Sea Cloud II

Sea Cloud II is a large sailing cruise ship operated by Sea Cloud Cruises, a Hamburg-based German cruise company. The vessel was commissioned after the commercial success of the company's first ship, Sea Cloud, and was conceived as a purpose-built companion rather than a conversion of an existing vessel. Its design combines the atmosphere and sailing characteristics of a traditional square-rigged barque with the accommodation, navigation, propulsion and hotel facilities required for modern luxury cruising. Construction was assigned to Astilleros Gondán, S.A., in Spain. The keel was laid on 24 June 1998, and the ship was launched on 18 March 1999. Her completion took longer than planned because of demanding requirements for the interior fit-out, together with personnel and delivery difficulties. Sea Cloud II was handed over to Sea Cloud Cruises on 29 December 2000 while some work remained unfinished; final work was completed on 22 January 2001. She was christened in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, on 6 February 2001, with German television presenter Sabine Christiansen serving as sponsor. The ship is 105.90 metres long, has a beam of 16 metres, a draught of approximately 5.70 metres and a gross tonnage of 3,849. Her steel hull contains eight watertight bulkheads. Sea Cloud II has five principal decks, including a bridge deck used as a sun deck, a lido deck with a bar, lounge, library and owner suites, a promenade deck with reception, restaurant and boutique facilities, and a lower cabin deck containing passenger accommodation and wellness facilities. Unlike many contemporary cruise ships, she does not have a conventional swimming pool; a folding platform provides access to the sea for water-based activities. Accommodation is designed for a maximum of 96 passengers. The ship includes outside cabins, interior cabins, 16 junior suites and two larger owner suites. Cabin sizes generally range from approximately 12 to 20 square metres, while the suites provide more space and upgraded furnishings. Owner suites include features such as four-poster beds and larger bathrooms. The vessel's service proposition emphasizes intimate scale, traditional seamanship, attentive hospitality, cuisine and premium accommodation rather than the extensive entertainment infrastructure associated with mass-market cruise ships. Sea Cloud II is rigged as a square-rigger with foremast, mainmast and mizzenmast. Its 23 sails cover roughly 3,000 square metres, and the sails are handled by hand in the tradition of large sailing vessels and sail-training ships. Two diesel engines provide auxiliary and propulsive power, allowing a reported top speed of about 13 knots, while a bow thruster assists manoeuvring. The ship normally operates in the Mediterranean during Northern Hemisphere summer and in the Caribbean during winter, with an Atlantic crossing between the two regions marketed as a cruise itinerary. Its small capacity, sailing rig and luxury positioning distinguish it within the cruise market.

Sea Cloud II was developed by Sea Cloud Cruises as a second sailing vessel following the success of the company's original Sea Cloud. The project responded both to market demand for the operator's distinctive luxury sailing product and to the economics of placing another purpose-built ship into service. Unlike the earlier Sea Cloud, which had an earlier life before entering cruise service, Sea Cloud II was designed and constructed as a new cruise ship. The construction contract went to Astilleros Gondán, S.A., in Spain. Her keel was laid on 24 June 1998. The rigging was planned and manufactured by Navicom in Wolgast, while the 23 sails were produced in Poland. The vessel was launched on 18 March 1999, but delivery was delayed by the owner's exacting specifications for the interior and by associated personnel and completion problems. She was ultimately transferred to Sea Cloud Cruises on 29 December 2000 in an incompletely finished condition, with final work concluding on 22 January 2001. Her christening took place in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, on 6 February 2001, sponsored by Sabine Christiansen. The completed vessel measures 105.90 metres overall and has a gross tonnage of 3,849. Her steel hull is divided by eight watertight bulkheads, and three decks run continuously through much of the ship. The interior layout is organized around a bridge deck, lido deck, promenade deck, cabin deck and service areas. Passenger spaces include a restaurant, lounge, bar, library, boutique, fitness room, sauna, medical room and suite accommodation. A maximum of 96 passengers can be carried. The ship's design intentionally favors spacious public areas and personalized service over the high passenger density and large-scale attractions found on mainstream cruise ships. Sea Cloud II's sailing identity is central to her operation. She carries three principal masts and 23 sails with a combined area of approximately 3,000 square metres. The mainmast rises about 57 metres above the deck. Her sails are traditionally handled by hand, giving passengers an experience associated with classic sailing vessels. At the same time, two diesel engines provide dependable auxiliary propulsion, enabling the ship to maintain a reported maximum speed of roughly 13 knots when required. Generators provide onboard electrical power, and a bow thruster supports harbour manoeuvres. In service, Sea Cloud II has generally followed a seasonal deployment pattern. Mediterranean cruises dominate the Northern Hemisphere summer, while Caribbean voyages are scheduled during winter. The ship's repositioning between these regions across the Atlantic is itself marketed as a cruise product. Her appeal rests on the combination of sailing under canvas, a limited number of guests, luxury accommodation and high-touch service. A 2004 edition of the Berlitz guide to cruising and cruise ships awarded the vessel a five-star rating, reflecting her standing in contemporary luxury-cruise commentary. The ship remains associated with Sea Cloud Cruises and with the operator's niche between traditional sailing-ship travel and modern premium cruising.

• 2004

  Five-star cruise-guide rating

  [1]Sea Cloud IIen.wikipedia.org

  The Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships gave Sea Cloud II a five-star rating in its 2004 edition.

• 2001

  Completion and christening

  [1]Sea Cloud IIen.wikipedia.org

  Final work was completed on 22 January, followed by the ship's christening in Las Palmas on 6 February.

• 2000

  Handed over to the operator

  [1]Sea Cloud IIen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was handed over to Sea Cloud Cruises on 29 December, although some completion work remained outstanding.

• 1999

  Ship launched

  [1]Sea Cloud IIen.wikipedia.org

  Sea Cloud II was launched on 18 March after construction of her hull and initial ship systems.

• 1998

  Keel laid

  [1]Sea Cloud IIen.wikipedia.org

  The keel of Sea Cloud II was laid on 24 June at Astilleros Gondán, S.A., in Spain.

A small-capacity, premium sailing-cruise experience combining traditional square-rigged seamanship with luxury hotel service, refined dining and intimate shipboard accommodation.

• Luxury sailing cruise ship · 1999

  Sea Cloud II

  The vessel itself is the core offering associated with the Sea Cloud II name. It carries up to 96 passengers in cabins, junior suites and owner suites, and combines a traditional three-masted square-rigged sailing arrangement with diesel propulsion. Its onboard proposition includes a restaurant, lounges, library, boutique, fitness and sauna facilities, and a sea-access platform for water activities. The ship is intended for premium, intimate cruising rather than large-scale resort-style operations.

• Cruise itinerary

  Mediterranean cruises

  Sea Cloud II is deployed mainly in the Mediterranean during the Northern Hemisphere summer. These voyages use the ship's sailing rig, small passenger complement and premium hotel service as central elements of the experience. The product is positioned around leisurely regional cruising, traditional seamanship, refined dining and access to ports through an itinerary format distinct from mass-market cruise programs.

• Cruise itinerary

  Caribbean cruises

  During the Northern Hemisphere winter, Sea Cloud II generally operates in the Caribbean. The seasonal program extends the ship's sailing-cruise proposition into a warmer-weather market while retaining its limited-capacity accommodation, hand-operated sails and luxury service model.

• Transatlantic cruise

  Atlantic crossing cruises

  The repositioning voyage between Mediterranean and Caribbean seasons is marketed as an Atlantic crossing cruise. Rather than treating the transfer solely as operational movement, the operator presents the crossing as a destination experience centered on sailing, open-ocean travel and the distinctive character of a large barque.

• 2001

  Introduction of Sea Cloud IIProduct launch

  Background

  After construction delays and final completion work, the new ship was prepared for operation as the second major vessel in Sea Cloud Cruises' sailing-cruise offering.

  Action taken

  Sea Cloud Cruises completed the vessel in January and christened her in Las Palmas in February.

  Aftermath

  Sea Cloud II entered the luxury cruise market with a 96-passenger capacity, traditional hand-operated sails and seasonal itineraries in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Atlantic.

  Source

• 1998

  Commissioning of a purpose-built second sailing shipStrategy

  Background

  Following the success of Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud Cruises decided to add another sailing vessel and pursue a newbuild rather than rely on another converted ship.

  Action taken

  The operator commissioned Sea Cloud II from Spanish shipbuilder Astilleros Gondán, S.A., with a design combining traditional sailing characteristics and modern luxury-cruise facilities.

  Aftermath

  The resulting ship entered service in 2001 as a small-capacity luxury sailing vessel and became part of the operator's seasonal Mediterranean and Caribbean deployment.

  Source

1. 1Sea Cloud IIen.wikipedia.org