By James Shillinglaw, Dec 09, 2020
The big sailing ships are coming back—and they will be here this spring. The date for the maiden voyage of the brand new Sea Cloud Spirit has been set. The new tall ship, part of the Sea Cloud Cruises fleet, will set sail with guests from Palma de Mallorca for the first time on April 22, 2021. (See three new photos of Sea Cloud Spirit in slideshow above.)
The 452.7 feet long three-mast full-rigged ship will also be named in Palma beforehand before being put put into service. The Sea Cloud Spirit is the third ship for Sea Cloud Cruises. Like her sister ships, the Sea Cloud and the Sea Cloud II, she combines an exclusive private yacht atmosphere with traditional sailing skills to create an extraordinary travel experience.
With its latest ship, Sea Cloud Cruises says it is aiming to set new standards for exceptional sailing cruises. The ship, which holds a maximum of 136 guests, is the modern interpretation of a legend that began in 1931 with the Sea Cloud. One highlight of the new build are balcony cabins, which were previously only available for much larger motor ships.
Guests on the maiden voyage will be the first to enjoy the new concept, which includes not only spacious balcony cabins but also a separate wellness and spa area, and a fitness center with sea view. One of the standards on board all Sea Cloud ships is superior culinary offerings. In addition to the fine-dining restaurant, the Sea Cloud Spirit will have a bistro on the Lido deck, as an additional gastronomic option for casual meals.
Sea Cloud Spirit’s maiden voyage is designed as a 10-day “Tour of Spain.” The ship will start out from Palma and head for destinations on the mainland, including Barcelona, Tarragona and Valencia. Afterwards, the vessel will sail to the Balearic Islands and back to Palma. The program is characterized by relaxing days at sea and a varied cultural and excursion program on land.
Sea Cloud Spirit is currently being completed at the Metalships & Docks shipyard in Vigo, Spain. The 28 sails with a total area of 44,100 square feet have already been attached. The shipyard’s team and specialists from Germany, and all over Europe are now concentrating on the interior finishing of the luxury ship. After extensive sea trials, the ship will be handed over to the cruise line in the first quarter of 2021 and christened shortly before its maiden voyage in the port of Palma de Mallorca.
Since 1979 Sea Cloud Cruises has been operating classic sailing ships, including the almost 90-year-old four-masted barque Sea Cloud, her younger sister the Sea Cloud II and now the new Sea Cloud Spirit. For more information or reservations, call 888-732-2568, email info@seacloud.com or visit www.seacloud.com.
