Adventures on a Star Clippers Tall Ship

I’ve spent most of my life in a land-locked American city, but I’ve always loved the sea. There’s something so healing about the smell of salt in the air and the rhythmic sound of the ocean as it moves and pounds the shore.  

It’s no wonder that my travels often lead me straight to the ocean. I quickly learned that cruises are an excellent way to spend time on the water while exploring new destinations along the way.

I’ve sailed on all kinds of ships, from small expedition cruises and yachts to huge ocean liners. But recently, my husband, Ben, and I sailed on a truly unique vessel in the Mediterranean.

The Star Flyer

The Star Flyer is a tall ship, a large, traditionally rigged sailing vessel with a high mast. Its 16 billowing sails have more than 36,000 square feet of sails, and believe me, it’s a beautiful sight to see.

The Star Flyer is a modern clipper ship. Clippers were 19th-century sailing cargo vessels designed to carry their loads with speed. This 379-foot modern clipper was designed to carry 166 guests in style instead.  

Stepping onto the Star Flyer felt like stepping back in time. Walking along its wide teak decks, along polished brass, mahogany rails and beneath willowy overhead sails, I could imagine yesteryear’s grand age of sailing. 

That feeling is just what founder Mikael Krafft intended when he decided to create a cruise experience that would honor that grand sailing past.

Star Clippers, the Company Born from the Love of Sailing

Star Clippers grew out of Krafft’s simple love of sailing. Growing up in Sweden, Krafft developed a love for the sea and sailing at an early age. He was enamored with the grace of 19th-century clippers.

With a tourism landscape dominated by modern cruise ships, Krafft saw an opportunity to provide a nostalgic sailing experience that combined the romance of traditional tall ships with the comforts of contemporary cruising.

He wanted to create a fleet of vessels that would allow passengers to experience the thrill and beauty of true sailing while exploring some of the world’s most stunning coastal destinations.

To do that, Krafft designed and built ships that honored the classic clipper design while incorporating modern amenities.

Three Tall Ships

The resulting three ships in the Star Clippers fleet are high-tech recreations of the classic clipper sailing ships that sailed the world’s oceans in the 19th century.

The 115.5-meter Star Flyer, which we sailed, was launched in 1991, and her twin, the Star Clipper, set sail in 1992. They were the first sailing clippers built since 1910.

In 2000, Krafft expanded the fleet with the addition of the Royal Clipper, a 134-meter, five-masted, full-rigged vessel boasting 42 sails, making it the largest sailing vessel of its kind in the world. All three ships sail by wind power whenever possible but can use engine power when there isn’t enough wind.

The two smaller ships, Star Flyer and Star Clipper, carry 166 passengers each, with a crew of 74, while Royal Clipper carries 227 with a crew of 106.

Onboard the Star Flyer

Once we boarded the Star Flyer, we immediately felt the ship’s relaxed attitude. There were no fancy dress-up dinners to attend or a bustling schedule of high-energy activities. Our time was ours to use as we wished.

We were pleased with our comfortable cabin. It wasn’t huge, but it had more shelves and storage than I’ve found on larger ships. The bathroom was small but well-designed.

Best of all, our bed was comfortable. Later in the week, we joked among our friends onboard that napping in our cabin had become a favorite activity. Those cozy beds, plus the gentle rocking of the sea, were a great combination.

Life Onboard

The Star Flyer wasn’t huge, but it was surprisingly roomy. On the top deck, there were two pools, plenty of lounge chairs, and the fun Tropical Bar, which became the social hub onboard.

Our cruise director, Carlos, came up with fun activities every night. My favorite was the staff talent show, which kept us laughing and amazed us with the variety of talent onboard. Even a few guests shared their talents.

I also enjoyed spending time in the library, where we borrowed some books and games, as well as the piano deck, a popular space to get a drink and chat with friends.

Dining on the Star Flyer

Dining on the Star Flyer quickly became a highlight. Gourmet meals prepared by skilled chefs highlighted regional specialties and classic favorites. The food was fresh, tasty, and well-presented.

The staff and crew were a pleasure to be around. They quickly learned and remembered what we liked in the dining room. The dining room was spacious, and the open-seating policy was relaxed and easy.

Climbing to the Crow’s Nest

On calm seas, the crew opened the Crow’s Nest to passengers. Guests were clipped into a safety harness and could then climb the rope ladder to the Crow’s Nest.

Of course, my husband and I both wanted to do this.

After being safely clipped in and given some instructions, I started climbing. It was an exhilarating experience, and I was amazed at how high it was!

From the top, I had a great view of the Star Flyer’s wide deck and the vast sea surrounding me. Below, my husband and friends looked like tiny figures waving and cheering me on.

Does Star Clippers Offer Wi-Fi?

Though I love the idea of being disconnected on vacation, I still need the internet to check in with family and work. In 2024, Star Clippers added high-speed Starlink WiFi on all three of their ships. Starlink is more reliable and faster than the onboard internet I’ve used in the past.

Guests can purchase Starlink packages based on their usage. A 1GB plan valid for seven days is €18, 3GB valid for 14 days for €50 and 5GB valid for 21 days for €80.

A Fun, Filled Mediterranean Itinerary

Of course, the cruise itinerary is as important as the ship you sail, and we were excited about ours.

Our eight-day Mediterranean cruise began in Malaga, Spain. We had flown in the day before to give us extra time in Malaga. (I always like to fly in a day before a cruise, just in case anything happens with flights.)

We stayed at the lovely Hotel Larios. Its central location meant we could walk all over Old Town. We really liked Malaga. This little coastal city charmed us with its tidy Old Town and delighted us with its unique blend of cultures.

We immersed ourselves in Malaga’s Moorish heritage at Hammam Al Ándalus Málaga, a thermal spa that embodies the spirit of the ancient Arab baths of Al Ándalus.

It featured cold, warm, and hot water thermal baths, part of a purification ritual that includes steam rooms, relaxation areas, and massage rooms.

Later that evening, we enjoyed local dishes and an entertaining Flamenco dance performance at a local restaurant.

A Visit to Granada

Star Clippers offers reasonably priced excursions (these are not included in your fare), or you can explore independently. We did a little of both.

From Malaga, our first stop was Motril, Spain, where we took a guided walking tour in nearby Granada. At the end of our tour, our guide recommended that we stop for the region’s famous churros. At Cafeteria Alhambra, we savored these sweet pastries dipped in hot dark chocolate, a delightful sugar rush.

Island-Hopping in the Balearic Islands

Then, it was on the Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Mallorca, and Menorca. Ibiza is known for its hopping nightlife, but we arrived in the morning when it was quiet and peaceful.

Ben and I savored cappuccinos and pastries at a cafe in a quiet outdoor square and then wandered all over town, stopping in boutique shops along the way.

In Mallorca, Spain, we took a Hop-on, Hop-off bus tour to many top sites, including the impressive Cathedral of Mallorca and Bellver Castle (Castell de Bellver) in Palma. We liked that it allowed us to see a lot in a short time but explore on our own timeframe.

In Menorca, we joined our friends at the fun Mercat Femenias in Mahón. Set in a historic building, this collection of tiny restaurants is a gastronomic delight.

The modern market, filled with several small eateries in a food hall setting, allows you to pick and choose individual dishes. All the dishes that I tasted were extremely good.

On to Italy

While our original itinerary had us stopping in Corsica, France, the winds and storm had other plans. Our captain quickly diverted us to the lovely Italian island of Sardinia.

Sardinia is known for its lovely beaches, but the weather wasn’t quite warm enough to visit the beach.

Instead, we took our time walking into town, stopping for coffee and pastries on an outdoor patio (see a theme here?) and then browsing through the local farmer’s market.  

Ocean Views

On our last evening aboard the Star Clipper, the seas were calm. The crew allowed Ben and me to climb out onto the hammock netting suspended over the ocean from the bow.

Laying on the net, I turned over to watch the sea rushing below me. The sunlight danced off the water as the Star Flyer cut through the waves with ease.

Tomorrow, we would head to Rome, where I’d have to fly back to my landlocked American city. But for now, I was here with the sea and took my time to savor it.

If You Go

For more information, see StarClippers.com

Janna Graber is an award-winning American travel journalist who has written for national magazines, newspapers and websites. She is the managing editor of Go World Travel Magazine, and a member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Since studying abroad in Austria, she’s been in love with world travel, and has covered travel in more than 60 countries. She’s the author of three travel anthology books, including “A Pink Suitcase: 22 Tales of Women’s Travel” and “Adventures of a Lifetime”.

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