Mark your New Year calendar for a 2025 feast at sea. Sea Cloud Cruises has announced a delicious San Juan Guest Chef Series onboard Sea Cloud Spirit’s January 2025 Puerto Rico sailings.

Curated by award-winning food writer Kathleen Squires and husband Ronnie Rodriguez, proprietors of Chef’s Dinner Table in New York, each of the four new itineraries will be hosted by an acclaimed Puerto Rican chef handpicked to showcase the island’s culinary culture.

“Sea Cloud Cruises has focused efforts on growing in North America and developing regional culinary moments, in this case Puerto Rico, complementing our authentic sailing experience,” Mirell Reyes, president North American, Sea Cloud Cruises, said in a press release.

“We are honored to partner with the Chef’s Dinner Table’s Kathleen Squires and Ronnie Rodriguez, two passionate advocates of the island and its gifted chefs, creating memorable moments onboard,” Reyes said.

Kathleen Squires and Ronnie Rodriguez

Hosted by Chef Wilo Benet, the first San Juan Guest Chef Series sailing, will depart St. Maarten on Jan. 4, 2025, and pass 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 feature Chef Julie Carrión on Jan. 10-17, Chef Francis Guzmán on Jan. 17-24 and Chef Mario Pagán on Jan. 24-Feb.1. Guests onboard can enjoy all-inclusive regional dishes, chef-led cooking demonstrations, rum tastings and culinary discussions from these culinary artists in collaboration with the cruise team.

                                             About Sea Cloud Cruises

Since 1979, Sea Cloud Cruises has been one of the world’s most storied names in cruise travel. 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.

On each of the three sailing yachts, the sails are still traditionally hoisted by hand – an impressive and stunning job every time. 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 Cruises experience.

                                                    Chef Wilo Benet

Chef Wilo Benet kicks off the inaugural San Juan Guest Chef Series Jan. 4–10
 sailing from Philipsburg/St. Maarten to San Juan/Puerto Rico (six nights), which will include a special Three Kings Dinner on Jan. 6 and cooking demonstrations from scratch of tostones with
 caviar and coquito.

The itinerary includes Virgin Gorda/British Virgin Islands overnight, Gustavia/St. Barthelemy, a day beneath full sails through Sir Francis Drake Channel, Norman Island/British Virgin Islands overnight, San Juan/Puerto Rico.

Benet’s career of over 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

Chef Julie Carrión will host the first San Juan/Puerto Rico roundtrip (seven nights) sailing Jan. 10-17 and will lead an interactive pasteles-making class and a Tembleque dessert demo. The voyage ports include Virgin Gorda/British Virgin Islands, Norman Island/British Virgin Islands, St. John’s/Antigua, Gustavia/St. Barthelemy overnight, St. John/U.S. Virgin Islands, San Juan/Puerto Rico.

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 the 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 the 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 specializing in high-end culinary events.

                                            Chef Francis Guzmán

Chef Francis Guzmán will be the guest chef on the San Juan/Puerto Rico roundtrip (seven nights) sailing Jan. 17-24 featuring special culinary experiences including ceviche and fritter demonstrations by the recently James Beard Foundation Award-nominated Best Chef in the Nation. Itinerary highlights include Virgin Gorda/British Virgin Islands, Norman Island/British Virgin Islands, Gustavia/St. Barthelemy overnight, St. John’s/Antigua, St. John/U.S. Virgin Islands, San Juan/Puerto Rico.

Guzmán embarked on his culinary journey at New York stalwarts Blue Hill and The Modern, honing his mastery of traditional and modern culinary technique. With this world-class training in hand, he opened Vianda, his dream restaurant in Santurce, Puerto Rico, serving constantly-evolving farm-to-table ingredients prepared and presented in his own critically-acclaimed style.

                                            Chef Mario Pagán 

Chef Mario Pagán will anchor the finale San Juan Guest Chef Series sailing Jan. 24-Feb.1, promising special surprises including 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 overnight, day under full sail, St. John’s/Antigua, Charlestown/Nevis, Gustavia/St. Barthelemy, Phillipsburg/St.Maarten.

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, he recently opened Chayote in Winter Park, Fla.

                                                      Inclusive fares

Sea Cloud Cruises voyages include open bar, all meals with exclusive wine and beer selections, water sports, port charges, gratuities and welcome bottles of champagne upon embarkation. Puerto Rico voyage fares per person, based on double occupancy start at $5,995.

Photos courtesy of Sea Cloud Cruises

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