![]() That first afternoon gave us plenty of time to explore the ship, which has spectacular teak decks lined with deck chairs and a virtual sea of beautifully polished brass instruments, ropes and other nautical gear. The daily program and announcements were in English, French and German and the average demographic is between 50 and 70 years, with some younger guests sprinkled in. On our cruise, there were 122 guests, who were pretty even divided between Americans, Brits, French and Germans, with eight Italians for good measure. After that, there was a chance to indulge in an afternoon snack, which consists of sandwiches, freshly baked cookies and other treats that are set up at the Tropical Bar every afternoon between 4:00 and 5:00 PM This consisted of watching a video in the cabin, then taking the life jacket up to our muster station to try on and then get signed off by a crew member. We had time to unpack before the safety drill, which was held once the rest of the guests had embarked. The most economical digs, four Category 6 Insides on Commodore Deck, are a tight fit at 108-square feet and feature upper and lower berths. * Photo: Peter KnegoĪt 129-square-feet, Category 2’s are slightly larger than the Category 3’s, which are pretty much the same size as but more optimally located than Categories 4 and 5s, some of the latter being larger Insides. After all, no one on the boat was in a particular hurry and why miss such a great opportunity? For me, this was a perfect way to begin the cruise.įresh from a stem-to-stern refit, Star Clipper was literally glistening in the afternoon sunshine and gently bobbing in the piercing blue waters of the aptly named Cote d’Azur.įor the past decade or so, she has been based in the Far East but returned to her old Mediterranean haunts this year and will cross the Atlantic to sail the Caribbean this winter.īuilt in 1992 as the second in a pair of identical barquentines inspired by the square riggers of the late 19th Century ( following the 1991-built Star Flyer), she carries 70 staff and crew, which gives her a respectable 2.43 guest-to-crew ratio.Īnd, while she has sixteen billowing sails that help propel her, she is also powered by Caterpillar diesels that ensure when there are no winds, she gets to her next destination on time.Ĭategory 1 staterooms feature a large brass framed window and open directly onto the promenade. ![]() I looked back at my fellow guests, all of whom were caught up in a nice conversation, and responded with a gleeful nod. Subscribe to Quirk圜 for monthly curated newsletters highlighting our top small cruise ship reviews, round-ups & offers! Channeling the Clipper Ships Of YoreĮven without the magical Mediterranean backdrop, the rakish S tar Clipper is a stunning 379-foot apparition with four masts (the tallest of which rises 208 feet above the sea), a dashing bowsprit and an elegant schooner stern that would be the envy of any super yacht.Īs we rounded the jetty and began our approach to the swan-like ship, the tender operator offered to make a full circle around her so that I could get optimal footage. Subscribe to our monthly small ship cruise email Star Clipper’s check-in point was at the tender landing for visiting cruise ships, just past where small ferries provide regular service to the local islands.Īfter our documents were processed and we were given antigen tests, we began our ride out to the ship to begin our Star Clippercruise.Īs the tender sputtered off, a soothing breeze helped mitigate the relentless heat and humidity that was roasting the whole region, which was unusually hot, even for late July. Quite literally wilted after two days of traveling from our home in Southern California, we were elated to roll our luggage up to the Quai de Large, which lies at the end of a promontory on the western edge of Cannes Old Harbor. The striking Star Clipper, anchored off Cannes.
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