I sailed the Mediterranean on a historic yacht that once belonged to an heiress

“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.”

If only Marjorie Merriweather Post were here to see this, I think, as our crew clambers into square shrouds more than a hundred feet above the deck to unfurl twenty enormous sails: loosening the ropes and deploying sail after sail to open and to fill with the wind. It is a face she loved: Post grain heiress, businesswoman, socialite, philanthropist and collector of French and Russian imperial decorative arts built Sea cloud in 1931, at the time the largest private yacht in the world.

Not content with a dreamlike cruise across the waters off American coasts, Marjorie and Sea cloud (and a few husbands along the way) sailed the waters from the islands of the Caribbean to the waterways of St. Petersburg. And from her gilded staterooms and formal, paneled dining room – she oversaw the design of every inch of the yacht’s interior – to her own irrepressible sense of style and love of entertaining, Marjorie was the queen of the yacht. Sea cloudher many notable guests, and the seas she sailed.

And now it’s my hunt.

It feels like it’s my yacht. After surviving service in World War II and the post-post ownership of a notorious Caribbean dictator, Sea cloud has since come into thoughtful, conservation-oriented German ownership and has been sailing the waters of the world under sail and motor since 1981 with 28 staterooms (10 of which are historic, including Marjorie’s fantastic digs and some of her original belongings on board).

Since the four-masted barque was brought back to life, Sea cloud cruises has built two more windjammers: the three-masted Sea cloud II launched in 2001 and Sea cloud spirit launched in 2023 – sailing around the world with their older sister, where their sleek white hulls and romantic silhouettes draw lingering stares (and probably jealousy).

My time as temporary Queen of the Seas on Marjorie’s yacht is one full of romance: 10 days exploring the Greek Islands, Baroque Italian towns and the medieval walled cities of Croatia between Athens and Venice, culminating in a stately journey to the Grand Canal to our last port (Sea cloud is the only commercial cruise ship with access to the inner sanctum of the historic city).

Our itinerary is littered with thoughtful land excursions with just the right mix of historical tours, culinary tastings and exciting shopping (not to mention some beach stops for lazing in the deep blue of the Aegean and Adriatic Seas). But it may be life on the ship that is a constant reminder that I am sailing on this very personal ship.

I eat my meals in Marjorie’s original dining room, in the wind-blessed shade of the garden Sea clouds Lido Deck, I settle into teak loungers to watch the scenery glide by as she did, I toast the sunset over Dubrovnik and climb into bed in one of the original staterooms, acutely aware of who came before me on this yacht. And most days when conditions permit, I am excited as the crew mounts that rig and feel the blissful silence of life under sail as we follow diagonals across the wind and sea.

Every trip on board Sea cloud would feel this special, this unique. But this time Thomas Wu is with us on the Med, a curator out Hillwood Estate, museum and gardens, Post’s final, gracious home in Washington, DC. He’s with us to preview a brand new exhibition, Setting Sail: The Story of Sea Cloudopened in Hillwood on February 15, 2025 and runs through June 15. The exhibition will take advantage of Hillwood’s extensive archives to portray the yacht’s creation and her storied life for the first time, showcasing everything from the ship’s original drawings. after examples of Marjorie’s fine china which she entertained on board.

Wu is the curator of the exhibition and he gives a few preview lectures while under sail – a great addition to the regular lectures that our naval historian, archaeologist Frank Hildebrandt, gives about the ancient world we travel through. Wu, himself a specialist in European decorative arts and sculpture, is a fantastic asset, and we spend additional hours together decoding paintings on board, looking at decorative details and discussing the life and loves of Marjorie Post (including four spouses in total). and two Fabergé eggs).

Mine is the first of two special cruises that tie in with the upcoming exhibition. In February, Dr. Wilfried Zeisler, Hillwood’s deputy director, chief curator and specialist in Russian and French decorative arts, joins a 10-day Caribbean trip from St. Maarten to Curaçao Sea cloud spirit to share his insights as the ship makes its way between the islands of the Lesser Antilles.

Hillwood’s Executive Director Kate Markert explains the wonderful collaboration both at sea and in exhibitions: “The original Sea cloud embodies everything that was so remarkable about Marjorie Merriweather Post,” she wrote. “Like her famous art collection, Sea cloud was an impeccably crafted work of art. We look forward to sharing the story of Sea cloud in the special exhibition and are pleased that Sea Cloud Cruises is joining us in celebrating this remarkable ship and its many lives.”

I imagine there is no better tribute to a groundbreaking, remarkable woman. That, and those forever glorious, billowing sails.

You might also like it