Star Clippers is the real deal for sailing purists — these are working tall ships, not cruise ships with decorative sails. If your clients own a sailboat or fantasise about the age of sail, they'll be in heaven climbing masts and lying in the bowsprit net. Just set expectations on cabin size and the fact there are no elevators or stabilisers.
Star Clippers is one of the last true sailing experiences at sea. The fleet of three tall ships — the four-masted barquentines Star Clipper and Star Flyer carrying 170 guests each, and the magnificent five-masted Royal Clipper accommodating 277 — travel under wind power up to 80 percent of the time. These are not cruise ships with ornamental sails; the crew are trained square-rigger sailors who raise and trim 36,000 to 56,000 square feet of canvas by hand, and guests are genuinely invited to haul lines, climb the mast, and learn celestial navigation alongside them.
Life on board is refreshingly informal and centred on the sea itself. The bowsprit net at the prow is the ship’s favourite gathering spot, where passengers stretch out over the waves to watch dolphins below. Royal Clipper’s stern opens into a watersports marina offering kayaking, waterskiing, paddleboarding and snorkelling directly from the ship. Dining is a single open-seating affair with surprisingly excellent cuisine, regionally inspired menus and very reasonably priced wines — there is no pretension, no formal night, and no assigned tables.
The itineraries lean into smaller harbours across the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Southeast Asia that larger vessels simply cannot reach. Star Clippers draws a cosmopolitan mix of European, American and Australian passengers, typically aged 40 to 65, many of whom are sailors themselves — and more than half return within a year. Recognised repeatedly as the World’s Best Boutique Cruise Line and the World’s Best Green Cruise Line, the company has earned a fiercely loyal following among travellers who believe the journey should be every bit as thrilling as the destination.
Prospective guests should understand the trade-offs: cabins are compact and nautically themed rather than spacious, there are no lifts, the ships can heel under sail, and entertainment is whatever the ocean and the crew provide that evening. For those who embrace that spirit, there is simply nothing else like it afloat.
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