Arriving at port or observing it from the pier, there are few vessels that create an exhilarating rush of admiration and wistfulness for a past age quite like the Sea Cloud Spirit. It represents a harmonious blend of maritime history with the classic allure of exploration, characterized by exquisite craftsmanship and the expertise of its […]
Arriving at port or observing it from the pier, there are few vessels that create an exhilarating rush of admiration and wistfulness for a past age quite like the Sea Cloud Spirit. It represents a harmonious blend of maritime history with the classic allure of exploration, characterized by exquisite craftsmanship and the expertise of its dedicated crew. More significantly, on the Sea Cloud Spirit, travelers can enjoy a Caribbean experience that is distinct from what is offered on conventional regional cruises. This uniqueness arises not only from its size but also from its status as a traditionally sailed three-masted, full-rigged ship, with a predominantly European guest list.
Launched in 2021, the Sea Cloud Spirit measures 452 feet in length, has a width of 56 feet, and boasts an impressive 28 sails, accommodating up to 136 guests and 85 crew members. I embarked on a seven-night journey round-trip to St. Martin, navigating the Lesser Antilles over the Thanksgiving week. A highlight was the presence of Kerry Sanders, the charming former NBC journalist, who, through two engaging lectures, shared captivating stories from various global conflict zones alongside his well-known reporting on hurricanes. These discussions captivated the audience, leaving guests wishing they could continue. There were 102 guests on board, primarily from Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with 20 originating from North America.
Passenger quarters can be found on Cabin Deck two, Veranda Deck three, and Lido Deck four. The Cabin Deck is also home to the Boutique, a Spa Area featuring two treatment rooms, steam bath, Finnish Sauna, relaxation space, multi-sensory shower, and swimming platform, while the Veranda Deck accommodates both Reception and the Restaurant.
The Lido Deck features a sunlit Library with shining hardwood floors, coffee table books, and a modest selection of hardcover and paperback novels. The Lido Deck also includes the Lounge for lectures and the outdoor Lido Bar & Bistro, where most social interactions take place.
The Sun Deck is equipped with sun loungers, several oyster-shaped daybeds, the Bridge, and a compact Fitness Center that features floor-to-ceiling windows—ideal for observing brown boobies diving for food in a Kamikaze-like manner. This space includes a LifeFitness treadmill, two spin bikes, a rower, an elliptical machine, a bench, free weights, as well as yoga mats and blocks.
For those mindful of stability, Spirit is the most stable ship in Sea Cloud’s trio—joined by the well-established four-masted Sea Cloud, and her slightly younger counterpart, Sea Cloud II—thanks largely to the multiple gill stabilizers situated on either side of Spirit.
Accommodations
Onboard, there are six types of accommodations, ranging from a Superior Single Stateroom measuring 140 square feet to the Veranda Suite, which covers 301 square feet. I settled into a Category D Deluxe Stateroom that spans 205 square feet.
My cabin was elegantly decorated with gold and black carpeting, wainscoting, a king-size bed adorned with European-style duvet bedding, two portholes, a loveseat, and a 36-inch flat-screen television. The television hutch housed a mini refrigerator filled with sodas and a Nespresso coffee machine. Upon arrival, a chilled bottle of Prosecco awaited me, along with a bowl of fresh fruit, which was generously replenished every day.
For guests traveling with several devices, it’s advisable to bring a European plug adapter that includes multiple USB ports since some staterooms lack built-in USB outlets. Staying connected was made effortless thanks to Starlink satellite internet, which provided robust coverage throughout the cruise, including 10GB in the standard fare.
The cabin also featured a small makeup table with an upholstered bench. There were two closets—one with drawers—and a compact mini safe suitable for storing wallets and cell phones.
The bathroom, accented with black and rose granite, featured a lighted makeup mirror, stylish gold fixtures, plush, premium towels, a marble-tiled walk-in shower with a built-in bench, and l’Occitane amenities.
Dining Experience
Breakfasts in the Restaurant were a pleasure, serving excellent coffee, fresh fruits, and baked goods—don’t miss the Nutella-filled croissants, you can thank me later—as well as charcuterie, cheeses, breakfast meats, eggs, cereals, and a made-to-order omelet station.
Lunch and dinner on the Lido Deck were enjoyed al fresco, presented buffet-style, and consistently featured a salad bar, soups, grilled options like shrimp and fresh fish, flank and T-bone steaks, venison, pork, fish stew, and various pastas, including vegetarian and gluten-free selections. And yes, I must mention the daily assortment of creamy house-made ice creams with flavors like caramel, dark chocolate, stracciatella, cherry, and strawberry. Afternoon tea was also available daily.
One dinner and one lunch were served in the Restaurant with multiple courses paired with a selection of international wines. This is significant because I’ve always believed that wine is essentially an intriguing fruit salad, and I was thoroughly pleased with the onboard wine offerings.
Having long been afflicted with chocolate derangement syndrome, I was especially delighted by the desserts, as one evening featured a warm lava cake, another evening a decadent chocolate tart, and the final night, baked Alaska. Enjoying those delicacies made me want to shout from the top sails, “Let them eat cake!” But considering the troubles Marie Antoinette faced for that statement, it’s more prudent to have some bread before indulging in cake.
Memorable Excursions
During this journey, we enjoyed two days under full sails, and after a fitness assessment, guests had the chance to scale the rigging to the 42-foot high first platform with the crew. Having experienced this on another vessel, I opted instead to utilize the spa.
We made a half-day stop at Terre-de-Haut/Îles des Saintes, followed by full-day stops at St. Lucia’s Soufrière, Dominica’s Cabritz, and St. Barthélemy’s Gustavia, before returning to St. Martin. A variety of excursions were included in the cruise fare, encompassing snorkeling, nature trails, visits to botanical gardens, and Indian River rowing. In this region of the world, where lounging on the beach is considered an art form worthy of repeated efforts, I always kept my swimwear handy to indulge when the opportunity arose.
At Les Saintes, part of the Guadeloupe archipelago, where goats thrive in gardens, and as a French overseas territory, Napoleon’s Fort, constructed in the mid-1800s, rises dramatically 340 feet above sea level in Terre-de-Haut. After climbing to take in the view, I wandered to plage de Pompierre—firefighter’s beach—for a refreshing swim. Strolling through the quaint beachfront town of Marigot while savoring a café-au-lait rounded off a perfect day.
Lush St. Lucia, the only nation named after a woman—Saint Lucia of Syracuse—achieved independence from British rule in 1979. Boasting two Nobel laureates, one in economics and the other in literature, this nation has the highest percentage of laureates per capita, with a population of approximately 180,000. In Soufrière—French for “sulfured air”—we visited the stunning botanical garden filled with all sorts of tropical blooms such as heliconias, sleeping hibiscus, and red ginger, while philodendrons stretched high in search of sunlight. Enormous bamboo in this area can grow one to two centimeters each day during the rainy season.
At what may well be the world’s only drive-in volcano, with its bubbling, odorous sulfur springs, we were reminded of nature’s ever-present power. This excursion wrapped up with a two-mile trek along the Tet Paul trail and the ‘stairway to heaven’ offering breathtaking vistas of St. Lucia’s iconic landmarks, the two Pitons—volcanic formations—where the larger Gros Piton rises to 2,618 feet and the smaller Petit Piton reaches 2,438 feet. This visit concluded with swimming in Soufrière, complemented by an ice-cold local Piton beer.
On Dominica, which achieved independence from Britain in 1978, a local guide paddled us in an eight-person canoe along the Indian River, reminiscent of Disney’s Jungle Cruise ride sans the obligatory “E” ticket—except the egrets, swamp crabs, and green-backed yellow herons were genuinely present. After proceeding a mile down the river, we took a break at the Bush Bar for a rum punch, where the wall clock, cruelly broken, proclaims, “Time stands still.” This day culminated in happy hour at the Intercontinental Hotel, wrapped up with a fantastic all-women Caribbean steel drum music performance.
At St. Barts, often dubbed the Caribbean’s St. Tropez and renowned among the Hamptons elite, many guests chose to snorkel in its marine reserve. As an aviation enthusiast, I took a 30-minute hike uphill to Rémy de Haenen airport to observe regional planes taking off and landing on the shortest and most treacherous runway in the hemisphere, stretching just 2,119 feet. The scenery is remarkable, especially against the backdrop of the sea’s brilliant azure and the surrounding hills. Nearby at Eden Rock Hotel, beautiful individuals were plentiful, only rivaled by the stunning beach and warm waters, with the iconic red-capped lighthouse visible in the distance.
For those looking to indulge in retail therapy, charming Gustavia in St. Bart’s offers a plethora of high-end shops, including Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès. This lovely town is also dotted with cozy boutiques, cafés, and bars, along with an Anglican Church.
A Heartfelt Goodbye
On the final day, I participated in the last excursion offered by the cruise, guided by an excellent local who showcased the most important sights of St. Martin. It included lunch at a beachfront restaurant and concluded with a drop-off at the airport. This made for a smooth, effortless, and delightful transition into the next leg of my journey.
Whether guests opt to relax onboard under the attentive care of the staff or join the planned excursions, those in search of a culturally enriched Caribbean cruise infused with a European touch will indeed find sailing with Sea Cloud Spirit to be an enjoyable experience.
Julie L. Kessler is a journalist, attorney, and the author of the acclaimed memoir: “Fifty-Fifty, The Clarity of Hindsight.” Her work has been published in numerous major outlets worldwide, including The L.A. Times, The S.F. Examiner, The Asia Times, U.S. News & World Report, The Jerusalem Post, The Vancouver Courier, The Daily Journal, and The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, among others. She can be reached at Julie@VagabondLawyer.com.
