Dining is in the open seating restaurant and the Tropical Bar on deck makes an ideal gathering place for guest in the evening before and after dinner. The ship’s library also opens onto the Tropical Bar deck.

The new Star Clippers 8,770gt 300 passenger Flying Clipper will enter service early in 2018 - dates to be announced - and will summer in the

STOWAWAYLuxury and boutique small ship news for discerning travellers Issue 11

Sails of the century! Cruise Sail special edition

Travel under billowing white canvas brings passengers closer to nature and the sea than any other cruise experience although the entire world fleet of cruise ships travelling under sail (discounting private yacht charter), numbers barely a dozen. Only one sail newbuild has entered the world fleet in over ten years and there’s just one further sailing ship currently in construction, with the launch anticipated as late 2018 – see details on the Star Clippers page following.

Sail cruising is a unique and to many, a romantic sea travel experience – here’s Stowaway’s look at these ships, what they offer on board and where they will be in 2018. Talk to Cruise Select for further details and to book.

Star ClippersStar Clippers ships are the passion of the cruise line’s founder Mikael Krafft who built the 5,000gt Royal Clipper, entering service in 2002, as a contemporary recreation of the five masted Preussen, at the time of its construction in 1902 the world’s biggest sailing ship.

Royal Clipper, the largest of Star Clippers’ current sail trio, is unique as the only ship under sail with a number of suites with private balconies. The ship carries a maximum of 227 passengers, providing them with plenty of deck space and three pools below the five masts carrying 56,000 square feet of sail.

Passengers can ascend to the crow’s nest up aloft – wearing safety harnesses of course – to viewthe sea from high up, or see it in a completelydifferent way through underwater portholes in theCaptain Nemo spa and health club. A three storyatrium opens to a three deck level open seatingdining room and there are inside and open deckoutside bars, a forward observation lounge and alibrary on Main Deck.

Identical twins, the 2,298gt, four masted Star Clipper and Star Flyer each carry a maximum of 170 passengers and are designed to create a sense of involvement with day to day running of the ship - willing passengers are given the unique opportunity to assist the crew in hauling ropes during sail adjustments and coils of ropes on deck add to the sense of a true sailing ship.

There’s reasonable sun deck space with two pools.

Star Clippers newest addition, Flying Clipper.

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Mediterranean, moving to the Caribbean for the winter. Flying Clipper features 150 cabins, with 34 balcony cabins and four Owner’s Suites, a water sports platform on the stern, three pools and a two deck high dining room.

Royal Clipper sails on a 12 day cruise from Jamaica to Barbados on 4 December 2018 if you like to plan well ahead, visiting a mix of stylish

and less visited ports of call, with a cruise only fare starting at £2,102pp.

Star Flyer sails an 8 day cruise from Barcelona to Cannes, with ports of call which include Fontvielle where the Monaco Grand Prix trials take place, departing 19 May 2018. Fares start at £1,699pp to include flights and transfers.

Sea Cloud CruisesSea Cloud Cruises has just two luxuriously fitted ships which they call their windjammers. The company says the ships are under sail as often as possible and it’s worth remembering that as with all sail ships, itineraries can change if high winds or other inclement weather require it but that’s all part of the sail experience. Sea Cloud adds with great pride that crew still ascend the masts to set sails by hand.

The four masted Sea Cloud bearing 32,000 square feet of sail was built as a private yacht for a rich American in the days when a beautiful yacht was considered the sophisticated way to show off one’s wealth. Today the ship maintains its air of elegance and exclusivity for the maximum of 64 guests, with cabins and public rooms furnished in the same classical style. The open seating restaurant offers wines and beers with lunch and dinner and on the Lido sun deck there’s the Lido Bar.

Sea Cloud II, also with 32,000 square feet of sail on three masts, carries a maximum of 94 passengers and again features the Lido deck and Lido Bar. Cabin and public room furnishings follow big sister Sea Cloud’s traditional styling. There’s a spa and fitness room and forward of the ship is the library. Like Sea Cloud, the open seating restaurant offers wine and beers with lunch and dinner.

Both windjammers cross the Atlantic heading west in December, wintering in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Caribbean and Cuba, before returning to Europe in April 2018. Sea Cloud visits ports in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Malta and Croatia, while Sea Cloud ll spends the first cruises also in the Med before heading for the Baltic, with a programme which includes St. Petersburg. 1. Sea Cloud; 2. Sea Cloud II; 3. A category A

room on the Sea Cloud.

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Le PonantFrench company Le Ponant has just one sail ship, actually named Le Ponant, to complement their fleet of boutique cruise ships, providing a taste of Gallic style and gastronomy. Guests are international of course but with French officers and staff on board, La Ponant offers a unique sail experience.

The three masted Le Ponant offers a choice of two restaurants, pleasing for a ship carrying a passenger complement of just 64, the Diamant Panoramic Restaurant and the Karukera

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Gastronomic Restaurant, the latter open for dinners only. The main open sun deck also has a further open Observatory sun deck forward. One deck below the reception area are the Saphire and Emeraude lounges.

Le Ponant sails a ten day gastronomic cruise, departing 11 April 2018 from Lisbon and the Breton port of Lorient, with wine and cheese tastings and gala dinners prepared by Michelin starred chefs. Cruise only fares start at £4,500pp.

1. Le Ponant; 2. Lounge area;3. Dining Le Ponant style.

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VarietyVariety Cruises, a family owned Greek company, aims to provide absolute informality, simplicity and a sense of relaxation aboard three small sailing ships. Breakfast and lunch on all three ships are self service with dinners served more formally from a menu which changes daily.

The three masted Panorama carries 49 passengers and has a swimming platforms in the stern. The upper deck features an open lounge bar, the main deck has a further bar and lounge, a library and dining room.

Panorama II with two masts, also carries 49 passengers and like Panorama, features an aft swimming platform. The upper, sun deck features a Lounge bar and an al fresco dining area. The Main deck has a further Lounge and bar, while the dining room is located on the lower deck below this.

Galileo, the third 49 passenger sail ship, is more traditionally styled with polished wood to all the public and outside areas. The large dining room has a bar and comfortable seating area, and above this there’s a further bar. One deck up again is the sun deck.

Your agent can book through Variety’s UK cruise partner Seafarer Holidays. Panorama sails an 8 day Costa Rica – Panama cruise including 2 nights in a Panama City hotel, from January through to April 2018, with fares starting at £2,499pp to include flights.

1. Variety Cruises Panorama. 2. Panorama indoorlounge bar. 3. Panorama II in dock. 4. A Galileocabin.

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Top tipBecause all sail ships are by nature small and carry relatively smaller numbers of passengers, it’s wise to plan and book ahead.

Contact Cruise Select on

01234 326758

www.cruiseselect.co.uk

sales@cruiseselect.co.uk