The Star Clippers ships are three genuine tall ships: Royal Clipper (2000, five masts, 227 guests) and the twin four-masters Star Flyer (1991) and Star Clipper (1992), each carrying about 166-170 guests. All three sail under canvas whenever the wind allows. The real choice is between Royal Clipper’s extra space, three pools and veranda suites, and the more intimate, classic feel of the two smaller sisters.
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This guide compares the Star Clippers fleet side by side: the specs, cabins, onboard features, where each ship sails in 2026-27, and which one suits you. If you want to know what daily life on board is like, from the food to the sail-raising and the crowd, read our Star Clippers review: what to expect on a tall ship cruise.
The Star Clippers fleet in 2026: three ships, not four
You may still see a fourth ship, Flying Clipper, mentioned in older articles. Star Clippers ordered her from Croatia’s Brodosplit yard in 2014, and she would have been the largest square-rigged sailing ship in the world. A contract dispute meant she never joined the fleet. The yard cancelled the sale in 2019, and the ship was later renamed Golden Horizon and laid up in Split. She was reportedly sold to an undisclosed buyer in 2026. As of October 2026, the Star Clippers fleet is three ships: Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and Star Flyer. Star Clippers hasn’t announced any new build.
Star Clippers ships compared: side-by-side table
| Royal Clipper | Star Clipper | Star Flyer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entered service | 2000 | 1992 | 1991 |
| Rig | Five-masted full-rigged ship | Four-masted barquentine | Four-masted barquentine |
| Length | 439 ft (134 m) | About 379 ft (115.5 m) | About 379 ft (115.5 m) |
| Gross tonnage | About 4,425-5,000 | 2,298 | 2,298 |
| Sails / sail area | 42 sails, about 56,000 sq ft | 16 sails, about 36,000 sq ft | 16 sails, about 36,000 sq ft |
| Guests (max) | 227 | 166-170 | 166-170 |
| Cabins | 114 | 85 | 85 |
| Crew | About 106 | About 74 | About 74 |
| Pools | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Veranda cabins | Yes (14 Deluxe Suites) | No | No |
| Winter 2026-27 | Caribbean from Barbados, plus Panama Canal | Costa Rica and Panama, then Southern Caribbean | Leeward and Virgin Islands from St. Maarten |
| Summer 2027 | Mediterranean | Western and Eastern Mediterranean | Eastern Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey |
Published figures vary a little between sources. Length can be measured with or without the bowsprit, and guest numbers depend on how many cabins are sold as triples. Deployments are based on the line’s announced 2026-27 schedules and can change.
Royal Clipper: the flagship
Royal Clipper was designed after the 1902 sailing ship Preussen. When she launched, she was the first five-masted full-rigged ship built since Preussen in 1902, and she is widely billed as the largest full-rigged sailing ship in service. Seeing all 42 sails set is one of the great sights in cruising.
What sets her apart:
- Three pools on deck, one of which has portholes looking down into the dining room below.
- The Captain Nemo Lounge on a lower deck, where underwater portholes look out into the sea, next to a small spa and gym.
- The only veranda cabins in the fleet: 14 Deluxe Suites of about 255 sq ft with private balconies, plus two Owner’s Suites.
- A three-level atrium dining room with open seating, plus a bigger deck area overall, so it feels less crowded on a full sailing.
- A stern marina platform that lowers in calm anchorages for swimming, snorkelling and water sports, as on all three ships.
Trade-offs: With up to 227 guests she is still tiny by cruise standards, but she is the busiest of the three. Her extra depth also means she sometimes can’t reach the smallest harbours the four-masters can.
Star Clipper and Star Flyer: the classic four-masters
Star Flyer (1991) and Star Clipper (1992) were built in Belgium as the first clipper ships constructed in decades. They are near-identical twins, with four masts about 63 m (207 ft) tall, 16 sails and a classic Edwardian-yacht interior with lots of wood and brass.
- Cabins: Most are outside cabins of about 120 sq ft (11 m²), plus a few inside cabins, larger deck cabins and a single Owner’s Cabin. None have balconies, and storage is compact.
- Public spaces: A Piano Bar and library lounge, a covered Tropical Bar on deck (the social heart of the ship), a single-seating dining room and two small pools.
- The feel: More intimate and more “real sailing”. With fewer guests, it’s easier to get to know the crew, climb the mast to the crow’s nest (where permitted) or lie in the bowsprit netting.
Day to day, there is little difference between Star Flyer and Star Clipper. The choice between them almost always comes down to itinerary and dates.
Star Clippers cruises: where each ship sails in 2026-27
Royal Clipper
Royal Clipper crosses the Atlantic from Lisbon to Barbados in October 2026. She then sails two 14-night Panama Canal voyages that call at Cartagena and Santa Marta in Colombia, followed by Windward Islands and Grenadines cruises from Barbados over Christmas and New Year. She usually spends the summer in the Mediterranean.
Star Clipper
Star Clipper crosses from Las Palmas to Barbados in November 2026, then spends the first half of winter in Costa Rica and Panama, including holiday sailings that call at Costa Rica’s Islas Tortugas. From early 2027 she moves to the Southern Caribbean (the Grenadines, Antigua, Martinique, St. Lucia and Tobago). New 7-night round trips from Antigua have been announced. In summer 2027 she is scheduled for the Western Mediterranean, including a 10-night Sicily and Amalfi itinerary from Rome, and 7-night Eastern Mediterranean cruises from Athens.
Star Flyer
Star Flyer crosses from Las Palmas to St. Maarten in November 2026, then alternates 7-night Leeward Islands and Treasure Islands (Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St. Barts, St. Kitts) loops from St. Maarten through the winter. In summer 2027 she sails 11-night Treasures of Turkey voyages between Istanbul and Antalya, and 7-night Greek island cruises from Athens.
All three ships also run transatlantic crossings, and Star Clippers lets you combine back-to-back weeks into 14-night voyages. Planning a summer sailing? Our guide to the best Mediterranean cruises can help you narrow down the region.
Which Star Clippers ship should you choose?
- First-timers who value comfort: Royal Clipper. More space, three pools, the underwater lounge and a choice of veranda suites make her the easiest introduction to tall ship cruising.
- Purists and repeat sailors: Star Flyer or Star Clipper. Fewer guests, a cosier atmosphere and the feeling of being on a real working sailing ship.
- Couples on a special trip: Royal Clipper’s Deluxe Suites. They are the only cabins in the fleet with a private balcony.
- Itinerary-led travellers: whichever ship sails your route. For the Virgin Islands and St. Barts, that’s Star Flyer. For Costa Rica and Panama, it’s Star Clipper (or Royal Clipper for the Canal itself).
- Travellers with mobility issues: be careful on any of them. None of the ships has an elevator, the stairs are steep and you go ashore by tender at many ports.
How much do Star Clippers cruises cost?
As a rough guide, 7-night sailings on Star Flyer and Star Clipper are often advertised from around $2,000-$3,000 per person in a standard outside cabin. Royal Clipper and peak Caribbean holiday dates cost more, and the Deluxe Suites cost significantly more. Fares include meals and onboard activities, but drinks, gratuities and shore excursions are usually extra. That makes Star Clippers better value than many luxury lines, but not all-inclusive. See our cruise deals for 2027 for current offers.
FAQs
How many ships does Star Clippers have?
Three: Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and Star Flyer. The planned Flying Clipper never entered service with the line.
What is the biggest Star Clippers ship?
Royal Clipper. She is 439 ft long, has five masts and 42 sails, and carries up to 227 guests. She is often described as the largest full-rigged sailing ship in service.
What is the difference between Star Clipper and Star Flyer?
Very little. They are sister ships with the same size, layout and capacity. Star Flyer entered service a year earlier, and they mostly sail different itineraries.
Do Star Clippers ships really sail?
Yes. The ships use their sails whenever the wind and schedule allow, with engines as backup to keep to the itinerary. Crossings and longer passages give you the most time under sail.
Do any Star Clippers cabins have balconies?
Only on Royal Clipper, where 14 Deluxe Suites have private verandas. Cabins on Star Flyer and Star Clipper have portholes or windows, but no balconies.
