A RIGHT ROYAL VESSEL
Royal Clipper holds the Guinness World Record as being the biggest five-masted ship in the world.
The vessel was
inspired by Preussen, the pride and joy of Germany’s famed Flying P Line in the early years of the 20th century.
British designer
Donald Starkey, who created the décor for many of the world’s most admired mega- yachts, designed the warm, Edwardian interiors, enhanced with traditional nautical features. There is 1,800sq m of open deck area and three pools, one with a glass bottom that filters light down through a three-level atrium to the Dining Room below. There’s an indoor-
outdoor Tropical Bar, an elegant Piano Lounge, a Library and full Internet access. The Captain Nemo
Underwater Spa and Lounge offers hairdressing, massage and beauty treatments in rooms with
underwater portholes. There are no
or vegetarian and plans menus for their time on board. In short, the cuisine is one more piece of the jigsaw that makes for a truly unforgettable experience.
L
ife on board is so ultra-relaxed, although the ship maintains a smart-casual dress code; beach or resort-wear on deck during the day and casual during the evening; no bling or dinner jackets! I found deck shoes were the best footwear for daytime, while you are discouraged from walk- ing in bare feet. There is one ‘gala night’ per cruise where people dress up a little more and I wore my blazer and an open-neck shirt; black tie events or dinners just don’t happen on Star Clippers. What’s more, with an open dining policy, guests can dine when they like, with whom they like.
Sailing into Naples saw us take an excursion
to Pompeii with its amazingly preserved streets and paintings. That afternoon, we had hoped to take the ferry to the isle of Capri but traffic delayed us and we pondered what to do over another excellent lunch. The answer was simple: explore Naples. Full of surprises, the heart of this historic city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with narrow alleyways that lead to mysterious churches, catacombs and underground caves. The city’s old folk culture reveals itself here with craftspeople, fluttering laundry and shouting fish sellers. Back on board, another unique Royal Clipper experience is the opportunity, should you so wish, to become part of the crew and get under the skin of this magnificent vessel. In my short voyage, I helped the crew put up the sails,
computerised sails. The Captain and crew are all experienced square-rigger sailors trained on both modern technology and old-fashioned, traditional methods. Some winches are electric-powered but muscle-powered ones are widely used as well. Accommodation consists of two luxurious Owner’s Suites, 14 balcony suites, two Deck Cabins, 90
outside doubles and six inside doubles, all with private bathrooms.
Spring 2012 I WORLD OF CRUISING
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