One of the major attractions on the Sea Cloud II is the chance to actually sail. The Sea Cloud line consists of 3 vessels - the original 90 year old Sea Cloud sailing yacht refurbished into her prior luxury glory, the newer Sea Cloud II designed as a similar luxury sailer, and the newest Sea Cloud Spirit which is a bit larger, faster and more modern than the other two. Sea Cloud Cruises has a loyal following of past guests and I visited with several travelers who had been onboard for 10-20 times each. Most of the folks I spoke with agreed that the Sea Cloud II was the best (though this could have been the bias of being onboard that specific vessel). She maintains much of the charm of the original Sea Cloud, with a few more creature comforts and faster speed.
The crew go above and beyond to make sure that the onboard experience is luxury all the way. This starts with oppulent cabins that boast an electric fireplace, sitting area, and spacious walk in closets. The bathroom has actual bathtubs (with a shower above) and luxury amenities.
The crew also makes sure to set out the sails as often as possible to give travelers the chance to experience the Sea Cloud II under all her glory. As I mentioned, the first full day at sea we had little wind, but the captain assured us that we had plenty of time to make it to our destination so the crew let down the sails. This is a huge undertaking requiring 15 sailors working together to set the 20 or more sails. Then, at the end of the day, the sailors again work together climbing the impossibly high masts to stow the sails once again. It was truly a vast undertaking for the 9 miles or so that we sailed that first day due to limited winds. However, it is so integral to the experience, that the crew makes the effort to include these opportunities whenever possible.
