American World Traveler Spring 2019 Issue

one is 360 ft. long and accommodates up
to 170 passengers and is operated by Star
Clippers Ltd. of Sweden. Along with its twin
sister ship the Star Clipper, they are the
TALLEST tall ships in the world- both boasting
masts of 226 ft. in height. They are very
classy vessels- all rich polished teak complemented
by gleaming brass brightwork
with well-appointed, spacious cabins.
(Though there are no private outdoor
decks.) Each ship also has two top deck
swimming pools- one with a peek-a-boo
window below where guests below can
observe the swimmers above.
Life on Board
So, what’s it like to take a journey aboard
this type of ship? Exhilarating, yet sometimes
challenging. The motion of the ocean
isn’t for everyone. Though I got my sea legs
early, the checkerboard of shin bruises I
took home as a souvenir attests to the sudden
shifts-although the constant swaying
can really rock you into a nice deep slumber.
Also, never leave your toilet seat open.
My toiletries ended up in the toilet while I
was in the shower when I did. But I was very
impressed with the shower-it was very powerful
for its small size. However, if you’re
prone to seasickness, this might not be the
journey for you. And it’s not for those with
limited mobility either. There are no elevators,
and even the able bodied had some
precarious moments on the swinging stairs
down the side of the ship to the tiny tenders.
However, if you’re up to an excellent
sea adventure- this is definitely the ship for
you. And the fact that you often dock in
small marinas where the big boys can’t go
makes you feel far more like a voyager
than a visitor at every port of call.
If you don’t go ashore for excursions or
enjoy the beach set-up the crew offers like
kayaking, snorkeling or paddle boarding,
there is a library with book lending and
DVDs are also available. You’re also welcome
to learn to sail the ship, tie knots, and
even climb the mast (under supervision.)
I’ve written about all of our excursions and
different ports of call in my Tropical Tidbits
column on page 38 as there was a lot to
cover in this Leeward Islands Caribbean
itinerary. But do note that excursions cost
extra.
Dining & Entertainment
Not that we didn’t dine very well- we didbut
if you’re expecting the type of massive
round-the-clock food offerings you receive
on a typical cruise ship, you’ll be disappointed.
Meal times are strictly set with
small snack offerings in between and no
room service. But you won’t be disappointed
in the fare. We thoroughly enjoyed the
bountiful breakfast and lunch buffets and
dinner is set five-course menus with
51
options of usually fish, seafood,
meat, and vegetarian specialties. A
nice touch is that they set out each main
dish ahead so you can see how it’s served
before ordering. There’s only one main
dining, room –no reserved seating –and
their resident musician serenades all from
a grand piano. Very sophisticated. But
ladies, do pack a wrap as the air-conditioning
can be chilly at times. The wine selection
is good- but not included in the cruise,
nor is the bar, but their prices are very reasonable.
Entertainment wise, it’s pretty low key,
though daily Happy-Hour at the bar can be
lively and we did enjoy some really fun
nights themed around things like fashion
and talent shows. And one night a steel
band came aboard. But basically, the party
was over by 11pm latest each evening
though you can go star gaze on the top
deck which is also great nightly entertainment!
Highlights
In this itinerary, the Royal Clipper- the
Grande Dame of this outfit- graces you
with a sail-by and joins for a brief time in
Dominica. It’s a big deal. The excitement of
the crew as she arrived on the horizon in all
her magnificence was palpable, and they
ran around passing out flags to greet her
while speakers blasted ‘Conquest of
Paradise’ by Vangelis. It was impossible not
to get caught up in the emotion of it all. But
gala as that was, it was the final night and
hoisting the sails one last time to a spectacular
light show and more epic dramatic
music that moved me the most. I’d become
quite at home aboard our lovely little ship
and very comfortable among my newfound
sailor friends and wasn’t ready to
leave. But that’s travel life. So, with bittersweet
goodbyes, we eventually headed our
separate way hoping to meet up again on
another Star Clippers cruise one day.
www.starclippers.com
American World Traveler Spring 2019