Cruise Ship Reviews : Star Clippers Reviews
Huahine saw things this way:
This is real sailing, unlike an experience on an oceanliner, December 23, 2015
Reviewer: Huahine
Pros: Watching the sails unfurl from the sundeck is a memorable experience.
Cons: Uncomfortable lower level cabins with pull-down upper berths
Date of cruise: December 1, 2015
Departure port: Barbados
Region visited: Caribbean - Southern
Cabin category: Outside
Cabin number: 122
Good for children: Yes
Good for teenagers: Yes
Sailing on the world's largest passenger sailing ship is a memorable experience. I never tired of seeing those 42 sails unfurl, day or night. Climbing the rigging up to the crow's nest, with safety harness and help from sports staff, is easier than it looks and an opportunity not to be missed. DO BOOK the upper cabins with verandahs. My lowest level cabin with portholes had two twin beds put together, but the person on the porthole side must climb over the other person or shimmy to the foot of the bed to get out. A third pull-down berth above the head of the bed made it impossible to sit up in bed to read or watch TV. And the bathroom flooded after showering because the shower curtain was too short. Still, we didn't spend much time in the cabin because the ship's public spaces are so appealing.
cindyblogger saw things this way:
This is a great line, its sailing ships are great. Great small ship experience., May 22, 2010
Reviewer: cindyblogger
Pros: Real sailing, intimate, cosmopolitan group...many Europeans.
Cons: No elevator and some of the stairs are steep, with sharp turns.
Date of cruise: January 15, 2010
Departure port: Bridgetown, Barbados
Region visited: Caribbean - Southern
Cabin category: Outside
Good for children: Yes
Good for teenagers: Yes
This was our fourth trip with Star Clippers, our first on its larger flagship, the Royal Clipper. As usual, Star Clippers delivers a great experience and we are not talking a windjammer cruise, but an upscale product. The ships really sail, they tuck into small ports that other ships can't visit. It is intimate and you get to know many of the other passengers aboard. The cabins are adequate, and you hardly spend any time in them anyway. Not much entertainment...a piano player, steel band one night and other frivolity such as crab races. But that is not what you come on these cruises for...it is to sail under the stars and the blue sky. The food aboard is quite good and they do one lunch BBQ onshore during the week on a beach. There are no specialty restaurants...everyone eats in the same dining room, open seating, but it seems to work fine. We had a group of eight and they were able to accommodate us nicely. I definitely recommend this cruise to those who want a different type of cruise experience. There are no formal nights. Some guys do bring sport jackets but they are not required. These ships really do sail and they are really majestic when underway. Passengers are welcome to help with the lines or not. They can also climb to the crows nest and go out on the front rigging which overhangs the ocean. Neat experiences. When the ship is near a beach, a full complement of beach activities are available, free of charge. Kayaking, sailing, water-skiing, etc. Snorkeling gear is free and issued at the beginning of the cruise. There is only an extra charge for scuba diving and the ship carries a dive master aboard. Star Clippers is offering some very good deals right now...I recommend you sail two week back-to-back if you are going to do a European or Med itinerary. We sailed two weeks in the Greek Islands on the Star Clipper a few years ago and loved it. In truth, we do prefer the two smaller ships, the Star Flyer and Star Clipper, for their intimacy. For example, one thing the Royal Clipper has, as a larger ship, is a spa and fitness center. It is really quite nice but way below decks and I never saw anyone in it. I would consider it space wasted. Star Clippers is privately owned and all business is conducted in Euros. The short excursions aboard were actually quite pricey and we did very few of them. However, my sister and her friend rented a taxi in every port and enjoyed wonderful, inexpensive tours that they related to us every evening at dinner. During the summer, this could be a good ship for older children and teens...but during the winter they are few if any children aboard. In fact, the passengers are a bit older than on our past trips which can be attributed to the economy, I fear.
Royal Clipper reviews
Average customer rating:
3.94 / 5
3.94 / 5Average Rating based on 2 Reviews:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Staff and Service
4.00
3.00
3.00
4.00
4.50
5.00
4.00
4.00
3.00
3.00
4.00
4.50
5.00
4.00
4.00
Huahine saw things this way:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Staff and Service
4
2
3
4
4
5
4
4
2
3
4
4
5
4
4
This is real sailing, unlike an experience on an oceanliner, December 23, 2015
Reviewer: Huahine
Pros: Watching the sails unfurl from the sundeck is a memorable experience.
Cons: Uncomfortable lower level cabins with pull-down upper berths
Date of cruise: December 1, 2015
Departure port: Barbados
Region visited: Caribbean - Southern
Cabin category: Outside
Cabin number: 122
Good for children: Yes
Good for teenagers: Yes
Sailing on the world's largest passenger sailing ship is a memorable experience. I never tired of seeing those 42 sails unfurl, day or night. Climbing the rigging up to the crow's nest, with safety harness and help from sports staff, is easier than it looks and an opportunity not to be missed. DO BOOK the upper cabins with verandahs. My lowest level cabin with portholes had two twin beds put together, but the person on the porthole side must climb over the other person or shimmy to the foot of the bed to get out. A third pull-down berth above the head of the bed made it impossible to sit up in bed to read or watch TV. And the bathroom flooded after showering because the shower curtain was too short. Still, we didn't spend much time in the cabin because the ship's public spaces are so appealing.
cindyblogger saw things this way:
Value For Money
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Staff and Service
Cabin Design
Entertainment
Fitness Center
Food Quality
Ship Maintenance
Spa
Staff and Service
4
4
3
4
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
5
5
4
4
This is a great line, its sailing ships are great. Great small ship experience., May 22, 2010
Reviewer: cindyblogger
Pros: Real sailing, intimate, cosmopolitan group...many Europeans.
Cons: No elevator and some of the stairs are steep, with sharp turns.
Date of cruise: January 15, 2010
Departure port: Bridgetown, Barbados
Region visited: Caribbean - Southern
Cabin category: Outside
Good for children: Yes
Good for teenagers: Yes
This was our fourth trip with Star Clippers, our first on its larger flagship, the Royal Clipper. As usual, Star Clippers delivers a great experience and we are not talking a windjammer cruise, but an upscale product. The ships really sail, they tuck into small ports that other ships can't visit. It is intimate and you get to know many of the other passengers aboard. The cabins are adequate, and you hardly spend any time in them anyway. Not much entertainment...a piano player, steel band one night and other frivolity such as crab races. But that is not what you come on these cruises for...it is to sail under the stars and the blue sky. The food aboard is quite good and they do one lunch BBQ onshore during the week on a beach. There are no specialty restaurants...everyone eats in the same dining room, open seating, but it seems to work fine. We had a group of eight and they were able to accommodate us nicely. I definitely recommend this cruise to those who want a different type of cruise experience. There are no formal nights. Some guys do bring sport jackets but they are not required. These ships really do sail and they are really majestic when underway. Passengers are welcome to help with the lines or not. They can also climb to the crows nest and go out on the front rigging which overhangs the ocean. Neat experiences. When the ship is near a beach, a full complement of beach activities are available, free of charge. Kayaking, sailing, water-skiing, etc. Snorkeling gear is free and issued at the beginning of the cruise. There is only an extra charge for scuba diving and the ship carries a dive master aboard. Star Clippers is offering some very good deals right now...I recommend you sail two week back-to-back if you are going to do a European or Med itinerary. We sailed two weeks in the Greek Islands on the Star Clipper a few years ago and loved it. In truth, we do prefer the two smaller ships, the Star Flyer and Star Clipper, for their intimacy. For example, one thing the Royal Clipper has, as a larger ship, is a spa and fitness center. It is really quite nice but way below decks and I never saw anyone in it. I would consider it space wasted. Star Clippers is privately owned and all business is conducted in Euros. The short excursions aboard were actually quite pricey and we did very few of them. However, my sister and her friend rented a taxi in every port and enjoyed wonderful, inexpensive tours that they related to us every evening at dinner. During the summer, this could be a good ship for older children and teens...but during the winter they are few if any children aboard. In fact, the passengers are a bit older than on our past trips which can be attributed to the economy, I fear.
