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

We booked this cruise as we wished to see some of the smaller islands in the BVI's and other neighbouring islands. We booked a cabin on the deck as is it the only accommodation that offers a double bed where you do not have to climb over one another to get in and out of bed. The space was restrictive but the bathroom was a good size. We were kept awake every night by the electric sail motors and banging from the deck above. The food was OK and the waiting staff very friendly and helpful. There was a complete lack of information about the ports of call and the history of the area. No maps or information sheets were provided. What a pity lectures were not available. We wonder why we went to some of the locations often just a beach with a bar and no means of transport to other places on the islands. We left the ship exhausted and needing another holiday. Never again! Read Less

We heard from other people how nice it was and we dislike the idea of cruises with thousands on one ship. We wanted something more intimate and that is what we got. Most things were great. The only thing we need to mention is that our shower was never hot. Just lukewarm. We slept well every night and woke refreshed. The meals were great. So much variety. The crew was always helpful and courteous. We went up the mast and on the hammock. That was so much fun! The excursions were very interesting and informative. We got a true picture of life on all the islands we went to because we asked the local people so many questions. The weather was interesting as well. Rain almost every day, but it did not last for very long. Beautiful weather, beautiful scenery and we met some interesting people on the cruise. Thank you Scolopamine!!!! We highly recommend this cruise. Read Less

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 an hour before 4.00pm (boarding time) and found the line for checking in. We were given a temporary card and then could board from 4.00pm. When we boarded we had to queue to get our proper cards and do the financials etc. 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 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 no hair conditioner (not sure why!) It was kept immaculate by our steward Sonny. 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. Otherwise there was someone playing and singing on the piano or playing music to dance to. We didn't use the gym (neither did anyone else when we went down there). Didn't use the spa either. 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). Our best day was in Tobago Cays as this was our beach bbq. They took everything off the ship and took it to the beach (bar as well!). Getting on and off the ship was nearly all by tender bar one place. Fellow guests tended to be on the more mature side but there were some younger people but no kids. Passengers were mainly from the UK, USA and Germany. My one gripe was that the tv channels were 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 - they did that about 4 times (weather permitting of course). 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! In comparison, we have sailed on the Wind Surf which is more luxurious as it's modern, however it is like comparing apples and oranges.... 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! Would we go again - of course! Am off to book it now..... Read Less

We chose this cruise because we were kind of "burnt out" on the big ship cruises. The idea of sailing - really sailing - as well as a smaller group of passengers (175) was really appealing to us. The food was fantastic. The crew members were attentive without being smothering and the service was impeccable. I was amazed that the crew knew us by face/name by the second day. We were not constantly hounded to purchase something which was our experience on the big ships. There was definitely more of a family feel to this trip. There are no elevators so this is not a ship for those with mobility issues. The public rooms are beautifully appointed and comfortable. It was so easy to lose track of time and really disconnect from the world. WiFi onboard is a bit spotty but that was OK with us. When we were in port, there was generally free WiFi available to send quick updates to families and friends. The evening meal is an opportunity to get together with new friends and also to be placed at a table with people you haven't met yet. There were several "singles" taking the cruise and because this is such a small group of passengers, they didn't seem to feel left out or lonely at all. Just about all of the tables are 6-8 seats so this makes for nice mixing of new people. If you need a casino or lots of shopping on board, this is not the cruise for you. The last day almost felt like the last day of a really fun summer camp, everyone exchanging emails with new friends, many people taking the same cruises each year and meeting up. This was without a doubt the most fun I've ever had on a vacation. We will be back! Read Less

My second Clipper cruise...first was Star Clipper and that was so unique and amazing that I wanted to spend Christmas on the Royal Clipper out of Barbados and tour the Grenadine islands. As I was alone I booked a smaller stateroom and while they do sell it for two I found it perfect for one ... well designed with wood paneling, great bed, lots of mirrors and quite a large bathroom...all marble. I was very forward so I did hear the anchor but I didn't care much. There is a lot of stairs going up and then down a bit and up some more but you get used to it. The grand dinning room, at the lowest deck was a touch of Paris with an Atrium up to the top deck and the sky light is actually the bottom of the pool. A white grand piano sits like Juliet on a special balcony so it can be heard at all levels and he had another on deck for the after noon buffet. There is a piano bar, a shop, a library, top deck bar and plenty of sun beds....no need to HOG and reserve them. The tenders to shore are great and the back of the Royal drops down to the ocean like a draw bridge and you can swim off it and they have lots of fun water toys. They feed you four times a day and I mean really feed you. Great buffet breakfast with Egg station...Buffet Lunch...both in main dinning room and then the on deck Buffet they set up everyday on deck at 5 p.m. The bars are great on deck and inside the Piano Bar. The Christmas decor was wonderful with trees and garlands...music and ginger bread houses and Yule logs....l ate so much I felt like ballast. There are a lot of shore excursions to choose from but I felt those on excursions were always at the foreground...we would stop at, not very nice ports so they could board a bus while we had nothing to see in port....I didn't like the split days...a stop in the morning and then move to someplace else in the after noon. Too rushed....some stops you could do without (except to board a bus) others Like Martinique we had too little time and had to rush to see anything. One fabulous beach day they dragged everything from the ship and had a huge BBQ on shore while we swam and sunned...all delicious...they even bring the desert. Each time we leave port and they start raising the sail they play the most magnificent music...classical with a Male choir ... WOW...it is so moving and makes you feel like a Viking off to war...I wanted to throw a spear at somebody. The mail pool of three where bar patrons can see you through under water windows was very nice. We could even climb the mast for the most amazing photo Op. Then there are nets at the front figure head you can just lay there like a fish in a net with the water rushing below. Now for the best feature....THE CREW...I have never seen such a hard working group and always pleasant, smiling and helpful, and remember everything has to be lugged up and down countless flights of stairs...from the kitchen which is somewhere underwater and all the way to the top deck...up and down...My room attendant was fabulous and I felt very pampered...everything perfect always. As the tips are based on Per Person they get a bit cheated when there was so many solo travelers it literally cuts they tips in half...so as I was alone I doubled my tip (not much ) and ensured he would earn the same as if it were two. The sing songs, the talent show, the Christmas Carols, the Steel Band who came aboard for a couple of hours...the Campaign party...the Lobster, the Turkey, and all the specialties to eat...you can't go wrong and as I said....This is NOT Disney Land at sea. This is a fabulous, luxurious, unique cruise under sail and you need this in your memory for every. Thanks to all on the Royal. Read Less

Star Clippers has many repeat customers including ourselves. That said, there are still many things that they could easily fix that would much improve the passenger experience. Boarding was a chaotic event. We arrived about an hour before boarding time (4 PM), and saw empty tables in the terminal and people waiting on the few seats. There was a pile of luggage blocking about half of the tables with two chairs behind them. My husband decided to sit in one of the seats behind the tables and I chose to stand, because I correctly anticipated a chaotic boarding process. At 4 PM, they began the boarding by issuing a temporary card to the ship. Then we went on the ship and got a permanent card and gave a credit card. For us it was a smooth process, because we were second in line, but for others, it meant standing in line a long time. Another example of organizational deficiency (and lack of organizational memory) was getting the snorkeling equipment the next morning. Snorkeling gear was to be given out from 11 AM to noon. I paused to ask the tour director a question and got in the queue right at 11 AM. It snaked around the room at the stern of the ship and down a stair and out of sight. Much of the time, I was standing in the sun. By noon, I was in the stairwell in the queue and saw one of the sports team that was distributing the equipment leave. When I finally made it to the desk, I realized that the Swedish woman at the counter didn't understand the conversions between US, English and metric shoe sizes. I was given fins that were meant to be used with booties and asked for others. They were out of mediums and fortunately, I got the last size small that was the correct size and type for me. The woman two place in line behind me said that they shut down operations right after her and told the remaining people to come back the next day!!! In all, I stood in line to get the fins for an hour and 20 minutes. The excuse was that the sports team had just joined the boat, but obviously Star Clippers doesn't provide the team with adequate information to do their job. That said, the sports team did a good job of offering kayaks and standup paddleboards on the beach. When I was getting set to try paddleboarding for the first time, the Swedish woman alerted me to the fact that I still had my waist pouch on (which contained my cell phone). The process for returning the snorkeling equipment was also flawed. The time listed in the program to do so was in the middle of our time on an excursion. When my husband returned the fins for me the prior day, he gave them to the tour director, who didn't give us a receipt, even though I had been required to sign for the fins and told that there would be an 80 Euro charge if they were not returned. A sane way to handle the snorkeling equipment would have been to ask people prior to sailing what equipment they wanted and have it waiting in their cabin. Then only those who needed to exchange the equipment would have had to go to the sports team pickup counter. The tour director was hard to find outside of announced meetings (to which she was often quite late). The process for signing up for the excursions was also last century and uncomputerized. On prior Star Clippers Cruises, I think the tour director posted a list of excursion participants the night prior after the sign-up sheets had been collected. In this case, no lists were posted and we were told that we had to make note of which excursion we picked and the time (which often changed). Again, there should have been an option to prebook excursions. The tour director's talks on the port stops were erratic. I didn't discern a pattern as to when a port talk was provided and when one wasn't. However, since she was so hard to find, I found it ironic that she kept the English-language passengers waiting for 15 to 20 minutes, because she was elsewhere answering some passenger's question, when she was scheduled to be giving the disembarkation talk. The daily program often had unused space that could have been employed to provide useful information. Also, many of us were unaware that the Captain's dinner was that night, because it was listed on the front page with a dark picture of the ship on top of it making it very difficult to see the word "Captain's". The last night when we were eager to pack and get to sleep, we were kept waiting 70 minutes after we were seated at dinner before we were served our first course. In hindsight, they were trying to keep everyone there and in their seats until the hotel captain gave his infomercial. With no alternative place to eat, we were unhappy hungry and tired captives. In general, the table service at dinner was erratic with long waits to order wine and/or to get the remains of a bottle of wine. In some cases, we were eating our second course before we got the wine. Even though the excursions were booked right up to the evening before, the tour descriptions had significant errors and omissions. On one tour, we should have been warned that besides the main guide and driver, there were guides at several stops, who were working solely for tips. On another tour, one of the prime attractions was going to the sulfur springs and taking a mud bath. We were given 25 minutes, which with the queue to get to the mud was much too short. Then we were driven for 20 minutes each way to a crafts village that the entire tour group refused to visit. It we have been given an hour at the sulfur springs, the group would have been much happier. Internet access for 1 hour was offered for 6 euros and 4 hours for 18 euros. If you went on and off the internet much of the time was taken up by getting in and out. Also, except at odd hours (early morning, late night, meal times), the internet speed was painfully slow. I'm accustomed to ships offering a news summary daily. Star Clippers offered news summaries in English, German and French, but the English version was so European-centric that no news was reported on the attempted bombing of the NY Port Authority and only one mention was made of the huge wildfires in California. At least one day, the news files were not updated. On many ships, English news is provided both for the US and for the UK. Between meals there was a nice selection of teas and brewed coffee, but no decaffinated coffee. Except for two mornings, when I was told they were out of decaf coffee, I was able to get it at breakfast. Bathroom toiletries included shower caps, and narrow vials of shampoo, bath gel, and hand lotion and small round bars of soap. The vials tended to fall out of the soap dish in the shower and had to be shaken hard to get the contents. Large refillable containers on the wall would have been preferable and more ecological. Also, with numerous beach stops, I really, really wanted hair conditioner. None was available at the ship store, so two of the staff volunteered to let me have some of theirs. The star clippers people who decide on the toiletries for a tropical cruise with numerous beach stops, must be bald! This was our 4th time to use Star Clippers and our 5th week on one of their cruises. It always takes a while for the memories of the deficiencies to fade before we are enticed to try them again. This crusie was much better than two of the others that we took. Notably, when we were in the Mediterranean, I picked a cruise, because I wanted to see Stromboli. I had to skip the Captains dinner (and dinner itself), because the sail-by was scheduled during that dinner. Read Less

Our Cruise was the Windward Islands. We had never been cruising before. It was a very different experience. We were some of the youngest passengers in our late 50s and early 60s and many of the passengers were over 80! The evening entertainment was limited and over most nights by 11, after that most went to bed. However, do not be put off the food and attention to detail will stay with us for ever. The cabins, ship, dining, ports and excursions were amazing. The majority of staff could not do enough to help you. Standards were very high. You may be seasick, where the Atlantic and Caribbean meet, it can be rocky. Please take your seasick tablets and bands. The first morning we could not wait to arrive at St Lucia, but after that most of the time we seemed to get "sea legs." Many people looked green around the gills! The unfurling of the sail as we left port will stay with me for ever. There is so much space. Do not forget she is an ocean going vessel and you can really feel her move. Read Less