Star Clippers
Star Clippers sails three modern tall ships, Star Flyer, Star Clipper and Royal Clipper, on cruises under sail in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Central America, with Panama Canal transits and Atlantic crossings in between. The ships carry roughly 166 to 227 passengers, and Royal Clipper holds the Guinness World Records title for the biggest square-rigger still sailing.
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About Star Clippers
The line is the work of Mikael Krafft, a lifelong sailor born in Stockholm, whose plan for new clipper ships took shape during an Atlantic crossing aboard his own yacht. Star Flyer entered service in 1991 and Star Clipper in 1992, both from a Belgian yard, and Royal Clipper followed in 2000. A still larger five-masted ship ordered from Croatia's Brodosplit yard, Flying Clipper, was never delivered because of a dispute with the shipyard and was later chartered to another company as Golden Horizon.
A Star Clippers cruise is closer to a sailing holiday than a resort at sea. The ships sail whenever the wind allows, guests can lend a hand with the sails, and the captain holds an informal briefing on deck each morning. Dress is smart casual with a single captain's dinner, meals are open seating, and evenings center on the piano bar and the open-air Tropical Bar rather than production shows. Kayaks, snorkel gear and sailing dinghies are free to use, and most cruises last a week, with Grand Voyages of 15 to 24 nights.
What Star Clippers is known for
Star Clippers has a loyal following among people who love sailing: the ships are handsome, much of the rigging is still worked by hand, and reviewers often praise the relaxed, sociable atmosphere and the crew's enthusiasm. The small ships also reach harbors and anchorages that big cruise ships skip. The common criticisms follow from the same character: cabins are compact, mostly 12 to 14 square metres, there is little organized entertainment beyond deck games and local performers, and the engines take over when the wind is too light to keep to the schedule. Guests expecting the amenities of a modern luxury ship may find the facilities simple.
Who it's for
Premium · smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream
- Couples
- Adventure seekers
- History and culture
Star Clippers suits couples, friends and solo travelers who want to feel a ship sail, enjoy swimming and water sports, and prefer small harbors and casual company to big-ship amenities; the line also runs solo, family and themed offers such as yoga cruises. It is a poor fit for travelers who want large cabins, many restaurants, nightly shows or a casino, and anyone who dislikes a ship that moves with the wind should look elsewhere.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 2/5
- Dining
- 3/5
- Entertainment
- 3/5
- Service
- 4/5
- Pools & decks
- 2/5
- Value
- 4/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 3 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Star Clippers sails
Ships
Best rated
#13.0 ★Royal Clipper2000 · 4,425 GT · 227 guests · Caribbean · MediterraneanRoyal Clipper is a five-masted, fully rigged sailing ship and the largest vessel in the Star Clippers fleet. Robert McFarlane redesigned her for the line on the lines of the 1902…
#23.0 ★Star Clipper1992 · 2,298 GT · 166 guests · Mediterranean · Panama CanalStar Clipper is the second of Star Clippers' two four-masted barquentines, a near twin of Star Flyer completed by the same Belgian yard, Scheepswerven van Langerbrugge, in April…
#33.0 ★Star Flyer1991 · 2,298 GT · 166 guests · Mediterranean · CaribbeanA four-masted barquentine designed from the start as a cruise ship, Star Flyer was the first vessel of Star Clippers. The Scheepswerven van Langerbrugge yard in Belgium launched…Every ship
Where to fly in
- Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH)1 Star Clippers ship sails from Athens, Greece9 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)1 Star Clippers ship sails from Bridgetown, Barbados
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO)1 Star Clippers ship sails from Rome, Italy10 lounges on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Star Clippers known for?
Star Clippers has a loyal following among people who love sailing: the ships are handsome, much of the rigging is still worked by hand, and reviewers often praise the relaxed, sociable atmosphere and the crew's enthusiasm. The small ships also reach harbors and anchorages that big cruise ships skip. The common criticisms follow from the same character: cabins are compact, mostly 12 to 14 square metres, there is little organized entertainment beyond deck games and local performers, and the engines take over when the wind is too light to keep to the schedule. Guests expecting the amenities of a modern luxury ship may find the facilities simple.
Who is Star Clippers best for?
Star Clippers suits couples, friends and solo travelers who want to feel a ship sail, enjoy swimming and water sports, and prefer small harbors and casual company to big-ship amenities; the line also runs solo, family and themed offers such as yoga cruises. It is a poor fit for travelers who want large cabins, many restaurants, nightly shows or a casino, and anyone who dislikes a ship that moves with the wind should look elsewhere.
Where does Star Clippers sail?
Star Clippers's ships in service sail Caribbean (3 ships), Mediterranean (3 ships), Transatlantic (3 ships), Panama Canal (2 ships) and Canary Islands (1 ship).
How is Star Clippers rated?
Star Clippers's fleet averages 3.0 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 3 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Royal Clipper at 3.0.
How many ships does Star Clippers have?
Star Clippers has 3 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and Star Flyer.
Where is Star Clippers based?
Star Clippers is headquartered in Monaco. It has operated since 1989.
What is the largest Star Clippers ship?
Royal Clipper is Star Clippers's largest ship at 4,425 gross tons, carrying 227 guests.
Cruising with children
Star Clippers can appeal to a child interested in traditional sailing and time outdoors. Families should choose it for a shared small-ship trip rather than an organized children’s resort.
Read the Star Clippers family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on Star Clippers? The average drink starts at what a glass of house wine costs on board, about $4.48; change it to what you usually order, and enter the package price Star Clippers quotes.
A glass of house wine costs about €4 on board, roughly $4.48. Sand In My Suitcase (2026) ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A glass of house wine on Star Clippers.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
17drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 16.7 drinks at $4.48. Over 7 days that's $525, or 118 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $368.20 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $156.80
Needing 17 drinks a day to break even isn't a plan, it's a dare. Your liver politely declines.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Star Clippers and its ships
- What a glass of house wine costs on cruise lines, and which ones pour it free
From $9 on Royal Caribbean to $14 on MSC, and free on 25 lines. The prices behind Cruise Frog's drinks package calculator.
Cruise lines
- Cruise drinks packages: a $75-a-day package needs 6 drinks a day to pay for itself
Divide the package's daily price by what a drink costs on board. Port days, cabin rules and caps decide the rest.
News
- 5 things Star Clippers does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of Star Clippers, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
Cruise lines