I have been on Star Flyer twice and when the no solo supplement was offered last year I decided to try this larger ship knowing that the routine would be familiar. I am not a sailor but I think we all tire of the large cruise ships and the usual ports so getting in private small towns and beaches appealed to me. Once on board I found the large expanse of upper deck appealing with more shade available and more room to relax compared to the Star Flyer. I had inside cabin (216) and it is small with only one closet with another drawer under the bed but for one person adequate. Ship is beautiful with brass, beautiful wood work and library has fireplace that glows for ambiance altho few people go into library. Food is very good to my tastes and I am no food critic but the fish they offer is excellent, only tip I have is to avoid 2 hour meals asked to be seated at smaller table than 8 to avoid this altho some enjoy their wine and the ambiance of the dining experience. Breakfast and lunch are buffet with different theme and one day they did a beach BBQ on Tobago cay which was amazing. Only negative is the buffet is in smaller area than on Star Flyer which makes for a traffic jam between the hot dishes and salads and fruit. They also set out some snacks at 5-6 PM which is welcome since dinner does not start until 7:30 PM. Joanna and Jerry provided music in afternoon and at night and were great, I really enjoyed them and listened a lot to their music. Crew is wonderful and ready to help at all times. Bar prices are reasonable and I am a beer drinker and was surprised to find they had Carib as the last two Flyer cruises I was on in the Caribbean did not have any island beers and altho they ran out half way thru the cruise I was hoping this will be a change on their cruises in Caribbean next year. Most days we made two stops in morning and afternoon it seems to let excursions go out and then a beach type stop in the afternoon. I found the morning stops less than exciting as I did no excursions but truly loved each afternoon stop and wanted to stay longer. The ship does move but I guess I am getting used to the motion and only two nights did I notice more movement. Passengers were a mix of UK, Canada, US, and others but most were very friendly and welcomed me at dinner as a solo which is appreciated. I was asked which ship I prefer since I had now sailed both and that is truly hard to say, I guess my first experience is important and think if I was on a 7 day trip I prefer Star Flyer and if I was on 14 day trip I would prefer Royal Clipper especially is you had days at sea like the Panama Canal trip. I enjoyed this cruise again and I finally saw the Green Flash which makes this a special cruise to me. Read Less

If you like being herded on huge ships, this is not for you. If you enjoy dodging electric carts on board, this is not for you. If you want to be in a crowded theatre, this is not for you. If you like to pay extra to get the best dining selections, this is not for you. If you take youthful children and have someone entertain them, this is not for you. If you need to stop a large, overcrowded ports with multiple trinket store, this is not for you. If you’re a couch potato, this is not for you. If you need to be hoisted by an elevator, this is not for you. However, there are a multitude of reason to consider the Star Clippers and, especially, the Royal Clipper. First, it’s very comfortable to be on a ship where the staff and most passengers know your name. It’s nice to be served by professionally educated and trained personnel. It’s nice to be entertained by wonderful local musicians. It’s exciting to see 5,400 sq.ft of sails be unfurled and set. It’s relaxing to feel the ocean breeze and the sea spray. It’s fun to visit small ports and have access to beautiful beaches. It’s amazing to look up at any of the five masts that are neatly 180 ft. high and be able to climb to a crow’s nest 75 ft. above the deck. It’s nice to be casually dressed every evening. It’s nice to have a wide selection of delicious choice at every meal. It’s nice to pay $3.50 for beer and wine and under $6.00 for mixed drinks. It’s nice to have so many water sports available from a ramp that is lowered from the stern. It’s nice to know that more than half of the passengers have been aboard the Royal Clipper previously. It’s nice from the beautiful maroon mahogany paneling to the special dinnerware. The niceties go on and on. Yes, we will be back for many more adventures on The Royal Clipper. I have taken 30 other cruises, most on the most luxurious, and have visited 93 countries. I have found the niche that I enjoy most. Ahoy, mate! Read Less

We stayed 3 nights at the Radisson Aquatica in Bridgetown before we boarded the Royal Clipper. This was a good way to acclimatized to the lovely warn weather as we have had a long cold winter in southern Ontario. The hotel was old and in need of some updates but the staff was wonderful. On Mar 2nd we boarded the Royal Clipper and were amazed by the efficient and quick check in procedure. we took a walk around the vessel and discovered that the ship is in pristine condition, extensive use of brass and teak really gives it the old sailing vessel aura. We found even the deckhands polite and friendly. The best part is that the ship actually sails without engine for most of the voyage. The raising of the sails is a spectacle not to be missed. It never got old. The cabins were roomy and spotless. Our cabin steward Diana was discreet, yet attentive and the room was always tidy. The food was at a five star hotel level. There was always a good choice of entrees for dinner and the breakfast and lunch buffets were excellent. The service on board was second to none. The servers in the elegant dining room were also first class. Our server Marko was always friendly and very efficient. The bar staff was equally as good and Leandre the Tropical Bar tender always had a ready smile and knew my name after the first day. (Could be a bad sign??). The shore excursions were primarily by the ships tender. This ship had a very nice pair of tenders with open sides to let the ocean breeze in, not like the enclosed life boats on other vessels. That was a nice addition. There were never large lines and crowds to deal with as there wee only 200 passengers on the ship. The only criticism was a major mix up with pre ordered wine. It took the head bartender 3 days to sort that out. Our problem did not seem to be a priority to him. Despite that glitch I would not only go again but highly recommend this ship to anyone who appreciates sailing vessels. This one is the ultimate. Read Less

We chose this ship as we are avid sailors, and if you want to sail in a tall ship, this is probably the best. However, this comes with some compromises that have to be accepted. The ship is small, at 4400 gross tonnes. It is a sailing ship so will heel gently to the wind and have a genteel motion. There are no elevators, no climbing walls, no casino, One restaurant and no constant tannoy announcements. The cabins are small (it's a tall ship). What you do get is some special sailing on a beautiful ship with traditional mahogany and brass interiors, all scrupulously clean and maintained. A library and piano bar, a high crew to passenger ratio, an open bridge policy, good food and helpful crew. There are only c200 guests and 105 crew. The bar staff will know you by name in the first day. The ship uses the sails for about 60% of the time, using the engine only to make the eta at next port or when the wind is in the wrong direction. It was never noticeable in our cabin which was ver quiet. The prices for extras such as wine and cocktails, laundry etc are not outrageous. Entertainment is very much passenger led, costume evenings, quizzes and the like. It all hails from a previous age and is very stress free and relaxing. This is not a high octane thrill seekers trip, if you want that then you're on the wrong ship. It's not suitable for people with reduced mobility as there are no lifts and access doors have large cills and are very heavy. There would not be much for young children to do. The paid shore excursions are uniformly poor. We took three and they were all very bad with late pick ups, dirty venues and it was obvious nobody from the company has tested them for years. We loved it. Some passengers complained about the ships motion, small cabins and lack of elevators? Did they read the brochure? Read Less

We had a great time on the Royal Clipper. The ship is beautiful, our cabin was very comfortable, the food was wonderful, and the crew very friendly and helpful. There's nothing quite like sailing on a clipper ship, you're closer to the ocean and you can really feel the sea. I will warn that if you tend toward sea sickness, this is probably not a great choice for you. We were in a deluxe cabin with a balcony and had plenty of room. There are 2 closets and plenty of drawer space. In these rooms, you can hear the sails going up, so if you're a light sleeper, that might be a bit of a problem. The food is very good and there is plenty of it! It's nice that there is no prearranged seating so that you can choose who you want to dine with. There are plenty of choices on the buffets and the nightly menu, so that everyone should be able to find something that they like. Dinner is served quite late, between 7:30 and 9:00, at home we eat early and go to bed early, so going to bed on a full stomach was something we had to get used to! Bring your digestive enzymes and antacids if you are used to an earlier schedule! There is amusing nightly entertainment and there is a close and familiar atmosphere with all the guests which is really nice. The crew does everything they can to make sure that you are comfortable and taken care of. I would definitely recommend. Read Less

Overall, this voyage was disappointing relative to our expectations. Pros: - The cabin, with a small balcony was very pleasant, and had excellent service. - Sleeping on a sailing vessel was marvelous - just enough pitch to be soothing. - Desserts were truly exceptional. - The ship’s officers were pleasant, and accessible. - Spa services were excellent. Cons: - Breakfast and lunch were buffets, and underwhelming. Dinners varied greatly in quality. Overall, we had expected better cuisine. - Ports chosen by the ship were oft secondary ones, & distant from attractions, despite “name” ports being near. The rationale for this apparently was visiting beaches rather than population centers. Be sure this is your goal. - Very little to do onboard. Glad we had a balcony to use up the hours. - Gym was disappointing, with some equipment not being usable given low ceilings. - Enrichment lectures and entertainment were minimal. In short, boredom became a factor for us — the first time I have experienced this to any significant degree in 20 plus years of cruising. Many folks seemed to really enjoy this style of cruising, but it was not for us. Read Less

This was a return visit for us. We did the Grenadines last year so went for the Windward's this time. We stayed for a week in Barbados before boarding, which we found to be better rather than rushing straight onto the boat. We stayed post cruise also. We arrived at the cruise port about 3.30pm and were onboard for 4.00pm straight to a welcome cocktail and the captain and crewe. we had to queue to get our passports/credit cards etc for about 20 mins. Our bags came within an hour. Before we sailed we had to go the safety briefing with our life jackets. This was repeated the next day in the morning (without life jackets). The boat is very interesting - great if you love sailing. If you get sea sick then it won't be for you! it moves all the time so everyone is staggering around constantly but that's part of the charm. You also move in bed a lot! when going up and down decks the stairways are narrow with sprung doors at the end - it's quite amusing watching people being eaten by the doors (especially when they've had a drink or two...). It's not a mega luxury cruise - it is a replica of a sailing ship and is just that with some nice touches. Cabins aren't big like you get on a normal cruise ship but adequate for 2. We were able to stow our bags under the bed and were able to put all our clothes away. The bathroom had a good shower, with toiletries but still no hair conditioner (not sure why!) It was kept immaculate by our steward. Dining is communal so you always sit on a table with other people. We met some interesting people. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style. There are sandwiches and snacks (sort of afternoon tea) at 5.00pm daily. Dinner starts at 7.30pm. There was a good menu choice about 6 courses (if you wanted). there are standard choices of a pasta dish or steak if you don't want any of the daily main courses. There are no 'formal' nights as its not that type of cruise. you could wear anything except shorts in the evening. Entertainment is a bit ad hoc, but fun. We had a crew and passenger talent show, passenger fashion show (modelling clothes from the shop), a music quiz night and Pirate Night. Otherwise there was a young duo who were really good, together with dancing after dinner. Our cruise director this year Mino was fantastic. Really got everyone going, line dancing, salsa all sorts of things. We didn't use the gym (neither did anyone else when we went down there). Didn't use the spa either. They only offer massages no beauty treatments. shore excursions are a bit expensive -we just sorted ourselves out when we got ashore. You can get snorkelling equipment on the second day which you keep for the duration of the cruise. They have the marina platform with paddle boards, kayaks etc and these were taken ashore a couple of times when we had 'beach days'. Drinks are fairly cheap (in comparison to normal cruise liners) and you don't get a 'service' charge added on. A cocktail was about 5 euros, beer about 4. The staff on the ship are the best - they are a small team so you get to know them and they you. It's all very informal and they seem to enjoy working on the boat. There are plenty of sun loungers for everyone (they were never full anyway) as you don't have any 'sea days'. You stop somewhere every day (sometimes 2 places a day - which can be a bit of a rush). Getting on and off the ship was all by tender. Fellow guests tended to be on the more mature side but there were some younger people. Passengers were mainly from the UK, USA, Canada, France and Germany. My one gripe was that the tv channels are still all in French (don' t know why as there were hardly any French people on the ship!). I like to have the tv on when getting ready etc, so it got a bit annoying after a while. But hey - if that's my only gripe then it's not too bad! they raise the sails every time you depart somewhere so they are up and down all the time and they play the Vangelis music so it's quite stirring! They have you helping with the ropes on the odd occasion. You can go up the mast or onto the net at the front. we didn't go in the plunge pools - the water seemed very cold when I stuck my hand in and I didn't really see anyone in them. The sea was warmer! You are going on a sailing ship not a luxury yacht so you are going for the experience. If you are happy staggering around like you are drunk for a week (which is quite funny as everyone does it) then it's the cruise for you! There are lots of repeat passengers - we even saw a few who were on it the same time as us last year. We will be going again next year for sure. Read Less

We sailed on Royal Clipper before around the Windward Isles a few years ago after twice seeing the ship at anchor whilst on Caribbean holidays. After a great experience decided that the Grenadines would be even better. We usually visit smaller hotels in the Caribbean a couple of times a year and holidays on huge cruise liners are not for us. We do not sail at home and Royal Clipper is a sailing ship so something different - it does roll as it sails but only one evening/night proved uncomfortable! Overall it is a something different and a fantastic experience. The Captain and his crew are all personable, approachable and happy to give their time to chat with passengers - we could not fault anyone. The food throughout the day is first class - but we did not manage to stay up for the midnight offering! How they prepare food of such a high standard in a Galley for something like 110 crew and 220 passengers is a mystery. Seating in the Tropical Bar was mainly on high bar stools which my wife could not manage with just a few chairs provided so we missed most of the entertainment but enjoyed our reasonably priced drinks in comfort in the Piano Lounge. Most of the islands visited we have holidayed at or visited so did not take advantage of many of the tours on offer although we took the tender to some great beaches like Bequia, Mayreau. Only one island is not for us again. Sail Away each evening with the music playing , sails being set (and lit up on later dark departures) is nightly emotional experience. Another great holiday - we are already considering a Star Clipper Company Cruise to other islands in a year or two! Read Less

It was our hearts desire to sail on the Royal Clipper after seeing her come into view at Rodney Bay when we were staying in St Lucia some years ago. We love cruising and the luxury of visiting interesting and beautiful destinations. Not so with this sailing vessel. Embarkation was a nightmare. No one to greet you at the terminal. Once boarding the ship the we had to queue for over forty minutes in the lounge/piano bar to be registered and assigned keys. It was an awful experience as the Crewe admitted the air conditioning had been turned off. The sweat was pouring off the couple in front of us and a gentleman behind us had to leave the queue to go outside for fresh air. No apology was given - the explanation was that they were short staffed!! We booked the deluxe cabin with balcony Sadly it had seen better days - clean yes as our steward was wonderful - upholstery was tired and worn - woodwork also. Bathroom needed regrouting . The outside table had chipped edges and stained. Not what you would expect from their so called top accommodation. You would think being under sail is a soothing experience then think again. The noise from the whinches turning the sails and constant noisy hmmming from generators etc meant interrupted sleep every night. If you like to dine at a reasonable time then be prepared to share a table with strangers. We had to wait until after 9.30pm to eat to ensure a table for two - albeit we were invariably sat on tables for 6 or more as there were only two tables for 2 and unfortunately they were positioned directly at the bottom of the staircase into the dining room - therefore on full view to diners entering and leaving the restaurant - not ideal. The Tropical Bar should have been paradise on the sea however. to enjoy cocktails propped up on high wooden stools all evening is neither comfort or luxury. Tables with comfortable chairs were nowhere to be found. On deck and around the pool areas there were sun beds dating back to the 80’s. Steamers with padded cushions did not exist. Wooden benches facing inwards were the only seating. We have enjoyed many cruises over the years from the mighty Queen Mary to the smaller Seabourn’s and the ports of call have been fabulous. Not so with the Royal Clipper. Unless you were a dedicated excursionist you would be sorely disappointed with where tendered. Martinique beaches where we we dropped off to were severely below par as was St Lucia - dirty and unlike beaches we had seen and enjoyed on many trips to the Caribbean before therefore knowing these islands to have fabulous beaches this was unacceptable. The cruise director even warned us the night before that we probably wouldn’t want to spend time at the ‘beach’ thus promoting an excursion! Star Clippers really must be honest when arranging bookings and take out the words luxury comfort and relaxation. A big plus was that the cabin and waiter staff were excellent - friendly , accommodating, fun and our steward Angel was as his name implies an angel.... nothing was too much trouble. Read Less

I chose this cruise (Royal Clipper to The Grenadines) to "get away from it all" and celebrate my 60th birthday, after having had a pretty awful year last year. We're not "cruising people", but I love being on ships/boats, (not floating skyscrapers) and exploring places. I liked the fact that the entertainment was simple, the food was adequate (not excessive or wasteful) and that the on-board activities were minimal. There was a library, plenty of sailing activity to watch, and wonderful scenery. This was therefore the perfect cruise for me. A geographer's cruise. The balance of large/small ports and beach/swimming stops was excellent, giving plenty of variety. The relatively small size of the ship, and ability to go ashore easily by tender meant that we could explore some charming and hidden away places - spending my birthday on Petit Bateau in the Tobago Cays was like being in a dream, and being invited by the Captain to take the wheel (under close supervision!) was the icing on the cake. I would definitely like to go on another Star Clippers cruise. Read Less