What It’s Like to Sail in Style Aboard a Masted Ship

This article originally appeared in the April issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

The 136-guest Sea Cloud Spirit offers a seagoing adventure with real sails, crow’s nests and masts – along with a comfortable, modern, upscale touch.

The third windjammer in the Sea Cloud Cruises fleet, Sea Cloud Spirit began operating in 2021, joining the 2001-built Sea Cloud II and the historic Sea Cloud commissioned in 1931 for affluent socialite and diplomat Marjorie Merriweather Post.

Founded in 1979, Sea Cloud Cruises is a German company that is expanding in North America, opening an office in Hollywood, Fla., and reaching out to travel advisors. Its management team in the U.S. and Canada is led by President Mirell Reyes and Vice President of Sales Kevin Smith.

I joined a January cruise on Sea Cloud Spirit and found a nautical ambience embodied by 28 sails of 44,100 square feet of white cloth. The sails are raised whenever possible, manually, by the crew – no touch of a button on this tall ship.

While the ship’s exterior might conjure up pirate tales of yore, its interiors and itineraries will suit today’s upscale travelers in search of a sea-going adventure beyond the typical mainstream cruise ship.

Here’s what your clients can expect.

Accommodations

The ship has 69 suites and cabins. I stayed in a super-comfortable Category B Junior Veranda Suite that measured 237 square feet with a large balcony. The suite matches the nautical ambience, with wood furnishings with gold trim, a marble bathroom with gold fixtures, a shower and tub, a walk-in closet, and a mini bar with a Nespresso coffee maker.

Dining

Several dinners were served buff et-style on the Lido Deck, and included small pieces of fish or meat, which were briefly reheated on a grill, and an assortment of salads using a variety of grains.

Other days, dinner was served in the restaurant; one night it was a four-course meal created by Guest Chef Julie Carrion, who prepared Puerto Rican recipes – think pumpkin soup, salad of lobster or hearts of palm and red snapper. Other special guest chefs are scheduled during the winter San Juan-based season.

Breakfast also was a buffet in the restaurant, although some items could be ordered off a menu.

Entertainment

The entertainment was low-key, often the onboard musician playing a keyboard on the Lido deck. One night, a duo was brought in from St. Barths to perform 1970s and 80s songs. Another evening the crew gathered to lead the guests in singing sea shanties – “What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?” and the like.

One afternoon included a special performance by popular German pianist Joja Wendt, who delighted the audience.

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