Sea Cloud Cruises Units Sail for America
I’m settled within the spacious lounge of Sea Cloud Spirit, an amber glow solid by a close-by desk lamp illuminates the dish of taco chips earlier than me and a bowl of what simply is likely to be the easiest guacamole I’ve ever tasted. Trays of bacon-wrapped pigs in a blanket, popcorn, crunchy hen strips and buckets of beer are close by nevertheless it appears I’m the one one of many room’s 15 or so occupants whose consideration is targeted not on the delectable snacks however on the large American flag-bordered display from which Tremendous Bowl…no matter…is streaming.
I’m not a soccer fan. In any respect. However to savor that heavenly guacamole and people luscious pigs in a blanket I feign curiosity, figuring I’ll ask questions that simply may recommend at the least a minimal information of the game. “And which crew does that man Taylor Swift is seeing play on?” is the perfect I give you.
German-based Sea Cloud Cruises has found America and, with its thrilling new ship Sea Cloud Spirit, intends to attract U.S.-based vacationers to the Sea Cloud household. Actually, the road hopes that, by yr’s finish, 40% of the ship’s friends will hail from the American market.
Sea Cloud Cruises, a fleet of three windjammers, every topped with a riot of dazzling white sails which can be hoisted by hand, launched in 1992 with the still-sailing Sea Cloud, in-built 1931 because the luxurious personal yacht of heiress Marjorie Merriweather Publish. In 2001, the 94-passenger Sea Cloud II debuted and, in 2021, Sea Cloud Spirit, the 136-passenger, five-deck three-masted windjammer I’m crusing from Costa Rica to Panama, joined the fleet.
Till not too long ago, Sea Cloud Cruises was marketed nearly completely in Europe and on this crusing, the American contingent is vastly outnumbered by German friends, together with a handful of Swiss, Spanish, Mexican and Cuban ones. Communications and menus are offered in each German and English; lectures and bulletins, likewise.
But the outstanding Sea Cloud Spirit expertise, her delectable delicacies, and the progressive issues that set her aside from different cruises, comes by means of loud and clear in any language.
SETTING SAIL…LITERALLY (10/10)
It’s a imaginative and prescient from one other time—billowing white sails adorn masts that attain 200 toes skyward and propel the smooth vessel by means of pristine waters. Actually, in line with Sea Cloud Spirit’s Captain Heiner Ellers, the ship sails greater than 40% of the time on wind energy alone.
Whereas there are definitely different windjammers crusing the seas, Sea Cloud’s are the one ones with sails set by hand simply as they had been 200 years in the past. You possibly can hold your slides and top-deck waterparks—nothing can evaluate to the spectacle of seeing Sea Cloud Spirit’s hardworking female and male sailors scurry up the masts like a decided band of tightrope walkers. On deck, friends shade their eyes from the solar and watch in awe because the sailors climb to dizzying heights, positioning themselves throughout the maze of rigging to manually unfurl the 44,100 sq. toes of heavy sail. It’s an hour-long course of that ends with an equally superb climb down the masts to manually deal with the system of ropes and pulleys that adjusts the sails.
SUITES AND CABINS FIT FOR A QUEEN…OR AT LEAST AN HEIRESS (10/10)
It’s not stunning {that a} ship impressed by one of the lavish personal yachts ever constructed would have cabins match for an heiress, and ones considerably bigger than different crusing ships (from a 140 square-foot superior single stateroom to a 301 square-foot Suite)—some even function a verandah accessed by means of an arched-windowed doorway. But it surely’s the eye to element that’s most staggering. My 237-square-foot Junior Suite with Balcony is a dazzler with spacious sitting space, two full closets tucked right into a nook nook, beds dressed with the best linens and essentially the most luxurious pillows I’ve ever rested my head on. Art work is spotlit and a elegant picket unit holds a TV that options on demand movies, a Krups coffeemaker and minibar stocked with gentle drinks and bottled water. In every single place, notably within the beautiful lavatory with bathe, jacuzzi tub and beautiful frosted golden bowl-style sink, is gleaming brass {hardware}, a Sea Cloud signature. And whereas shops require a European plug, a number of USB ports for charging telephones can be found. My cabin class even consists of free laundry—an enormous plus on a steamy 11-night voyage.
There’s, in truth, fairly a little bit of “free” stuff on Sea Cloud Spirit, a largely all-inclusive expertise. All eating, gratuities and drinks (together with cocktails, wines and beers) are included in fares as is one gigabyte of Starlink web (packages providing extra web entry can be found at an additional cost). Entry to the ship’s thermal spa and, on my crusing, a number of shore excursions are additionally complimentary.
Solely non-obligatory shore excursions, reward store purchases, spa remedies, premium wines and transfers are charged individually.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT (9/10)
A pelican perches for an hour on the rail of Sea Cloud Spirit and scores of stingrays collect collectively alongside the ship whereas dolphins frolic on the stern. Generally Sea Cloud Spirit’s finest leisure is offered not by means of organized actions however by nature itself.
Sea Cloud Spirit shuns immediately’s typical cruise ship leisure choices to create a singular journey that celebrates the ship, the ocean and the winds. You received’t discover a on line casino, manufacturing exhibits, or perhaps a swimming pool aboard Sea Cloud Spirit however, as a substitute, invigorating experiences, some that even essentially the most jaded cruise fan has doubtless by no means seen.
Solar worshippers can loosen up beneath these magnificent sails on Solar Deck loungers and within the partial shade of snug round sunbeds or work out within the small ocean-view health heart. On Cabin Deck, a spa space presents two remedy rooms, a Finnish sauna, steam tub, multi-sensory bathe and extra whereas a close-by boutique presents a choice of Sea Cloud branded objects. Cabin Deck can be the place friends entry the swim platform: Dive proper into the surf for an invigorating swim or climb aboard one within the chain of floating loungers.
Within the evenings, the Lido Deck is reworked from an out of doors eating venue to a dance membership that stored a few of us out till 1:00 a.m.! On our crusing, too, 4 native Costa Rican musicians held court docket beneath the sails on the Solar Deck—and I’m not speaking metal drums and “Yellow Fowl,” however a rockin’ band that had everybody, even crew members, dancing all night time!
Sea Cloud Spirit, its sails unfurled, is finest seen from the ocean—a indisputable fact that has led to the introduction of the ship’s Picture Safari. As climate situations enable, friends are taken for a Zodiac spin across the ship for a spectacular photograph alternative—in truth, the shot that leads this text Isn’t knowledgeable one however taken by me throughout my Picture Safari.
And for those who’re questioning what these three traces extending from the strict into the ocean are, you simply may discover out at immediately’s lunch buffet. The place legally permitted, Sea Cloud Spirit typically catches its fish proper from the ocean utilizing a easy bait and hook on every of the three traces. Chef Angelo defined the method to me as he set to work fileting an enormous mahi mahi that was caught that very morning.
Whereas Sea Cloud Spirit’s onboard leisure is basically centered on enjoyable pursuits like lectures that discover historical past and wildlife, the very nature of a crusing ship calls for a level of agility (though the ship does have an elevator). Landings are most frequently by way of Zodiac and navigating the Solar Deck, with its myriad ropes and winches typically takes some care.
A TASTE OF SEA CLOUD SPIRIT (9/10)
Except for the hamburger, sizzling canine and membership sandwich dinner menu supplied to soccer followers throughout the ship’s Tremendous Bowl get together, Sea Cloud Spirit’s eating leans extra in the direction of European formal than American grab-and-go. My 11 days on board, in truth, simply is likely to be the longest time I’ve ever spent with out seeing a pizza. Even the Barbecue-themed dinner, served on deck, skipped typical American favorites like ribs, hen and burgers in favor of extra elegant fare like sirloin or ribeye steak and tuna-three-ways: tartare, sashimi and grilled steak.
Not like immediately’s latest cruise ships, Sea Cloud Spirit presents solely two eating venues: The Restaurant, a beautiful indoor eating room with interval decor that will accommodate all passengers at one open sitting; and the out of doors Bistro on the ship’s Lido deck. A full breakfast buffet in The Restaurant is supplemented by out of doors “early riser” and “late riser” choices and a full lunch buffet is obtainable day by day on the Bistro. Count on a dizzying variety of ready salads at lunch, a separate inexperienced salad station, and restricted—however typically spectacular—sizzling dishes, like an elaborate paella, carved roast turkey, spiny lobster, grilled filet mignon or a perfectly-spiced shrimp curry. Cheese and desserts observe although, sadly, Sea Cloud Spirit not often ventures past vanilla, chocolate and strawberry in its ice cream flavors.
At time for dinner, Sea Cloud Spirit friends typically have the choice of eating al fresco at The Bistro (which can be buffet fashion or served) or extra formally at The Restaurant the place People might discover service reasonably gradual. It takes rather a lot for me to forgo an out of doors eating expertise for an indoor one, however the staggering warmth and humidity of our Central American itinerary usually satisfied me to just do that. Amazingly, the overwhelming majority of my European shipmates most popular the sweat-inducing ambiance outdoors. When requested why, one German gentleman merely shook his head and stated, “You’ve clearly by no means been to Hamburg in February.”
An thrilling addition to Sea Cloud Spirit’s eating program is its Visitor Chef program which kicked off on our crusing with award-winning Miami culinary legend Cindy Hutson who contributed a number of excellent dishes to gala dinner menus (together with her Costa Rican Espresso Crusted Licensed Angus Beef Skirt Steak which was not solely my favourite dish on the cruise however possibly of my life), dished out her extraordinary seviche at lunch at some point, carried out a rum tasting enhanced by three of her delectable appetizers (pork crostini, black bean hummus and crispy coconut shrimp) and mingled cheerfully with food-loving friends.
Subsequent up in Sea Cloud Spirit’s Visitor Chef program is Chef Michael Collantes, head chef and proprietor of 1 Michelin star-rated Soseki in Winter Park, Florida, and Sushi Saint, Central Florida’s first handroll bar expertise with a New York outpost opening quickly. Chef Collantes sails Sea Cloud Spirit from Good to Barcelona October 5-12, 2024.
In January 2025, Sea Cloud Spirt will homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico and sailings will embody in a single day calls at boutique Caribbean islands together with St. Barts, Virgin Gorda and Norman Island.
FOR THOSE SEEKING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORIGINAL SEA CLOUD: Washington D.C.’s Hillwood Property, Museum and Gardens, one of many premier artwork collector’s museums in america, is presently inviting guests to journey the excessive seas by means of a particular exhibition devoted to the unique Sea Cloud, one in every of historical past’s most well-known yachts, in-built 1931 and nonetheless crusing!
Photographs credit score Judi Cuervo
See cruises right here: Sea Cloud Cruises (cruisecompete.com)
