Mark your calendar for a 2025 feast at sea. Sea Cloud Cruises has introduced a scrumptious San Juan Visitor Chef Sequence onboard Sea Cloud Spirit’s January 2025 Puerto Rico sailings.
Curated by award-winning meals author Kathleen Squires and husband Ronnie Rodriguez, proprietors of Chef’s Dinner Desk in New York, every of the 4 new itineraries can be hosted by an acclaimed Puerto Rican chef handpicked to showcase the island’s culinary tradition.
“Sea Cloud Cruises has centered efforts on rising in North America and growing regional culinary moments, on this case Puerto Rico, complementing our genuine crusing expertise,” Mirell Reyes, president North American, Sea Cloud Cruises, mentioned in a press launch.
“We’re honored to companion with the Chef’s Dinner Desk’s Kathleen Squires and Ronnie Rodriguez, two passionate advocates of the island and its gifted cooks, creating memorable moments onboard,” Reyes mentioned.
Hosted by Chef Wilo Benet, the primary San Juan Visitor Chef Sequence crusing, will depart St. Maarten on Jan. 4, 2025, and go the majestic Castillo San Felipe del Morro “El Morro,” arriving in San Juan on Jan. 10.
Subsequent January sailings, all docking at San Juan Cruise Port, will characteristic Chef Julie Carrión on Jan. 10-17, Chef Francis Guzmán on Jan. 17-24 and Chef Mario Pagán on Jan. 24-Feb. 1. Friends onboard can take pleasure in all-inclusive regional dishes, chef-led cooking demonstrations, rum tastings and culinary discussions from these culinary artists in collaboration with the cruise staff.
About Sea Cloud Cruises
Since 1979, Sea Cloud Cruises has been one of many world’s most storied names in cruise journey. The 90-year-old four-masted Sea Cloud, her youthful sister Sea Cloud II, and new Sea Cloud Spirit mix the expertise of conventional seamanship with the atmosphere and opulent attraction of classically elegant personal yachts.
On every of the three crusing yachts, the sails are nonetheless historically hoisted by hand – a formidable and gorgeous job each time. There aren’t any buttons that may merely be pressed and it takes nearly a full hour till all sails catch the wind. Every voyage consists of a minimum of sooner or later beneath full sail, a spotlight of the Sea Cloud Cruises expertise.
Chef Wilo Benet
Chef Wilo Benet kicks off the inaugural San Juan Visitor Chef Sequence Jan. 4–10 crusing from Philipsburg/St. Maarten to San Juan/Puerto Rico (six nights), which is able to embrace a particular Three Kings Dinner on Jan. 6 and cooking demonstrations from scratch of tostones with caviar and coquito.
The itinerary consists of Virgin Gorda/British Virgin Islands in a single day, Gustavia/St. Barthelemy, a day beneath full sails via Sir Francis Drake Channel, Norman Island/British Virgin Islands in a single day, San Juan/Puerto Rico.
Benet’s profession of over 40 years started as a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. After cooking on the governor’s mansion in San Juan, he opened Pikayo, his flagship restaurant for 28 years, incomes recognition and quite a few awards worldwide. In 2019, he launched the extremely widespread Wilo Eatery & Bar, providing informal eating from fritters to foie gras. Along with a number of appearances on Prime Chef Masters, he has served U.S. Presidents, Hollywood A-listers {and professional} athletes.
Chef Julie Carrión
Chef Julie Carrión will host the primary San Juan/Puerto Rico roundtrip (seven nights) crusing Jan. 10-17 and can lead an interactive pasteles-making class and a Tembleque dessert demo. The voyage ports embrace Virgin Gorda/British Virgin Islands, Norman Island/British Virgin Islands, St. John’s/Antigua, Gustavia/St. Barthelemy in a single day, St. John/U.S. Virgin Islands, San Juan/Puerto Rico.
A local of San Juan, Carrión spent the early years of her culinary profession in New York coaching beneath Prime Chef Grasp Anita Lo, after which labored beneath Montreal-based chef Normand Laprisse of Toque’, earlier than accepting a place on the Restaurant Daniel, the 12 months that Daniel Boulud received again his coveted fourth star from The New York Instances.
From there, she managed Yale College Catering Companies for a decade whereas serving because the Govt Chef to the college’s President and elite visitors, earlier than taking the helm of the kitchen at Chef’s Dinner Desk in New York Metropolis. Chef’s Dinner Desk is a personal eating venue and salon in New York Metropolis specializing in high-end culinary occasions.
Chef Francis Guzmán
Chef Francis Guzmán would be the visitor chef on the San Juan/Puerto Rico roundtrip (seven nights) crusing Jan. 17-24 that includes particular culinary experiences together with ceviche and fritter demonstrations by the not too long ago James Beard Basis Award-nominated Finest Chef within the Nation. Itinerary highlights embrace Virgin Gorda/British Virgin Islands, Norman Island/British Virgin Islands, Gustavia/St. Barthelemy in a single day, St. John’s/Antigua, St. John/U.S. Virgin Islands, San Juan/Puerto Rico.
Guzmán launched into his culinary journey at New York stalwarts Blue Hill and The Trendy, honing his mastery of conventional and fashionable culinary approach. With this world-class coaching in hand, he opened Vianda, his dream restaurant in Santurce, Puerto Rico, serving constantly-evolving farm-to-table components ready and offered in his personal critically-acclaimed type.
Chef Mario Pagán
Chef Mario Pagán will anchor the finale San Juan Visitor Chef Sequence crusing Jan. 24-Feb.1, promising particular surprises together with a signature dish: pegao with tuna tartare. The San Juan/Puerto Rico to Phillipsburg/St. Maarten (eight nights) calls on St. John/U.S. Virgin Islands, Norman Island/British Virgin Islands, Virgin Gorda/British Virgin Islands in a single day, day beneath full sail, St. John’s/Antigua, Charlestown/Nevis, Gustavia/St. Barthelemy, Phillipsburg/St. Maarten.
Hailed as one in every of Puerto Rico’s most recognizable and prolific cooks, Pagán is the proprietor of 4 eating places in Puerto Rico (Mario Pagan, La Central by Mario Pagan, Raya on the OLV 55 Lodge and Melao). A contestant on The Subsequent Iron Chef, he not too long ago opened Chayote in Winter Park, Fla.
Inclusive fares
Sea Cloud Cruises voyages embrace open bar, all meals with unique wine and beer picks, water sports activities, port fees, gratuities and welcome bottles of champagne upon embarkation. Puerto Rico voyage fares per particular person, primarily based on double occupancy begin at $5,995.
Images courtesy of Sea Cloud Cruises
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