Royal Clipper Review: A Beautiful Star Clippers Cruise Ship
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She’s tall and a real beauty. Meet the Royal Clipper!
Modeled after the greatest German clipper ship, the historic 1902 Preussen, the 439-foot, 227-passenger Royal Clipper is one of the largest true sailing ships in the world.
She’s operated by Star Clippers; our most recent cruise with them was a Caribbean cruise on the Star Flyer.
Flaunting 56,000 square feet of sails – 42 sails in all – the Royal Clipper is under sail whenever possible (not engine power).
Royal Clipper review
Star Clippers was ranked the “World’s Best Boutique Cruise Line” for 2024 in the World Cruise Awards. (USA Today previously named the Royal Clipper the “Best Small Cruise Ship.”)
Several years ago, we sailed on the Royal Clipper through the Grenadine Islands in the Caribbean.
Rummaging through old pics, we found these Royal Clipper photos – taken on our trusty film camera!
Royal Clipper ship facts
- Tonnage: 5,000
- Length: 439 feet
- Beam: 54 feet
- Draft: 18.5 feet
- Masts: 5 masts
- Sail area: 54,000 square feet
- Number of sails: 42
- Mast height: 177 feet
- Crew: 106
- Passenger capacity: 227
Other Star Clipper ships
The Royal Clipper has two smaller and older sister ships, Star Clipper and Star Flyer.
For Mikael Krafft, the 70-something Swedish entrepreneur who owns Star Clippers, these ships are the product of a lifelong dream to recreate and build real clipper ships that sail the world. (The word “clipper” comes from the phrase “to go at a good clip”.)
Indeed, the Star Clipper and Star Flyer are the first clipper ships since 1911 to be certified as passenger sailing vessels by Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.
Star Clippers itineraries
Star Clippers focuses on cruising the Caribbean, Central America and Mediterranean. And when in a specific region, the ships spend a whole season there.
As well, you can cross the Atlantic Ocean in a Star Clippers’ tall ship.
Ships visit famous ports mixed with small intimate ports that no other cruise lines visit – like Cres (Croatia), Plage D’Arone (Corsica), Dalyan River (Turkey), Porto Cervo (Sardinia) and Spetses and Skopelos (Greece).
We love this cruise line!
Star Clippers’ intimate sailing ships are among the “greenest” in the world. And we can’t wait to sail at a good clip with them again!
See the Star Clippers website for more information on the Royal Clipper.
Pssst! Save this review of Royal Clipper for later on Pinterest!
Our top travel tips and resources
General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, offering loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy! (You may prefer Expedia for booking hotels in the U.S. or Mexico.)
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Flights: For the cheapest flights, search on Google Flights or Expedia. (Just be aware Expedia tickets are often non-refundable. If you want more flexibility, it’s usually worth booking directly with the airline, even if it costs a bit more.)
Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car is often a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the lowest rates.
eSIMS: Stay connected affordably with Airalo eSIMS covering 200+ countries and trusted by 10 million+ users, including us! (No more huge roaming bills!)
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase (except lead image, courtesy Star Clippers)
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