Newly christened Sea Cloud Spirit is ready for serviceNewly christened Sea Cloud Spirit is ready for service

Gabriela Toran, wife of the ship's designer Iñigo Echenique, stepped in as godmother after Infanta Elena of Spain had to cancel.

Blessed Champagne

The Champagne bottle used for the christening was blessed on a 74.5-mile/120-kilometer pilgrimage, carried on foot by Javier Arias-Camisón, Spanish shipping lawyer and legal representative of Sea Cloud Cruises, to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Hand-sailed vessel

Sea Cloud Spirit is the modern interpretation of the company's 90-year-old flagship, Sea Cloud. The classically hand-sailed vessel combines the comfort of a five-star luxury ship with the traditional seamanship of windjammers that pioneered modern world trade in the transition from the 19th to the 20th century.

The 452.7-foot/138 meter three-masted full-rigged ship can accommodate up to 136 passengers. It offers balcony cabins, a wellness area and a fitness center.

Sept. 14 maiden voyage

Sea Cloud Spirit's maiden voyage from Civitavecchia (Rome) is set for Sept. 14. After initial voyages along the Italian coast between Tuscany and Sicily, the windjammer will cruise the waters around the Canary Islands from November until April.

Caribbean and Florida-Bahamas in 2022/23

For the 2022/23 winter season, Sea Cloud Spirit is scheduled to debut in the Caribbean and Central America, and will also offer voyages from Florida to the smaller islands of the Bahamas, a first for Sea Cloud Cruises.