With the sun on my face, white sails billowing above me and the dazzling Caribbean sparkling below, I relaxed into a rare moment of absolute joy and inner peace. A voyage aboard the Sea Cloud Spirit does that to you — it’s a thrilling, throwback sailing adventure that makes you feel untethered from time. In an era of ever-larger mega ships carrying thousands of passengers, this is a human-scale experience that brings you closer to the exhilarating natural power of the wind and sea.
The three-masted, full-rigged, 28-sail, 138-meter windjammer accommodates up to 136 guests in Old World elegance and modern-day comfort. Built in 2021, the Sea Cloud Spirit pays homage to the legendary Sea Cloud.
Illustrious Heritage
If ships could talk, the original Sea Cloud would have a rollicking tale to tell. The renowned financier E. F. Hutton commissioned the world’s largest private sailing yacht, then named Hussar, to share with his wife, famed heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, in 1931. Merriweather Post furnished the yacht with marble fireplaces, elegant French antiques and golden swan-shaped taps, and the couple set off to sail the seas for nine months at a time. Their idyll was short-lived, however, and the couple divorced in 1935. Merriweather Post kept the yacht, had the black keel painted white and gave the vessel a fresh name: Sea Cloud. In subsequent years, the yacht would become entangled with U.S.-Soviet diplomacy, war service, a dictator and his playboy son, royalty, movie stars and even a modern-day pirate before it was rescued, restored and reborn as a cruise ship in 1979.

Photos Courtesy Of The Sea Cloud Spirit
Sailing Into Modern Times (While Keeping The Past Alive)
Today, the historic, 64-passenger Sea Cloud is one of three sailing vessels operated by Germany-based Sea Cloud Cruises, along with the 94-passenger Sea Cloud II and the newest: Sea Cloud Spirit. Combining the charm of private yacht sailing with the vintage elegance of bygone times plus the comfort of modern amenities, Sea Cloud Spirit sails on luxurious journeys throughout Europe, including the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands, Morocco, the Caribbean and Central America, as well as epic transatlantic crossings. Itineraries for 2025 include March and April stops in Miami, and, for the first time ever, the Sea Cloud Spirit will include voyages sailing into the heart of Venice.
My swoon-worthy itinerary aboard the Sea Cloud Spirit — splendidly named “Sun-Blessed Islands of Serenity”— cruised through the Lesser Antilles and Grenadines, touching on smaller island ports and following less-traveled routes. But there’s no doubt that the ship itself was the star of the show, and it was a time-bending (and nail-biting) daily delight to watch sailors climb the rigging and set 28 sails on three masts by hand so we could fly with the breeze. At times, I had to ask myself, What century is this, anyway? That’s the happy conundrum of the Sea Cloud Spirit. Equipped with state-of-the‑art technology without forsaking age-old nautical traditions, it’s a fascinating 21st-century approach to tall-ship sailing with a private yacht vibe, complete with air conditioning and Wi-Fi so you can stay in touch with news from home. However, I’ll warn you: This is the kind of trip where it’s oh-so-tempting to let reality slip away as you sail into the sunset.

The Voyage
Crew members greeted each of us with a flute of champagne as we boarded the Sea Cloud Spirit in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, setting an elegant tone for our journey. Our sleek, beautifully crafted yacht happened to be docked beside a towering mega ship, and the contrast couldn’t have been more striking.
On our first full day, we rode the waves beneath full sails on our way to Terre-de-Haut, in the Îles des Saintes archipelago off Guadeloupe. Once we arrived, I joined a group hiking up to Fort Napoleon to peruse the museum and gardens with sweeping views of the sea below. Returning to the ship, we sailed through the night to awaken in what appeared to be paradise: St. Lucia. I had reserved a spot on a morning shore excursion (at an extra cost) to visit the tropical Diamond Botanical Gardens and waterfall, followed by a stop at a “drive-in volcano” to see bubbling-hot sulfur springs before hiking up the Tet Paul Trail. The rest of the afternoon was devoted to beach time in Soufrière Bay. The next days unfurled in dreamy succession — exploring the Tobago Cays in the Grenadines by catamaran, swimming and snorkeling in crystal-clear water, indulging in a beach barbecue on Union Island, falling in love with beautiful Bequia and discovering the natural wonders of Dominica on a trek through the lush landscapes of Syndicate National Park.
Crew
Our Montenegrin captain, Vukota Stojanovic, was the leader of the friendly, hardworking, international crew. With a maximum of 136 passengers and a maximum crew size of 88, the ship provides plenty of personalized service, and all announcements, presentations and menus are available in both German and English. The captain maintains an open bridge during the day, except during maneuvers, and he was happy to answer questions along the way. Six sailors are assigned to each mast, and there’s also a skilled bosun who looks after the safety of the deck crew and the movement of the sails.

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Cabins
A convenient elevator connects the ship’s four teak-floored decks, with 69 outside cabins, including 22 junior suites and three owner suites that also have balconies. The decor captures the tailored sophistication of days of old, with crisp white walls, lacquered wood cabinetry, brass and gold-toned details and cobalt blue carpet. The large bathroom of my junior suite featured a full bathtub, and the cabin offered ample closet space, a plush robe and slippers, coffee machine, mini-bar and TV. But my favorite feature by far was the delightful private balcony, where I could relax and watch the waves.
Amenities
The ship’s club-like lounge has a warm sophistication, with a Steinway piano, soft lighting, cozy seating and a big screen for presentations. A tranquil, coed spa offers a sauna, steam room, treatment rooms and a hair salon. I found a quiet getaway in the bright and airy library, with casual rattan seating, books aplenty and a handy writing desk. The daily exercise crowd enjoyed the fitness room’s treadmill, elliptical trainer, free weights, stationary bike and rowing machine. And for those in search of fresh air and fabulous scenery, the best spot on the ship was undoubtedly the sun deck, where we lazed on lounge chairs and round sunbeds to watch the waves or witness the astonishing daily spectacle of high-climbing crew members setting and dousing the sails.

Food and Beverage
With both a formal restaurant and a casual outdoor dining and bar area on the Lido Deck, the ship’s passengers are treated to free-flowing champagne, tropical cocktails, bountiful seafood (lobster, shrimp, tuna, wahoo, snapper, salmon, scallops and more), plus a daily array of fresh salads. The culinary team presented meats, including rack of veal, whole suckling pig, roast duck and an entire Ibérico ham at live cooking stations, and the European-inspired buffet offerings featured crusty artisanal bread, salty pretzels and a delicious range of cheeses. As a relatively small cruise ship, the culinary team can also deal directly with local markets and producers to source ingredients, and there are special culinary-themed cruises with guest chefs and visiting mixologists scheduled for selected itineraries.
Entertainment
If you’re looking for big showtime extravaganzas, you’re on the wrong ship. Our cruise had an onboard cultural scientist and a biologist/ornithologist who gave talks on the day’s destinations in both German and English. Throughout the year, Sea Cloud Spirit also offers music-themed cruises and cruises with guest curators and authors, including Florida’s Les Standiford.
Blessed with perfect weather during most of our time in the Caribbean, we frequently dined outdoors, and the laid-back, upscale resort vibe was ideal for lingering lunches and late-night festivities. Guga, our resident Brazilian DJ, provided a party soundtrack to our days and lured everyone onto the dance floor each night. Our fellow passengers included a large European contingent, and we learned that it’s not unusual for guests to book back-to-back itineraries.
And that’s no surprise. Like its famous predecessor, the Sea Cloud Spirit is a luxury yacht imbued with a magical, time-traveling power to make you feel like an heiress, a movie star or maybe just someone with a dash more glamour than when you left home.