Under Jacaranda trees, dropping pretty purple blossoms that create a sticky residue along the pavements that they mark, our eyes cast further up towards a trio of towering boat masts, grazing bright blue skies with their grandiose presence. Hugging the edges of Malaga’s marina, the Sea Cloud Spirit, a stunning 450 ft long windjammer whose bow is adorned with a golden-eagle, captures open-mouthed imaginations of passengers and onlookers alike.
Built in 2021 but reminiscent of the teak-clad cruise liners of yesteryear, the Sea Cloud Spirit is a picture of turn-of-the-century beauty. This German-owned cruise company promises high-class nautical adventures on a number of routes across the world. Its latest addition to the fleet is one of three in regular service, as well as the most modern, taking blueprints from the original Hussar and turning it into today’s floating masterpiece of both design and engineering.
Twenty-eight billowing sails unmask her uniqueness – a boat positioned in dedication to discovery, whether crossing to the Caribbean or touring the island of Sicily. On this sunny, late spring day, we are embarking on a brief four-night passage, decorating the horizon from Andalucía in Spain, towards Lisbon in Portugal, where over high tides and a few high jinks, we will be privy to the pearls of south-easterly Iberia.
As we board, cool towel and bespoke-bottled glass of Pommery Champagne in hand, we are welcomed by the glamorous crew in brilliant white uniforms who greet us both in German and English, before being guided to one of the 69 outside cabins (22 junior and 3 owner suites with balconies) and 7 de luxe lido outside cabins with panoramic windows.
Each cabin is kitted out in similar luxuriant fashion, gold bathrooms (complete with Jacuzzi baths, L’occitane products and impressively soft towels) make a feature of the well-appointed space, along with the most heavenly of pillows (fashioned into heart shapes by our assigned housekeeper José, who also provides complimentary laundry) and comfortable mattresses, ensuring a quality night’s sleep, even when waves attempt to thwart the experience otherwise.
The fittings of the boat align with the sense of regality we are offered both on and off shore, from the stunning architecture we find on our daytime excursions through to the multinational hospitality we receive. Indeed, the boat’s original owners were high-class couple Edward F Hutton, a Wall Street broker, and his Florida-born wife, ‘the glamorous Majorie Merriweather Post’. Together they commissioned and designed the world’s largest private sailing yacht, touring the globe, often in similarly cool company.
Evening one aboard the Seacloud Spirit begins with the relevant safety briefings given by staff followed by an optional historical introduction and route briefing from our one-time container ship-turned luxury vessel Captain, Vukota Stojanovic, born in Montenegro.
Ensuing activities at sea encompass a fully-kitted out wellness centre where an array of spa treatments using Phytomer products can be booked throughout the day, a sauna that at certain times encourages guests to go ‘textile free’, a top deck gym from which you can admire the rolling horizon below while getting a few kms in on the treadmill or rowing machine, as well as a delightfully peaceful library for moments to become acquainted with adventures of a more literary kind. New in recent months is the opportunity to climb the rigging – an exercise that commands balance and strength and a new-found respect for the crew who shimmy up and down these lines to rig and de-rig the sails when on tour.
On day two we are invited to participate in a Martini tasting, hosted by head barkeep Anton Campos from the Philippines, whose spirited libations are a delightfully bouji wrap-around service to the rest of the liquid list that he keeps. Inclusive drinks match with inclusive food, all of which is healthy and plentiful throughout our voyage with most meals being served on the Lido deck from which panoramic views across the Mediterranean are enjoyed, setting sail as the sun sinks slowly from milky pink and blue skies into the increasingly deepening sea.
Guest speakers over our five-star sojourn are Toni Schumacher and Jorg Wontorra, telling the stories in their native tongues, of their sporting careers while evening entertainment comes in the shape of a more formal Captain’s dinner on the second night, where a large tuna – seasonal from May to June – is ceremoniously carved on one side of the dining room to much wasabi-fuelled glee, while main courses are later revealed under handsome silver cloches. Come 10pm and we find ourselves dancing under the stars with DJ Arnaud Godefroy back up on deck as we cross through the strait of Gibraltar. Our German contingent aboard certainly know how to party!
While we lounge our way from Malaga to Lisbon, we jump off boat for an afternoon in Cadiz, one of Andalucia’s jewels and a chance to absorb some of her pretty history and architecture, finishing up with a signature tapa from this city – Papas Aliñadas (tuna, potato and onion salad). Others head to Jerez for an afternoon to explore history-heavy, flavour-replete Sherry houses. Once in Lisbon, we venture on to a different kind of vessel, sailing through the cobbled streets and seas of two and four-legged creatures in the back of a tuk tuk.
Portugal offers us a feast on all senses (and the gift of time travel by an hour), with colours, history and flavours intertwining from pretty hill tops to barrios below where we taste cherry liqueur from a window stall for a mere 1 euro. This route comes tried and tested, not just by us hosted guests, but by others who view this as a warm up to longer, more exotic travels. Spirited adventures await.
For more information of Sea Cloud cruises, including details of all routes and other vessels in the fleet, the service package, special offers and the autumn specials, please visit www.seacloud.com.
