Sailing on a tall ship in the Caribbean is a wonderful experience.Ī poem and other thoughts inspired by my time on this wonderful ship are here: The Lightness of Being. Photograph by Ann Fisher.Ĭruising on any of the Star Clipper ships will present you with opportunities to do things like climb the rigging up to first crow’s nest, or my favorite, hang out in the netting under the bowsprit. The Royal Clipper sets sail near the Pitons in St. Kitts, and the second, our ship sailed past the Pitons in St.

Both weeks it was a beautiful experience. Įach week, weather permitting, passengers will take tenders out to motor around the ship as she sets sail. This is time travel to another era, at least in the calmest way possible - I have to grin thinking about how 21st century people would actually handle being on a clipper ship from 1905. The big cruise ships are like enormous floating hotels. Traveling on a real clipper ship is different from the other cruise or sailing experiences that I’ve had. The ship is so very beautiful.īeing on her under sail with no engines running.

Trying to answer this question almost puts me at a loss for words. Third, I was planning to do this trip solo, and I had a feeling it would be a good fit. Secondly, I love the Southern Caribbean, so the chance to visit some of the smaller islands I had not seen was intriguing. How could she not? As the largest fully-rigged true sailing ship in the world, well - yes, I’ve wanted to sail on her. The Royal Clipper caught my eye several years ago. Why did I choose Star Clippers for this trip? I’ve spent time sailing on 45 to 60 foot Hunter and Beneteau yachts on vacations and really enjoyed the experience. I’ve been on half a dozen cruises in the last five years, all on larger cruise lines. I’m not sure I can pay a higher compliment to a vacation. Four days into the trip, I placed a call to my travel agent and arranged to stay. I boarded the ship in Barbados, only scheduled for a single week. I sailed for two weeks on the Royal Clipper to the Windward and the Grenadine Islands.

Royal clipper sailing ship