The World’s Largest Tall Ships · Authentic Sailing Adventures

Star Clippers

Set sail on the world’s largest tall ships and rediscover the romance of traditional sailing – with the comfort and service of a boutique cruise.

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The Romance of Sailing at Sea

Star Clippers operates the world’s largest fleet of tall sailing ships, offering a truly unique cruise experience that combines the thrill of traditional sailing with the comforts of a modern mega-yacht. Founded in 1991 by Swedish entrepreneur Mikael Krafft, Star Clippers was born from a lifelong passion for tall ships and a vision to revive the golden age of sail. With just three intimate clipper ships carrying between 170 and 227 guests, every voyage feels like a private sailing adventure on the open sea.

At a Glance

Cruise Line: Star Clippers – Tall Ship Sailing, Boutique Adventure Cruises

Fleet: 3 tall sailing ships – Star Clipper (170 guests), Star Flyer (170 guests), and Royal Clipper (227 guests)

Destinations: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, transatlantic crossings, and more

Service: Intimate, yacht-like atmosphere with friendly, attentive crew

Signature Feature: Authentic sailing under billowing sails on the world’s largest clipper ships – guests are welcome to help hoist the sails, climb the crow’s nest, or simply relax on the bowsprit net

  • Comfortable ocean-view cabins with portholes or windows
  • All meals in the open-seating dining room and on-deck buffets
  • Complimentary water, iced tea, and lemonade throughout the day
  • Onboard entertainment including local performers and crew talent shows
  • Complimentary use of water sports equipment (snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddleboards, water skiing, and more)
  • Access to onboard swimming pools and tropical bar areas
  • Port talks and destination briefings from experienced officers

Shore excursions, premium beverages, and gratuities are available at additional cost.

  • A one-of-a-kind sailing experience aboard authentic tall ships – there’s nothing else like it at sea
  • Intimate ship sizes (170–227 guests) allow access to hidden harbors and small ports that big ships cannot reach
  • Unpretentious, barefoot-casual atmosphere – no formal dress codes, no assigned seating
  • Exceptional water sports platform with complimentary equipment at anchor stops
  • The thrill of real sailing – feel the wind, hear the sails, and watch the crew work the rigging

Dining Room: Open-seating restaurant serving international cuisine with fresh, locally sourced ingredients

Tropical Bar & Deck Buffets: Casual breakfast and lunch buffets served al fresco under the sails

Captain’s Dinner: A special evening featuring a gala menu with regional delicacies

Midnight Snacks: Late-night bites served on deck for stargazers and night owls

All meals are included with open seating and a relaxed, social atmosphere. The cuisine emphasizes fresh seafood, regional flavors, and international classics prepared by skilled onboard chefs.

Star Clippers is renowned for its complimentary water sports platform, which deploys from the stern of each ship when anchored in calm bays and harbors. Guests can enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, waterskiing, windsurfing, sailing dinghies, and banana boat rides — all at no extra charge.

Onboard, guests can climb the crow’s nest for panoramic views, relax on the iconic bowsprit net over the waves, join knot-tying classes, attend bridge visits with the captain, and participate in the hands-on experience of sailing a tall ship.

Evening entertainment includes local musicians and performers brought aboard in port, crew talent shows, star-gazing sessions, and the lively Tropical Bar.

At a Glance

Authentic Sailing

Tall Ship Cruises

Intimate voyages on the world’s largest clipper ships

  • 170–227 guests per ship
  • Authentic sailing under tall ship sails
  • All meals included
  • Complimentary water sports equipment
  • No formal dress code
  • Hidden ports & secluded harbors
  • Open bridge & hands-on sailing

Barefoot casual atmosphere

Explore

Discover Star Clippers

A classic three-masted tall ship with fully unfurled white sails cruising on a pristine blue ocean under a clear sky. The elegant vessel appears to be a modern sailing yacht or training ship.

The Thrill of Real Sailing

What sets Star Clippers apart from every other cruise line is the experience of real sailing. These aren’t motorized ships with decorative masts – they’re authentic tall ships that harness the wind under thousands of square feet of billowing sails. Guests are invited to get involved: take the helm under the captain’s watchful eye, lend a hand as the crew raises sail, or find a quiet perch on the bowsprit net and watch the ocean pass beneath you. It’s an immersive, exhilarating connection with the sea that no conventional cruise ship can offer.

Complimentary Water Sports

One of the most beloved features of a Star Clippers voyage is the onboard water sports marina. At each calm anchorage, the crew transforms the stern into a floating beach club with an impressive deployable platform. From there, you can snorkel over coral reefs, paddle a kayak into a secluded cove, try your hand at windsurfing, or let loose on a banana boat ride. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or prefer a gentle paddleboard session, there’s something for every energy level – and it’s all included in your fare.

A magnificent multi-masted sailing vessel with full white sails anchored in the Venice lagoon, with historic Italian architecture and landmarks in the background.
A classic three-masted tall ship with fully unfurled white sails cruising on a pristine blue ocean under a clear sky. The elegant vessel appears to be a modern sailing yacht or training ship.

Hidden Ports & Secluded Harbors

Thanks to their graceful size and shallow draft, Star Clippers ships can slip into harbors and anchorages that larger cruise vessels simply cannot reach. This means you’ll discover charming fishing villages, unspoiled beaches, and secluded bays that remain off the beaten path. Whether it’s a tiny Grenadine cay in the Caribbean, a hidden cove along the Dalmatian Coast, or a pristine Thai island, Star Clippers itineraries are designed to take you to the places most travelers only dream about. It’s destination-focused cruising at its most authentic and adventurous.

Experience

The Star Clippers Experience

Authentic Tall Ships

Sail aboard the world’s largest clipper ships – true tall ships with square-rigged sails, towering masts, and the sounds of wind and sea. The Royal Clipper is the world’s largest full-rigged sailing ship, carrying 42 sails and over 56,000 square feet of canvas.

Fresh, Flavorful Dining

Enjoy international cuisine prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients in an open-seating dining room. Casual deck buffets under the sails, Captain’s Dinners with gala menus, and midnight snacks make every meal a social occasion – all included in your fare.

Exotic Destinations

Explore the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and beyond. Star Clippers’ intimate size means you’ll visit places that feel untouched – quiet anchorages, waterfront villages, and coastlines far from the usual tourist crowds.

Images

Gallery

A magnificent multi-masted sailing vessel with full white sails anchored in the Venice lagoon, with historic Italian architecture and landmarks in the background.
A classic three-masted tall ship with fully unfurled white sails cruising on a pristine blue ocean under a clear sky. The elegant vessel appears to be a modern sailing yacht or training ship.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Star Clippers is truly one of a kind – they operate the world’s largest fleet of tall sailing ships. These are authentic clipper ships that actually sail under wind power, not motor vessels with decorative masts. The experience is intimate (170–227 guests), barefoot-casual, and immersive. Guests can participate in sailing operations, explore the ship from mast to bowsprit, and enjoy complimentary water sports from the onboard marina. If you’re looking for something completely different from a conventional cruise, Star Clippers delivers.

Star Clippers fares include your ocean-view cabin accommodations, all meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and midnight snacks), complimentary water, iced tea, and lemonade, use of the onboard water sports equipment (snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddleboards, waterskiing, banana boats, and more), entertainment, and port talks. Premium beverages, shore excursions, and gratuities are additional. When you book through Cruise Help, you also benefit from our exclusive group rates, weekly price monitoring, and no booking fees – ever.

Star Clippers operates three magnificent tall ships. The Royal Clipper is the flagship — a five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship carrying 227 guests with 42 sails. She’s the world’s largest full-rigged sailing vessel. The Star Clipper and Star Flyer are four-masted barquentines, each carrying 170 guests. All three ships feature teak decks, brass fittings, and the elegance of a classic sailing yacht combined with modern comforts including air conditioning, swimming pools, and comfortable cabins.

Star Clippers sails in some of the world’s most beautiful waters. Key destinations include the Caribbean (Grenadines, Leeward Islands, and windward island-hopping), the Mediterranean (Greek Islands, Croatia, Italy, French Riviera, and Spain), and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and beyond). They also offer special transatlantic crossings and repositioning voyages. Their small ship size allows access to hidden harbors and secluded anchorages that large cruise ships cannot reach.

Cabins on Star Clippers are comfortable and nautically appointed, featuring polished wood and brass accents. Categories range from inside cabins to ocean-view cabins with portholes or windows. The Royal Clipper also offers Deluxe Suites and the Owner’s Suite with private balconies. All cabins include air conditioning, private bathrooms, and daily housekeeping. While they’re more compact than cabins on large cruise ships, they reflect the charming, yacht-like character of the vessels.

Star Clippers is famously barefoot-casual — there is no formal dress code at all. During the day, guests wear swimwear, shorts, and casual resort wear. In the evening, smart casual is the norm — think sundresses and collared shirts. Even the Captain’s Dinner is relaxed by cruise standards. Leave the tuxedos and gowns at home; this is a sailing adventure where comfort and ease set the tone.

Star Clippers can be wonderful for families with adventurous older children and teenagers who would love the hands-on sailing experience, water sports, and active itineraries. There are no formal kids’ clubs or children’s programs, but the complimentary water sports, crow’s nest climbing, and knot-tying classes provide plenty of excitement. The relaxed atmosphere and open bridge policy are great for curious young minds. For families with very young children, the experience may be less ideal due to the open deck environment.

Star Clippers offers one of the most generous complimentary water sports programs in the cruise industry. At anchor, the crew opens the stern marina and provides all the equipment you need – snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards, waterskis, windsurfers, sailing dinghies, and banana boats. Everything is supervised by the crew and included in your fare, so there’s no signup sheet or extra charge. Just grab your gear and go.

Sailing on a Star Clippers tall ship is a completely different experience from a conventional cruise. You’ll feel the gentle heel of the ship as the sails catch the wind, hear the creak of the rigging, and watch the crew work the sails above you. The motion is generally smooth and pleasant — these ships are stabilized by their deep keels and broad sail plans. Most guests find it deeply relaxing and romantic. The intimate size means you quickly get to know fellow passengers and crew, creating a social, yacht-like atmosphere.

Entertainment on Star Clippers is refreshingly different – no Broadway shows or casinos here. Instead, you’ll enjoy local musicians and performers brought aboard in port, crew talent shows, star-gazing sessions on deck, captain’s welcome and farewell parties, knot-tying classes, port lectures from the captain, and the lively Tropical Bar scene. Many guests say the best entertainment is simply sitting on deck watching the sails unfurl against a sunset sky.

When you book Star Clippers through Cruise Help, you get access to exclusive group rates with savings up to 50% off published fares — with just one room. Our team of 23+ expert advisors – led by a founder with 13 years of real cruise ship experience – provides personalized cabin selection advice, itinerary planning, and help choosing the right ship and sailing for your interests. We perform weekly price monitoring on every booking and automatically adjust your rate if the price drops. Plus, we never charge booking, consultation, or change fees — ever. With 365-day support, you’re never on your own from the moment you inquire to the moment you disembark.

Get Started

Ready for a True Sailing Adventure?

Experience the magic of sailing the world’s largest clipper ships with Star Clippers. When you’re ready for a cruise experience unlike anything else on the water, speak with our expert advisors at Cruise Help. Call us at +1 888-636-3667 or email Peter@cruisehelp.org. We’ll make sure you get the best possible rate, keep an eye on prices every week after you book, and we never charge fees. Your sailing adventure starts here.