STAR CLIPPERS

Bali, Mediterranean, Greece, Baltic, Scandinavia, Africa, Caribbean, transatlantic, Central America, South America

STAR CLIPPER, STAR FLYER

Passenger Capacity: 170
Built: 1991-1992
Length: 360 ft. (including 46-ft. bowsprit)
Beam: 50 ft.
Draft: 18 ft.
Officers: European, American
Staff and Crew: 72; from 20 different countries

  • Itinerary: One-week, or combine itineraries for two weeks; repositioning cruises. A Caribbean cruise goes from Antigua or St. Maarten. Cruises go from Costa Rica to various ports in Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua. A cruise from Cannes goes to Bonifacio, Portofino, St. Tropez, Monte Carlo and other ports. Cruises from Rhodes go to Greek islands and to Turkey. All have alternating ports each week. There are trans atlantic repositioning cruises.
  • Cabins: 85. Oceanview cabins range from 95 to 110 sq. ft.; inside cabins are 95 sq.ft.; an owner's cabin is 211 sq. ft. Most have twin beds convertible to queen. Others have fixed twins or double bed, some have a third berth, and lowest category has upper and lower berths. Aft cabins on lower decks have engine noise. All outside cabins have satellite phone, DVD player, and private bath with shower. Some cabins have whirlpool tub. Owner's cabin has a queen-size bed, sofas, Jacuzzi tub, and a hatch to the pool deck above. Smoking is not permitted in cabins.

  • Dining: There is an open-seating dining room for passengers and officers. Breakfasts and lunches are buffet.
  • Dress: Casual during the day. Informal "casual elegance" at night, with no cocktail dresses or high-heeled shoes to be seen. At captain's dinner men wear jackets and women wear mostly long cotton skirts or dressy outfits.
  • Facilities and Activities: These are identical sister ships, modern barkentine schooners that are modern versions of classic clipper ships of earlier times. There are four masts and 16 sails including five square sails. Most of the time the ship is totally under sail. Speed under sail usually is between 8 and 12 knots. There are anti-roll tanks and bilge keels for stabilization. There are two pools (saltwater) and a piano bar directly beneath one of them, so you get a pool view while sipping and listening. There is limited entertainment onboard, including evening music in the piano bar before dinner and varying activities after dinner outside at the tropical bar. The library, with original marine paintings, has daily news faxes. You can visit the bridge at any time. A lecture by the captain on sailing a square-rigger is part of every cruise. Passengers can take the wheel, join the helmsman on watch, and help hoist the sails; or lie in the netting on the bowsprit and do nothing. There is a fleet of zodiacs, sunfish, windsurfers, banana boats, and boats for water-skiing and underwater viewing. Snorkeling and scuba gear are available. There is a charge for each dive and air-tank refill. On one day you can climb the rope ladder to the crow's nest. The internal stairs, as in most sailing vessels, are steep so passengers should be reasonably fit. The ship usually anchors out and tenders take passengers to shore. Zodiacs go to remote coves for snorkeling, diving, windsurfing or swimming. Departures are often in the early morning, giving passenger's time to sample life ashore on some evenings.
  • Fares: Many Europe and Caribbean cruises are available with free air, including 7-night Costa Rica cruises starting at $2,075 and 7-night Spain and Morocco cruises starting at $2,993. Cruise-only rates start at $1,504 for a 7-night Mediterranean cruise, up to 55% off brochure rates. Booking early often results in discounts and sometimes a category upgrade. Discount for past passengers. Air inclusive packages are available from many US cities. Also offered are pre and post hotel packages and transfers.

ROYAL CLIPPER

Passengers: 227
Launch: 2000
Length: 439 ft
Beam: 54 ft.
Draft: 18.5 ft.
Crew: 100

  • Itinerary: 7 and 14-day cruises in the Caribbean from Barbados to the Grenadines and Windward Islands, and British Virgin Islands. In the summer there are 7-night cruises in the Mediterranean from Rome and 10- and 11-night cruises up the Dalmatian Coast to Venice and return. The 7-night cruises round trip from Venice visit ports in Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia. The ship also sails seven-, 10- and 11-night cruises to Italy, Portugal, Morocco, Spain, France and Greece. Shorter three- and four-night itineraries roundtrip from Venice or Civitavecchia (Rome).
  • Cabins: 114. There are 92 outside cabins (148-226 sq. ft.), 14 suites with verandas (215 sq. ft.), 2 owner suites (355 sq. ft.) and 6 inside cabins (108 sq. ft.). Queen-size beds convert to singles, and 22 cabins are available as triples. Each cabin has DVD player and satellite telephone and private bath with shower. Suites have private veranda, whirlpool tub, and butler and meal service. Two owner's suites are accessed by a private stairway and may be combined to accommodate up to eight guests. Electric output is 220 volts so a converter is needed.

  • Dining: Single seating. Officers and passengers eat together.
  • Facilities and Activities: This is a sailing ship, designed after the Preussen, the fastest clipper ship in the world that carried cargo between Chile and Germany in the early 1900s. The ship has five masts, 42 sails, most of them square-rigged. There are three pools, observation lounge, piano lounge and tropical outdoor bar with dance floor, spa, exercise room, and library. The Captain Nemo Spa and Gym is at the bottom of the ship with thick glass portholes overlooking underwater life. There are two tenders, 150 persons, and two landing craft, 60 persons, and a drop bow for easy shore access. When the ship is at anchor, a dock hinges out from the stern and a swimming float is tethered 50 feet behind. Scuba, water-skiing and banana boats are available. Anti-heeling tanks are filled with 160 tons of water directed from one side to the other as conditions require. Passengers are allowed, in safety harness, to climb up to a yardarm and handle sails. Lectures are given by oceanographers and experts on old sailing ships. Passengers may learn sail handling, knot tying, and use of a sextant.
  • Fares: Many Europe and Caribbean cruises are available with free air, including 7-night Barbados cruises starting at $2,165. Cruise-only rates are offered with up to 55% off brochure rates. Booking early often results in discounts and sometimes a category upgrade. Special group rates are available when booking 5 cabins or more. Discount for past passengers. Air inclusive packages are available from many US cities. Also offered are pre and post hotel packages and transfers.


Contact: pamela@smallcruiseships.net or (303) 504-0400 - USA & Canada (888) 321-0103. International Calls Welcome.