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• Captain Nemo Spa *
• Deck Parties
• Enrichment Lectures
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• Tropical Bar - Outdoor Bar *
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Essential Star Clippers Review: Sailing Ship Cruise

Our Star Clippers review proves that there truly is a cruise for everyone. A small ship with Star Clippers can accommodate up to 170 guests, and its sails allow you to feel nature’s gentle push on the open water. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience on one of the cruise line’s three classic sailing ships, Star Clipper. There were surprises we weren’t expecting (like how spacious our room was), and those we were hopeful for that were proven accurate (like how friendly the crew and other passengers were). 

This post will walk you through Star Clipper, sharing everything you may be wondering about this sailing experience so you can book your next trip with them, from the cabins to entertainment, expected cost, some itineraries, and more things to expect. 

Disclosure: We thank Star Clippers for generously hosting us. We also may make a small commission from affiliate links in this post (at no cost to you), but all opinions are ours, and we bring you genuine content with real facts, photos, thoughts, and recommendations. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Star Clippers Review Overview

Our overall experience on the Star Clipper ship was phenomenal, and we had a great time. It's one of the only true sailing ships where the sails are manually raised and lowered, there's a casual vibe with an international crowd, we had plenty of time onboard, and the shore excursions were enjoyable.

Star Clipper is one of three ships in the Star Clippers fleet. (The other two ships are Star Flyer, which is a sister ship of Star Clipper in its architectural design, and the elegant Royal Clipper.) 

This tall ship is beautiful. It’s modeled after a classic Clipper ship (not one in particular, simply a Clipper ship in general, during the classic days of sailing). Though it can take a minute or two to get used to the vibe of this classic vessel, if you’re accustomed to sailing on modern cruise ships, you soon realize the beauty of her details.  

The sailing cruise ship experience gently reminded us of our American Eagle Schooner experience with Maine Windjammer Association. But most of the similarities stop at their sails and beautiful craftsmanship since their size, crew, and where they sail differ greatly.

Our cabin was spacious, the crew members were incredibly friendly, and the food was good. The onboard activities were just enough to give us options that kept us entertained but did not overwhelm us so that we had so much to choose from we couldn’t pick. 

We enjoyed an afternoon nap once or twice during our 7-night cruise, which, we admit, is a favorite cruise activity we indulge in when we get the chance. 

Star Clippers Cruise Cost

Depending on the itinerary and time of year , expect the cruise to start at $1,560 per person. 

Prices vary based on a few factors, including the time of year, length of the cruise, and what category cabin you book.

The Owner's Cabin, for example (there is one on each ship, and it's the highest category level), can be up to $10,000 for the cruise. There is a budget for every cruiser on Star Clippers, whether you have $2,000 to spend per person, $3,000, or $5,000, for example.

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Does Star Clipper Include Alcohol and Excursions? 

They do not include these things. Alcohol, however, is very affordable onboard. (Read on for detailed beverage information.) 

If you want to book excursions, be sure to factor in around $75 to $150 per person per excursion, depending on your cruise itinerary. 

You do not have to buy the excursions if you want to stay on the ship or explore the port on your own. 

Star Clipper Itineraries 

Our itinerary was one of two offered in Costa Rica. It sailed along the Pacific Coast of this spectacular Central American country. 

However, they have plenty of itineraries. For example, they have options in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, the Caribbean (where they can sail 70% of the time – a high percentage – because of the helpful Tradewinds in that area), and the Panama Canal. 

You can also sign up for an ocean crossings cruise 

Star Clippers Review of the Ship's Interior Design

The ship’s motifs are nautical. If we had to mention the ship’s color palette, we’d say it’s navy blue, crimson, and yellowish gold. The colors reveal themselves in things like the carpet, the dining room upholstery, and the carpet and bedspreads in the cabins. 

Star Clippers Cabins

We were in cabin 130, which is a Category 4 Outside Stateroom. We were pleasantly surprised with how spacious it was. Details follow about our room…. 

Cabin Access

You use a good ‘ole physical key to access your room. When you embark on your cruise, the Purser checks you in. 

He or she gives you keys when you embark in exchange for your passport. The Purser also records a credit card to have on file for your expenses and takes a digital photo of you for the ship’s digital ID system.

This is an easy way for a crew member to match your digital ID card with a face when you enter/exit the ship during port days, like any cruise ship does. 

The bed was very comfortable — not too hard, not too soft. We were provided two pillows each (a total of four pillows), which was exactly what we normally sleep with. If you’re particular about pillows and you’re curious what kind they were, they seemed to have a cotton filling of some sort.

Two comforters were laid on the bed for us so we could each have our own. 

Cabin Porthole

Most cabins have one porthole unless you are in one of the 11 inside cabins. The window let natural daylight in when the sun was up. 

At night, the cabin steward closed curtains over it as part of turn-down service, so when the sun rose the next morning, we could still sleep in darkness until we opened the curtains.

Cabin Storage

There was plenty of storage for our clothes, shoes, and the like, with closet shelves and hanging room for clothes. We appreciated that the closet door had full-length mirrors on the outside. There was also a pull-out drawer under the seat that was next to our bed and under-bed storage for luggage. 

A large mirror in our room was above a vanity shelf of sorts. Under that shelf were two outlets and a sitting stool. 

Our cabin, in particular, had another shelf under the television simply because of the architectural location of our cabin on the ship. 

Safety Deposit Box

Each cabin has a safety deposit box in the closet, controlled by a digital code you choose the first time you use it. We put jewelry and cash in ours. There was no need to store our passports because the Purser’s office has them for your entire cruise. 

We were glad we packed carabiners (as we always do) to clip our toiletry bags up on the bathroom hooks so they could be near us without taking up the small sink space around our corner sink. 

Some cabins have more sink space, and some have less.

Two shelves above the toilet fit our toiletry bags, but they weren’t where we wanted to have them handy. Thus, we used our carabiners to have them as close to the sink as possible. We easily clipped them to the hand towel hooks. 

The shower in our cabin was simply an adjustable shower head on a stationary rod above a floor drain, with a curtain to enclose the corner. 

The whole bathroom floor ever-so-slightly sloped towards the shower drain. 

Cabin Air Conditioning 

Each cabin has its own air conditioning unit that you can adjust by dial. It’s literally a dial to let more or less air into the room from the vent that is on the ceiling.

When we first went to our cabin, it was very stuffy, even though we opened the dial all the way to maximize the airflow. However, once Star Clipper got moving, the air started to circulate more, much like an airplane’s ventilation system being better once the plane’s engines start.

Television and DVD Player

Star Clipper cabins are equipped with both. The television only had two channels that we were able to tune into. One continuously played an old video of Star Clippers Royal Clipper ship.

We recommend renting a DVD from the Sloop Shop if you want to watch something in your cabin or checking out our Star Clipper Packing List, which recommends downloading shows and/or movies to your iPad before you leave home. 

Electrical Outlets

Hidden underneath the vanity shelf was one outlet with two plugs. They fit both European and US two-prong plugs. 

We recommend bringing an outlet extender to create more plugs if you know you’ll have lots of electronics to charge. It’s one of the useful things we included in our handy Star Clippers packing list.

Onboard Laundry Service

Should you wish to have the Star Clipper crew do your laundry while on board, there is a laundry bag and price list in your closet. It takes 24 hours for the laundry to come back to you.

Prices vary from around €0,50 to launder underwear to €5 for a nice shirt or €3 for a t-shirt. 

Noise and Cabins Above the Engine Room

It’s important to note that Cabin 130, and those nearby, are above the Star Clipper engine room. (It’s the same on Star Flyer, her sister ship.) Overall, this wasn’t an issue during the cruise. 

There was one evening, however, that we began sailing at midnight. That night, the ship engine could be heard very loudly from our room, and the heat from the engine room could definitely be felt! 

If you sail during the day, this likely won’t be an issue unless you’re trying to nap. Also, if the ship can run on sail power instead of engine power, the captain and engineers opt for that. In that case, the engine wouldn’t be running anyway. 

The cabins on Deck 2 (the 200 numbers) and the decks above are not on top of the engine room. Additionally important to note is that not all the 100 number cabins on Deck 1 are above the engine room; only some of them.

Owner’s Suite on Star Clipper

We had the pleasure of seeing inside the Owner’s Suite cabin on Star Clipper. It’s a beautiful cabin with a deep bathroom tub and wrap-around built-in couches. 

An important note is that Dan wouldn’t have been able to stay there for an extended period of time.

He’s very tall (6’2”), and his head touched the ceiling of the Owner’s Suite. But, judging from his height, if you’re 5’10” or shorter, then it’s truly a lovely cabin that any guest would be lucky to stay in. 

Star Clippers Review of the Food

The food on Star Clipper was very good. There were a few food standouts, with some appetizers and entrees being better than others, as can be expected. All the buffet signage is written in English and German. 

There is only one main dining area on Star Clipper, which has open seating. There’s table seating with chairs and booth seating. The buffet area is in the center of the space. 

Two breakfasts were available daily: An early riser’s option and the full breakfast buffet.

We loved the omelet station that was part of the full buffet. We had one daily, along with fresh fruit, bread, cheese, and potatoes. Protein was also readily available, including things like smoked fish, bacon, or sausage. 

The buffet was usually from 7:30 am to 9:30 am, give or take 30 minutes, depending on the day’s schedule. 

The Early Riser’s Breakfast was in the Piano Bar area. It offers small pastries, including croissants and danishes, and some fruit. Coffee and tea were always nearby and available all the time. (Drinks like cappuccinos and lattes cost extra.) 

A buffet lunch was available for two hours a day. Times vary slightly depending on the port schedule, but generally, lunch was between noon and 2:30 pm.

The buffet had something for everyone, with plenty of delicious options from fish to meat, vegetables to pasta, and a salad bar. 

Dinner was always served at your table as plated appetizers, soups, and entrees, ending with dessert.

One of the interesting things about Star Clippers is that they set out display food in the Piano Bar area approximately an hour before dinner so that you can see the appetizer and entree options for the evening. This very much helped us decide what we wanted to eat for dinner.

Some entree hits were Chateaubriand Steak, Pork Cordon Bleu, and Salmon with Sundried Tomatoes. 

Appetizer-wise, we really liked their Mushroom Soup (we must say, Star Clippers had surprisingly flavorful soups), zucchini-wrapped feta cheese, and Smoked Salmon with Capers. 

Their ice cream sundae bowls were always yummy. They have a cheese option each night as well that we enjoyed. (We love a cheese dessert, especially after barge cruising and river cruising in Europe so much, with plenty of delicious cheese to spare!) 

Snacks were available every day at 5:00 pm, accompanied by acoustic guitar music. This included fresh fruit, tiny finger sandwiches, and a small hot item, like egg rolls or chicken skewers. One day they treated us to a snack taco bar – it was a hit!

A snack was available again at midnight if you were still awake and wanted a nosh.

Star Clippers Review of Drinks

Drinks are done a bit differently on the ship than you may be used to if you’re a big ship or river cruiser because they don’t offer drink packages. Instead, they are priced reasonably per drink. 

Some you pay for, and others are complementary, like filtered water from a water station by the Tropical Bar. It is great for filling reusable bottles. Coffee and tea are complimentary and self-serve outside of dining hours. 

There are two bars on board: Piano Bar and Tropical Bar. The Tropical Deck welcomes guests starting from 8:00 am. 

Coffee and Tea 

There is a station for coffee and tea that is always available.

Teas including Earl Grey, Lipton’s, English Breakfast, Mint, Peach, and more are set out. They did not have any decaf tea on our sailing, so if you enjoy a cup, be sure to bring some of your own tea bags. 

Drinks like lattes, espressos, and cappuccinos can be purchased on the ship from the bartenders and are not complementary. 

All the varieties of alcohol you would expect are available on board, including vodka, gin, tequila, Aperol, and rum. Drinks are an average of €5 to €6 each, depending on what you get. I ordered a vodka dirty martini with several dinners; each was only €6. 

There is always a “Drink of the Day” for €5. It’s usually some sort of fruity cocktail, like a Rum Punch, Pina Colada, or Melon Ball. 

If you buy alcohol in the ports or bring it on board during embarkation, you cannot consume it on the ship. (They do not search your bags when you first board, nor do they search your bags when you board after time in the ports.)

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Star Clipper offers a selection of non-alcoholic beverages, including sodas (coke, ginger ale, sprite, and orange soda, for example), sparkling water, and non-alcoholic beer, priced per drink. 

Star Clipper Public Areas

Aside from the dining room and two bars mentioned above, there is also the following on board: 

• Sloop Shop (Star Clipper Store) 
• Two Pools 

Bowsprit Net

Smoking area.

The library is lovely (and very air-conditioned). Its dark-red upholstery, carpet, and dark wood give it a nice warmth, finished with a framed painting of a sailing ship. 

Library books are free for guests to enjoy. There are books in several languages, including Dutch, English, French, and German. 

The library also has games, like Scrabble, for guests to play. Lastly, it’s where the excursion sign-up sheets and booklets are during the cruise. 

Sloop Shop 

Star Clipper had some of the best items to purchase we’ve seen on any cruise ship, large or small. It’s stuffed to the brim with linen shirts, t-shirts, cufflinks, watches, silk scarves, bags, etc.

It’s all very tastefully designed, with small “Star Clippers” logos and insignia incorporated into the design. There was a sale on some of the older “season’s” apparel on the last full day of the cruise, which was the day before disembarkation. 

They also sold toiletry items, like sunscreen, over-the-counter medication, and tampons. 

Two pools filled with salt water are open during most hours. It’s unavailable overnight, and, weather permitting; it is not available when the sea is rough .

At the front of the ship is the bowsprit net, which is often open for guests to lay out at the front of the ship. It’s not a place to bring your phone or items that could fall through the net into the ocean! 

There is a small area for smokers on one side of the outdoor Tropical Bar, where ashtrays are provided. 

On Board Afternoon and Evening Entertainment 

One of our favorite surprises on Star Clipper was live music and entertainment. 

Music During Late Afternoon Snacks

The daily schedule included music in the Tropical Bar area from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm and afternoon snacks. We’d be remiss not to mention Kirby for our Star Clippers review, who was the fantastic musician onboard.

Despite his youth, he delights with a decades-long songbook, including Frank Sinatra chart-toppers. 

Late Night Entertainment

Dinner started at 7:30 pm every night and lasted a good two hours. After dessert, you could either mingle with guests, go to bed, or stay up for the 10:00 pm nightly entertainment. 

We had a variety of entertainment throughout our 7-night cruise, including a dance party, trivia night, and a light show on the sails. The show has solid colored lights projected on the cloth. While it’s not Disney-quality entertainment , it’s still a fun experience, especially if the weather is nice.

One of the last evenings was a talent show. Guests and crew alike could sign up to show off their talents.

The hit of the show wasn't just the singers and musicians among us who revealed their talents during the two-hour show but particularly the activities crew, who were all teenagers enjoying a summer job as crew on the ship. They were inventive and fun-loving with their act creating costumes and singing traditional Scandinavian songs from their home country of Denmark for the show. It was very entertaining!

On multiple evenings, guided stargazing was held on the top deck at 11:00 pm with the Third Officer. They shut the deck lights off so you can see the night sky more clearly. 

Daytime Activities

Aside from simply enjoying your cabin and the ship’s pools and library during the day, additional programming is onboard. 

This includes things like a morning workout or a knot-tying class led by someone from the Sports Team. We enjoyed a Q&A session with the captain and appreciated the opportunity to climb to the Crow’s Nest platform about ⅓ of the way up one of the masts. 

The Crow’s Nest climb was so popular they held it twice during our cruise. Unfortunately, we were the last two people on the signup sheet and didn’t get to climb before sunset on the second day. We look forward to doing it on our next Star Clippers cruise! 

On Board Wellness

There is a massage therapist on the ship. Massages are extremely affordable at €60 for a 60-minute massage. The massage room is a lovely tented area on the top deck that is very tranquil inside. It's decorated with electric candles, shells, and a comfortable massage table.

Is there a gym on Star Clippers?

While there is no gym or workout room on the ship, a fitness class was offered every morning around 8:00 am, with instruction by one of the Sports Team members.

Star Clipper Tendering and Excursions

Excursions vary depending on what itinerary you are signed up for. Regardless of the ports you visit and your excursion options, several things are universal: 

• If you’re not directly docked on a cruise ship pier where you can step from the boat to the land, you’ll either have a dry landing or wet landing to get to the port from the boat.
• Excursions are priced per person per excursion.  

Tendering to Shore

A boat like Star Clipper often “docks” by dropping anchor in the open water and mooring at sea, as it’s called. This is opposed to docking directly on a cruise pier and means guests must be transferred to the shore. This is done via tender boat or “Zodiac” boat. 

One of two shore landings can happen in this case: 

• A wet landing is where you step off the boat, into shallow water, and then to shore. 
• Dry landing, where you step from the tender boat or Zodiac onto a dry dock of some sort. 

In the case of situation #2, you often need to walk up or down stairs to get on/off the boat to the dock in small port towns. 

You always need to walk down steps to get from Star Clippers boats to the tender boat, which takes you from the second deck down to the water level. 

Wet-Landings 

We had several wet landings during our cruise in Costa Rica on Star Clipper. They tell you you’ll have a wet landing ahead of time so that you can prepare with the proper footwear and clothes. 

We either took off our shoes to go into the water barefoot or went in with our water shoes on. 

We preferred wearing our water shoes because it can be risky to step into murky water barefoot if you cannot see what’s beneath the surface, like a rocky or shell-filled shore. Because of this, we recommend water shoes on our Star Clippers packing list . 

Note:  Don't cheap out on a pair of water shoes if you want to use them in the future after your first trip. Pairs that are $10-$20 rip easily. Plan to spend around $30 on a pair of water shoes , which will last a long time!

Our clothes got a little wet in some cases. One such instance was when we were on our way back to the ship in a tender boat when a wave from the wake of another boat splashed over us.

Another time was when we had to step into the water to get to shore. The water was thigh-high for shorter people (like Mikkel) but shallower for tall people (like Dan). 

Luckily, if you’re in a hot climate (and Star Clippers usually is), your clothes will dry quickly. 

Dry Landings

This type of landing is easier, of course. In this case, the tender ship can pull up right next to a dock, and you can step from the dry tender onto dry land or a dry structure. 

During our Costa Rica cruise, we had a dry landing four times. Twice for embarkation and disembarkation in Puntarenas, another time in Golfito, and once more in Quepos. 

We did a mix of things in ports during our week-long cruise. We signed up for excursions in some ports while we simply walked around on our own in others. 

The excursions very much differ from port to port and itinerary to itinerary. For this reason, we won’t get into the details of our excursions other than to say they were well orchestrated. 

Generally, the cost of the excursions was between $75 to $150 per person, depending on the experience. This included transportation, entrance to the experience if applicable (like a fee to get into a national park), a guide, and a meal if the excursion spanned lunch or dinner time. 

You sign up for excursions in a very simple old-fashioned way: while you’re on the ship by putting your name down on a sign-up sheet in the library. The excursion sign-up sheets are in a binder with 8.5×11” paper, with each excursion printed on its own sheet. They may cancel it if too few people sign up for it.

Star Clippers will inform you via email if any excursions need to be booked before your cruise. In our case in Costa Rica, the Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour had to be signed up for in advance. 

There was a short daily port talk to discuss the port we’d be visiting the next day and answer any guests' questions. 

Star Clippers AccessIbility

If you need the assistance of a walker, a cane, or a wheelchair to move around, we do not recommend Star Clippers.

There are simply too many stairs with no option to use an elevator and too many places you can potentially trip if you're mobility-impaired.

Additionally, it would be difficult to exit and re-enter the ship in ports where you need to go down stairs to get on a tender to reach the shore in 99% of the cases during the cruise.

Star Clippers Review, in Conclusion

A Star Clippers cruise is a wonderful experience for people who want a relaxing, small-ship cruise that truly sails and operates the old-fashioned way with a crew that hoists sails. 

Star Clipper goes to beautiful destinations. With the crew and fellow passengers you’ll meet, the enjoyable activities and food on the ship, and the wonderful itineraries, your vacation is sure to be memorable.

Read this next:

• Star Clipper Cruise: Interesting Facts about the Sailing Vessel
• Star Clippers Packing List (And Dress Code) with a Printable
• Coastal Maine Windjammer Cruises: Overnight Schooner Sailing Vacations

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Great post with a ton of detailed info for our upcoming Star Clippers cruise! Thanks for all of the great tidbits for packing and what to expect!

Thank you so much for your comment, Lauren. It means so much to us!

Having been on the Royal Clipper in January, your review was spot on when explaining what it’s like to experience a Clipper ship. Great job! Nancy C.

Thank you, Nancy!

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Peter Knego Shares His Star Clipper Cruise Review — Elegance on the French Riviera

Oct 10, 2022 | 5

Star Clipper Cruise Review

By Peter Knego.

Cannes! The glamorous hub of filmdom’s glitterati was our starting point for a seven night voyage to Portofino, Corsica and more of the French Riviera aboard Star Clipper’s 170-guest, 2,298-gross ton Star Clipper. 

The striking Star Clipper, anchored off Cannes. * Photo: Peter Knego

Quite literally wilted after two days of traveling from our home in Southern California, we were elated to roll our luggage up to the Quai de Large, which lies at the end of a promontory on the western edge of Cannes Old Harbor.

Star Clipper’s check-in point was at the tender landing for visiting cruise ships, just past where small ferries provide regular service to the local islands.

After our documents were processed and we were given antigen tests, we began our ride out to the ship to begin our Star Clipper cruise.

As the tender sputtered off, a soothing breeze helped mitigate the relentless heat and humidity that was roasting the whole region, which was unusually hot, even for late July.

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Channeling the Clipper Ships Of Yore

Even without the magical Mediterranean backdrop, the rakish S tar Clipper is a stunning 379-foot apparition with four masts (the tallest of which rises 208 feet above the sea), a dashing bowsprit and an elegant schooner stern that would be the envy of any super yacht.

As we rounded the jetty and began our approach to the swan-like ship, the tender operator offered to make a full circle around her so that I could get optimal footage. I looked back at my fellow guests, all of whom were caught up in a nice conversation, and responded with a gleeful nod. After all, no one on the boat was in a particular hurry and why miss such a great opportunity?  For me, this was a perfect way to begin the cruise.

Fresh from a stem-to-stern refit, Star Clipper was literally glistening in the afternoon sunshine and gently bobbing in the piercing blue waters of the aptly named Cote d’Azur.

For the past decade or so, she has been based in the Far East but returned to her old Mediterranean haunts this year and will cross the Atlantic to sail the Caribbean this winter.

Built in 1992 as the second in a pair of identical barquentines inspired by the square riggers of the late 19th Century ( following the 1991-built Star Flyer ), she carries 70 staff and crew, which gives her a respectable 2.43 guest-to-crew ratio.

And, while she has sixteen billowing sails that help propel her, she is also powered by Caterpillar diesels that ensure when there are no winds, she gets to her next destination on time.

The Tropical Bar, shown facing aft, is the center of activities on board Star Clipper. * Photo: Peter Knego

As we were making our final approach, my fellow tender guests had joined in the photo taking and once the small boat was secured secured alongside, we clambered up the gangway that delivered us to the teak-lined Main Deck promenade.

After our key cards were scanned, we were led to the semi-enclosed Tropical Bar, where hotel manager Nestor welcomed us with a refreshingly cool drink.

A Realm Of Teak & Polished Brass on the Star Clipper

Our early timing meant there was a chance to visit the Owner’s Cabin on aft Clipper Deck before it was occupied.

The Owner’s Cabin, facing port. * Photo: Peter Knego

While not as large as the balconied suites on today’s typical mega or luxury cruise ship, this 237-square-foot space is a wonderful nod to the clipper ship era with its mahogany wood tones, blue and gold soft fittings and terraced decking that conforms to the graceful form of her schooner stern.

The Owner’s Cabin has a loo with a view. * Photo: Peter Knego

As an extra bonus, the marble lined bathroom has a jacuzzi tub with its own porthole view.

Our home for the week, Category 3 stateroom 117 had a large porthole with a sea level view. * Photo: Peter Knego

Our own stateroom, #117, a 118-square-foot Category 3 on midships port Commodore Deck, actually seemed larger than it was, thanks to clever use of storage space under the bed, which accommodated both of our suitcases and a large drawer.

We had a beautifully polished brass porthole with a deadlight that could secure it in rough seas as our cabin was literally at the ship’s waterline.

Our bathroom was compact but thoughtfully designed. * Photo: Peter Knego

The Carrara marble lined bathroom was super compact with a built-in shower that was separated only by a curtain when in use. Clever angling of the floor and good ventilation assured that after using the shower, the water and moisture were quickly abated.

The loo also had plenty of room for our toiletries in addition to those provided by Star Clippers (soap, shampoo and moisturizer).

Other staterooms include 156-square-foot Category 1’s that are accessed from the open decks (reminiscent of those on old river steamers like Delta Queen ) and have bathrooms with a whirlpool tub.

Category 1 staterooms feature a large brass framed window and open directly onto the promenade. * Photo: Peter Knego

At 129-square-feet, Category 2’s are slightly larger than the Category 3’s, which are pretty much the same size as but more optimally located than Categories 4 and 5s, some of the latter being larger Insides. The most economical digs, four Category 6 Insides on Commodore Deck, are a tight fit at 108-square feet and feature upper and lower berths.

We had time to unpack before the safety drill, which was held once the rest of the guests had embarked. This consisted of watching a video in the cabin, then taking the life jacket up to our muster station to try on and then get signed off by a crew member. After that, there was a chance to indulge in an afternoon snack, which consists of sandwiches, freshly baked cookies and other treats that are set up at the Tropical Bar every afternoon between 4:00 and 5:00 PM

On our cruise, there were 122 guests, who were pretty even divided between Americans, Brits, French and Germans, with eight Italians for good measure. The daily program and announcements were in English, French and German and the average demographic is between 50 and 70 years, with some younger guests sprinkled in.

That first afternoon gave us plenty of time to explore the ship, which has spectacular teak decks lined with deck chairs and a virtual sea of beautifully polished brass instruments, ropes and other nautical gear.

It should be noted that there are numerous terraces and some rigging areas that need to be traversed, which combined with the high door sills and lack of lifts, make the Star Clipper a challenging choice for those with mobility issues.

The forward pool in a forward facing view. * Photo: Peter Knego

The ship has two wading pools, which are a bit unusual in that they have peek-through portholes at the bottom. The open air forward pool can be peered into from the Piano Bar and the tarp-sheltered aft pool can be viewed from the aft Clipper Deck passage, so waders might want to get a pedicure and wear only the best bathing attire since one never knows who might be peeking!

The aft pool in a forward facing view. * Photo: Peter Knego

By the way, Star Clippers isn’t the first line to have pools with such a view. Sitmar Lines Australian-based Fairstar and Royal Caribbean’s first trio of ships, the Song of Norway, Nordic Prince and Sun Viking all had this feature and there are probably numerous other ships that did, as well.

The Piano Bar in an aft-facing view. * Photo: Peter Knego

Main Deck interior Spaces on Star Clipper include the terraced Piano Bar that has a staircase leading down to the Dining Room. The aft portion of the same bar continues as the Tropical Bar, which is sheltered under a canvas cover and is where most of the activities take place.

The Library, facing port. * Photo: Peter Knego

Directly aft of the Tropical Bar, behind a trio of elegantly arched brass window panes that look like something off the promenade deck of an early 20th Century ocean liner, the Library is a beautiful haven of wood-like surfaces, sailing ship prints and a faux marble fireplace. And, of course, it has a selection of books and DVDs in both German and English.

The Dining Room, facing aft. * Photo: Peter Knego

Located on Clipper Deck, the lovely Dining Room also looks like it could be a setting on an Edwardian ocean liner with its brass portholes, beam-lined ceilings and booths with tufted velvet seating. It can accommodate all guests at once, which means there is one leisurely open dining time for meals.

Breakfast consists of a buffet with fruits, cereals, pastries and cold cuts and there is an egg station where omelets and egg dishes are made to order. Lunch has a similar set up but with a carvery or pasta station in lieu of eggs.

A vegetarian dinner entrée. Multi-course dinners on Star Clipper include meat, fish and vegetarian options. * Photo: Peter Knego

Dinner is a full service affair with starters and salads, soups, main courses and desserts. Wines, beer, alcohol, soft drinks and specialty coffees are not included but are reasonably priced.  There is also a filtered water filling station at the Tropical Bar for those who opt to bring a refillable water bottle.

Directly aft of the Dining Room, the Clipper Shop offers up sundries and souvenirs and adjoins the Purser’s Office. And that pretty much sums up the public spaces on the Star Clipper.

And the Star Clipper Sailed On!

After dinner, gregarious, multi-lingual cruise director Carlos announced that we should head up to the open decks. It turns out there was an international fireworks competition and we were the lucky benefactors.

Fireworks over Cannes on the first night. * Photo: Peter Knego

It would have been enough just to see Cannes all lit up but when the brilliant fireworks shot into the sky,  they illuminated a flotilla of small craft and yachts that surrounded us. It was easy to envision Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in that scene on the rooftop of Cannes famed Carlton Hotel in Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch A Thief” but I’d have to say that our display even put those to shame.

It was a spectacular send off for our cruise, which was followed by a cacophony of boat horns in salute.

The next morning, we awoke as Star Clipper was caressing the shores of Genoa as she neared Portofino.

In what would become our daily routine, we beelined to the Piano Bar, where mixologist Alejandro steamed up a pair of frothy cappuccinos ($2.50 each).

The captain introduces the Star Clipper’s staff and crew in the Tropical Bar. * Photo: Peter Knego

After breakfast, there was a second safety drill, followed by the introduction of the officers, staff and crew in the Tropical Bar.

View from the “sprit” with Star Clipper underway. * Photo: Peter Knego

Before lunch, we had our first chance to climb into the bowsprit net for a short dangle over the surging seas. I clutched tightly to my i-Phone and did my best to get some spectacular footage.

Of the three major sailing cruise ship lines (Windstar, Sea Cloud and Star Clippers), Star Clippers is the only one to offer up the chance to climb the mast and dangle in the net.

On prior cruises aboard Royal Clipper and Star Flyer, I saw dolphins frolicking in the “bone,” the white foam created by the ship cutting through the sea, which in nautical lore is likened to a dog “with a bone in its teeth”.

The colorful stuccoes of Portofino. * Photo: Peter Knego

As we finished lunch, Star Clipper was anchoring off Portofino.  The prior eve, we had signed up for an excursion that was to begin with a short ferry ride to San Frutuoso, a tiny hamlet on the back side of the Portofino peninsula, followed by a three mile hike back to Portofino.

Curiously, none of the excursions were promoted, with the result being that none received the minimum amount of guests needed, so all were eventually canceled.

We tendered ashore in the brilliant sunshine as the Ligurian coast unfolded before us with the gorgeous hamlets of Santa Margherita, Rappallo, Cinque Terre and La Spezia, backed by the rugged, forested peaks of the Apennine Mountains and scattered, dramatic cloud formations.

In all my travels, I don’t think I’ve found any place on earth more enchanting than Liguria.

Approaching tiny San Frutuosso. * Photo: Peter Knego

Since we had an eight hour call, we were were comfortable with taking the ferry to San Frutuosso and doing the hike on our own, joining two fellow guests with the same plan, Carl and Jenn, who are from San Diego.

It was a gorgeous day, although far too hot, making the hike a bit more work than it would have been under normal circumstances but the views and experience were thrilling. We encountered wild goats, several lizards and thousands of cicadas, which we couldn’t actually see, although their rhythmic buzzing was akin to a 1950s sci fi movie soundtrack.

Mid-hike with Mike, Jenn and Carl atop the Portofino peninsula. * Photo: Peter Knego

Once on the Portofino side, we zig zagged down through private farms with crops of eggplant, tomatoes and red bell peppers. As beautiful as it all was, by the time we reached Portofino, I was content hopping on the first tender and heading straight back to the Star Clipper’s soothing air conditioning.

Author Peter Knego enjoying the coolness of the piano lounge. * Photo: Peter Knego

Conquest Of Corsica on our Star Clipper Cruise

After dinner, we were up on deck to witness the sails being raised to the strains of Vangelis’ “1492: Conquest of Paradise,” which is played every time the ship departs.

From the fantail to the sails and stars aboard Star Clipper. * Photo: Peter Knego

The lights of Liguria gradually vanished in our wake as that long bow pointed south towards Corsica.

Corsica ahead! * Photo: Peter Knego

The following morning, after our cappuccinos and breakfast, my partner Mike signed up for the mast climbing, which entails scaling a rope ladder (in a safety harness) to the crow’s nest platform on the foremast, some fifty feet above the deck.  Alas, Mike was #17 on the list, so his chance would have to come later in the cruise.

I stole away for some quiet time in the bowsprit net but the relentless sun intervened, so I grabbed my book ( “Spells and Oregano,” a ghostly novel that takes place on the Queen Mary by Patricia Davis) and headed to the air conditioned Library, settling in with a nice, quiet read as the smoke-fringed mountains of Corsica grew closer and closer. Corsica, like my home state of California, is prone to fires in the summer, especially when the heat index is high.

During lunch, we watched the pilot come alongside and by the time we exited the Dining Room, we were tied up at the port of L’Ile Rousse . Mike and I collected beach towels from the pool area and took them in a small cloth bag we brought along with our refillable water canisters (definitely two things to pack for a Star Clippers cruise).

Conveniently, there was a nice beach about a half mile’s walk from the terminal.

The beach at L’Ile Rousse, Corsica. * Photo: Peter Knego

It felt strange to swim in crystal clear waters that were as warm or warmer than our pool, which is usually around 86 degrees! On the way back to the ship, we detoured through the town, past friendly cafes and shops.

Poised and magnificent, the Star Clipper struts her sails off Corsica. * Photo: Peter Knego

As Star Clipper began maneuvering away from L’Ile Rousse, the captain announced that the tenders would be launched so guests could take photos of the ship with her sails raised. Within moments, everyone was scrambling into those two small craft, which followed Star Clipper out to sea, doing their best to provide everyone with the chance to capture the beautiful barquentine in her full regalia.

Needless to say, with the boats spinning around all the while trying to avoid running into each other, the opportunities were fleeting but overall, it was a thrill for anyone with the slightest appreciation for sailing ships. Towards the end of the outing, several members of the staff and crew posed atop the bowsprit, which was quite a feat with the ship in motion.

That night, there was a lively music quiz in the Tropical Bar, which ended in Elvis-style dance maneuvers from the more lively participants.

Morning light shines on the Star Clipper’s helm. * Photo: Peter Knego

For some reason, I was up far too early on the fourth morning as Star Clipper meandered the short distance between L’Ile Rousse and our next port of call, Calvi.  Instead of trying fruitlessly to sleep, I took advantage of something the captain had mentioned earlier in the cruise.

He suggested everyone get up early at least once to just savor the ship in the morning light, which is exactly what I did.

With a slight breeze and the sun not yet at its full intensity, it was lovely to marvel at the the polished brass instruments, the towering masts and all the lines and ropes that make up the rigging.

With only a handful of fellow guests out — mainly on the stern doing yoga — I felt as though I had the ship to myself.

The citadel at Calvi. * Photo: Peter Knego

In gorgeous Calvi, we tendered ashore and walked up a loose spiral of roads to the citadel, which was built in the 13th century by the Genoese. The views were beautiful but the aromas of Corsican cuisine drove us to distraction and eventually, digestion.

Pizza perfection in Calvi. * Photo: Mike Masino

Instead of heading back to the ship for lunch, we stopped at a friendly cafe and ordered a spectacular pizza margherita that we doused with freshly grated Parmesan and spicy Corsican chili oil that was heaven on earth.

Tendering back to Star Clipper at Calvi. * Photo: Mike Masino

Once aboard the ship, I quickly donned running shoes and tendered back ashore for a 2.5 mile run along the waterfront and local beach.

It really was too hot to run but I made up for that later by jumping off the tender platform for a swim alongside the ship.

Meanwhile, while the staff had the Star Clipper’s “toys” out, which included parasails, kayaks and tiny one man sailing boats, Mike manned one of the latter and maneuvered it around the small bay.

Mike begins his mast climb. * Photo: Peter Knego

Later, Mike finally got his chance to climb the mast, where he took some spectacular photos from that 50-foot vantage while I was perfectly content waving up from the deck.

Crow’s Nest vantage.  * Photo: Mike Masino

It was Pirate Night and some in-the-know guests attended dinner with hook hands, bandanas and other pirate gear.

After that, there was a big celebration in the Tropical Bar but I was happy just gazing up at the billowing sails under the brilliant stars.

Prismatic sunset through our dining room porthole. * Photo: Peter Knego

Our third Corsican call was at remote Plage Saint Antoine, which we were told is only accessible by the sea or a mountain hike. The tender did an expedition-style beach landing, allowing us to climb or jump off the bow between the small wave surges.

We donned our snorkeling gear once again but what impressed was not a sunken forest of sea life and coral formations, but the gorgeous coral colored sands that formed wavy patterns on the embankment.

After an hour or two, we were happy to escape the heatwave and head back to the ship to revel in the air conditioning.

The coral colored beach sand. * Photo: Peter Knego

Riviera Reflections of our Star Clipper Cruise

A very mellow afternoon followed as Star Clipper began her northbound trek, leaving friendly Corsica in her wake.

The evening event was a dramatic lighting of the sails with live and recorded music under the stars.

Moon over the Ligurian Sea. * Photo: Peter Knego

The following morning, the ship was dropping anchor once again, this time off of Cavalaire Sur Mer, a pleasant and welcoming French Riviera town with a nice beach that we ran along. Yet again, after 2.5 miles of sweltering heat, we were content with riding back to the ship and jumping into the sea from the tender platform.

Running along Cavalaire Sur Mer. * Photo: Peter Knego

Mike took another ride on the single person sail boat while I got some invigorating exercise swimming against the rather strong current.

Afterwards, I settled in on one of the deck chairs by the fantail, watching as the winds whipped at the large Maltese flag as Star Clipper very slowly maneuvered towards our next port of call, Plage Pampelonne, which was but a few short miles away.

Dining Room staff get their turn in the talent show. * Photo: Peter Knego

After dinner, there was a talent show in the Tropical Bar. The high spirited romp included singing, dancing and even magic tricks from the deck crew, the waiters and several brave guests.

At Plage Pampelonne, where the waters were almost cyan in their intensity, the tenders made beach landings.

Soaking up the sun and sails at Plage Pampelonne. * Photo: Peter Knego

This beautiful slice of sand is just around the peninsula from and a perfect prelude to our afternoon visit to Saint Tropez. I so enjoyed that last chance to swim on the cruise.

Late that morning, Star Clipper made the short trip to the anchorage off Saint Tropez, where we once again tendered ashore.

Saint Tropez marina. * Photo: Peter Knego

I had low expectations and frankly thought I would dislike the legendary town’s perceived excesses of huge yachts, expensive boutiques and pricey cafes.

And while those elements are indeed part of the Saint Tropez experience, overall, I was utterly charmed with the place.

One last pose in the golden light off Saint Tropez. * Photo: Peter Knego

Nestled below the rugged Maures Mountains and overlooking the azure Med, Saint Tropez’s pastel stucco facades, quaint marina and narrow cobblestone streets were a treat to explore.

On the last morning, we enjoyed a nice final breakfast, said a few goodbyes and tendered ashore. Cannes was sweltering but oh, so beautiful as we rolled our luggage off to the hotel.

Once free of the suitcases, we spent the rest of the day exploring the village and its charming cafes, shops and restaurants.

That afternoon as we walked along La Croisette, Cannes famed beachfront boulevard, we spotted the Star Clipper anchored in the outer harbor.

Basking off Cannes. * Photo: Peter Knego

She looked so very stately in the distance and if our time aboard was any indication, her new complement of guests were in for a magical, memorable voyage.

VIDEO: Enjoy Peter’s video overview of his Star Clipper cruise review, below!

RELATED: Heidi reviews her Star Clippers’ Greek Isles cruise with her kids.

RELATED: Check out Peter’s cool website, MidShipCentury.com.

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© This article is protected by copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. All Rights Reserved. QuirkyCruise.com.

About The Author

Peter Knego

Peter Knego is a cruise journalist, as well as a historian and collector of ocean liner fittings and art (see his www.midshipcentury.com). He writes for top cruise and travel pubs, including USA Today, Travel Weekly and Ships Monthly, and has been interviewed and quoted as an expert in The New York Times, SeaTrade Insider and others.

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Thank you Peter! A wonderful story as usual and a VERY wonderful video, you’ve got a great voice & eye!

Such an honor to work with and for you, Ted and Quirky, Heidi! Thank you for the care in presenting this blog, which was a pleasure to experience and share.

Great, comprehensive article! Love Star Clipper cruises. I’m ready to take one again! I’ve done two; one in the Caribbean, the other which left from the Balaeric Islands – Majorca and Menorca, two stops in Corsica, then St. Tropez and ended in Monaco. It was an amazing trip! You can read about it on my Tropical Travel Girl site, if you’d like: https://www.tropicaltravelgirl.com/star-clippers-cruise-mediterranean/

Dear Debbra, I’m so sorry for the delay in responding. I was on a ship with terrible internet and could not even open this page until now. Thank you so much for your very kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog and I am looking very much forward to reading yours! Warmest regards, Peter

My first ever cruise was very this once, about six years ago. It is my favorite cruise. After two years of not cruising I am looking forward to boarding the Royal Clipper once again this December.

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