Sea Cloud Spirit is a strikingly beautiful sailing ship that also has a “cool factor” as one’s mind begins to think of pirates and days slowly sailing the warm waters of the world.  With its 26 sails all being operated by hand and sailors climbing netting, masts, and yardarms, there is a surprising combination of both calm and excitement.  (You can tell I love this ship, can’t you?!)

Sea Cloud Spirit is a 360-foot sailing yacht, with her highest mast reaching 184 feet carrying only 136 guests and a crew of 88. There is beautiful woodwork everywhere, with a well-appreciated focus on maritime design and details on deck, in your suite, and even in the corridors.

Here are my prior articles:

• Sea Cloud Cruises – Goldring Travel Checks out Sea Cloud Spirit in Costa Rica & Panama

• Sea Cloud Cruises – Goldring Travel Checks out Sea Cloud Spirit in Costa Rica & Panama: Nautically Sexy!

• Sea Cloud Cruises – Goldring Travel Checks out Sea Cloud Spirit in Costa Rica & Panama: “A License to Chill”

• Sea Cloud Cruises – Goldring Travel Checks out Sea Cloud Spirit in Costa Rica & Panama: The Ship is the Destination!

Sea Cloud Spirit’s public spaces are few: a beautiful lounge, indoor and alfresco restaurants, a small library, a spa, and a fitness center pretty much is it.  However, the deck space is fantastic. 

The Sun Deck is filled with lounges of various sorts, with more than enough cover from the sun, the Lido (the alfresco dining venue) is also home to the only bar and more than enough quiet places where a lounger or two are available for reading a good book or taking a nap. Views overlooking the bow from two different decks are enthralling. 

Sea Cloud Spirit suites are beautiful and have every amenity you desire. Because she is a sailing ship, so not only length and width play into design, but so does the shape of the hull, some of the cabinets have curiously limited depth. 

The bathrooms are beautifully appointed and quite large. Many have bathtubs.  In keeping with the sailing and relaxing theme, there is no television and only a few movies available. If you love watching movies definitely fill up your iPad or computer before you embark.  Another thing to keep in mind is that while a coffee maker is provided, there is no room service. 

Also, while I think this might change, the internet (other than enough to access Sea Cloud’s daily program) is an extra cost. But the cost is so low that it is really just more of an inconvenience. You need to purchase either 5GB or 10GB codes. I had my phone and my laptop on pretty much all the time over the eleven days and it cost me about $100. Note that the internet speeds are very good.

While I would love to have every meal on the Lido, breakfast – which is pretty much the same every day – is a buffet in the inside Restaurant…with self-serve mimosas. There is, however, an Early Riser continental breakfast on the Lido with a self-serve espresso machine. (You know which I frequented!) Lunch is almost exclusively on the Lido and was, without question, my favorite meal every day.

The variety always consisted of incredibly fresh fish (either caught off the stern or obtained from local fishermen), some sort of beef, veal, or pork, and chicken, turkey, or guinea hen, offered along with a wide variety of side dishes and prepared salads, with ice cream always on hand.

Dinner is either in the Restaurant or Lido…or both (you choose) depending on the day. I found the dinners only on the Lido – again, buffet – to be outstanding. When a huge paella or bluefin tuna is fileted right in front of you, it kinda makes an impression!

One thing that is needed in the Lido is fans under its tarp. It gets quite warm, even uncomfortably so; especially when the ship is sailing or otherwise moving slowly. This small improvement would truly elevate the experience without interfering with the casual sailing ambiance. 

In order to have a more upscale dining experience on the Lido, long pants are required for the men at dinner. While most complied with this, a few did not, but it was not really enforced. Being we were in the tropics I had no problem with men wearing shorts at dinner…on the Lido only.

However, I found the served dinners in the Restaurant and Lido to be at a premium rather than luxury level.  Reflecting back (see how that works!), it is in many ways similar to a luxury river cruise working hard to create wonderful dinners in tiny galleys. (One meal I wanted one entree as a starter and a second one as a main course. While the ship was more than happy to accommodate, it wound up being a timing disaster for the galley as they prepare everything ala minute and just didn’t have the manpower or space to prepare dishes out of order. I felt terrible!)

Expect the served meals to be on European time; meaning it will be a two-hour-plus affair where the focus is more on lively chats than the food. 

Sea Cloud Spirit has an open bar policy; a recent change for the better. (Sea Cloud experimented with North Americans having open bar and Europeans being ala carte, but it was too cumbersome and also confusing for the staff.)  While the bar is well-stocked and there is a wide variety of included wines, the wine selections really need to be improved.  There were a few good ones, but overall, I leaned toward cocktails and Pommery champagne.  Honestly, I should have looked at their premium list earlier, as it is creative and very reasonably priced.

Because this is a European cruise line, smoking is permitted on the stern of the ship, just aft of the Lido restaurant, but nowhere else. I only noticed a few smokers (one pipe and no cigar), but rather ironically, it was a couple of American travel writers who were also on the ship who were the most prolific smokers. Without them, I don’t think I would have ever smelled cigarettes during the sailing.

Keep in mind there is no pool or hot tubs (not exactly the best thing for a sailing ship, that does list a few degrees most of the time) or entertainment, other than lectures (in English and/or German), one piano recital and a fun evening of the “Shanty Singers” where the crew sings a number of sailor songs. In the evenings, there is a DJ of sorts on the Lido, but without blaring music, so it doesn’t interfere with a quiet evening on the deck.

The Super Bowl was during my sailing. Having spent a couple of them out of the US, I was concerned, but clearly needlessly so. Sea Cloud Spirit’s team did an amazing job with everything from guacamole, salsa, and popcorn, to hotdogs, hamburgers, and chicken tenders to a variety of beers and wine, plus American flags and a giant television screen in the Lounge. (Again, keep in mind that the tiny galley and the staff also had to serve dinner to the rest of the ship!).  It was fun watching the staff and crew that came in get into the game and the whole celebration.

As I previously wrote, I found myself feeling like Sea Cloud Spirit was the destination even though a variety of shore and beach excursions were offered. The shore excursions were generally, well, ship tours and not something I ever find to be great. Because of our “ports,” there really were no viable private tours available, so I enjoyed them the best I could and was glad I took them. The tours were definitely limited to smaller groups and when we were visiting Manuel Antonio National Park (famous for the crowds as much as its nature) we were “up and out” at 5:30 AM in order to beat the crowds; a great call!   Both were appreciated.

There were a few beach days, but I wish they were at somewhat more private beaches past the early morning hours; noting the Pacific coast where we visited generally doesn’t offer the number and kinds of beaches the Caribbean does.  The ship provides high-quality snorkeling gear for everyone and a snorkeling guide…who tried his best to make just OK snorkeling exciting. Note that zodiacs were used for all landings where a dock sufficient for a tender wasn’t available. 

Sea Cloud Spirit is a very special ship that provides a “sailing” experience; not a “cruise” or “expedition”.  She is not for those who desire pools, evening entertainment, a wide variety of shore excursions (at least not where I sailed), formal service, or air conditioning at every meal. There are other ships, with and without sails that offer those things. 

Oh, but for those who love being under 26 sails, luxury accommodations, the smell of teak, lacquered wood, beautiful joinery, casual dining on the freshest of fish, quiet of days at sea, and a friendly crew that wants to exceed your expectations, Sea Cloud Spirit is very special indeed!