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Sea Cloud

Sea Cloud Spirit

Nice

Me and my wife are sailors since appr. 1976. We own a sailboat in the Mediterranean sea . Because my wife don`t share my dream crossing the Atlantic on own keel and I refuse to go on board of one of those terrible looking large cruising ships, we find the Sea Cloud as good compromise for both of us. 

Sea Cloud is a legend and has a special character. That`s why we choose it.

On a trans shore activities are not possible, therefore it is not relevant to give a rating. Please keep in mind this ship is a classic square rigger, entertainment is reduced to a piano player (very good) and fitness to morning and evening walking exercises. 

We enjoyed several professional presented lecture in marine and ornithological biology. Recreation is the main thing during such a turn. 17 night on a sailing ship will teach everyone coming down and forgetting any kind of stress. No comparison with other cruising trips with visiting every day another harbor.

Although such a cruise has its price we already booked an option for the crossing in 2019.

The greatest disadvantage is that you will never make a cruise on another ship.

Best regards, greetings to all guests joining us.

Jerry

Transatlantic Crossing

I love sailing and wanted to visit Hermitage and experience educational lecturers on board

Food was good on 2-3 occasions better food on Oceania line although not a sailing ship

Cabin was cozy but it greeted me with a dead flower-not a good first impression and tissue on head floor-not good impression either

Service aboard was good but not up to 5 stars

Sails were up only 2 and half days-disappointing for those of us who were there to enjoy sailing square rigger

Good rating overall but at 5 star prices, I expected 5 stars!

Enjoyed speaking with ship doctor as I am also a physician.  Oceania line does not allow passengers to touch utensils which is excellent infection control in a number of buffet settings.  Although no diarrhea -many passengers came down with colds-yes respiratory but can be passed from nose to hands to silverware and onto next passanger

Lovely Sea Cloud but Not 5 Star

Ibiza

A first rate experience all around on Sea Cloud II.  Everything ran so smoothly.  Super comfortable cabins and amenities.   Gracious and skilled crew.  There is nothing as exhilarating as seeing the crew set the sails!   Friendly, bi-lingual staff members who cater to your every comfort.  Tom Hook, the cruise director, is such a professional.  Always efficient without seeming to break into a sweat, always gracious.  Talented musician who got the passengers involved in sing alongs.

WONDERFUL food - what a creative chef.  Always obtained fresh vegetables, fruits and fabulous fish from whatever ports we stopped at.  The portions were perfect - never a huge sickening plate of food.  

Thoughtfully planned excursions ashore and every thing went perfectly when we arrived in a port.  

We look forward to returning for another Sea Cloud experience.  No wonder that there were several guests who had cruised on Sea Cloud before.  I highly recommend without reservation!

Doesn't get better than this!

St. John's (Newfoundland)

An elegant grandmother, Sea Cloud is a four masted beauty from 1931. She has all the richness and character of a family possession designed by Marjorie Merriweather Post, and to this day it feels like her family ship and as a guest on board like you are a guest of the family. The service is warm and personable to a degree unmatched by any of the larger ships I have ever been on.
The Sea Cloud II is the delightful granddaughter of the Sea Cloud. Built in 2001 she has three masts instead of 4 and all the modern conveniences while still preserving the traditional sailing rigging. Like the Sea Cloud, she has real sails that are raised and lowered by hand and a five star service that is polished yet familial.
So how do I compare the two ships? Both are extraordinary in terms of size, service, food, wine, etc....However, Sea Cloud has 10 beautiful original cabins all finished with original antiques and all a nice size. The other cabins are nice but not special as the original ones. If you have the money, splurge. On Sea Cloud II all of the cabins are really beautiful, from the very smallest with bunk beds to the owner's cabin, they are all tasteful with light and cheery colors, beautiful marble bathrooms, and excellent craftsmanship in all the little details. Sea Cloud II hold a few more people than Sea Cloud but the key is to know who is on the ship that week.
I have spoken (though not personally experienced) Americans that have been on board when the ship was operated by Sea Cloud Cruises and the other passengers were almost entirely German. The people I spoke with were not thrilled with the experience. There are however other choices:
I traveled on a golf trip with Kalos Golf (who only uses the Sea Cloud II) and it was excellent. The itinerary was well designed and everything was included. They even had golf carts trucked around to meet us as the local courses did not have them. On days when I did not want to play golf there were other options, though they were not great. If you like to play golf and want to travel with Americans this is 100% the way to go.
Lindblad charters the original Sea Cloud (and not the Sea Cloud II) and again there are mostly Americans on board. Their trips have a natural history focus and they (as well as Kalos) like to fill every bed on the ship. Again there trips are high cost but high quality. I ever mind paying a premium price for high quality. The oceanographer on our cruise very knowledgeable even about things like deep sea plankton!
The third option is Academic Arrangements Abroad which charters both ships and does different itineraries all over that have a cultural focus. The advantage is that they work with the country's top non-profits so you get lecturers from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harvard, Yale, and various garden clubs and other private clubs, among others. The best thing about their cruises is that they are open to the public but never advertised and they limit the number of passengers so the service levels are even higher and all the touring is free and excellent.
So to answer my original question which of the two ships is better? You would have to say that they are both incredibly beautiful ships with great service, why not try both? Depending on your language skills and you interests, you might be better off picking a specific charterer than going directly to the cruise line.
 

Two Fantastic Ships - Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II

San Diego

National Geographic charters the magnificent Sea Cloud 100 days a year. We sailed coastal Turkey and The Aegean up to Athens in May, 2014. Everything about this trip was amazing. The boat is an astonishment and the experience of being under sail on a 4 masted square rigger is something very special. With only 58 people on board, you get to know everyone and there's a casual friendliness that no other cruise experience could provide. You feel as though you're a guest on a private yacht since that's what The Sea Cloud was built to be in 1931 for Marjorie Merriweather Post and E.F. Hutton.
We got to live like E.F. Hutton lived on his private yacht because we had his suite. Yes, it was expensive but well worth it. With it's paneled walls, coffered ceiling, huge marble bathroom and walk in closet, this was no normal cabin on a cruise ship! It was huge, grand and furnished with antiques. We got it on a cancellation when trying to book the trip because we made them put us on a waiting list. I'm sure this cabin was booked early since the best ones always are but when they asked if we wanted it I said yes, even though it was twice the price of a standard cabin. Do it if you can.
This was our first National Geo trip, our second will be this coming winter to Antarctica, and they are so impressive. They alter the itinerary based on wind, since the object is to be under sail, and to avoid being anywhere when a big cruise ship is there. Because of those decisions on their part, we had Santorini, Delos and Amorgos all to ourselves and we got in 70 hours of sailing...meaning no motor...in the 8 days. The spectacle of the setting and taking down of the sails by 18 able bodied sailors is something to watch. The food is amazing, served either in the gorgeous dining room or, better yet, out on The Lido Deck. We had the enormous treat of being in one of the 2 owner's suites and it was wonderful. With an underwater archaeologist and photographer on board and fabulous Greek and Turkish guides who knew EVERYTHING about the history and architecture we were seeing, we learned so much and loved every minute of it. I so recommend this amazing experience on a one of a kind vessel.

Greece and Turkey: Sailing on the The Sea Cloud With National Geograph

Dover

It was evident from the start that this tall ship cruise was a 5-star experience. There were 81 guests, mostly Germans. The ship’s language is English, so the captain gives his orders in English. Although, there were only 10-12 English speaking guests, we did not feel left out or uncomfortable. Many of the Germans spoke enough English to carry on a brief conversation. We had 2 guide/interpreters/lecturers on board, one for English speaking guests and one for Germans. These guides were well traveled and very informative. Unfortunately the English speaking guide met with a medical problem half way into the cruise, so the German speaking guide expanded her role to include some English lectures.
While boarding, we were greeted by the cruise director and others, who gave us a card to use for cabin entry and shore excursions (so they could account for all guests). While in our cabin, unpacking, our housekeeper came by to introduce himself and ask us of any needs. There was ample storage space for clothing, luggage, toiletries, etc. Even our lowest-priced room category was roomy, with a table and 2 chairs. We did not feel cramped, even in the beautiful marble bathroom, with a shower stall that had a removable, adjustable height shower head. Our cabin was tended to twice a day, always with fresh washcloths and towels. And when returning to the cabin after dinner, we had a hard copy of our itinerary for the next day
The captain had the crew set sail on our first day out from the port in Colon, Panama. Although not all sails were set, it gave us the feel of the sailing experience. There was only a window of about 2-3 hours to do this before the Panama Canal transit, which was very interesting. Our lecturers/guides told us of its history and how things worked along the way, as we observed from the “monkey deck” (on top of the bridge).
The open bridge while underway was a thrill for me as I am a sailor. I talked to the captain and his chief officer (a woman) and learned a lot. Watching the crew climb in the rigging and set sail and douse sails, as well as the sailing without the engines was definitely a highlight of the cruise.
Our journey along the pacific included daily stops for shore excursions, hiking in rain forests, snorkeling (3 different sites), a botanical garden, and 2 relatively longer sailing days, with full sails. The wind and weather was cooperative – it was perfect. The gentle rocking of the ship was very conducive to good sleeping, while at anchor, or underway. There were times while underway and walking on deck that you needed your “sea legs”, but I would not call it rough seas.
The adventure gave us many things to see: fish, including a white-tipped shark, turtles, birds, monkeys, butterflies, flowers, plants, centuries-old trees, and gorgeous views and sunsets. When we came back to the ship from the shore excursions, we were greeted with a warm, wet, lemon-scented washcloth and a glass of fresh juice.
The air conditioning in all of the indoor areas of the ship was very adequate.
The bridge and engine room tours were also interesting (even for this middle-aged woman). The ship clearly has back-up systems and safety features galore.
Most dinners were 5 courses and in the dining room, with outstanding food and service. They did take a while, about 2 + 1/2 hours. I liked this as it gave us a chance to know the people we sat with. The staff learned our names and tastes – whether we liked sparkling water or “still” water, red or white wines. Our waiter was the best – we sat in his section every night. Even the maître’d and hotel manager occasionally served us and knew our names. The breakfasts and lunches were buffet style, and always included fresh local fruits and a variety of cheeses, breads & crackers. They make their own breads on board. The menus were varied to include international dishes. Most were delicious (people have different palates, so not everyone will love everything).
The dress was tasteful and stylish to casual. Some women wore sundresses during the day as well as in the evenings. Also dressy blouses with jewelry and capri or long slacks or pantsuits were common for dinners. The men mostly wore Bermuda shorts during the day and some wore jackets at the dinners, while others opted for polo or long sleeved shirts. The exception being the Welcome and Farewell dinners, which were dressy. Some women wore long gowns, but most wore tea length or short cocktail dresses with a summer flair. And others wore dressy pantsuits. The men wore suits, jackets, ties. Cotton is a big favorite, as well as other breathable fabrics for comfort in this tropical setting.
I enjoyed listening to the pianist, who played every afternoon-evening at a keyboard on the Lido deck-dining-bar area.
To summarize, this was a major highlight in my lifetime experiences. I loved all of it and I did not want to get off the ship at the final port.
 

Sea Cloud II - great cruise!  Jan 11-20, 2014: Panama-Costa Rica.

Rostock (Warnemunde)

Ship - Accommodation & Service - 4/5
The ship lived up to its reputation and our Junior Suite accommodation was superb. It was probably the best cabin we have had on a number of cruises with perhaps the exception of the QM2. Things were spoilt a little on the second day when we noticed a terrible smell seeming to come from the bathroom which totally pervaded the whole cabin. We complained, but it lasted for a day and an uncomfortable night before it was fixed.
Another minor negative was the laundry service which we were advised when booking was free for our class of cabin. I did however check with reception and was told there that it was not free. Unfortunately I did not have the booking advice with me, but I later raised this with the cruise director who also informed me that he was unaware of it being free. We later received an apology with the information that it was in fact complimentary and that there had been "a communication error”.
The ships crew were all very friendly, helpful and efficient.
Food 3/5
Food on the whole was good and quite varied. Breakfast and lunch was buffet style, but for some reason, food in bain-marie’s presumably meant to be hot was only luke warm. There was an egg station at breakfast which was good, but for at least 2 days this was not manned.
Dinner was either served at your table or buffet style. Because of the weather all meals except one were served in the dining room. We found the food to be of high quality and varied although towards the end of our 7 day trip it did become a little monotonous and again some dishes were served luke warm when they should have been much hotter.
Wine and beer was complimentary with meals and was based on good European selections. The wine waiters kept it coming and you did not have to wait too long for your glass to be filled. Personally, I would have liked to have seen more information on the wine including the type of grape and the wine waiters did not (unless asked) show you the bottle label.
Other  4/5
As with all cruises a daily information sheet was left in your cabin in the evening. This contained good information on the next port of call, but did not include any weather forecast which considering the weather was a little inclement at times, would have been useful.
The maps provided of the various places we stopped at were also a little hit and miss. Some of them good, others unreadable. We usually found out where the local tourist office was situated and obtained a map there. Not sure why Seacloud could not source these maps from the various tourist offices?
Docking was either right at the local town dock, somewhat outside of the town or off-shore and we caught the tender in. Considering Seacloud’s size I would have thought that docking in the town would have always been the preferred and feasible option. I would be interested to know why this did not occur in Dubrovnik for example.
Wi-Fi was available, but as on most cruise ships and as expected, performance was not very good. However cost was quite minimal at E10 for a 24 hour period, but there was no reception on the Promenade Deck where our cabin was situated. I am sure the technology is available to provide a ship-wide service.
All excursions were at additional cost. We did however know this when we booked, but did not know the actual cost of the various excursions offered until almost before the cruise. Excursion costs averaged around E50 per person for a 2 to 3 hour itinerary and in our view were expensive and poor value.
Summary 4/5
The cruise overall was a great experience due mainly to the quality of Seacloud II itself and the lovely Croatian coast we cruised down and the little towns we stopped in. Although there were some negatives, but with the exception of the room odour issue they did not detract from our overall enjoyment. Would we sail with them again? Probably not, but it has given us a taste for Croatia and we would perhaps like to return to this area and spend more time.
 

Seacloud II - Venice/Croatian Coast/Venice

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