Star Clippers – Royal Clipper – Caribbean Cruising

It was devilishly dramatic. As the compelling tones of Vangelis’ “Conquest of Paradise” rang out across the deck, the huge white sails of Royal Clipper slowly began to unfurl.

Royal Clipper She’s the largest full-rigged sailing ship in the world and, in the warm seas of the Caribbean, we were lucky enough to be on board.

My husband, Jim, and I are not sailors. It always looks too much like hard work to me. But here we were on this magnificent five-masted Clipper with all the luxuries of a liner but the romance of a tall ship.

With only 200 people on board, it’s a totally different experience to the larger cruise ships, and there’s a sense of camaraderie from the start. Everything about it feels more adventurous: the gentle rocking motion day and night is rather like being cradled, the sea crashing over the portholes as you dine means you never forget that you have the wind in your sails, in more ways than one!

And while we’re on the subject of food: the standard is excellent, the choice varied and the free seating arrangement means you can be as sociable or unsociable as you want. We met all sorts of interesting folk.

Jennie Bond We joined Royal Clipper in Barbados and were welcomed aboard with a tasty Rum Punch. Over the next week, we sailed to islands in the Grenadines that we’d never even heard of: Tobago Cays, Union Island and the beautiful Bequia, as well as some of the larger islands like Martinique and Grenada.

The charm of a smaller ship is that you can get away from the crowds. At almost every destination, we anchored offshore and jumped onto a tender to explore the island. Sometimes there was very little other than a golden beach, curious iguanas, lounging lizards and excellent snorkelling. Who needs anything more?

On almost every voyage, the crew organise a barbecue on the beach for the whole ship, and there are all sorts of excursions on offer at each stop. One ever-youthful  American guest called Liz, who was sailing with her 95-year-old husband, Orin, decided to celebrate her 81st birthday by going zip-lining through the banyan and mango trees of St Lucia. She loved it!

Jennie Bond onboard the Royal Clipper And that sums up the character of our fellow travellers. Most of us were 50 plus, and we all relished the chance to try our hand at something new: you can climb the mast, help set the sails or go on a snorkelling safari and swim with turtles. It all helps to keep you young.

On the other hand, if you just want to sit and read, there’s plenty of space on deck or in the library. I was surprised to find there was also room for two swimming pools on the upper deck – though I much preferred jumping in the sea.

We were sad when our adventure came to an end, back in Barbados, and we had to say goodbye to our stunning tall ship – and the many friends we’d made.

The only consolation was that we were whisked off to another kind of Paradise.

“The House” on the famous west coast of Barbados is simply exceptional. From the moment the hotel’s smart, electric gates swung open to reveal a world of comfortable luxury, set on a breathtaking beach, our stay was sheer bliss.

Jennie Bond onboard the Royal Clipper Every detail is taken care of: a champagne welcome, iced water delivered hourly to your sun-lounger, delicious snacks of cold melon or coconut ice-cream offered as you soak up the sunshine, complimentary tea and cakes at 4pm and canapés with your sundowners.

The rooms and suites are exquisite and the atmosphere relaxed. “The House” was a perfect finale to a fabulous holiday.  

For up-to-date information on schedules and prices call 0808 231 4798 or visit www.starclippers.co.uk

A night’s stay in a suite at the adults only boutique hotel, The House, includes a champagne breakfast and evening canapes. To find out more call 0808 231 4798 or visit www.eleganthotels.com

206 people found this helpful
17858

Share Article:

Jennie Bond

Broadcaster & former BBC Royal Correspondent

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the quintessential British coach holiday….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.