Sea Cloud Spirit Review

4.0 / 5.0
2 reviews
Sea Cloud Spirit docked in Cartagena (Photo: Chris Gray Faust)
Sundeck on Sea Cloud Spirit under sails (Photo: Chris Gray Faust)
Folded duvets in a junior suite on Sea Cloud Spirit (Photo: Chris Gray Faust)
Lounge on Sea Cloud Spirit (Photo: Chris Gray Faust)
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Editor Rating
4.0
Very Good
Overall
Chris Gray Faust
Executive Editor, U.S.

When the three-masted, 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit pulls into port, people notice; it’s hard not to gawk at this gorgeous ship that hearkens back to the Golden Age of Sailing in its design. Yet once you’re onboard, it’s evident that this ship, launched in 2021, is brand-new, with classic European hotel touches, lovely wood and brass decor and speedy Starlink internet.

Sea Cloud Spirit is the third ship in the Sea Cloud fleet. Based in Hamburg, the line is best known for its original vessel, Sea Cloud, a four-masted ship that once served as a private yacht for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Sea Cloud Spirit has some of the touches that make Sea Cloud so beloved – some rooms have similar gold-styled sinks – but it’s larger and faster, meaning that itineraries can be a bit more ambitious.

Sea Cloud has a large German fan base, and North Americans are still likely to be in the minority on a Sea Cloud Spirit sailing; on our holiday cruise, we were the only native English speaking passengers onboard. That being said, the line is looking to expand into North America and is making adjustments to draw in those guests, with better all-inclusive pricing and some dining adjustments.

Days on Sea Cloud Spirit are meant to be spent soaking up the sun or reading quietly when the ship is “under sail.” The manual sailing is a huge draw for most passengers, and they come back as repeat guests. This is not a ship with a lengthy program of activities, although there were two lecturers onboard our itinerary, one a Costa Rican marine biologist who gave engaging lectures and one an Austrian travel writer who gave port talks.

Nights onboard consisted of lengthy dinners, followed by a relatively active dance floor kept hopping by a fun Brazilian DJ. Theme nights like Pirate Night – the ship provides costumes -- and White Night liven things up too.

The ideal Sea Cloud passenger is someone who appreciates the majesty of the sailing experience (as a viewer; unlike Star Clippers or some of the Maine windjammers, passengers do not take part in raising or lowering the sails) and the slower pace that brings.

Sea Cloud Spirit Deck Plan has Expansive Sun Deck, Lacks Pool

The entire length of the top sailing deck aboard Sea Cloud Spirit is dedicated to sunning, with comfy loungers and clamshell beds. Towels and bottled water are available, although there’s no bar service; you carry your drinks from the Lido Bar a deck below. We found that in the hot and humid Southern Caribbean weather, we really missed an onboard pool, although the lack of one certainly didn’t dissuade our German counterparts from being outside all day.

The top deck has a lovely, air-conditioned fitness center, with the bridge on the other. The ship gives bridge and engine room tours during the voyage, and there’s also an open-bridge policy most of the time. It’s fun to see how Sea Cloud has married the look and manual labor of a sailing ship with a modern engine, radar and navigation system aboard Sea Cloud Spirit.

The top deck is also a great place to view the crew members scrambling up, up, up the high masts when it’s time to unfurl the sails. This process can take over an hour, and your heart leaps into your mouth when you see the crew members casually walking around the rigging, which rises 203 feet above the waterline. It’s certainly something to see.

Deck 4 has the outdoor Lido Restaurant, where most meals are served, as well as the Lido Bar and main entertainment area. Indoors, there’s a Lounge with a screen, where lectures take place, as well as a Steinway piano. We were lucky enough to have a classical piano player and clarinetist on our holiday voyage, so we were happy to see the space get used. On one end of Deck 4, there’s also an indoor library, with books in both English and German. It’s a lovely and quiet air-conditioned escape during a hot day.

Deck 3 has the indoor Restaurant, where the full breakfast buffet is served daily. Deck 3 also has the reception desk, where you can sign up for shore excursions, which were available in both German and English.

Deck 2 has a largish spa for a ship this size, with a pre-treatment relaxation room, a good-sized sauna and steam room, treatment rooms and a salon for hair and nail services. Keep in mind that the sauna is run according to German tradition, which means mixed company and no bathing suits. Plenty of towels are available for the modest. This deck also has a small boutique with logo items and jewelry; no toiletries are available for purchase onboard.

Rooms on Sea Cloud Spirit are Nicely Sized; Suites Boast Rare Balconies

Sea Cloud Spirit has 69 cabins, and all of them are outward facing so you can see the ocean. Ceilings are relatively high and in a white shiplap, making the cabins feel spacious. Walls have floor-to-ceiling shadow-box wainscotting, with paintings of sailboats above the bed and sofa, with gold-plated accent lighting. While most cabins have a king bed that can be divided into two singles, not all beds can be separated; you’ll need to check when you’re booking.

Entry-level cabins on Deck 2 start at 205 square feet. There are also two single staterooms on Deck 2 that are 140 square feet. One thing to note is that all electrical outlets in staterooms on Sea Cloud Spirit are European-style. Bring those adaptors if you’re coming from North America or elsewhere.

Junior Suites on Deck 3 have private outdoor balconies – rare for a sailing ship -- with a 65-square-foot space large enough for two deck chairs and a table. These suites also have walk-in closets, bathrooms with a full Jacuzzi tub and shower, and a seating area encompassed in the 287 square-foot space. A mini-fridge is filled with sodas, beer and mini bottles of your choice. There’s also a coffee maker, a flat-screen TV within a cabinet and even stationery so you can send postcards.

There are three Owners Suites that also have large outdoor balconies, at 86 square feet. These 301-square-foot rooms are located mid-ship, so you’ll feel less rocking of the ship here. It’s also located closest to the elevator, which goes between Decks 2, 3 and 4 (but not to the top sun deck).

Other coveted cabins onboard are the Category C Deluxe Lido ones on Deck 4 with full-sized windows that open for ocean breezes. While you have to keep the shades down to keep people walking by from looking in, we were told that people love these rooms because of the large amount of natural light that comes in.

Food on Sea Cloud Spirit Caters to German Tastes; Nice Focus on Fresh Fish

While Sea Cloud Spirit has an indoor air-conditioned restaurant, it’s primarily used mostly at breakfast for a buffet. The European guests on our sailing preferred to take almost all of their meals al fresco at the Lido Restaurant; the only time the Restaurant was required for dinner was during the ship’s one gala night that we attended. The special New Year’s Eve buffet was held outside.

The difference between the two venues, other than outdoor vs. indoor, is that dinner starts 30 minutes earlier in the Restaurant, at 7:30 p.m., and has one extra course – 4, as opposed to 3 upstairs. You can also dress more casually in shorts at the Lido Restaurant. Guests were required to sign up for their preference of dinner venues before 5 p.m. daily.

We found, in general, the ship catered to German tastes. That means cold salads and appetizers with ingredients like duck and anise, as well as chilled soups, that aren’t super common to Americans. While hot entrees were served daily at the lunch buffet, we missed the presence of a grill for a simple burgers and fries, or a hot sandwich option. Dinners were long affairs, stretching several hours; the gala dinner held the day after Christmas ran eight courses. We found that as our week progressed, however, the friendly international serving staff noticed our preferences and sped up the pacing just for us.

Where Sea Cloud Spirit shined was in its daily selection of fresh fish, at both lunch and dinner. One night, fresh sashimi was carved from an immense tuna, strung up for all to see. We loved being able to get a fresh fish filet on our daily lunch salad. Hot soups at dinner were also a highlight.

Wine at lunch and dinner is included in the fare, and were a mixture of varietals from France, Italy, Greece, Spain and Germany. There was a white and rose option at lunch, and a white and red choice at dinner. The ship has an extensive cocktail menu with all the great Caribbean options; open bar is included, as of Jan. 1, 2024.

Pros

The 28 sails make for one-of-a-kind experience; elegant rooms and public spaces; friendly bilingual crew

Cons

No onboard pool; limited onboard activities; passengers primarily speak German

Bottom Line

A high-end sailing experience for maritime enthusiasts and those looking for slow-paced relaxation.

About

Passengers: 136
Crew: 85
Passenger to Crew: 1.6:1
Launched: 2021

Inclusions

Included with your cruise fare:

  • All meals

  • Beer and wine at lunch and dinner

  • All cocktails, except premium liquor

  • Gratuities (except spa)

  • 1 GB of Wi-Fi

  • Use of spa thermal area and fitness room

  • All lectures and theme nights

  • Bottle of welcome Champagne at boarding

  • Soda, water and beer in replenished mini-fridge

  • Daily fruit bowl

  • Use of snorkeling gear

  • Laundry service (suites)

Not included with your cruise fare:

  • Shore excursions

  • Wi-Fi beyond 1 GB

  • Spa treatments

  • Laundry service (outside suites)

Fellow Passengers

Sea Cloud Spirit traditionally draws a mix of Germans and Europeans who are already familiar with the line; on our sailing, about 50% were repeat passengers. The onboard currency is the Euro and as stated earlier, the electric plugs are all European.

That being said, the line is looking to change the mix, with more North Americans onboard, especially when the ship is in the Caribbean. Announcements were done in English and German, and menus and daily programs were also available in both languages. Crewmembers are fully bilingual, as well.

Our sailing had guests in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, traveling with friends or as couples together. Most passengers spoke English and went out of their way to say hello to us, the only Americans, so we felt included. There are no specific meet-ups for LGBTQ passengers, but the casual vibe seemed inclusive.

While there is an elevator onboard, Sea Cloud Spirit is not well suited for those with mobility issues, as the gangway requires steep steps and the top sun deck is not accessible by anything other than stairs. Several hallways were also inaccessible to wheelchairs.

Sea Cloud Spirit does not cater to small children. There was one teenager onboard our sailing with his parents who was a Sea Cloud veteran and thoroughly enjoyed the sailing. In general, though, many teenagers and young adults would be bored.

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Sea Cloud Spirit Cruiser Reviews

Good food and a nice Ship but nothing else

We selected this 10 day cruise from Valencia to Casablanca, which departed on Oct 26, 2022, based on its itinerary and that it would be sailing alongside of Sea Cloud II.Read More
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rwcorne

many10+ Cruises

Age 60s

Sea Cloud Cruises Fleet
Sea Cloud

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