{"version":"1.9","identifier":"45f8632c-1bd0-4b34-9e4c-3e933b45abff","language":"en-US","title":"5 things Star Clippers does well—and 1 it doesn’t","layout":{"columns":7,"width":1024,"margin":32,"gutter":20},"componentLayouts":{"text":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":7,"maximumContentWidth":720,"margin":{"top":12,"bottom":12}},"photo":{"columnStart":0,"columnSpan":7,"margin":{"top":20,"bottom":20}}},"componentTextStyles":{"default":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":18,"lineHeight":29,"textColor":"#171717"},"headline":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue-Bold","fontSize":36,"lineHeight":42,"conditional":[{"conditions":{"maxViewportWidth":480},"fontSize":28,"lineHeight":34}]},"intro":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":20,"lineHeight":28,"textColor":"#555555"},"caption":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":13,"lineHeight":19,"textColor":"#666666"},"byline":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":13,"lineHeight":20,"textColor":"#666666"},"body":{"fontName":"HelveticaNeue","fontSize":18,"lineHeight":29,"paragraphSpacingAfter":14,"linkStyle":{"textColor":"#00704a"}}},"metadata":{"canonicalURL":"https://crusiefrog.com/news/star-clippers-five-things-well-one-drawback","datePublished":"2026-10-14T17:47:16.036967Z","dateModified":"2026-10-14T23:50:50.006052Z","authors":["Cruise Frog"],"excerpt":"Five strengths of Star Clippers, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.","thumbnailURL":"https://pub-fac99da959e344fe99d810d309cef7df.r2.dev/photos/article/45f8632c-1bd0-4b34-9e4c-3e933b45abff/1764876e4cbf0047ddab897692a5219a.jpg","keywords":["cruise_line"],"generatorName":"Frog News","generatorVersion":"1.0"},"components":[{"role":"title","text":"5 things Star Clippers does well—and 1 it doesn’t","textStyle":"headline","layout":"text"},{"role":"intro","text":"Five strengths of Star Clippers, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.","textStyle":"intro","layout":"text"},{"role":"byline","text":"By Cruise Frog · Published October 14, 2026","textStyle":"byline","layout":"text"},{"role":"photo","URL":"https://pub-fac99da959e344fe99d810d309cef7df.r2.dev/photos/article/45f8632c-1bd0-4b34-9e4c-3e933b45abff/1764876e4cbf0047ddab897692a5219a.jpg","caption":"Royal Clipper in the Mediterranean, April 2018 · Photo: Cbuske46, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons","accessibilityCaption":"Royal Clipper in the Mediterranean, April 2018","layout":"photo"},{"role":"caption","text":"Royal Clipper in the Mediterranean, April 2018 · Photo: Cbuske46, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons","textStyle":"caption","layout":"text"},{"role":"body","format":"markdown","text":"Star Clippers suits couples, friends and solo travelers who want to feel a ship sail, enjoy swimming and water sports, and prefer small harbors and casual company to big-ship amenities; the line also runs solo, family and themed offers such as yoga cruises. It is a poor fit for travelers who want large cabins, many restaurants, nightly shows or a casino, and anyone who dislikes a ship that moves with the wind should look elsewhere.\n\nThis assessment looks at the product and its fit for different travelers. The strengths are reasons to consider the line, rather than a promise that every guest will value them equally. Ship details and fare terms still matter.\n\n## 1. A real tall-ship setting\n\nStar Clippers makes sails and rigging central to the experience. Guests who love sailing have a reason to choose it that a conventional cruise ship cannot easily reproduce. Engines are still used when needed, so the attraction is the sailing character rather than a promise of wind power throughout.\n\n## 2. A smaller social group\n\nThe ships carry roughly 166 to 227 guests. That supports a more familiar setting than a resort megaship. Travelers who enjoy conversation and a shared interest in sailing may find that scale more rewarding than a long list of onboard attractions.\n\n## 3. Relaxed daily life\n\nOpen seating, casual deck time and an informal captain's briefing create a straightforward routine. Guests can spend more attention on the sea and the route. This fits travelers who want a sailing holiday with comfortable meals rather than a heavily scheduled entertainment program.\n\n## 4. Water activities in the right setting\n\nKayaks, snorkeling equipment and other gear provide ways to enjoy warm-water stops. The offering complements the sailing experience rather than replacing it. Check the planned locations and conditions, since equipment being carried aboard does not guarantee use at every stop.\n\n## 5. Smaller harbors and anchorages\n\nThe ship scale supports itineraries with places that very large vessels may skip. That can make the route feel distinct from a standard resort cruise. Read the tender arrangements and time ashore, because access to a small anchorage is only useful if the visit fits your plans.\n\n## The drawback: It does not provide spacious resort-style cabins\n\nMany accommodations are compact and the facilities are simpler than those of a modern luxury ship. Travelers should review the exact cabin plan and movement between decks. The experience works when sailing and the outdoor setting outweigh the need for a large room and extensive indoor amenities.\n\n## Before you book\n\nI'd choose the itinerary and the ship together. Cabin dimensions, dining access and time in port can matter more than a broad premium label. Compare the booked fare with the drinks, internet and outings you would actually buy. A comfortable routine is valuable only when it suits how you want to travel.\n\n## The cruise format\n\nA Star Clippers cruise is closer to a sailing holiday than a resort at sea. The ships sail whenever the wind allows, guests can lend a hand with the sails, and the captain holds an informal briefing on deck each morning. Dress is smart casual with a single captain's dinner, meals are open seating, and evenings center on the piano bar and the open-air Tropical Bar rather than production shows. Kayaks, snorkel gear and sailing dinghies are free to use, and most cruises last a week, with Grand Voyages of 15 to 24 nights.\n\n## Sources\n\n[Cruise Frog’s Star Clippers profile](https://crusiefrog.com/cruise-lines/star-clippers); [official cruise line information](https://www.starclippers.com/).\n\nEditorial assessment of published product information; no firsthand sailing experience is claimed. Ship features, inclusions and departure programs vary. Updated October 14, 2026.\n\n## Photo credit\n\nRoyal Clipper in the Mediterranean, April 2018. Photo: Cbuske46, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. [Original source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal-clipper.jpg). [Image license](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The image is cropped and resized for this page. The adapted image is distributed under the same license.","textStyle":"body","layout":"text"}]}