Royal Clipper Review: The World’s Largest Sailing Ship!
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She’s tall, majestic and downright breathtaking. Meet the Royal Clipper, the crown jewel in the Star Clippers’ fleet of three tall ships!
As lovers of small-ship cruising, we’ve now sailed with Star Clippers five times – first in Asia on the Star Clipper (where the ship had a real squawking parrot onboard!), then three times in the Caribbean (including twice on the Royal Clipper) and most recently from Nice-to-Corsica aboard Star Flyer.
But the Royal Clipper holds a special place in our hearts.
Here’s our review…
About the Royal Clipper
Inspired by the legendary 1902 German clipper Preussen, the Royal Clipper is a dazzling tribute to the golden age of sail – a 439-foot, five-masted beauty with 42 billowing sails.
She’s the passion project of Swedish entrepreneur Mikael Krafft, who set out to revive the romance of tall-ship sailing and succeeded spectacularly. (The word “clipper,” fittingly, comes from “to go at a good clip.”)
Carrying up to 227 guests, she reigns as the largest vessel in the Star Clippers fleet (compared to the 166-passenger Star Flyer and Star Clipper). Flaunting 56,000 square feet of sails, she’s recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest full-rigged sailing ship in operation today.
Whenever winds allow, the engines fall silent and she glides under sail alone, a rare thrill in modern cruising. The experience is pure nautical magic – just the whisper of canvas, the rhythmic creak of rigging and the sea slipping smoothly past the hull.
Star Clippers was recently honored as a runner-up for “Best Boutique Cruise Line” in the 2025 USA Today “10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards” – and Royal Clipper herself earned a runner-up award for “Best Adults-Only Cruise”.
The line also took home the title of “World’s Best Boutique Cruise Line” in the 2024 World Cruise Awards.
Royal Clipper ship facts
- Tonnage: 5,000
- Length: 439 feet
- Beam: 54 feet
- Draft: 18½ feet
- Masts: 5 masts
- Sail area: 54,000 square feet
- Number of sails: 42
- Mast height: 177 feet
- Crew: 106
- Passenger capacity: 227
Our Royal Clipper Caribbean cruise
Our first Caribbean voyage on the Royal Clipper took us through the postcard-perfect Grenadine Islands (always high on our list of favorite Caribbean spots!) – think palm-fringed coves, turquoise water, lots of snorkeling and fun moments paddleboarding and swimming from the ship’s stern marina.
Rummaging through old photos recently, we found some nostalgic film snaps from that sailing – proof that this ship was spectacular even before the digital age.
What we especially love about the Royal Clipper
Watersports marina
One of the ship’s best features is her marina platform, which can be lowered at the stern when the ship is anchored.
Floating mats are placed in the water for lazy dips, so you can swim directly off the marina.
You can also try complimentary water sports like kayaking, sailing, paddleboarding, windsurfing – and even water-skiing (weather and local conditions permitting).
It’s the ultimate grown-up version of “backyard pool time.”
Larger staterooms – and balcony suites!
Standard cabins on the Royal Clipper are roomier than on her older sister ships.
They’re 140 square feet in size – compared to the 130 sq. ft. (Category 2) cabins and 120 sq. ft. (Category 3 and Category 4) cabins on Star Flyer and Star Clipper.
That might not seem like much. But when you’re sharing cozy quarters with your spouse or a partner, any extra space makes all the difference!
Royal Clipper also has 14 Deluxe Outside Suites (280 square feet) complete with private balconies – a rarity on traditional sailing ships.
Elegant dining room
With balconies and ornamental railings, the grand multi-level dining room is more elegant and spacious than the dining room on the other two ships.
It sits within a soaring three-story atrium, crowned by skylights that flood the space with sunlight.
Tables are mostly for six or eight. But it has a couple of intimate tables for two as well (not available on Star Flyer and Star Clipper). The maitre d’ usually greets you as you come down the sweeping staircase.
On all ships, the prices for drinks are refreshingly down-to-earth. A generous glass of house wine costs just 4 Euros (about $4.75 USD).
Captain Nemo Spa
Another cool space found only on Royal Clipper is the Captain Nemo Spa. It has underwater glass portholes, so you might spot colorful tropical fish swimming past as you melt into your massage!
As well, there’s even an adjoining gym.
Other amenities
Add to that her three swimming pools, cozy piano bar and the thrill of lounging in the widow’s net at the bowsprit and climbing up the mast to the crow’s nest – and you’ve got a ship that’s as unique as she is enchanting.
Royal Clipper Itineraries
The Royal Clipper spends her winters exploring the Caribbean and Central America.
Summer finds her in the Mediterranean, sailing to hidden gems like Ponza and Lipari islands in Italy, Sardinia’s capital of Cagliari, the beaches of Dikili in Turkey and the Greek island of Sifnos.
In between, she undertakes transatlantic crossings, giving adventurous cruisers the chance to experience life at sea the old-fashioned way – endless horizons, steady trade winds and no land in sight for days.
For many sailing enthusiasts, this is the ultimate Royal Clipper adventure.
Our Royal Clipper review bottom line: Why we’re fans!
Star Clippers’ graceful tall ships are among the greenest cruise vessels at sea, powered primarily by wind whenever possible. They visit ports unreachable by large ships, blending luxury, tradition and a dash of swashbuckling romance.
Sailing on the Royal Clipper isn’t just a cruise… She’s a journey back in time, with all the comforts of modern small-ship luxury.
We can’t wait to feel her white sails fill with wind again and “sail at a good clip” across the open sea.
Rates and more information
See Star Clippers’ website.
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→ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with 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.com’s flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.
→ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
→ Flights: For the best flights, we search on Google Flights first. Expedia and Kayak are then perfect for snagging the cheapest tickets. (They’re often non-refundable, though, so for more flexibility, we book directly with the airline, even if it costs 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 can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.
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→ 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 cool hotels and other useful trip planning info.
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