Imagine your favorite luxury hotel, and then try to imagine it gliding atop brilliant turquoise water rather than on land.
Sea Cloud II is an amazing sight to behold. The windjammer consists of five decks, has 23 sails, and can accommodate nearly 100 guests as well as crew. Built in 2001, the ship is owned by Sea Cloud Cruises. Though the company is based in Hamburg, Germany, the ship sails around the world, inviting guests to join in on the luxurious and exotic journeys.
Stepping aboard the stunning windjammer yacht, Sea Cloud II, we were immediately taken aback by the level of luxury and detail that greeted us at every corner. The junior suites were stately to say the least! A bottle of champagne greeted us on the table in the sitting are,a and the most beautiful mahogany closets provided ample space for our things. From our king-sized bed you could look out to the ocean, and the marble bathrooms were quite grand.
While the rooms are very comfortable, Sea Cloud creates such a wonderful itinerary that you won’t be spending too much time inside. Breakfast is served each morning in the dining room, though early risers can enjoy coffee, croissants, and fresh air on the Lido Deck, where an amazing buffet lunch is also served each afternoon. The Lido Deck is also the location for the daily 4pm tea time. When you’re setting sail on such a magnificent vessel, you’ll want to be on the top deck soaking it all in as much as possible!
The culinary experience aboard the Sea Cloud II was particularly impressive. Each meal was well thought out and delivered a huge variety of options. Whether it was a 6-course tasting menu at the Captain’s Dinner or the BBQ buffet, Chef Mike and his team outdid themselves every time. How he was able to get such top quality ingredients prepared and planned out for a week at sea still boggles our mind. Aboard the cruise, guests were able to enjoy 5-star dishes like freshly caught tuna ceviche (that he picked up the same day from a fisherman on Union Island), cold lemongrass soup, and thai beef stew.
This 7-night adventure took us from Barbados to Curaçao, stopping at Bequia, Union Island, Grenada, and Bonaire along the way. At each port, guests could choose between an excursion, such as an island and spice tour in Grenada, or time to themselves to explore town or relax on a beautiful beach.
Each stop gave us the chance to learn about new culture, enjoy lunch at a local bar, or relax on some the most gorgeous white-sand beaches we’d ever seen. It gave us a chance to stretch their sea legs and soak in a brand new island, knowing the comfort of our home-way-from-home was anchored just off shore.
For some days of the trip, we were were simply sailing. While unsure at first, these were actually our favorite days. There’s something beautiful about being in the open water with the wind pulling you along, and watching the crew set and adjust the sails was incredible. Limberly climbing up ropes and shimmying along beams with just a simple harness, the crew was constantly in motion.
One of the best parts about this sailing experience, was being able to explore the ship. From the library to the lounge, guests were free to roam and explore the vessel. We spotted a pod of dolphins following us one afternoon, enjoyed the on-ship gym some mornings, and sipped chilled Sauvignon Blanc while the sun set in the evenings.
The Sea Cloud II experience was a magical one, filled with joy and enchantment every nautical mile. We arrived having never sailed like this before and left knowing how to tie several proper sailor’s knots and, best of all, knowing we made a whole crew of new friends and a lifetime worth of memories.
Compass + Twine was a welcomed guest aboard the Sea Cloud II and thanks them for an incredible sailing adventure. As always, all opinions are our own.
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