From Star Clippers, this sailing ship was built in Poland from an unfinished hull. Registered in Luxembourg, she measures 439 ft in length and weighs 5,000 tons. She boasts five passenger decks and is more than twice the size of her more yachtlike
Star Clipper and
Star Flyer siblings.
In fact, she is the largest square-rigged sailing ship ever built, edging out the German Flying P Line's Preussen of 1902. With five masts and 42 sails spanning 56,000 sq ft, she is certified to cross all oceans and seas and has a more purposeful ship-of-the-line atmosphere than the smaller pair, which are more akin to large sleek sailing yachts. Anti-roll tanks help to reduce sideways movement in beam seas, but they do not eliminate it.
Her multinational crew of 100 hosts 228 passengers on 7-day itineraries out of Barbados to the Grenadine or Windward islands between late October and April and 7- 10-, and 11-day cruises in the Mediterranean.
Mikael Krafft, a Swedish entrepreneur and sailing enthusiast, had a vision to build large sailing ships for the cruise market, and the Royal Clipper is the present culmination following the construction of two barkentine-rigged vessels, the Star Flyer (1991) and then the Star Clipper a year later. Krafft is currently building an even larger vessel.
The itineraries draw all manner of nationalities from middle income tourists to the super rich, while the on-board atmosphere is utterly democratic and social. North Americans and Europeans predominate but expect to see South Americans aboard for the winter Caribbean itineraries and Australians on any trip. Teenage children will find the casual life aboard appealing through they will not be along in great numbers.
7-day itineraries out of Barbados to the Grenadine or Windward islands operate between late October and April. The routine is a port a day with some afternoon departures to give passengers some daylight sea time under sail. Beach stops are usual features on three mornings with tendering ashore. She then crosses the Atlantic, an epic voyage in itself with lots of days at sea.
The westbound crossing sees more time under sail. Weekly cruises explore the Italian coast and islands and Sicily in the spring, using Civitavecchia (port for Rome) as the base. Then the ship undertakes highly sought after 10- and 11-day cruises between Civitavecchia and Venice via Italian and Greek ports, Montenegro and four Croatian calls. On all cruises, if the weather permits, passengers have a chance to see their ship under sail, an impressive almost warship sight to behold, from one of the launches.
Everything about the Royal Clipper is on a dramatic scale. A central staircase, perhaps a bit overdone, surrounds the three-deck atrium and leads to the cabins, lounges and main dining room. This bi-level room offers good food and friendly, if not polished, service at one dinner sitting. The sea splashes washing machine-style over the portholes. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style, the former with an omelet station and the latter with a carvery. Meals are good, but never gourmet.
Other public space includes a forward observation lounge for lectures and Internet access; a large piano lounge with much more comfortable seating than aboard her smaller running mates; an indoor-outdoor tropical bar; and a paneled library lounge spanning the width of the ship for reading and games. At some ports, local entertainers supplement the resident singer-pianist, and the captain has his storytime up by the wheelhouse every morning. Some of them are real characters from European (German and Ukrainian) sail training ships.
A subterranean lounge, gym and spa are on the lowest passenger deck. This level features 16-inch portholes for viewing marine life. An easy sense of camaraderie prevails, and passengers can learn to sail and help with the rigging (an engine kicks in when the wind dies). Three pools, one with a glass bottom, are alternatives to aerobics, snorkeling and diving lessons. A hydraulic watersports platform permits swimming from a 16-ft inflatable raft. Passengers, with a harness, may climb the mast to the crow's nest and relax in the rope cradle ahead of the bow.
The 114 cabins, many richly paneled, include twin and fixed double beds, some with Pullman thirds. Only six are insides, and one of these is a dedicated single. The 14 rosewood-paneled deck suites are sensational yacht-style accommodations, measuring 200 sq ft and providing small sitting areas, verandas, tubs with whirlpool jets, minibars and room service. Two owner's suites overlook the stern.
The Royal Clipper is an outstanding addition to the fleet and provides a chance to experience seaborne sailship travel at its finest, especially when the wind is up. Apart from the company's pair of barkentine-rigged clipper ships, the closest comparisons would be the Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II, though they charge more and the food and service levels are of a higher standard. The Windstar vessels are more motor-assisted sailing ships, and Windjammer Barefoot Cruises has sadly gone out of business.
