If you’ve previously exited a cruise ship while it’s moving onto a zodiac, then you lead a more eventful life than me, and have some incredible stories to tell. Let’s have coffee.
Doing exactly THAT is part of the program on Seacloud, and the photos and memories we collected while doing so will last a lifetime.
About SEACLOUD
- They have 3 ships with the largest one carrying only 136. For this reason, we call it a SALT WATER RIVER CRUISE.
- Their first and namesake vessel (the SEACLOUD) was built in 1931 by the Post Family (check your cereal box for why you recognize the name). Seacloud II followed in 2001, and their latest vessel SEACLOUD SPIRIT was launched in 2021
How SEACLOUD Cruises Differentiates
- The food and beverage experience is next level.
- The off-ship photo safari while the ship is under full sail power.
- It’s not really a cruise ship, but rather a tall ship or sailing yacht. They don’t compete with the luxury cruise lines. It’s a connection to the romance of ocean travel.
- The Sails: Watch the crew unfurl 40,000 square feet of sails by hand.
- You’re closer to the water. Smell the salt air. Hear the water lapping against the ship.
- Experience: The moment the engines shut down and the sails catch the wind is one of those travel experiences that stays with you for years.
Where SEACLOUD Cruises Goes
- The Mediterranean – but not to the ports you’ve been to before. With a ship that small, they get into places you’ve never heard of, so you can really experience the people and culture. Maybe smaller Greek Islands, or a Croatian coastal village.
- We went from Monte Carlo to Rome over the course of a week. We didn’t dock with ANY other cruise ships, and we only visited ONE port that we’d experienced previously.
- The Caribbean – likewise in the Caribbean, you’re NOT going to a “private island” with thousands of others to be sold over-priced cocktails. You’ll be swimming or paddleboarding directly off the vessel in some small, unnamed harbor.
WHO Goes on SEACLOUD Cruises – It’s not for everybody
- It’s NOT for those that like mega-ship amenities like Vegas shows, ziplines, and casinos.
- It IS for those loving casual luxury, and an elevated culinary experience.
- Those that love history, cultural immersion, and destination-focused travel.
- Those wanting to be the first to try something new, and report back on it.
- Those that like the size of a river boat, but want to visit salt-water destinations.
- Those that have been seemingly everywhere, and are looking for new experiences.
- Those looking for a quieter, more casual, more personal, refined experience.
Insider Tips About Sea cloud
- When the crew is preparing to deploy the 40,000 square feet of sails, park yourself horizontal in a lounge chair. Your neck and shoulders will thank you for sparing the constant upward gaze. Lie down, and get your camera ready for a great show.
- Book with us this month to get an additional $50 per person, per day on board credit. This is NOT available on direct bookings, OR elsewhere.
The PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
In this episode of UNPACKED, Bob shares his and Sue’s firsthand experience aboard SEACLOUD Spirit, one of the world’s most unique luxury sailing ships. With just 136 guests, SEACLOUD offers an experience that feels surprisingly similar to a river cruise—except you’re sailing the Mediterranean or the Caribbean aboard a magnificent tall ship.
In Case You Missed It:
THE CARIBBEAN & MEDITERRANEAN of 60 YEARS AGO: The hardest part about time-travel is getting the Delorean up to 88-miles-per-hour. Here’s how to visit the Med and the Caribbean and experience them like you could have before it was overrun with tourists:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/cruise-ship-time-machine-the-mediterranean-or-caribbean-of-60-years-ago/
WIFI on CRUISE SHIPS: It’s gotten substantially better in the past few years, but there are still limitations. Here’s what you can expect:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/wifi-on-cruise-ships/
REMAINING MOM & POP: Our travel business has grown beyond being able to personally speak with every client about every trip, but we still work hard to remain a people-focused Mom & Pop Shoppe:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/remaining-mom-pop/
Featured YOUTUBE Video:
SEACLOUD CRUISES is our featured vendor this month, and we’ve got a few video resources to share if you want to learn more:
INTRODUCING SEACLOUD: It’s new to the American market place, but has a long and proud history. Kevin Smith from SEACLOUD talks to Bob from the bridge of Seacloud Spirit:
SEACLOUD “Unicorn” EXPERIENCES: You can’t do this stuff anywhere else. Follow us as we climb the riggings, and leave the ship while it’s under full sail:
SEACLOUD SPIRIT Ship Tour: Kevin Smith walks Bob around this magnificent vessel:
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!
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Today’s Travel Opportunities
SEA CLOUD Salt-Water River Cruise Experiences
You may have been to these places before. This time see them up-close, and get to where larger ships can’t take you.
Eastern CARIBBEAN: round-trip Philipsburg departing December 6 for 8-nights
- Visit Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, Iles des Saintes, Nevis & Antigua.
- Sail the scenic Eastern Caribbean islands, and get into small coves and harbors on board the 136 guest Sea Cloud Spirit.
- Fares from $5995
GRENADINES: Round-trip from Bridgetown, Barbados departing December 8 for 7-nights
- Close to home with easy flight connections!
- Start in Bridgetown and visit Port Elizabeth, St. Vincent & Grenadines, St. George’s, Saint-Pierre, Soufrière and finish in Bridgetown
- Fares from $4870
PANAMA, COSTA RICA, BELIZE from Colon to Cozumel departing March 13, 2027 for 12-nights
- Start in Colón and visit San Blas Archipelago, Bocas del Toro, Puerto Limón, Roatán, Belize City, Lighthouse Reef, and finish in Cozumel.
- Fares from $8740
SCOTLAND & IRELAND: Edinburgh to Dublin departing June 28, 2027 for 8-nights
- Start in Edinburgh and visit the Orkney Islands, Isle of Lewis, Isle of Mull, Oban, Belfast, and finish in Dublin.
- Fares from $9135
SPAIN: Palma de Mallorca to Malaga departing October 25 for 8-nights
- Start in Palma de Mallorca and visit Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Cartagena, and finish in Málaga.
- Fares from $8220
CROATIA’s DALMATIAN COAST: Venice to Dubrovnik departing August 30, 2027 for 7-nights
- Start in Venice and visit Rovinj, Sibenik, Korcula, Hvar, Vis, and finish in Dubrovnik.
- Fares from $7495
REMEMBER: On ANY SEACLOUD sailing, we can offer an additional $50 per person, per day on board credit to spend on Spa Treatments, an elevated Shore Experience, OR a great bottle of wine!
RIVER CRUISING with TAUCK
Tauck is the MOST inclusive of the River Cruise Lines in Europe, and have 35% fewer people on the same sized ship as competitors.
TULIP CRUISE: Amsterdam to Brussels for 9-days
- Visit Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, the Hague, Kinderdijk, Rotterdam, Keukenhof Gardens, Enkhuizen, Amsterdam (overnight).
- Departures in March and April from $5790
GERMAN OKTOBERFEST: Amsterdam to Munich for 10-days in September
- Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Dusseldorf (to visit local craft breweries), sail the Rhine Gorge, Heidelberg for a beer-paired lunch, Strasbourg, Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus, Lake Konstanz, and then on to Munich for 2 nights for the world’s largest festival!
- 2026: Sold Out
- 2027: Depart September 15 or 22 from $8990
INTREPID Premium Guided Land Journeys
INTREPID operates small group guided land journeys on six continents. Here’s a couple of examples:
NEW ZEALAND: Auckland to Wellington for 8-nights
- Start in Auckland and visit Waiheke Island, the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, Rotorua, Taupō, Tongariro National Park, and finish in Wellington.
- Departures September through April from $5250.
- OR stay for 18-days and carry on to the South Island and visit Christchurch, Greymouth, Punakaiki, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Doubtful Sound, and finish in Queenstown.
- Departures September through April from $12,595
COSTA RICA: round-trip San Jose for 9-days
- Costa Rica is both exotic and nearby (under 4 hours from Houston, Atlanta, or Miami).
- See a turtle sanctuary, enjoy coffee where it is harvested, slide into the hot springs at Arenal Volcano, see the abundant wildlife in the rainforest, and take a surfing lesson in Tamarindo (or maybe just watch it!).
- Departures year-round from $3368
AZAMARA Small Ship Destination Cruises
Azamara has a fleet of R-Class vessels carrying just 680 guests. They offer an affordable way to get on board a smaller ship for a more intimate experience, and better destination immersion.
NEW ENGLAND & QUEBEC: New York to Montreal departing October 7 for 12-nights
- Start in New York City and visit Newport, Cape Cod Canal, Boston, Saint John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Magdalen Islands, Saguenay Fjord, Saguenay, Quebec City, and finish in Montreal.
- Veranda fares from $4839
ALASKA Cruise Tour: Fairbanks to Vancouver departing May 30 for 14-nights
- Start in Whittier and visit Valdez, Cruise the Hubbard Glacier, Haines, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Ketchikan, Klawock, Nanaimo, Victoria, and finish in Vancouver.
- Fares from $8879
Azamara’s COUNTRY INTENSIVE VOYAGES are fantastic if you really want to immerse yourself in a particular place. Here are some examples:
- Chile
- Croatia
- Greece
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Norway
- Scotland
- Spain
If you’d like to see AZAMARA’s full line-up of COUNTRY INTENSIVE Itineraries:
https://www.azamara.com/cruises?keywords=country-intensive
REMOTE EXPLORATIONS with NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
NatGeo will get you all the remote corners of the world, but here are two close to home the PACIFIC Coast:
OREGON & WASHINGTON: Columbia River from Portland to Clarkston for 6-days
- Visit Portland, The Dalles (for Multnomah Falls and fish hatchery), Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla, Palouse River. Traverse the locks by river boat right here at home!
- Go hiking, kayaking, ride on the zodiacs, visit museums and wineries
- 2026: September/October from $4778
PACIFIC NORTHWEST: US San Juans & Canadian Gulf Islands for 8-days round-trip Seattle
- Visit Victoria BC, Desolation Sound for kayaking and hiking, Alert Bay for First Nations immersion, the Gulf Islands to visit quaint communities, Friday Harbor for the Whale museum, and other islands in Puget Sound.
- This corner of the country is a well-kept secret. Visit remote islands to see the sea lions, eagles, humpback and orca whales. Go for a bike ride in Victoria; kayaking, zodiacs, and paddleboarding in remote bays.
- 2026: Departures in October from $5061
- 2027: Departures in October from $6150
A NOTE on ETAs
ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATIONS (ETAs) are already in place for many countries, and there will be more. We get lots of questions about these, and they are really NOT a big deal. IT IS NOT A VISA.
COUNTRIES / REGIONS REQUIRING ETAs for US Passport Holders:
- Australia
- European Union (coming soon – late 2026 or 2027)
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)
THE PROCESS
- Go to the website of the government of the country you are visiting, and download their official APP. There are lots of knock-offs, so make sure you’re using the official one
- Answer the required questions. You’ll need your passport number, and you’ll be asked about the purpose of your trip, and some other questions.
- Pay the fee. This is usually around $20 USD (New Zealand is more).
VIDEO RESOURCES
We’ve documented our experience when applying for these ETA’s
- United Kingdom: https://youtu.be/6NGfCqOsDKk
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
