We chose this cruise because of the opportunity to travel in a sailing ship. It more than fulfilled our expectations, with the ship travelling under sail for much of the journey. The ship itself is beautifully furnished with wood panelling and brass fittings. The weather was fine throughout so we spent a lot of time on deck, but the public rooms were lovely and very relaxing. The entertainment on board is provided by a musician, who is very versatile, playing piano and guitar and also singing. There was dancing each evening, rock and pop rather than ballroom. One night there was a quiz and on another, a talent show. The entertainment is not sophisticated but a lot of fun. The meals were excellent, with a lot of choice. The staff were absolutely superb: we would especially mention Vlad, who organised all tours and entertainment, Lawson, who cared for our every need in the dining room, and Randy our cabin steward. However, all staff were positive, professional and helpful. We were called by name after the first day.... The ship has no elevators so you need to be able to handle multiple stairways to move around. Excursions and trips to port were mainly by boarding the tender. There is generally good access to beaches for swimming. We would certainly travel on this ship again. Read Less

This was my 4th Star Clipper cruise and I knew the drill and what to expect. Had inside cabin 218 which is bunk bed and basically a closet but for one person I used the upper bunk as storage. Be aware that here is not a whole lot of open deck space and may have trouble finding a chair especially in the shade. I always enjoy the food on Star Clipper and this was no exception. They do a good job of seating you with others and they were all very welcoming to me. We had a mix of UK, Germany, Scotland, and US which was a nice group of people and were told we had 130 on our cruise. Had more wind, choppy seas and showers on this than all 3 of my past trips combined but luckily this did not affect our shore time. Sadly it seems that time on shore gets less and less. Guess that is on effect of using sails but other times we stopped in the morning to let excursion go out and by the time we got to afternoon stop only had a very short time to visit. I still have issue that they do not have any island beer as Carib on board which seems strange to be in the Caribbean and offer Bud Light and a German Draft beer. When I got home I discovered I did not receive the $75 OBC I was supposed to receive. I had my travel agent call and he was offered was I should book another cruise to receive the $75. I called and the lady agreed it was on my documents and she would send it to Mark and he would call me back that day and I have never heard from him at all. This treatment causes me concern for a repeat customer and I am not sure if I will give them my business in the future. If you have never been and want to experience a ship under sails you should try it but if you are promised anything be sure to check your documents before you leave the ship. Read Less

The cruise was nice, ship was in great condition , staff was accommodating but the management has some strange ideas about customer service. 3 major problems occurred on our recent cruise which would prevent me from cruising with Star Clippers again. First, there policy of confiscating passengers passports for the duration of the cruise is incredible in this day and age. It makes life easy for the cruise line but is a burden and risk that should not be foisted on passengers, particiularly since the first one hears about this is after the cancellation date has passed, so one is faced with the choice to cancel and lose a significant deposit or to have their passport taken away and not returned until the end of the cruise. We would have like to take a ferry from st kitts to nevis but had no documents to permit this so the cruise line holds you 'hostage' to their itinerary and excursions. Terrible customer focus! Their billing practices are also problematic and even suspect. Our initial bill was wrong: it included significant overcharges at the bar ( we are not drinkers and we were charged for 2 bottles of wine). When I asked this be corrected I was given a particularly unwelcome cross examination and when they learned they were wrong no apology was offered and they refused to re-issue a corrected bill. Again, terrible customer service. Finally, the cabin air unit was VERY loud, well over 100 decibels and made it difficult, and some nights impossible to sleep. After a week of this OI was truly sleep deprived and was happy to end the cruise. It's too bad, because the ship is beautiful, the route was excellent, the food was quite good, but some of the policies need to be re-examined with a better eye towards focusing on the passenger and not what is convenient for the cruise line. When I raised these issues with the purser, she seemed that she didn't care at all and couldn't be bothered. Again, more lack of customer focus. We will be investing our vacation dollars elsewhere in future and I suggest you be aware of these policies before making your travel choice. Read Less

Just returned from a back-to-back two weeks on the Star Flyer, Leeward and Treasure Islands. Absolutely wonderful experience we have come to expect from Star Clipper. Ship absolutely beautiful, crew amazing, food top class. Wonderful guests on board. Monya our cruise director was warm, friendly but most importantly knowledgeable and efficient. Wonderful home-spun entertainment each evening led by Monya along with Sandra and Max the sports team. Different evening entertainment each week. First week 140 passengers onboard, including a film crew and small party of travel agents, second week 120 onboard. Loved all the islands, which we had visited before but not on this ship. Excursions were all good value for many and great fun. Highly recommend. Can't wait for the next one. Nothing beats sitting up on the sun deck for sailaway or later in the evening with a drink in hand and the sails billowing in the breeze. Read Less

We chose this cruise on the recommendation of friends. With only 200+ passengers, it was an exceptionally friendly/personal cruise among the passengers. Since there’s no elevators, there was no worry about being hit by electric wheelchairs or walkers. The food is outstanding and served 5 times each day Service by the waiters, cabin stewards, etc., was of highest quality The ports visited often required anchorage due to visiting less frequented places that offered excellent water sports, beaches and shopping opportunities in areas of shallow waters. It is a square rigged sailing ship with the majority of its passengers returning from previous experiences on the same Royal Clipper. The staff is available, personable, and very professional. The cabins are well decorated with mahogany and brass with more than adequate storage. The beds are comfortable and well dressed. The dress code is relaxed and only in the evening is “business casual” the standard. Snorkeling, scuba, kayaking, swimming are offered from a sports platform with equipment supplied ate no cost. Evening entertainment often provided by local performers, no faux broadway type. Selecting this cruise is reserved for able bodied adventurous passengers. Read Less

This was my third time on this cruise line and I still like it a lot. I like the small ship and the fact that it really sails.The ship never felt crowded, I could always find private space, except in the shade. Shade was in short supply and the no saving seats policy did not seem to be enforced. Staff is excellent, always friendly and polite. I feel that the quality of the food has gone down.They served only salty ritz crackers with cheese and the cheese selection was bland. It seems the 5 pm snacks are also less varied than in previous years. The sandwiches were lots of bread/roll with a very thin piece of meat or cheese. Drinks were reasonably priced, One night there was a steel band playing and they were much much too loud for the small area of the Tropical Bar. it was painful to stay there. Disembarkation was a mess because we were late getting in. They didn't bother making announcements, so we sat there longer than necessary waiting for our passports to be returned. Read Less

We sailed on the Royal Clipper Caribbean cruise Antigua-Barbados. First the good news. Sailing in the Caribbean was marvelous. The shiip really sails. The ship is beautiful, our deluxe cabin was fine. The food at meals was good and plentiful, although room service breakfast was barely adequate. Now the bad news. My wife and I took a dip in the water from the marina deck. We were wearing life vests supplied by the ship. At some point several small sail boats came back to the platform and we became separated in the melee that followed, which was made worse because of the wind and current, since the ship was anchored out in the harbor. My wife tried to get back on the platform , out of the water, but because of the returning small boats and the movement of the ship, she couldn't pull herself up, and was being pushed into and almost under the platform. She called for help from the crew but no one came to her aid. Eventually 2 guests on the platform reached in and pulled her out, before I could work my way through the boats which had congregated at the platform. She was visibly shaken. Soon therafter we went to the Purser to lodge a complaint about what we saw as an unsafe condition. She basically said we should just note this on the guest comment card. We didn't feel this was an adequate response so she called a crewman who was on duty at the platform at he time. He came by and said that he saw my wife was having a trouble, but he was too busy dealing with the returning boats to do anything about it! We were, of course, quite flabbergasted. Again we were told to note it on the guest comment card. No one offerd an apology, took our names or, as fars as we can tell, filed an incident report. When we reurned we e-mailed the company and sent a copy to our travel agent who reached out to the cruise company's agent. Neither we nor our travel agent have recieved even an acknowledgment for the cruise company. To us, this indicates a lack of attention to safety--when guests are out swimming in open water at least one crewman should be assigned to guest safety. And the lack of any response from the cruise company speaks for itself. Read Less

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

This was my second time on Star Flyer that sailed out of St Marten to the Leeward Islands, Nevis, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Antigua and St. Barth. I was solo and surprised that I was upgraded from category 6 to category 5 which was very convenient to all areas, cabin 404. Ship routine was same as last year except the cruise director gave a talk on each port on the bridge before we got to the islands, this was helpful and don't think I missed it last year but anyway I was glad they did this. The lure of these trips is everything the large cruise ships lack, no crowds, small ports, very relaxed atmosphere. There were many from UK, Canada, Germany, and US on our trip. Food on Star Flyer is very good to my taste. I am not a gourmet but every meal I had was very good, only breakfast buffet I have seen that had crispy and non crispy bacon. Only negative is it took over two hours for dinner which is way longer than I am used to but this may be due to I was seated at table for 8 each night where last year I was at table for 4. They do a great job of seating you with other people and they were all very welcoming to me as a solo. We sailed over 80% of the time according to the Captain and only one night did it get "bumpy". I am not a sailor but am amazed to watch the sails and the sailors who operate the ship. I did only one ship excursion of a tour of Nevis which gave a tour of the entire island, I only wish we could have stayed longer on each island but understand time and sailing. I feel very fortunate to be able to sail on these ships due to specials where they sometime remove the single supplement and will be on the Royal Clipper in March out of Barbados. 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

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

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

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

I booked this cruise when they offered a no single supplement offer as I have wanted to get to BVI for a long time and my Windstar cruise to BVI in December was moved to Barbados. Flew in one day earlier as few flights available and stayed at Alicia's Inn and enjoyed being on the Boardwalk and warm temperatures. Boarding began at 4:00 PM and quickly we were led to the ship, I had cat. 6 cabin 218 which is two bunk beds. Cabin was as small as I expected and two people in room would really be cramped and no way I would risk the ladder for the upper bunk. (if you are in this room as a single the ladder will rattle on it's hanger at night so I used towel to cushion) For one person it was perfect and no problems at all. There were 82 passengers on this trip with half from US and other half from UK, Austria, Germany, Australia, Switzerland and I met a wonderful family from Austria at Alicia's Inn and they included me at their table and for meals and we spent the day together in port and they were a big reason I had such a good time, thank Alex, Jutta, and Mario. Since this is a sailing ship there is less deck space thank my past experiences and shade was at a premium. Stairs are steep and thresholds are high but I had no problems during the cruise and you do notice the motion more but I was expecting this. Best food of any cruise I have been on and I only had breakfast and dinner with lunch being on the islands we stopped at, I had fish every night and was done perfectly and so good. They do have appetizers on deck from 5-6 and start with heavier apps first few days and less as week goes by but still plenty to choose from. I only drink beer and they listed carib on the menu but was not available but they did have a german draft that was fine once I gave it a chance. I enjoyed each Island and only wish we could have stayed longer like we did with Windstar but each was fun. They offered an excursion to the Baths in Virgin Gorda but you can get a taxi there for $4 each but I did do the train in St Kitts and enjoyed that experience. I did not care for the beach club they take you to catch the tender so I went back to my old favorite the Dock at Timothy Beach resort after the train and that was good as ever. Only one night did we have what would consider rough seas and glad it was at night and not during the day. Light shower one morning for 45 minutes and could see if in a rain storm for many hours during the day that could be a problem with where to go and do if not in port. Crew was friendly and ready to help for the most part except for the sport team. As this was my first cruise with Star Clipper I read everything I could find before my trip to know what to expect and not a whole lot of info available but I really enjoyed my trip and seeing some Islands that I have longed to visit and sorry I had to do this after the storm as the damage visible is terrible but there are enough places open to visit and I am sure the vegetation will be coming back also. I hope to do another cruise with Star Clipper and hope this review will help others looking for information. Read Less

Having been fortunate enough to sail on the Royal Clipper several times both in the Mediterranean and Caribbean we felt it would be fun to do the Atlantic Crossing. Utterly brilliant from boarding to disembarkation. On arriving everyone was made so welcome and with only 108 of us there was no queuing. The air of expectation on leaving Barbados was tangible and there was lots of laughter as we got to know each other. With a wonderful mix of nationalities there was always lots to talk about and learn from others. This was added to by some fascinating talks about the history of sailing and navigation. Some may want more 'laid-on' entertainment but everyone was on this ship because of what it offered - something completely different and so incredibly special. We have crossed the Atlantic on the QM2, which was wonderful and all the pomp and dressing for dinner was special but it couldn't compare to this. 16 days without seeing land - we were supposed to call in at the Azores but a storm meant we couldn't so sailed some 300 south. The storm was enjoyed by all of us as even our wine was served in short tumblers. You soon learnt to always have one hand for the rail! The cabins are not huge but it is a sailing ship for a few not a giant for thousands. Having said that they are extremely comfortable and the beds are as good as you will find on any ship and better than many we've been on. Within no time at all the crew know us all by name and what drinks we prefer and the officers come and join different tables each evening for dinner, which is fantastic as we can hear their stories. There is open seating so you can have fun enjoying the company of different people from across the world and we have never heard an argument - only fun! Thank goodness there are ships and cruises for all tastes but if you enjoy good company, good food and laughter then you will never do better than a Clipper Cruise - can't wait for the new Flying Clipper to come into service later this year. Enjoy yourselves whatever you do. Read Less

For staters, their food was fantastic! the service was never slow. we always had something to do such as: sitting on the widows net, mass climbing, going to an island, go to the bar, listen to live music, and go to the marina. the overall ship was fantastic. my kids loved it as well. dining was also fantastic. the menu was never the same one day, but if you didn't like what was on the menu you could also choose something off another menu that you could eat any day. The activities on the ship was endless. I think the safety was great. at the beginning of the cruise they had a lesson on what to do and when to do it. the emergency exits were marked clearly on the inside of your cabin door. when we wanted to go on an island we had to show our cards and climb down a ladder. it was so much fun. i highly recommend this cruise. I would for sure go on this cruise again. Read Less

Second cruise on the Royal Clipper (first was 5 years ago) and, if anything, better than the first. A truly magnicent jewel of the sea! Embarkation at Bridgetown , following an overnight stay at the Sugar Cane Club, was efficient and speedy. No sooner had we received our key cards and a drink at the tropical bar than our luggage was at our cabin and we could prepare for the voyage. Lifeboat drill, an excellent dinner and we were on the upper deck for the sailaway. Just as I remembered from the first cruise and actually even better - the light show and Vangelis' wonderful music were spectacular. Back at the cabin, Conrad our cabin steward had turned down the bed and left chocolates, a nightly ritual - brilliant. Sea was quite choppy the first night, more than I recalled from our first cruise, but we slept well. Breakfast and lunch are buffet service, excellent choice of dishes and a chef preparing eggs to order at breakfast, roasts and salmon at lunch. Dinner was served at the table by a marvellous team of servers and there was a really good selection of reasonably priced wines. Drink prices overall were very good, better than other cruise lines and hotels ashore. Service every day was impeccable, every crew member had a smile and a greeting, a credit to Star Clippers. Anita, the hotel manager, is a real star. Shore excursions - didn't do many as we like to be independent, but the scenic railway on St Kitts was a must. Fabulous scenery, free drinks and a small choir providing plenty of atmosphere on the train. The beach BBQ in Antigua was another high point. Dominica was a little unnerving, the Clipper was the first ship to anchor since the devastating hurricanes and there is much work to be done to restore the island to its former natural beauty. Entertainment and sports - again faultless. Steffi, the cruise director, certainly knows her job, always available for help and advice and made sure everyone had a great time. Entertainment was low key, a fashion show, talent night, music quiz. Alex provided the music and song, a real hard worker, as were all the crew. Guests and crew took part in the talent show and showed there is a lot of hidden talent out there. A steel band came on board in Antigua, the real sound of the Caribbean. A word about Captain Sergey, this man is a superb skipper and a true gentleman, his talks about his experiences at sea are not to be missed! All in all, a cruising experience to be highly recommended, we are booking for next year in the Meditteranean this week! Read Less

We spent three days in Barbados prior to boarding the Royal Clipper for our cruise around the Windward Islands. Our first ever cruise so we decided to do it in style. Some confusion initially on arrival at the port for embarking, a “man with a van” wanted to take our luggage to load onto his truck. We hadn’t been advised of this so there was some concern if it was legitimate as he wasn’t wearing any ID and no Star Clippers rep for about 10 minutes. But all was well in the end as they were taking the luggage to the boat so we didn’t need carry it on board. Bit of paperwork to complete before going over to the ship (could be sent to passengers in advance to complete?) but considering the number of passengers and the confined space in the terminal it went quite smoothly. First impression of the ship was WOW!! Shown to our cabin and had been anticipating cramped quarters but was pleasantly surprised and not as cramped as we thought considering the size of the ship. Enough storage in the cabin, bathroom adequate with plenty of toiletries provided and kept topped up throughout the cruise. The ship definitely has the WOW factor, mixing the old classic cruise liner decor with the requirements of modern living. Public areas were kept immaculately throughout the cruise and it was great to see ongoing daily maintenance which helps keep the ship looking fresh for her age rather than old and tired. When the ship is decked out in all her sails, she is a sight to behold - which on this cruise was over 50% of the time. On a balmy night departing Barbados at the start of the cruise, the sails being set as Vangelis' Conquest of Paradise is played was a truly magical start to the cruise. The quality of service by everyone throughout the cruise was fantastic. A special mention does have to go to the waiters and the cabin stewards for whom no request was too much trouble. Cabin was always immaculate and always a cheerful welcome whenever we bumped into him. Waiters were attentive without being intrusive and always very friendly. Considering you are at sea and a captive audience was pleasantly surprised to find the bar prices were not extortionate. We went on a shore extension at each stop one was offered including reef riding in Antigua and river tubing in Dominica which were the two standout excursions of our trip. The organisation of the excursions was fine. Considering the devastation to Dominica caused by last years hurricane, which was evident everywhere you looked, the fact that the local supplier of the river tubing (Wacky Rollers) was able to organise such a fun excursion was nothing short of miraculous. If your entertainment requirements require big production numbers, then this isn’t the boat for you. The steel band that came on to perform for an hour in Antigua were however fantastic. With the sea and sails and the Caribbean as your backdrop, what other entertainment do you really need. The pleasure of climbing the rigging up to the first viewing platform was a great experience and one everyone should try. The facilities available for water sports at the beach stops and off the marine platform at the back of the boat were good. We had read some reviews with negative comments before we went and consequently had some reservations, which in our experience were completely unfounded. In summary a magical, memorable, marvellous cruise onboard a beautiful, graceful queen of the sea. Read Less

We picked this cruise because we are loyal repeat customers, but no longer. It was such a disappointment. The crew were rude and room had no air conditioning. The staff did nothing to help us, the higher up we went with our concerns the worse we were treated. We finally had to get wifi off ship and have the main company help us with the issues. It was so stressful. Many others aboard had similar troubles, poor food, rude comments from staff, poor communication and no maps or names to go with the scenery around us. The ship looked old, dirty and dated and lacked the water equipment they had advertised. With no flippers available, we got stung by sea urchins and cut up on coral. The cruise director said it was our fault for not packing flippers, but the advertisement for this particular cruise promised flippers available for "all". The food was so recycled, it became a bore after the third day. Lots of dry bread at dinner, bread pudding the next day, of course. Very sad experience, last sail for us with this company. Read Less

Recommended by family contact who works in the travel industry . We hate the idea of those monster cruise ships and the Royal Clipper with around 200 passengers was the biggest we had ever been on . It suited us very well although we are not fanatical sea and sand people and there were plenty of beach stops . We had no difficulty finding compatible fellow passengers , mostly Americans who don't like Trump ! The ship is something unique ; for the less ambulant there are a lot of stairs which can cause problems when there is a lot of 'rock and roll ' .The ship has a pleasant lounge , a library , a so -called tropical bar which is the main gathering place , a spa and gym , massages and Turkish bath on offer , and a capacious dining room ,( a bit cramped ; some tables were difficult to access . The food was excellent ; quality rather than quantity was the name of the game and the head chef , from the Philippines , did us proud . The quality was excellent , sourced in USA apparently , Three meals a day were supplemented by snacks at 5 pm and just before midnight . Coffee , tea and fruit were available all day ; wine was not part of the deal but was reasonably priced .Entertainment was a bit homespun ; the talent evening was mostly provided by the crew , plenty of water sport on offer for those who wanted it . The ship has 3 young people on board whose job it is to provide this . You can even climb the rigging up to the crows nest if you fancy it , and learn how to tie nautical knots , visit the bridge and the engine room if you like . The crew are lovely , officers and other ranks alike . Maybe it all starts with the charming captain , a Russian from Estonia , who learnt his skill with tall ships in the Soviet navy . Service is excellent and always with a smile . Our ship could access smaller ports than the monster liners and the few excursions we did were all very enjoyable , in particular the train trip round St Kitts . A voyage to remember ! Read Less