Sea Cloud Spirit charts Caribbean, Central America, Canaries

The 136-passenger authentic sailing yacht will reposition to the Caribbean with a trans-Atlantic crossing from Gran Canaria to St. Maarten over 16 nights beginning Nov. 11.

Small ports and bays will be the focus in the Caribbean, with destinations including Bequia, Union Island and Iles des Saintes. Sea Cloud Spirit will also transit the Panama Canal and sail in the islands of Panama and Costa Rica, and explore Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and beyond before returning to Gran Canaria.

At least a day under full sail

Continuing the Sea Cloud Cruises tradition, Sea Cloud Spirit’s 28 sails will be traditionally hoisted by hand throughout the voyages with at least one full day devoted to sailing on each itinerary.    

'Sea Cloud Spirit was meticulously designed to pay homage to the original Sea Cloud, celebrating an era of luxurious glamor in travel and with all the modern comforts today’s discerning travelers desire,' said Mirell Reyes, president of Sea Cloud Cruises, who heads the company's new US office in Fort Lauderdale.

A Category C cabin with panoramic windows that open

Sailings from St. Maarten

Among the itineraries are seven-night round-trips from Philipsburg, St. Maarten, starting with a day beneath full sails, then calling North Sound, Virgin Gorda, sailing through Sir Francis Drake Channel to White Bay, Jost van Dyke and San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cruz Bay, St. John; Gustavia, and St. Barthelemy. Departures are Nov. 27 and Dec. 12.

An eight-night round-trip from Philipsburg begins will a day beneath full sails before visitng Terre-de-Haut, Iles des Saintes; Soufriere, St. Lucia; Chatham Bay, Union Island; Port Elizabeth, Bequia; and Cabrits, Dominica, plus another day beneath full sails.

On Dec. 19 Sea Cloud Spirit casts off from Philipsburg for a 15-night journey to Colón, Panama.  This, too, begins with a day beneath full sails, then calls Terre-de-Haut, Soufriere, Port Elizabeth, Chatham Bay and St. George’s. Grenada, After two days beneath full sails, the vessel will visit Willemstad, Curaçao; Oranjestad, Aruba; spend a day at sea then call Cartagena, Colombia (overnight).

Panama Canal and Costa Rica

From Colón, Sea Cloud Spirit transits the Panama Canal to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, in an 11-night cruise that calls at Panama's San Blas Archipelago, Pearl Islands, Pearl Islands and Coiba National Park. Destinations in Costa Rica include Golfito and Quepos. Three days of the trip are beneath full sails. Departures are Jan. 3 and Jan. 25.

Two eastbound 11-night voyages from Costa Rica through the Panama Canal to Colón call at Playa Panama, Quepos and Golfito, Costa Rica; and Coiba National Park and Pearl Islands, Panama, with three days under full sails. Departures are Jan. 14 and Feb. 5.

Sea Cloud Spirit's aft Lido Deck

A 16-night cruise from Colón to Miami caps the Caribbean season. Sea Cloud Spirit sails Feb. 16 to Bocas del Toro, Panama; Puerto Limón, Costa Rica; Isla de Providencia, Colombia; Guanaja, Honduras; Belize City and Lighthouse Reef, Belize; Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico; and Bimini, Bahamas. Five days under full sail and two sea days are part of the trip.

Canary Islands round-trips

Back in the Canary Islands in the spring, Sea Cloud Spirit on March 25 will embark on a 10-night round-trip from Las Palmas to Los Cristianos, Tenerife; San Sebastian, La Gomera; Santa Cruz, La Palma; Funchal, Madeira (overnight); and Arrecife, Lanzarote (overnight). The itinerary has a day under full sail and a day at sea.

An eight-night round-trip from Las Palmas on April 4 calls at Santa Cruz, La Palma; San Sebastian, El Hierro's Puerto de la Estacia, Santa Cruz, Tenerife; and Arrecife. Two days are beneath full sails.

$500 air credit, upgrade

For the North American market, upcoming Sea Cloud Spirit voyages include a $500 air credit per person and one cabin-category upgrade. Standard inclusions are open bar, all meals with exclusive wine and beer selections, water sports, port charges, gratuities and a bottle of Champagne upon embarkation. 

Fares start at $3,655 per person, double occupancy.