High Cuisine on the High Seas

Sea Cloud Cruises brings fine dining to its elegant sailing experience

- TERRY ZARIKIAN

IF YOU'VE ever dreamed of traveling on a sailboat like they did more than a century ago, you can do so in great comfort and style with Sea Cloud Cruises, one of the world's great names in sailing. The original 94-year-old Sea Cloud, a four-masted ship that once served as a private yacht for Marjorie Merriweather Post, is the model for the company's sailing vessels. Still radiating the glamour of a bygone era, the first Sea Cloud, containing 32 cabins, continues to take guests to sea. The Sea Cloud II, built in 2001, is its younger sister, but despite the maritime family resemblance, it's more modern with technical advances. I recently sailed on the newer Sea Cloud Spirit, launched in 2021, to Costa Rica and the Panama Canal. Award-winning Miami-based chef Cindy Hutson was onboard for this amazing journey, delighting passengers with her humor, wit and delightful island cuisine.

The Sea Cloud Spirit is known for its culinary excellence, with changing daily menus featuring fresh-off-the-boat seafood, simply grilled or served in more sophisticated European preparations. Buffet-style breakfast and lunch, served alfresco or in the dining room, showcase grilled fish and meats and an extensive variety of cold appetizers, warm specialties and freshly churned ice creams.