A Trip to the Orient: The Story of a Mediterranean Cruise

The romance of Edwardian travel comes alive in this vivid account of a Mediterranean cruise aboard the steamship Moltke. Departing New York, author Robert Urie Jacob and his companions embark on a journey that feels plucked from another century: weeks of fine dining, deck games, and slowly approaching ancient shores. The narrative captures both the luxury of early ocean travel and the genuine wonder of arriving in Funchal, Gibraltar, and Athens, cities that have changed profoundly since Jacob first saw them through his camera's lens. With nearly two hundred photographic illustrations, this book functions as both a charming period piece and a remarkable historical document, preserving the Mediterranean as it once appeared to curious American travelers. For readers who dream of slow travel and the vanished world of steamships, Jacob's account offers passage back to an era when reaching Athens required faith, patience, and proper evening attire.