BETWEEN CÔTE D’AZUR AND TUSCANY

It all began 25 years ago in the kitchen of a roadside inn in Saxony-Anhalt: Erik Arnecke started his apprenticeship as a chef, successfully completing it in 2002. Since then, his career path has seen a meteoric rise—from the roadside kitchen to the Michelin-starred gastronomy of The Ritz-Carlton Wolfsburg. With his passion and talent for fine cuisine, he impressed 3-star chef Sven Elverfeld, who remains both a mentor and a friend to this day. Over the following decade, Erik Arnecke gained experience as Chef de Partie, Gardemanger, and Head Chef in 2- and 1-star establishments, including the Hotel and Restaurant Résidence in Essen and the Hotel and Restaurant Fährhaus on Sylt. In 2015, he took over as Head Chef at the 1-star restaurant Philipp Soldan at the Hotel Die Sonne Frankenberg. In 2025, Michelin-starred chef Erik Arnecke will celebrate his 10th anniversary as Head Chef of Philipp Soldan – a personal milestone in his culinary career and the occasion for a series of exclusive high-profile events.

At the end of September, Erik Arnecke will set sail aboard the SEA CLOUD SPIRIT. During the 7-day journey from the Côte d’Azur to Tuscany, he will host a grand Signature Dinner and two show-cooking events.

(Depending upon the circumstances, it is possible that another expert will join this cruise instead.)

Charming, laid-back, and grounded are three characteristics that define Nils Lackner. The Sylt-born sommelier takes you on a journey through the modern world of wine, shedding light on it in an entertainingly hedonistic manner. Lackner’s enthusiasm for the subject is not only genuine, but also contagious: equipped with a champagne sabre and decanter, the sommelier likes to go off the beaten path, cheekily questioning the status quo of many wine myths and customs.

Nils Lackner will take the guests on a culinary journey through the diverse products of Italy: alongside wine, there will also be olive oil tastings, the world of "Spritz" will be explored, and he will accompany a few wine excursions.

Depending upon the circumstances, it is possible that another expert will join this cruise instead.

Tradition meets innovation: The combination of sleek modern carbon yachts cutting through the waves and elegant traditional sailing yachts creating spray lets any sailing enthusiast’s heart beat faster. More than 300 ships come together for the annual “Les Voiles de Saint Tropez”, the annual Classic Yacht Regatta with the unique backdrop of the bay of St Tropez.

Sören Gehlhaus, born in Berlin in 1981, sailed dinghies on the Unterhavel and Wannsee, and spent his vacations on Lake Ratzeburg.

He went to regattas and cruises on the Baltic Sea with “big ships”. While studying industrial engineering in Lübeck, he discovered kitesurfing in 2001 - a passion that influenced him semi-professionally and eventually led him to journalism.

After a traineeship at b&d Verlag in Hamburg, he worked for many years in the editorial department of Germany's biggest kitesurfing magazine.

In 2018, he moved to Europe's biggest sailing magazine YACHT and BOOTE EXCLUSIV, a German-language special-interest magazine specializing in superyachts, where he is now Deputy Chief Editor for both magazines.

Depending upon the circumstances, it is possible that other artists will join this cruise instead.

Boris Rommel is the Executive Chef at the 5-star superior Wald & Schlosshotel Friedrichsruhe and has held two Michelin stars since 2017. After completing his culinary training at Hotel Erbprinz in Ettlingen, he gained experience at renowned establishments such as Hotel Bareiss and Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. His cuisine masterfully combines classic French haute cuisine with regional products in a contemporary style. For his outstanding achievements, he has received numerous awards, including "Chef of the Year 2022" from the Großer Restaurant & Hotel Guide. A hallmark of his culinary artistry is the tableside presentation of his dishes, creating an unforgettable dining experience for his guests.

Depending upon the circumstances, it is possible that another expert will join this cruise instead.