Sea Cloud 2

The 2000-built/2001-inaugurated Sea Cloud 2 cruise ship is owned by Sea Cloud Cruises GmbH/fleet (1979-founded, Hamburg-based company). The vessel is a replica/sistership of Sea Cloud 1 (1931-built). In 2021, the fleet joined the world's largest sailship Sea Cloud Spirit. These unique vessels perfectly combine the elegance of sailships with the luxury and comfort of modern superyachts.

The vessel (IMO number 9171292) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 248953000) and registered in Valletta.

Traditionally for Sea Cloud Cruises, Sea Cloud 2 is often privately chartered, with a schedule combining regular revenue voyages with time- and voyage charters. The charterers are usually specialized groups renting the ship for events like religious conventions, business meetings, alumni gatherings, private parties (family reunions, birthdays, weddings, celebrations). Some even charter the ship for golf-themed cruises.

Following the COVID-related pause of operations in 2020-2021, Sea Cloud Cruises planned to resume passenger shipping on March 17, 2021. Sea Cloud 2's "maiden voyage" was planned to leave from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on a 7-day roundtrip around the Canaries, followed by an Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean Sea deployment for Greek Islands itineraries.

History - construction and ownership

The 94-passenger ship Sea Cloud II is a newbuild, while the sisteship Sea Cloud was launched in 1931. The vessel was constructed by the Austrian shipbuilder "Astilleros Gondan SA" and the keel-laying ceremony took place on June 24, 1998. The ship's delivery was delayed due to demands from the owner about interior fit-out. The boat was christened in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands Spain), on February 6, 2001.

Decks and Cabins

MV Sea Cloud 2 has 5 decks (4 are passenger-accessible, 3 with cabins) and only 47 staterooms, all of which are outside. Bridge Deck serves as Sundeck (behind the superstructure). The two Owner Suites are on Lido Deck. Promenade Deck houses 16 Junior Suites and 2 Deluxe cabins, all with panoramic windows. The other 27 deluxe cabins are with small portholes.

All staterooms offer as standard amenities wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), mirrored dressing table / writing desk with chair, coffee table with an armchair, bedside cabinets (with drawers, reading lamps, power sockets), flat TV with DVD player, hairdryer, individually controlled air-conditioning, en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, marble vanity top, gold-plated taps, razor socket), non-opening windows (half-height or Portholes).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Food and service are exceptional, and meals are often served on deck. Dinner is served in the dining room restaurant from a fixed menu. Menus have a European influence, though the cuisine is sometimes tempered by the nationality of guests onboard. The most exciting part of the day is an afternoon snack on Promenade Deck. The baker prepares a new treat each day, including waffles with ice cream, an elaborate afternoon tea or crepes to order. Complimentary wine flows freely at meals.

The most remarkable feature of this luxury square-rigged yacht is its 3 masts and 23 sails. The ship has main-mast (57 m above deck), mizzen-mast and fore-mast. The sails have a total area of 3000 m2 (32,000 ft2). Unlike the modern, computer-operated sail ships, all sails on Sea Cloud 2 are manually-served - by the 18 crew performing dazzling acrobatics, suspended over the ocean.

Itineraries

Sea Cloud II schedule calendar includes the Canary Islands, Mediterranean and Baltic cruises in Europe during summer, and Caribbean cruises departing from Barbados during winter months. Transatlantic repositioning crossings are offered between Europe and the Caribbean.