Star Clippers reviews are mostly very positive. Passengers praise the real sailing, the relaxed, sociable atmosphere and the chance to reach small ports big ships can’t get into. The main complaints are compact cabins, no elevators, drinks and tips that aren’t included, and service that some guests find uneven. If you want a sailing holiday with the comforts of a small hotel, rather than a floating resort, it’s one of the most distinctive cruises you can book in 2026 and 2027.
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This guide brings together what travelers commonly say in Star Clippers cruise reviews, along with verified details on the fleet, cabins, costs, itineraries and who the line suits. We haven’t added any personal claims or made-up quotes. It’s a straightforward look at what to expect.
Star Clippers at a glance
Star Clippers is a family-owned line, founded by Swedish entrepreneur Mikael Krafft, that sails modern versions of 19th-century clipper ships. These are real square-rigged and fore-and-aft-rigged sailing ships. On sea days the engines are often switched off and the ship sails under canvas whenever the wind allows. As of October 2026, the line sails three ships:
| Ship | Built | Guests | Masts / sails | Pools | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Clipper | 2000 | 227 | 5 masts, 42 sails | 3 | Largest ship in the fleet; stern marina platform; a handful of suites with private verandas |
| Star Clipper | 1992 | 166 | 4 masts, 16 sails | 2 | Four-masted barquentine; Caribbean in winter 2026-27, Mediterranean in summer |
| Star Flyer | 1991 | 166 | 4 masts, 16 sails | 2 | Twin of Star Clipper; Greek islands and Turkish coast programme for 2027 |
What about Flying Clipper? You’ll still see it mentioned online, but the larger five-masted ship ordered from a Croatian shipyard was never delivered to Star Clippers. It sailed briefly for another operator as Golden Horizon, spent years laid up, and in September 2026 was reported sold to a different buyer. Any listing that says you can book Flying Clipper with Star Clippers is out of date.
What Star Clippers reviews say: the pros
Read through reviews on Cruise Critic, Tripadvisor and travel blogs and the same strengths come up again and again. Star Clippers averages roughly 4 out of 5 on Cruise Critic’s member reviews at the time of writing.
- The sailing itself. This is the number one reason people book. Guests describe the sail-away ritual (sails raised by hand while the ship’s theme music plays) as the high point of each cruise. Feeling the ship heel gently under sail is very different from a motor cruise.
- A sociable, unstuffy atmosphere. With well under 250 guests, open seating at dinner and no assigned tables, people mix easily. Solo travelers often say they never felt left out.
- Hands-on experiences. Guests can help haul lines, visit the bridge under the open-bridge policy, climb the mast in a harness and lie in the bowsprit netting watching for dolphins.
- Small, less-visited ports. Shallow-draft ships reach places like the Tobago Cays, Carriacou, Symi and Astypalea, often anchoring in quiet bays for swim stops.
- Classic interiors. Brass, teak and mahogany give a yacht-club feel, and many reviewers mention the high number of loyal repeat passengers.
- Free watersports. Snorkeling gear, kayaks, small sailing dinghies and paddle or windsurf boards are generally included when conditions allow.
Common complaints in Star Clippers cruise reviews
The negative reviews are just as consistent, and most of them come down to expectations.
- Small cabins and little storage. Standard cabins run from about 8 to 13 square meters (roughly 85 to 140 sq ft), and bathrooms are tight.
- No elevators and steep stairs. The ships are not wheelchair accessible. There are high door sills, and getting ashore often means stepping into a tender from a moving platform.
- Extras add up. Drinks, gratuities, excursions and Wi-Fi are all extra, which surprises people used to all-inclusive luxury lines.
- Uneven service. Many reviews praise friendly crew, but a noticeable minority mention gruff or inconsistent service and patchy communication. Some reviews also criticize the shore excursions as poor value.
- Weather changes plans. Wind and swell can cancel the marina platform, swim stops or even a port call, and there’s more motion than on a big ship.
- Limited entertainment. There’s no casino, no theater and no kids’ club. Evenings are low-key.
Cabins: what to expect on board
Cabin categories are numbered, with Category 1 deck cabins at the top for standard rooms, and every cabin has a private bathroom, air conditioning and a TV.
- Star Clipper and Star Flyer: Owner’s cabins of about 22 m², Category 1 deluxe deck cabins (about 14.5 m²) whose doors open straight onto the deck, outside cabins of 11 to 12 m², and small inside cabins of about 8 m² with upper and lower berths.
- Royal Clipper: Deluxe suites of about 26 m² including a private veranda, Owner’s suites of about 40 m² (no veranda), deck cabins of about 14.5 m², outside cabins of 11 to 13 m² and inside cabins of about 10 m². Room service is offered only in the top suites.
Practical tip: deck cabins are lovely for stepping straight outside, but they can catch noise from deck activity. Lower-deck cabins near the middle of the ship usually feel the least motion. Soft-sided bags store best, since there’s little room for a hard suitcase.
Dining, drinks and dress code
Dining is open seating in a single main restaurant. Breakfast and lunch are mostly buffets, often eaten on deck in good weather, and dinner is a served, multi-course European-style menu. You’ll also find snacks during the day and canapés at cocktail hour, and some itineraries include a beach barbecue. Reviewers generally rate the food as good rather than gourmet, with praise for the variety and the breakfast and lunch spreads.
Drinks are not included. Filtered water, coffee and tea are free. Everything else is paid for in euros and charged to your onboard account. Prices are modest by cruise standards. At the time of writing, house wine starts at around €4 a glass, beer around €4 to €5 and cocktails around €7 to €8, but these change. There’s no drinks package, and you can’t bring your own alcohol to drink on board.
The dress code is elegant casual. Daytime is shorts and swimwear. In the evening, men wear slacks and an open-necked shirt, and women a sundress, skirt or smart trousers. Jackets and ties are never required, but shorts and T-shirts aren’t worn at dinner. Bring deck shoes or sneakers with good grip, since decks can be wet.
Activities, entertainment and excursions
Days revolve around the sails and the sea rather than a packed schedule. Typical activities include:
- Mast climbing: when conditions allow, guests can climb to a lookout platform on the mast in a harness, with crew supervising.
- The bowsprit net: lying in the netting over the water at the bow while under sail is a favorite photo spot.
- Watersports: on Royal Clipper a marina platform lowers from the stern at anchor. On the smaller ships, launches take guests to beaches and snorkel spots. Scuba diving is available on some itineraries for an extra fee.
- Captain’s talks and knot-tying sessions: casual talks on sailing, navigation and the next day’s ports.
- Evenings: a piano bar, quizzes, crab races, a crew show, a guest talent night and, in some ports, local musicians who come on board.
Shore excursions are optional and extra. Many experienced Star Clippers guests skip the organized tours in easy ports and explore on their own or use the free beach and snorkel stops.
Star Clippers cruises 2026-27: where the ships sail
Itineraries are mostly 7 to 11 nights, plus longer repositioning voyages.
- Caribbean, winter 2026-27: Star Clipper offers 7-night round trips from Antigua, a 10-night itinerary from Aruba, and Southern Caribbean voyages from Grenada that include Carriacou and the Tobago Cays. Royal Clipper crosses from Lisbon to Barbados in October 2026, and Star Flyer crosses from Las Palmas to St. Maarten.
- Greece and Turkey, 2027: Star Flyer runs 7-night Athens round trips such as “Authentic Greek Escape” (Astypalea, Sifnos, Symi, Patmos, Fethiye) and “Aegean Gems”, plus 10 to 11-night voyages between Istanbul and Antalya along the Turkish coast.
- Western Mediterranean, summer 2027: Star Clipper sails Italian routes such as a 10-night Sicily and Amalfi itinerary that can start near Rome, and Royal Clipper sails the Mediterranean and Adriatic.
- Atlantic crossings: several transatlantic voyages each spring and autumn appeal to people who want long, real sea days under sail.
Check deployments on the official Star Clippers website before you book, as ships and routes shift from season to season.
How much does a Star Clippers cruise cost?
Star Clippers prices itself below the all-inclusive luxury lines. As a guide, at the time of writing, 7-night Greek island sailings for 2027 are advertised from around $2,500 per person (double occupancy, port charges included), and 10 to 11-night Turkey voyages from around $3,350 to $3,740. Inside cabins and Category 5 rooms are cheapest, and suites can cost several times more. Fares change often, and UK fares in pounds follow their own offers.
Budget on top of that for drinks, the suggested gratuity of around €8 per person per day, excursions, Wi-Fi (Starlink is installed fleetwide, sold in data packages) and flights. Early-booking offers sometimes add perks such as onboard credit, excursions or massages. Our guide to 2027 cruise deals and when to book explains how to time it.
Star Clippers vs Windstar: which small ship suits you?
The line most often compared with Star Clippers is Windstar, which also has sail-assisted yachts. The difference is that Windstar’s sailing ships use computer-controlled sails and a more resort-style service, while Star Clippers’ ships are traditional tall ships that rely much more on wind and crew. Windstar also offers an optional package that bundles drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities, which Star Clippers doesn’t. Our review of whether Windstar’s all-inclusive package is worth it breaks down that cost, and our Windstar cruise ships guide compares its sailing yachts with its larger Star Plus ships.
Who Star Clippers suits (and who should skip it)
A great fit for: couples, active retirees, solo travelers, keen sailors, honeymooners and families with older teens who like swimming and snorkeling, and anyone who prefers quiet coves to mega-ports.
Probably not for you if: you have limited mobility, need lots of cabin space, want nightly shows or a casino, have young children who need a kids’ club, or are prone to seasickness and don’t want motion. It’s also not right if you expect everything included in the fare.
The verdict: most Star Clippers reviews say it’s worth it for people who book it for the sailing. Go in expecting a comfortable, characterful tall ship rather than a luxury resort and it’s hard to beat.
To decide which vessel suits you, see Star Clippers ships compared, with a side-by-side table of all three tall ships.
FAQs
Is Star Clippers all-inclusive?
No. Your fare covers your cabin, all meals, water, coffee and tea, onboard activities and most watersports equipment. Alcohol, soft drinks, bottled water, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, spa treatments and gratuities are extra, and onboard prices are charged in euros.
How much should you tip on Star Clippers?
Gratuities are not included in the fare. The line’s suggested amount is around 8 euros per person per day, pooled among the crew, which you can pay in cash or add to your onboard account.
Is there a dress code on Star Clippers?
Evenings are elegant casual. Slacks and an open-necked shirt for men, and a sundress, skirt or smart trousers for women, are fine. Jackets and ties are never required, though shorts and T-shirts aren’t worn in the dining room at dinner.
Can you climb the mast on Star Clippers?
Yes, on most sailings. When conditions allow, the crew lets guests climb to a lookout platform on the mast wearing a safety harness, under supervision. You can also lie in the netting over the bow while the ship is under sail.
Which Star Clippers ship is best?
Royal Clipper is the biggest, with 227 guests, three pools, a stern marina platform and a few suites with verandas. Star Clipper and Star Flyer are identical four-masted sister ships for 166 guests and feel even more intimate. Choose by itinerary first, then by ship.
