remain on board that day. At the last minute, we gambled on taking a tour to a house briefly owned by Omar Sharif. It proved a far better gamble than one taken by the legendary actor of Jewish descent.
Sharif, born to a Jewish mother and a Muslim father, who was grounded by his maternal grandparents’ stories of the Holocaust, fell in love with a house built on to the cliff of a volcano while filming The Mysterious Island in 1973. We could see why – the swimming pool area and backdrop is breathtaking. But Omar loved bridge and lost his newly-named LagOmar residence in a game against the property developer. He wasted no time, it took place during the housewarming party!
The home was created by Cesar Manrique and we enjoyed more of this genius artist’s work on the short drive onwards to Jameos del Agua – a fairytale of a setting developed from the laver of a volcanic eruption about 4,000 years earlier. The caves and flow of water are so picturesque and there is even an underground concert hall. If in Lanzarote, get off your sun lounger and make this place a must-visit.
Another highlight was lesser-known La Gomera, the second-smallest of the main Canary Islands. The landscape, dominated by craggy volcanic mountains, is delightful and popular with hikers. Locals can communicate by an old whistling code, which is even taught at school. We were given a demonstration during a coffee and cake break. I tried it out on Ilisa later… ouch!
No matter which tour you go on, it’s always nice to return ‘home’ to your ship and Sea Cloud keeps you in fully-relaxed mode with some charming entertainment. When docked in Tenerife, two local musicians played folk songs on guitar, including on the small five-string Timple, which originates from this region. Another night, a soprano and her pianist would not have been out of place at the Royal Albert Hall. Then towards the end of the cruise, the lovely staff made us smile with a sea shanty medley and it got guests on the dance floor. My moves swiftly got many off it!
But I was in the mood for dancing such was the feel-good factor and, next day, while Ilisa recovered from the shock, I took in a lecture about Columbus. It was fascinating hearing how he left Spain on his first Atlantic crossing around the same time as the Jews were expelled. A coincidence or maybe more? Then there were his famous New World discoveries. I felt a bit of an explorer myself aboard Sea Cloud. Well, I too had unearthed a splendid ‘new world’…
You can find a similar cruise to Mark’s at: https://www.seacloud.com/en/cruises/island-worlds-with-taste-sensations-scs-2311/
Prices start from 4,665 euros.
For more information about any of Sea Cloud’s cruises contact: cruise-consultant@seacloud.com
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