There's a certain romance to life at sea. Blame it on the Titanic (not the end bit though), blame it on Agatha Christie (Death On The Nile has me aching for an Egyptian cruise), even blame it on Pirates of The Caribbean if you're so inclined.
Sadly, modern day big box cruises tend to lack that romantic element. Hulking grey vessels toting around thousands of people with gaudy on board casinos and stale buffets doesn't exactly evoke a sense of enchantment.
Enter Star Clippers. The authentic sailboats that make up the Star Clippers fleet are modelled after the Golden Age of sailing, offering a truly nostalgic experience for sailing enthusiasts, history buffs, and cruise afficionados alike.
I am none of the above, but one look at the dramatic sight of the sails flying high on a Star Clippers ship had me completely entranced. A Star Clippers cruise went straight to the top of my bucket list.
I was offered the chance to board the eponymous Star Clipper ship for 3 nights to experience a portion of their Rome and Amalfi Coast itinerary. We joined the ship in Amalfi (before our embarkation the cruise also docked in Lipari and Messina, Sicily), before days in Sorrento and Ponza, and back into Civitavecchia, just outside Rome. It was the perfect way to explore the highlights of the region, with days on shore and nights spent sailing the Mediterranean.
I've put together a little peek into what life is like aboard, with tips, advice, and an overall Star Clippers cruise review. If you're a nostalgic soul, looking for a new cruise experience, or just want to live out your Jack and Rose fantasy (again, without the ending!) read on...
Things to Know
- Money on Board: When you first board your card details are taken, and anything you buy is automatically billed to your account - you just need to sign your bills on disembarking. Food is all included, drinks are very well priced (look out for the 5 euro daily cocktail!), and there is a small shop on board for souvenirs. Tips are paid at the end of the trip, with a recommended rate of 8 Euros per day.
- What to Pack: The dress code is fairly low key, although you may want to dress up a bit on Captain's Night. No shorts or flip flops at dinner, otherwise it's pretty casual. Depending on your itinerary I'd recommend light layers as evenings can get chilly. Stiletto heels aren't allowed on deck, and bring closed toe shoes if you want to climb up to the crow's nest.
- Wifi: Wifi is 6 euros for an hour or 18 for 4. I didn't purchase it so can't comment on it's reliability.
- Electricity: You'll need an EU adaptor. Rooms are equipped with hair dryers, but no irons.
Around the Star Clipper Ship
Take your pre-conceived notions of what a cruise ship looks like, and toss 'em out the porthole. The Star Clipper ship is modelled after the golden age of sailing ships, from the fully functioning deck and sails to the understated glamour of the piano bar and dining room. The interiors are furnished in deep wood panelling accented with gold and royal blue hues, and would not look out of place in the 1920s.
The ship is small by cruise standards, with one dining room, a piano bar, outdoor tropical bar, and library making up the public spaces. The tropical bar is the hub of the ship, where guests flock for the daily 5 euro cocktail. We enjoyed the playing cards in the cosy library on our one rainy day - although the games had definitely seen better days!
The cabins are definitely on the cosy side, but I found mine was perfectly adequate for a few nights at sea. I actually really miss the gentle rocking of the boat sending me to sleep, it was so comforting! Amenities are fairly old fashioned - for example I wouldn't have complained about a modern thermostat, and the tv and dvd player looked like it was straight out of the early aughts. But realistically, I'm not there to watch tv anyway!
On deck, there are two swimming pools lined with sun loungers for catching those rays. They're not really big enough to swim in, but they're ample for admiring the views with a cocktail in hand!
It should be noted that there are no lifts on the ship, so it's not ideal for those with accessibility constraints. In windy weather in particular getting on and off the ship onto the tender could be a bit hairy for those with limited mobility.
Activities and Entertainment on Star Clipper
My previously cruise experiences have had me in a constant state of fomo. I've found myself trying to simultaneously make it to sunrise yoga, party till dawn at the various discos, and do everything else in between. Talk about tiring.
Star Clippers strikes a balance of offering a daily itinerary of excursions and activities that offers ample to do without being exhaustive (or exhausting!). There is the aforementioned yoga, and daily evening entertainment in the form of a local performance, or my favourite, the crew talent show. But there's still plenty of time to be spent chilling by the pool with a pina colada. Or if the weather has other plans, sheltering from the rain in the library with a pack of cards.
I didn't join any of the excursions whilst on board, however there were several on offer when we docked in Sorrento. These included a boat tour of Capri, and a tour of Pompeii.
One thing you must do, should the opportunity arise, is join a photo tender. A tender is one of the small boats that takes passengers to shore. When the sails are up they're occasionally taken out so passengers can enjoy the ship in it's full glory. It really is a remarkable sight!
There was also the unique opportunity to climb up to the crows nest. Unfortunately however it was too windy when we were to attempt it. I was outwardly dismayed, but secretly relieved - it looked like a scary climb!
Dining on Star Clipper
Quite frankly, I wasn't expecting much of the food on board. With the spectacle of the ship itself being such a draw, I feared food would be an afterthought. However, I was (very pleasantly) proven wrong with every meal we had aboard the Star Clippers ship.
Breakfast started off strong, with a comprehensive buffet of continental and cooked breakfast options. This included treats like pancakes, french toast, and an omelette station. There was even a choice between normal and crispy bacon - the dream! I went for a bit of both because I couldn't decide, in case you were curious.
Lunch was also served buffet style. I only had one lunch on board, which happened to be Asian themed. I thought this was a particularly nice touch as many of the staff were of Asian heritage. It was so good I piled my plate high with teriyaki skewers, sushi, noodles, the lot. There was even pork and crackling from a hog roast station!
Dinner is a more formal affair, with a 3 course sit down dinner. There's still plenty of choice, including vegetarian and vegan options. Before the dinner bell tolls, samples of dishes are placed in the piano bar so you can decide what you'd like before seating. The dinner cuisine is classically led French fine dining, so we tucked into decadent dishes such as steak and lobster. I'm no food critic but I couldn't fault a single dish. Everything was beautifully prepared and presented, with good quality ingredients and simple, classic flavours.
If, somehow, you're still hungry, there's also afternoon and midnight snacking available, so you can guarantee you'll be thoroughly well fed aboard!
The Star Clipper Itinerary
Amalfi
The cruise itinerary we joined is a 7 night route in and out from Civitavecchia, just outside Rome. However we joined for the latter half of the trip, boarding the ship in beautiful Amalfi. Before boarding we had a few hours to explore the area, starting things off with lunch at The Belmond Hotel Caruso. I'd seen the hotel splashed over Instagram for quite some time so it was already well up there on my bucket list, but I still wasn't prepared for just how spectacular it was. The mountainous setting offers panoramic views over Amalfi and The Mediterranean, best enjoyed with a signature spritz at the infinity pool, of course. We also had a nosey round the interiors, furnished with a sense of understated luxury that emphasises the original features and heritage architecture of the space.
From The Belmond we headed down to the buzzing dock, packed out with tourists and locals alike flocking to the beaches and bars. Postcard-worthy brightly-hued buildings jutting from the mountainside, framed by clear blue skies and sparkling waters, Amalfi is the kind of place that doesn't seem real until you're there, taking it all in for yourself. Sadly we didn't have time to explore further, as adventure aboard the high seas was calling!
Sorrento
Our first full day on board saw us docked into the charming coastal town of Sorrento. Sadly, the charms of this beautiful spot were somewhat dampened (pun intended) by incessant heavy rain and murky grey skies. Nonetheless we donned our ponchos (or in my case, completely ignored the weather and dressed like it was the height of Summer) and headed out to explore.
To avoid the rain we headed through narrow shop lined alleyways, perusing local olive oils, limoncello, and all the usual tourist souvenirs. Anything you could put a lemon on, they've done it. Following our stomachs, we ended up at Ristorante Sorrento o'Parrucchiano la Favorita for lunch. A sprawling restaurant that seems to have sprouted up amidst a lemon grove, it was a really beautiful spot for lunch, although sadly we had missed the peak of lemon season. A reason to return! Food was tasty, though nothing to write home about, but for the location alone it was well worth it.
After lunch we explored a little while longer, but the lure of our dry cabins on the ship was too strong and we headed back for an evening on the Star Clipper, soggy but content.
Ponza
Whilst Amalfi and Sorrento are popular, heavily documented destinations, I had no idea what to expect of Ponza. The largest of the Pontine Islands, Ponza is a quiet, sleepy fishing village comprised of picturesque pastel-hued buildings dotted across the sprawling hills of the Island.
On arrival a large map promised us what looked like a paradise beach on the other side of the Island, so off we went. Learn from our mistakes. Not only was the beach completely inaccessible, but it was also completely covered in litter. Still, the walk was nice!
All in all Ponza is easily explored in an hour or so, with very little to do beyond whiling away some time at one of the cafes overlooking the dock. It's most enjoyable simply to take in the serenity, the views, and lean into taking things slow, like one of the many adorable snoozing kittens around the Island.
Star Clippers Cruise Review
All in all, I loved my experience of a Star Clippers cruise. The opportunity to immerse myself in a uniquely nostalgic experience really piqued my imagination. I'd definitely recommend for any fellow vintage souls - stepping on the Star Clipper ship really felt like stepping back in time, a cast of Duchesses and roguish adventurers from the plot of an Agatha Christie would not be out of place.
Once the novelty of the ship itself wears off (okay it never wore off for me, but just in case!), there's so much else to recommend itself on board a Star Clippers cruise. For instance I was truly blown away by how good the food was. We had no bad meals, and I loved that there's pretty much always something available to eat. Also the 5 euro cocktail of the day was a massive plus in my books!
I loved the low key activities and entertainment, that kept me busy when I wanted to be, but weren't over-exerting. Of course there will be people who prefer keeping constantly busy, in which case it may not be for you. It's definitely more of a rest up, relax and re-charge sort of experience. The entertainment is homespun but it's a lot of fun and feels more intimate and immersive than on a larger cruise ship.
The Amalfi itinerary is also something I would recommend. Particularly if you're looking to dip your toes into life at sea for the first time, it's a manageable first trip and it's a really beautiful part of the world to explore.
A Star Clipper's cruise will not be for everyone. If you like a flashy, tech heavy big box cruise, for instance. Or if you're looking to party till dawn. It's a low key experience, from the boat and amenities to the guest experience, but that is by no means a negative. If anything it is it's strength. It requires no bells and whistles, or rather, the opportunity to sail on an authentic sailing ship is bell and whistle enough!
I hope this Star Clippers cruise review has been helpful - let me know in the comments if you've been on a Star Clippers cruise, or if you have any questions about the experience!
Want More Cruise Reviews? Check out my Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady Cruise Review
