Sights You’ll See With Star Clippers

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Do you dream of sailing the Amalfi Coast of Italy? We had that same dream and recently saw it come to life aboard a Star Clippers Tall Ship.

You won’t be disappointed if your vision includes gliding through the impossibly blue Mediterranean Sea while sipping a glass of prosecco on deck at sunset.

But that’s just one small, although incredible, part of an Amalfi Coast Mediterranean Cruise with Star Clippers.

Onboard Star Clippers Sailing the Amalfi Coast 

One of the things we loved the most about our Star Clippers cruise was the ship itself. We sailed the Amalfi Coast on the Star Flyer. This gorgeous 379 ft clipper hosts 166 guests in cozy, comfy cabins outfitted with everything you need.

Personally, we are not fans of the mega cruise ship floating cities. So, the more intimate size and feel of the Star Flyer was perfect for us. We also loved the gorgeous teak decks and the traditional nautical décor. It all felt like stepping into a different era.

However, don’t go thinking that the smaller size and old-world feel mean sacrificing on comfort and amenities. You will be pampered, entertained and well-fed just as you would expect on a cruise, just in a more intimate and unique setting.

The common areas offer more than enough space for guests to relax, socialize and enjoy the fresh sea air and gorgeous scenery while sailing the Amalfi Coast.

This includes a lovely dining room, an open-air bar, a piano lounge, a library, two pools and plenty of seating and deck loungers.

Star Clippers Food Won’t Disappoint

If you love a good meal, like we do, again you won’t be disappointed. Breakfast and lunch were buffet-style with a great array of freshly prepared dishes to choose from.

Dinner was ordered from a menu that listed enough gourmet starters, main meals and desserts to make decisions challenging.

Wine lovers will be happy to hear there is a full wine list to choose from. And the bartenders can whip up any cocktail you desire.

Then there’s the on-board entertainment which was an unexpected bonus. The age demographic was much more varied than we’ve experienced on European river cruises.

The guests’ ages ranged from 6 to 70+, with the majority being between 50 and 65, which could make providing entertainment a challenge.

However, our cruise director and the crew managed to keep everyone happy and energized every evening with games and dance parties. But don’t worry if you want a quiet evening there are lots of spots to chill with that glass of prosecco.

Sailing the Amalfi Coast: Star Clippers Excursions

Now that we’ve given you a taste of what to expect on board a Star Clippers ship let’s talk about sailing the Amalfi Coast and the stunning sights you’ll see.

Our adventure began and ended in Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, which is a nice place to rest up for a couple of days pre and post-cruise.

From there, our itinerary included stops at Lipari, Messina, Amalfi, Sorrento and Ponza.

There were excursions offered at a very reasonable cost at every port. But, you can also choose to tender to shore and explore on your own.

We did a bit of each and will share our thoughts and experiences with you.

Port of Civitavecchia

We chose to arrive at Civitavecchia two days before our cruise departed to get acclimated after our journey from Seattle. Although we wouldn’t suggest Civitavecchia as a destination on its own, we were surprised at how much we enjoyed our short time there.

There are a few things to see such as Fort Michelangelo, the Cathedral of St Francis of Assisi, the Archaeological Museum and the Ficoncella Thermal Baths.

But we chose to simply walk along the seafront, around the marina and through the piazzas and market.

There are also plenty of restaurants in Civatecchia serving all the delicious Italian food options like pizza, pasta and of course fresh seafood.

Lipari Island (One of the Aeolian Islands of Sicily)

Our itinerary had us sailing straight to Lipari which meant a full day at sea. We liked having our first day without stops as it gave us time to explore the lovely ship and relax.

Excursions at Lipari included a coach tour of the island or a boat tour to Vulcano Island. We can’t tell you about our experience on these excursions as we decided to take a tender to shore and explore the town of Lipari on foot.

Our first stop on shore was a small old church in Marina Corta (Chiesa delle Anime del Purgatorio.)

We knew nothing about this little church for the fishermen of Lipari so we were surprised that there was a small entrance fee.

However, when we entered the church we saw an incredible diorama depicting Lipari village life. It was so beautiful and detailed we spent about 40 minutes looking at it. It’s well worth the couple of dollars to enter.

We filled the rest of our time in Lipari walking the cobblestone streets of old town and the main shopping street of Corso Vittorio Emanuelle II.

We also visited the Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew and had one of the most delicious pizzas of our trip at Pizzeria Vulcanica.

Excursions in Messina

There were two excursions from Messina, both to Taormina and its Greek theater. We had already chosen to do three excursions in the coming days, so we opted to stay in Messina.

In hindsight, we would suggest considering a trip to Taormina as Messina is a city and is not the best place to explore on foot.

We did find a few cool things accessible on foot if you don’t mind walking a fair bit. Alternatively, there is a tourist “train” (the type that travels along the roads not on tracks) that takes you to many of the city sights.

Highlights for us in Messina were the Sanctuary of Montalto and the Cathedral of Messina with its Bell Tower and Astronomical Clock.

It’s a bit of a hike up Caperrina Hill to the Sanctuary of Montalto. However, the views of the city and Messina Straight are worth it if not the Sanctuary itself. The tourist train does stop here if you don’t feel like a long walk.

Plan to be in the Piazza Duomo at noon for the 12-minute clock tower performance. Moving statues and carousels rotate while the music of Schubert’s Ave Maria plays.

If you’re a fan of arancini (Italian fried risotto) you must head over to Rosticceria Famulari on Via C. Battisti for some of the best arancini we’ve ever tasted…and we’ve had more than a few. I highly recommend the Arancini Ragu and my hubby loved the Arancini Diavola.

Positano Excursion

There were three excursions offered for Amalfi: A coach trip to Ravello, a boat tour along the Amalfi coast to Positano and a hike along the “Lemon Trail.” The hike sounded great, but we opted for the boat trip to beautiful Positano.

After being tendered to shore we boarded another boat for the 45-minute ride to Positano. We traveled close to the Amalfi coastline and enjoyed amazing views of the gorgeous beaches, bays, clifftop villages and citrus and olive groves. The journey was breathtaking.

Once we reached Positano we were greeted by tour guides who gave us a brief overview of what to see and do. Then we were free to explore on our own.

As you would expect in August, Positano was heaving with tourists so if crowds annoy you, it may be best to consider another excursion.

Having said that, Positano is popular for good reason. We stopped every few feet to take photos and peek into the many lovely boutiques.

If shopping for local products excites you, especially the gorgeous cotton clothing Positano is famous for, then this is your day.

Exploring the Town of Amalfi

The great thing about this port stop was that our ship stayed in Amalfi until late evening. This meant we had plenty of time to explore the city after returning from Positano.

We really enjoyed Amalfi. If you’d prefer not to go on an excursion, you’ll find plenty to see and do right there.

We decided to eat dinner in town instead of returning to the ship. We highly recommend staying until after the sun sets as the old town is stunning in the evening.

Everywhere is lit by soft lighting and people gather in the piazzas and outdoor tables of charming restaurants.

If you choose to have dinner in Amalfi, seek out Taverna Buonvicino for a delicious meal with a romantic ambiance.

Try to make a reservation for their gorgeous courtyard or arrive early as it’s a very popular spot.

Excursion to Capri

Lovers of unique historic sites may have a difficult time deciding between excursions to Pompeii or Herculaneum. Both are fascinating to visit but they are full-day tours and in the heat of August, we decided against it.

Instead, we chose the third option which was a boat to Capri. Once again, due to it being high season in Italy, Capri was very busy. But that didn’t take away from the beauty of this famous destination.

The town of Capri is 452 feet up from the harbor and the excursion includes the funicular to the top. A definite blessing on a hot August day.

Views from the top are absolutely spectacular. If you’re up for a longer walk there are paths leading out of town along the cliff edge for a more peaceful experience.

Also, Capri is another good spot for shopping for gorgeous, though pricey, local products. There were many beautiful perfumeries in town which are definitely worth checking out.

After a very long, hot walk around the town and along the cliffside paths we descended back to the port for lunch.

Our advice is to venture away from the many restaurants close to the boats as they are very busy with tourists and don’t get the best ratings for food.

After a bit of research, we walked an extra 10 minutes and had lunch at Francuccio. It was still busy but was full of locals rather than just tourists which is always a good sign.

The service was great and the food was delicious. This is the place to try the famous local dish of Spaghetti al Limone di Capri which is simple but with an explosion of mouthwatering flavor.

Exploring Sorrento

The ship stayed in Sorrento until early evening so there was still plenty of time to explore the city.

Like Capri, the most interesting part of Sorrento is high above the harbor and there is an elevator or stairs to the top.

Another option is to go for a dip at Marameo Beach. However, don’t expect to drop your towel on the sand and enjoy a quiet break. The beach is crammed full of sun loungers for hire and being August they seemed almost at capacity.

The town of Sorrento is lovely with lots of narrow cobblestone streets to explore lined with plenty of shops and cafes.

Excursion in Ponza

Our final port was Ponza. There was only one excursion offered: a boat tour of the island with a swim stop. In our opinion, this excursion is a must.

The boat hugs the coastline giving up-close views of the stunning white cliffs, cool rock formations and crystal-clear coves.

We made two stops for swimming. The first was at a cave which our guide led us into which was a very cool experience.

An onboard lunch of pasta with wine was included which was very welcome after all the swimming. Upon return, there is some time to explore the small village of Ponza.

Tips for Star Clippers Amalfi Coast Excursions

• Read through the excursions offered before boarding the ship to get an idea of what you want to do.

• If there are excursions that are a must for you be sure to sign up as soon as you board as some of them do fill up. On our ship the sign-up sheets and tour descriptions were in the library.

• If you go in the summer, it will likely be very hot so make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, good walking shoes and a water bottle on all excursions. A handheld battery fan is also a great idea.

• Based on our chats with other guests we feel that our excursion choices were good ones. Although we do think the tour to Taormina would be a great addition for a 4^th excursion and Pompeii is a very unique experience.

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Author Bio: Sarah and her husband are full-time travelers who run several travel and lifestyle websites including the international travel site Live Dream Discover and All About Glamping. She caught the travel bug early in life and eventually created a location-independent business that supports her passion to explore the world. As a writer, editor, photographer and social media expert Sarah is able to share her experiences and insights which inspire people to find their own passion for travel.