Royal Clipper
Sails from Bridgetown, Barbados · Fly into BGI
Page updated
Royal Clipper in the Mediterranean, April 2018 · Photo: Cbuske46, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Royal Clipper
Royal Clipper is a Star Clippers cruise ship, in service since 2000. She measures 4,425 gross tons and carries 227 guests with a crew of 106. She sails Caribbean, Mediterranean, Transatlantic, Panama Canal itineraries. We rate her 3.0 out of 5.
Royal 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 German windjammer Preussen, using an existing Polish hull begun as Gwarek, which the Gdańsk shipyard lengthened by 24 metres; the Merwede yard completed her interiors in 2000. She holds the Guinness World Records title for the biggest square-rigger still sailing, and she sets 42 sails of about 5,000 square metres. At 4,425 gross tons and about 135 metres she carries 227 passengers and 106 crew, and has a watersports platform that lowers from the stern. Winters are spent on Windward and Grenadine island cruises from Bridgetown, Barbados, and summers in the western Mediterranean and the Adriatic from Nice, Rome and Venice.
Ship facts
- Guests
- 227
- Crew 106 · 1:2.1
- Entered service
- 2000
- Length
- 135 m
- Shorter than 73% of 575 ships
Royal Clipper is smaller than 78% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruise Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries fewer guests than 51%. At 19.5 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 81% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
Ratings
- Cabins
- 2/5, fleet average 2.0
- Dining
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Entertainment
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Service
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
- Pools & decks
- 2/5, fleet average 2.0
- Value
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the Star Clippers fleet average across 3 rated ships in service.
More from Star Clippers
The ships in the fleet closest to her in size.
3.0 ★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…
3.0 ★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…Official deck plans
Photos
Royal Clipper in the Mediterranean, April 2018Photo: Cbuske46, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Where she sails
- CaribbeanEastern, Western and Southern Caribbean islands, sailing year-round from Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico
- MediterraneanWestern Med, Greek Isles and Adriatic, mostly April to November
- Transatlanticcrossings between Europe and the Americas, mostly in spring and autumn
- Panama Canalpartial or full transits between the Atlantic and Pacific
Home port: Bridgetown, Barbados.
Quick answers
Which cruise line operates Royal Clipper?
Royal Clipper is operated by Star Clippers.
How big is Royal Clipper?
Royal Clipper measures 4,425 gross tons and 135 metres in length.
How does Royal Clipper compare in size with other cruise ships?
Royal Clipper is smaller than 78% of the 418 cruise ships in service on Cruise Frog with a tonnage on record, and carries fewer guests than 51%. At 19.5 gross tons per guest she is tighter than 81% of 416; the median ship is 39.4.
How crowded does Royal Clipper feel?
Royal Clipper has a passenger space ratio of 19.5: 4,425 gross tons for 227 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Royal Clipper feels busy for her size.
How many passengers does Royal Clipper carry?
Royal Clipper carries 227 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 106 (about 2.1 guests per crew member).
When did Royal Clipper enter service?
Royal Clipper entered service in 2000.
Where does Royal Clipper sail?
Royal Clipper sails Caribbean, Mediterranean, Transatlantic and Panama Canal itineraries. Her home port is Bridgetown, Barbados.
Which airport should I fly into for Royal Clipper?
Royal Clipper sails from Bridgetown, Barbados. Fly into Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI).
Where can I find the deck plans for Royal Clipper?
Star Clippers publishes the deck plans for Royal Clipper; this page links to Deck plans.
How is Royal Clipper rated?
Cruise Frog rates Royal Clipper 3.0 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on service (4/5) and lowest on pools & decks (2/5).
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Royal Clipper
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