Small sailing cruises offer big surprises
Although it can sometimes be difficult to tell, cruise vacations aren’t just limited to big megaships carrying thousands of passengers. The big ships understandably hog the spotlight from time to time because of their size, and the sheer number of onboard amenities they offer.
But there is another kind of cruise vacation you can take; one that channels the romance and grandeur of the golden age of sail. Believe it or not, there are a number of fantastic sailing cruises that operate from ports around the world. Some of these ships carry just a handful of people, while others offer staterooms for a few hundred and blend an intoxicating mix of modern-day amenities with the old-world romance of the sea.
For the classic sail-cruise enthusiast, it’s hard to beat the beautiful ships of Sea Cloud Cruises (seacloud.com). The twoship cruise line offers sailings to the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Northern Europe aboard the motor-sailing vessels Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II. And while Sea Cloud II is a modern reproduction of a classic sailing vessel, Sea Cloud is the real deal.
Sea Cloud was launched in 1931 as a private yacht for Marjorie Merriweather Post and her wealthy stockbroker husband, Edward F. Hutton. After an extensive history that included a stint with the United States Navy, it entered service as a cruise passenger ship in the late 1970s. And, unlike modern cruise ships, every stateroom and suite aboard this 64-guest ship is entirely unique, reflecting the original decor and character designed by Post.
Of the available cabins on board, 10 are original, while the others have been added in later years. Each decorated in a different style, many cabins include a decorative marble fireplace, marble-clad bathrooms, porthole windows and gorgeous antique-style furnishings. On the flip-side, you can also stay in the former officers’ accommodations adjacent to the Promenade Deck. These rooms are small but offer lots of wonderful nautical charm.
A more modern cruise-sail experience can be had with Windstar Cruises (cruise.center/windstar). Windstar now offers a fleet of six, divided between three yacht-style cruise ships (Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride) and three motor-sail yachts (Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf ).
Wind Surf is the biggest of the sailing ships and holds 310 guests. Wind Star and Wind Spirit are its smaller fleet mates, carrying just 148 guests apiece. Both are thoroughly modern cruise ships that have been refitted numerous times over the years, yet still retain a strong nautical ambience on board, with plenty of wood and brass used throughout. Their masts of sails are computercontrolled from the bridge, and departures are always celebrated with a sail-raising ceremony set to the thudding tunes of the Vangelis theme from the movie, 1492: Conquest of Paradise.
Windstar offers truly worldwide itineraries, including sailing adventures around Tahiti. More than that, though, Windstar’s ships offer considerable charm and excellent cuisine. Staff are professional and friendly, and the vibe among guests — most of whom have no interest in sailing on big megaships — is decidedly convivial. That the line also offers one of the best on-deck barbecues afloat is just another bonus.
For those who want an even more intimate sailing experience, there is just the thing out on British Columbia’s West Coast.
Outer Shores Expeditions (outershores.ca) operates remote expedition-style sailing voyages to some of B.C.’s most scenic destinations, including Haida Gwaii and the Great Bear Rainforest, aboard a six-passenger sailing schooner known as the Passing Cloud. In 2019, Outer Shores is sending Passing Cloud on a veritable wish list of sailing cruises along the West Coast, from her spring departures in Pacific Rim National Park to her numerous cruises in the Great Bear Rainforest and Gwaii Haanas National Park, to her fall sailings in Gulf Islands National Park.
Days are spent on soft adventure activities like hikes and Zodiac rides through narrow channels. The ship also carries her own kayaks, which you can take for a spin when weather permits.
My favourite part of being onboard Passing Cloud, though, comes in the evenings. Anchoring in small, remote inlets overnight reminds you of just how much wilderness still exists in the world.
Don’t wait to book this one, though — some of Passing Cloud’s 2019 sailings are already waitlisted.
Happy cruising.
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