By Benjamin S. Lyons

Make no mistake, I am not some privileged millionaire, but as I sat on the stern with the verdant islands of St. John and Great Thatch Cay on either side of me, I was doing a good job of imitating one. Above me, a complex web of lines and masts supporting almost an acre of sail stretching 178 feet into the sky, while one deck above, 34 other passengers were enjoying a festive brunch complete with champagne and freshly made Crepes. Here onboard the Sea Cloud, the romance of a tall ship and the unhurried luxury of a yacht had combined to create one of my most pleasant mornings ever at sea.

During my week onboard we bypassed the larger shopping havens that now define the Caribbean and instead called at more tranquil islands. We shared quiet harbors like Isle Des Saintes, Guadeloupe or Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands with private sailboats instead of mega ships and shared the road with goats and chickens instead of taxis. And while the scintillating turquoise sea and soft sand were as perfect as any postcard, they had nothing on the classic nautical lines of Sea Cloud.

Delivered in 1931 for American cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, the Sea Cloud was then the largest private yacht ever built. Ms. Post spent years designing the ship and spared no expense in its fitting out. Just to make sure everything was perfect, a Brooklyn warehouse was even rented where she constructed full-scale mock-ups of the interior.

Sailing as Ms. Post’s beloved yacht until 1955, Sea Cloud had a remarkable career entertaining royalty and being used on diplomatic missions for one of her husbands. During World War II, the ship saw service against German U-Boats when loaned to the US Coast Guard over the initial objections of President Roosevelt, who felt she was simply too beautiful to be sacrificed. Eventually sold to the dictator of the Dominican Republic, her career was more checkered until she was bought in 1978 by a German group of investors who cared about her as much as Ms. Post did. After a large refurbishment, she entered passenger service in 1979 with the capacity for 65 passengers and a 61 person crew.

Elegant dining aboard Sea Cloud.

Today, Ms. Post’s personal touch and elegant lifestyle are still felt onboard and Sea Cloud feels less like a cruise ship than a beautiful personal home (if you happen to be one of those privileged millionaires…) Rich mahogany woods and constantly shined brass form the superstructure while varnished wooden railings and benches line the teak promenade deck. Gilded chandeliers and oil paintings grace the intimate dining room and library, probably the most beautiful room at sea, and Carrara marble bathrooms, antique dressers and decorative fireplaces can be found in the original cabins. (CONTINUE...)