Sail on Sea Cloud Spirit with a Michelin Star Chef – October 5, 2024

Sea Cloud Cruises has a strong focus on an elevated culinary experience to complement its amazing luxury sailing experience. In October 2024, there is one more way!

Before I get to that, you may recall I recently sailed on Sea Cloud Spirit and it most certainly impressed me from ship to crew to cuisine! You can read my articles about my sailing here: Sea Cloud Cruises – Goldring Travel Checks out Sea Cloud Spirit in Costa Rica & Panama: Reflections.

As part of Sea Cloud’s ongoing program there will be a special October 5, 2024 seven-night sailing on Sea Cloud Spirit with special culinary guest, Michael Collantes, head chef and owner of Michelin-star awarded Soseki (an omakase restaurant) and Sushi Saint (a hand-roll bar with a second location set to open in New York City).  Chef Collantes will be an integral part of an epicurean-themed tour along the Mediterranean coasts of Italy, France, and Spain, presenting curated menus, cooking demonstrations, and spirited storytelling underneath the luxury yacht’s 28 hand-hoisted sails.

Oh, there is another “special guest”: Me! Yes, I will be sailing with you, and, as you may know, or will read below, this is one of the best Mediterranean culinary itineraries not only for diversity but what is available. I intend on supplementing the onboard culinary experiences with a few on shore…and that is for sure. 

Sea Cloud Spirit is a perfect ship – and this is a perfect itinerary – for a relaxing luxury culinary experience. Alas, you are sailing – not cruising – so this is not a typical rushing from port to port with no downtime. On Sea Cloud Spirit the ship is a destination herself…one where you can enjoy the sea and salt air under her sails…while enjoying great cuisine.

After enjoying Nice, France for the day (a lovely 7:00 PM departure allows for it) it is a full day under sail (with the traditional – and impressive – morning of the sailors climbing the rigging and setting all 28 sails), followed by a full day in Calvi, Corsica, and then half-day calls on Bastia, Corsica, San Remo, Italy, and, Marseille, France, followed by a full day Palamos, Spain before ending in Barcelona, Spain.

Think of the culinary diversity of these ports, starting with Moules + Frites with a nice Vin de Provence in Nice, France.

Some local wine and ham…with local cheeses in Calvi, Corsica

Visiting one of the many bars and restaurants in Bastia, Corsica (a new port for me!)

Transitioning to the Italian port of Sanremo where seafood is the focus, the Mercado di Sanremo will expose you to just about everything the Liguria region has to offer (Trofie is my favorite pasta and this is the only area you can find it).

It is then off to Marseille, the home of bouillabaisse, one of the original fisherman’s stews that have fallen out of favor. Why? For two reasons: First, it is very expensive to make, and second, it has become a common name for any sort of fish soup or stew, so its cache has been lost. Oh, but the authentic dish is amazingly rich, dense, aromatic…and oh, that garlic mayonnaise toast floating on top!

It has been years since I last visited Palamos, Spain, but I remember the amazing culinary tastes of cured ham, cheeses, and local wines. 

Since I will have recently been to Barcelona on another journey, I will be heading home. However, you can continue your culinary adventures in Barcelona; one of my favorite culinary cities…especially in October when the tourist crowds have subsided. 

The pricing for this incredibly inclusive, culinary, relaxing, sailing experience (that’s a lot!) starts at only $6,995 per person before any Goldring Travel amenities + onshore culinary experiences.

Interested? Give me a call or email me!