Conceived by Swedish yachting enthusiast Mikael Krafft, Star Clippers got its start in 1991 with a four-masted, barkentine-rigged sailing ships followed by a second a year later. These ships appeal to those who own their own yachts; others who have stepped up from the Windjammer Barefoot ships; people who would not dream of taking a mainstream cruise; and lastly, avid cruisers who want to try everything that floats.
Fleet
The 170-passenger Star Flyer (1991) and Star Clipper (1992)were joined in 2000 by the much larger 227-passenger Royal Clipper, modeledafter the German five-master Preussen of 1902. The initial pair resembles largesleek sailing yachts and the Royal Clipper looks more like an armed commercial vesselwith its gun port paint scheme.
Itineraries
Port intensive itineraries center on the Caribbean and Mediterranean and one ship heads east of Suez to cruise in Southeast Asia and Tahiti in the northern winter months. The trip out would be for real sailing enthusiasts asare the transatlantic positioning voyages. Westbound crossings have morefavorable winds for sail power.
Dining and Decor
Don’t come for the food. It’s just okay but the dining roomsare stunning. Dress is always casual. The buffet breakfasts and lunches arebetter than most of the dinners. Maritime atmosphere reigns aboard, indoors andout on deck.
Programs
The captains usually relish story time when they can relatesailing ship tales, talk about navigation or simply lay out the program for theday. For those interested, there are informal classes in sailing techniques.Otherwise, it’s a free and easy mostly outdoor experience.
Onboard Experience
Almost everything about the Star Clippers is shippy, and thepassengers hailing from North America, Europe and Australia, range from richenough to buy the company to those who have saved for the chance to recall thesailing ship days. Usually one cannot tell the difference and no one cares. Theambiance is friendly and very social.
Competitors
While all three have auxiliary engines to maintain therelaxed schedules, the captains like to use the sails as often as conditionsallow. This sets them apart from the Windstar ships where the sails are mostlywindow dressing, while Star Clippers are more moderately priced than the SeaCloud pair and the Windstar ships.
