Sea Cloud Offers Special San Juan Chef Cruises Focusing on the Great Cuisine of Puerto Rico
Sea Cloud Spirit is one of three classic sailing ship in the Sea Cloud Cruises’ fleet.
Sea Cloud Cruises, which offers classic sailing cruises on three beautiful windjammer-style yachts, will offer a “San Juan Guest Chef Series” onboard Sea Cloud Spirit's Puerto Rico voyages in January 2025.
The special cruises are curated by award-winning food writer Kathleen Squires and husband Ronnie Rodriguez, proprietors of the fine-dining experience Chef’s Dinner Table in New York, and each of the four new itineraries will be hosted by a Puerto Rican chef handpicked to showcase the island’s legendary culinary culture.
The first sailing, hosted by Chef Wilo Benet, will begin Jan. 4 in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and pass the iconic Castillo San Felipe del Morro “El Morro” as you pull into the harbor at San Juan on Jan. 10. Subsequent January sailings, all docking at San Juan Cruise Port, will feature Chef Julie Carrión Jan. 10-17, Chef Francis Guzmán, Jan. 17-24 and conclude with Chef Mario Pagán on Jan. 24-Feb.1.
Cruisers will relish all-inclusive regional dishes, chef-led cooking demonstrations, rum tastings and culinary discussions from this talented roster of culinary artists in collaboration with the Sea Cloud Spirit team.
Check out additional details about each voyage:
Sea Cloud Cruises is offering a series of four special voyages that highlight the cuisine of San Juan as delivered by special guest chefs from this historic city.
Chef Wilo Benet
January 4 to January 10, from Philipsburg to San Juan, Puerto Rico
This six-night voyage includes a special “Three Kings Dinner” and cooking demonstrations of tostones with caviar and coquito from scratch. The itinerary includes Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, overnight, Gustavia, St. Barthelemy, a day beneath full sails through Sir Francis Drake Channel, Norman Island, BVI, overnight and San Juan.
Benet’s career of more than 40 years began as a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. After cooking at the governor’s mansion in San Juan, he opened Pikayo, his flagship restaurant for 28 years, earning recognition and numerous awards worldwide. In 2019, he launched the highly popular Wilo Eatery & Bar, offering casual dining from fritters to foie gras.
In addition to several appearances on “Top Chef Masters,” he has served U.S. presidents, Hollywood A-listers and professional athletes.
Chef Julie Carrión
Roundtrip sailing January 10 to January 17 from San Juan
During this seven-night cruise, the chef will lead an interactive pasteles-making class and a tembleque dessert demo. Ports include Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, St. John’s, Antigua, Gustavia overnight, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, and San Juan.
A native of San Juan, Carrión spent the early years of her culinary career in New York training under Top Chef Master Anita Lo and then worked under Montreal-based chef Normand Laprisse of Toque' before accepting a position at NYC restaurant Daniel, the year that Daniel Boulud won back his coveted fourth star from The New York Times. From there, she managed Yale University Catering Services for a decade while serving as executive chef to the university’s president and elite guests, before taking the helm of the kitchen at Chef’s Dinner Table in New York City. Chef’s Dinner Table is a private dining venue and salon in New York City specializing in high-end culinary events.
Chef Francis Guzmán
Roundtrip sailing January 17 to January 24 from San Juan
This cruise features several special culinary experiences, such as ceviche and fritter demonstrations by the recently James Beard Foundation Award-nominated Best Chef in the Nation.
Itinerary highlights include Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, Gustavia overnight, St. John’s, Antigua, St. John, USVI, and San Juan.
Guzmán embarked on his culinary journey at New York’s Blue Hill and The Modern, honing his mastery of traditional and modern culinary technique. Then, he opened Vianda, his dream restaurant in Santurce, Puerto Rico, serving constantly evolving farm-to-table ingredients prepared and presented in his own style. Within two years of its opening, Vianda was selected as one of the 20 Best New Restaurants in America by The James Beard Foundation. Guzmán has been recognized by multiple publications, including Food & Wine and The New York Times, as one of the chefs leading Puerto Rico’s culinary renaissance.
Chef Mario Pagán
Sailing January 24 to February 1, San Juan to Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Enjoy the chef’s signature dish, pegao with tuna tartare and much more on this eight-night voyage. The cruise has stops at St. John, Norman Island, Virgin Gorda overnight, a day under full sail, St. John’s, Charlestown, Nevis, Gustavia and Philipsburg.
Hailed as one of Puerto Rico’s most recognizable and prolific chefs, Pagán is the owner of four restaurants in Puerto Rico (Mario Pagan, La Central by Mario Pagan, Raya at the OLV 55 Hotel and Melao). A contestant on The Next Iron Chef, Pagán has been featured in a number of publications, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Most recently, he opened Chayote in Winter Park, Fla.
About Sea Cloud Cruises
Cruisers love the traditional ambience and romantic feel of a trip with Sea Cloud Cruises. On each of the three sailing yachts, the sails are hoisted by hand — the traditional method used for centuries. There are no buttons that can simply be pressed, and it takes almost a full hour until all sails catch the wind. Each voyage includes at least one day under full sail, a highlight of the Sea Cloud experience.
Sea Cloud Cruises voyages include an open bar, all meals with exclusive wine and beer selections, water sports, port charges, gratuities and welcome bottle of champagne upon embarkation
The 90-year-old four-masted Sea Cloud, her younger sister Sea Cloud II and new Sea Cloud Spirit combine the experience of traditional seamanship with the ambience and luxurious charm of classically elegant private yachts.