Even without her 28 sails unfurled, Sea Cloud Cruises’ 2021-built Sea Cloud Spirit is spectacular to behold. Its three masts tower over a long, sleek hull that begins with a piercing bowsprit atop a carved golden eagle crest and concludes with a sweepingly elegant clipper stern. But when her billowing canvas canopies are unfurled — a hand-rendered feat with crew members scaling fearlessly up to 190 feet above the sea to untie lines as their attending deck mates maneuver the winches, ropes and capstans — she rivals her legendary fleet-mate Sea Cloud as the most beautiful cruise ship afloat.
Beyond her haute, patrician exterior, Spirit sports impossibly pristine, scrubbed teak decks; polished brass gear; and artfully stowed clusters of ropes. Her Gilded Age interiors brim with warm wood veneers and yet more polished brass. And, like Sea Cloud — the 1931-built namesake mega-yacht-turned-cruise-ship — and the 2001-built Sea Cloud II, her suites and staterooms even boast gold-plated taps and hardware.
A junior suite onboard Sea Cloud Spirit.
Credit: 2024 Sea Cloud Cruises
Sea Cloud Spirit’s Cabins
At nearly twice the size of both fleet-mates, the 136-guest Sea Cloud Spirit offers more space and creature comforts and has an elevator, which make it the line’s best contender for the American market. The ship’s public spaces include a gorgeous library overlooking the bow, a lounge and a dining room (each large enough to seat all guests at once), a sheltered alfresco lido, a spa with two massage rooms and a steam area, a boutique and a gym.
Overall, its suites and staterooms are larger, too, ranging from a pair of 140-square-foot Category F superior single cabins to nine 175-square-foot Category E superior (non-single) rooms with twin portholes; and a trio of 301-square-foot Category A suites with wood-trimmed balconies, a walk-in closet, a comfortable sitting area with an L-shaped sofa, a foldout bed and bathrooms with a whirlpool tub and a shower.
Sea Cloud Spirit is a 136-guest ship that winters in the Caribbean and sails the Mediterranean and Europe in the summer.
Credit: 2024 Sea Cloud CruisesA Caribbean Itinerary
I spent a recent eight-night cruise from St. Maarten to the Lesser Antilles visiting alluring hamlets like Bequia in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Soufriere, St. Lucia; Tobago Cays/Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Cabrits, Dominica; and Ile Des Saintes, an archipelago off Guadeloupe.
The sailing was all about tendering at pristine beaches, snorkeling, taking in views from local fortresses and even joining a reasonably priced excursion (65 euros) to a botanical garden and a hike in the rainforests above St. Lucia’s striking Pitons. One afternoon, as Spirit basked in the sunshine off Union Island, we rode zodiacs to a private beach with a lavish barbecue set up under a large palapa as a steel drum band serenaded us.
Onboard Dining and Inclusions
On our cruise, the ship was half full, so lunch and dinner were offered on all but two nights out on the Lido terrace; on fuller sailings, guests will have a choice between eating alfresco or dining in the elegant, air-conditioned dining room.
Although it is being tweaked to accommodate lighter American tastes, the cuisine was largely tailored for the German market at the time of my sailing, with numerous meat dishes (my husband is still raving about the veal chop served on the second night), lobster and seafood. At lunch, there was a wider choice, including some nice vegetarian options and a salad bar. A large breakfast buffet was offered each morning in the dining room, and there were sweets and savory nibbles every afternoon at 4 p.m. for tea on the Lido. However, there is no room service.
Wine, beer and most (except premium) drinks are included in the fare, along with gratuities, specialty coffees, snorkeling gear for use during the cruise and a gigabyte’s worth of Wi-Fi internet access so guests can digitally check the daily program (although paper versions are available upon request). Starlink connectivity [https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/wifi-on-cruise-ships], which can be further purchased for $25 for five gigs, was excellent on our sailing and handy for posting photos and video clips, as well as staying in touch.
In the Caribbean, especially, life onboard is casual, with most guests wearing shorts by day and comfortable, resort-style clothes at night. There were options to get a bit dressier for the captain’s welcome and farewell nights (the second and last) and a “white night” for those who wish to participate.
Guests can watch the scenery go by on the ship’s Sun Deck.
Credit: 2024 Sea Cloud CruisesBy day, when the ship is at sea, there are enrichment lectures (in both German and English), and in the evenings, there is a DJ who spins a variety of classic rock, pop and disco in the Lido after dinner. Otherwise, activities extend to watching the crew unfurl (and re-furl) those magnificent sails, reading a good book in a Balinese sun bed or cushioned lounger and savoring that lost art of being at sea.
Sea Cloud Spirit spends winters in the Caribbean and sails the Mediterranean and Europe in the summer. Rates begin at $3,995 for a four-night cruise from Nice to the French and Italian rivieras.
