Luxury line Sea Cloud opens bookings for 1st new-build in almost 20 years

TORONTO — Sea Cloud Cruises CEO Daniel Schäfer says “the Sea Cloud Spirit will be delivered on time” and has opened up firm bookings for the new 136-passenger ship.

Schäfer says the decision follows careful inspection of the current status of the new build.

The 138-metre long Sea Cloud Spirit will depart for its maiden voyage from Lisbon to Rome/Civitavecchia on Aug. 29, 2020.

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Sea Cloud Spirit’s Lounge

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Owner’s Suite with balcony

A series of Western Med cruises will continue through the fall. In October the ship will transition to Morocco and the Canary Islands, followed by a Nov. 9 transatlantic departure, and then a series of Caribbean cruises plus Costa Rica and the Panama Canal starting Nov. 24.

Sea Cloud Cruises has extended its early booking discount deadline for all voyages on the Sea Cloud Spirit until Jan. 31, 2020.

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The library onboard Sea Cloud Spirit

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Sea Cloud Spirit’s deluxe outside cabins

Schäfer compared building upscale yachts to building modern airplanes: “This was the case with building our new windjammer the Sea Cloud Spirit, where the highest standards applied in both comfort and sustainability,” says Schäfer.

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Sea Cloud Spirit at the shipyard in Vigo, Spain in October 2019

The three-masted 136-passenger yacht is the first new build for the line since the Sea Cloud II in 2001.

In the building process there is always the risk of delays, Schäfer adds. “In the interest of our guests, we wanted to be sure she would be delivered on time before starting official bookings.”

Meanwhile the Sea Cloud will mark its 90th birthday in 2021. Both Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II regularly appear with five stars each in the Berlitz Cruise Guide’s list and rank under the best five cruise ships in the world.

The cruise line says Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II, and the new Sea Cloud Spirit, all offer a classic sailing experience with the sails still rigged in the traditional way by hand. “With the new Sea Cloud Spirit, however, we will be exploring entirely new horizons and providing you with even more comfort in the form of cabins with balconies, a generous wellness and spa area, a fitness area with sea view and much more.”

In Canada and the U.S. Sea Cloud’s call centre can be reached at 1-888-732-2568 or email info@seacloud.com. The cruise line’s industry partner website is seacloud.com/en/partner/login/.