Sea Cloud

The cruise ship Sea Cloud 1 is a tall-sailing ship built as a private yacht in 1931 (by Krupp Germaniawerft in Kiel Germany). The vessel was drydock-reconstructed and started cruise services in 1979. Sea Cloud was extensively drydock refurbished in 2011 at MWB-Werft (Bremerhaven). Its sistership is Sea Cloud 2.

The vessel (IMO number 8843446) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 256084000) and registered in Valletta.

These sailships perfectly combine the elegance of sailing vessels with the luxury and comfort of modern passenger ships. Sea Cloud Cruises fleet in 2021 joined the newbuildSea Cloud Spirit.

Occasionally, the boat is seasonally chartered by Lindblad Expeditions.

Sea Cloud was originally built for Marjorie Merriweather Post (1887-1973) - an American entrepreneur, businesswoman, philanthropist, at the time owner of General Foods Corporation (1929-founded/1990-defunct, merged into Kraft Foods/now Kraft Heinz Co).

History - construction and ownership

In early-February 2022 was announced that The Ritz-Carlton (via the subsidiary The Yacht Portfolio) had acquired the Hamburg-based company Sea Cloud Cruises GmbH (operating via the travel brand "Sea Cloud Cruises"), adding to the fleet its 3-ship fleet. The acquisition expanded the Ritz-Carlton brand's portfolio in the luxury "small-ship cruise" market. The brand "Sea Cloud Cruises" remained, as well as the company's employees and management team led by Hermann Ebel (Managing Director).

The 64-passenger ship Sea Cloud 1 is a 4-masted barque ship originally built as a private yacht. The vessel also served as a weather ship for the USCG (Coast Guard) and the US Navy during WW2 (1939-45). Following World War 2 (1939-45), the sailship served as a private superyacht for many influential people, including as Dominicana's presidential yacht. Sea Cloud 1 was the first racially-integrated US warship.

The boat is very much like a private shelter and boasts some of the most appealing cabins and public rooms at sea.

Decks and Cabins

MV Sea Cloud has 3 decks and only 32 cabins in 8 grades, all of which are outside staterooms. Cabins as types and sizes vary considerably. All upper-grade cabins are with antique furniture and marble bathrooms with bathtubs. All staterooms are without TVs.

All cabins offer as standard amenities large wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), dressing table / writing desk with chair, nightstand (bedside cabinet with 2 drawers), hairdryer, individually controlled air-conditioning, en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, marble sink top, gold-plated fixtures, razor socket), non-opening windows (half-height or Porthole).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Sea Cloud Restaurants and food bars include Restaurant (open seating), Lido Deck (al fresco buffet, live music, Crew Shanty Choir). Food and service are exceptional, and meals are often served on deck. Dinner is served in the original dining room three times a week, from a fixed menu. Menus have a European influence, though the cuisine is sometimes tempered by the nationality of guests onboard. The most exciting part of the day is an afternoon snack on the Promenade Deck. The baker prepares a new treat each day, including waffles with ice cream, an elaborate afternoon tea or crepes to order. Complimentary wine flows freely at meals.

The most remarkable feature of this luxury yacht is its 4 masts, 29 sails and a tangled web of lines stretching 54 m skyward to support the rigging. Unlike the modern, computer-operated sail ships, all sails on Sea Cloud 1 are manually-served - by the 18 crew performing dazzling acrobatics, suspended over the ocean.

Ship's lounges and bars include Lido Bar, Lounge (featuring selected picture books, literature, board games, a writing desk with a laptop). Other facilities include Lobby area (Reception, Purser), Hospital, zodiac boats, "Fun Island" (sledding via inflatable water sleds).

Itineraries

Sea Cloud 1 schedule calendar includes cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean (departing from Piraeus-Athens Greece and Dubrovnik Croatia), under contract to National Geographic Society. The yacht is also often privately chartered.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, Sea Cloud 1 became Sea Cloud Cruises' first boat to restart passenger shipping in 2021 - on August 27, leaving out of Piraeus-Athens.

Under Captain Sergej Komakin, the ship Sea Cloud sailed approx 4260 km (2650 mi) without its engines - being powered only by the wind and cruising 17 days only under its 30 sails (total surface 2970 m2 / 32000 ft2). Only at ~160 km (100 mi) from Santo Domingo, the diesel engines were powered to support the remaining voyage. The 17-day Transatlantic crossing (itinerary December 3-20, 2019, from Praia, Santiago Island Cape Verde to Santo Domingo Dominicana) was attended by 53 passengers and 60 staff/crew. During the ocean crossing, Sea Cloud maintained speeds 15-20 knots (28-37 kph / 17-23 mph).

In 2021, the 4-masted sailship restarted passenger operations under the command of Captain John Svendsen.