Speaking of curious ships, and luxury cruises they have told me the story of the Sea Cloud, a luxury ship that participated in World War II and was sold to the United States Navy for the symbolic price of one dollar, but before this happened he had already had a very curious life journey.
Marjorie Merriweather Post, a name that may not sound like anything to you, commissioned in 1931 "the most luxurious ship in the world" with Carrara marble, Indian silks, Sevres porcelain, gold-plated faucets, Fabergé eggs ... to give you an idea of who this lady was, I'll give you a hint, General Foods. But what interests me is to tell you the story of the ship.
The Sea Cloud sailboat is 109,5 meters long, has 30 sails, four masts, a 54 meter mainmast and its crew is made up of 72 people. From the beginning, it was launched in 1931, it had a telegraph and a telephone line, as well as a small hospital and a freezing chamber.
For personal reasons (read divorce and new husband) the ship ends up docked in Leningrad, where it is used as the informal headquarters of the United States embassy, and in it high-level parties are given for European royalty and other characters.
As I was saying Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Sea Cloud is sold for one dollar to the US Coast Guard and is renamed IX-99. Its appearance changed a lot, it was painted gray, it lost its masts, its porcelains and its luxuries.
After World War II, its owner, Marjorie Merriweather, brings back its glamorous past, but a little less. In 1955 he sold it to the dictator of the Dominican Republic Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, who baptized it Angelita, in honor of one of his daughters.
From here on there are some curious and dark events around this ship.
At this time the ship belongs to Herman Eble, president of the shipping company Hansa Treunhand Group, who bought it in 1993. Completely remodeled, it is one of the private boats, with the most charm and authentic glamor ... or so they say, because they haven't invited me on board.