At Sea in the Greater Antilles

Hunger is one thing that will never cross a guest’s mind for long while on board the Sea Cloud II. We place our trust in the creatively skilled hands of Chef Julian and will never question the decision. The ringing of the mealtime bell becomes an event—especially on a full day at sea like today. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style with so many choices; a completely different meal could be had each day of the week. This morning the Belgian waffles--hot off the iron--are the specialty. Topped off with fresh berries, sugar, and crushed pistachios; I swear I saw the guests’ eyes closing between bites to savor the blissful taste. In between breakfast and dinner is lunch and then afternoon snack--something I haven’t indulged in since primary school. Regression is inevitable with such treats as tea sandwiches (sans crust, of course) and ice cream sundaes drenched in chocolate. Dinner’s delicacies arrive in a synchronization of four or five courses with coordinating red or white wine. The atmosphere is relaxed and social. I relish each spoonful of the lobster soup with gin cream and mango followed by each bite of my stuffed lemon sole with saffron and truffled potato ragout. After the last espresso cup is cleared and specialty bon bon consumed, we retreat to the Lido deck to observe the evening sky.

Lucky for the guilt-ridden guest that has overindulged at mealtimes, we offer a state of the art fitness center and daily Sunrise Piloga class. It is my pleasure to assist guests in setting up a workout routine in the fitness center during their time on board to keep their clothes fitting properly. Balance balls, resistance bands, and free weights complement the basic cardio machines. The morning group class is a popular way for social and physical enjoyment, a place where lasting friendships have been made. Pilates, yoga, and basic stretching are the premise for each day’s unique class, created exclusively for the physical condition of the attendees. The tone is light and humor abounds as we twist and increase our physical limits under the fresh morning sun.