It has been around for thirty years that luxury cruise holidays have become a massive vacation through the construction of mega larger cruise ships able to accommodate more and more passengers at once at increasingly crumbling prices to hold on to more and more intense competition in a sector that has been growing strongly since years.
An early return or if you want an alternative to mass cruise is offered by the ten luxury cruise sailboats that still lure the sea today ensuring a level of comfort and excellent service with the opportunity to take part in the wonderful corners of the world where a great cruise ship can never moor.
Also you will be able to share the common spaces of the ship such as pool bars and lounges with few people without crowding as usually happens in large ships. Among these ten sailing vessels is the Royal Clipper, the flagship of Star Clipper’s Swedish navigation company, where its design inspired the glorious Preussen to sail a magnificent 19th-century sailing ship, a five-seater yacht, nicknamed ” the Queens of the Queen’s Seas “.
Made on the shipyards of Gdańsk, it is 134 meters long, large 16 meters and 5 trees rising up to 58 meters with 42 large sails that can also exploit a light sea breeze, reaching this amazing 17-knot speed through only the big sailing system . With a gross tonnage of 5,000 tonnes it can accommodate up to 227 passengers in its 114 cabins with 106 crew members.
As her ancestor is the largest cruise ship sailing in the world and is also one of the most luxurious. It’s a sailboat not a cruise ship here you can experience an adventure. Leave everything behind to unplug and jump to a life of pleasure in full freedom like a century ago with the wind in the stern to try the traditions of sailing.
For the characteristics of this type of cruise immediately establishes a special relationship between the crew and the passengers and between the same tourists promoting a social exchange and new beautiful friendships. Obviously it is a free choice because in any case the ship has enough common spaces for those who, even for only a few days, love to avoid the company and experience this experience in perfect solitude or just with their own family.
Ideal for those who want to experience a cruise that can provide leisure moments in a very relaxed comfortable climate and want to be pampered and served by a well-organized facility on a cruise still tailor-made.
A peculiar and exciting feature is when the boat moorings to start a new cruise all passengers gather on the deck to experience the first unforgettable moments of sailing the sails seems to go back with time.
The Royal Clipper was launched in 2000, although some advanced and advanced navigation and communication systems are on board, some procedures are carried out as were the sailing vessels of the nineteenth century, such as the unloading and loading of goods that are carried out as at the time through a pulley system.
At every moment of navigation on the flanks of the ship, the most courageous passengers can choose to lie down on the suspended dolphin on the water and admire the sails while others can follow the navigational bridge all the navigation phases by observing the commander and maneuvering crew the ship does not exclude the possibility of actively contributing to the rise of sails.
Regarding the destinations, the Royal Clipper sail between the months of April and October in the Mediterranean Sea, while the other months of the year, winds the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, usually departing from Barbados .
Among the cruises in the Mediterranean is the one that departs from the port of Civitavecchia to finish in Venice after twelve days of sailing with a journey of about 2,200 km touching beautiful places that only a cruise ship can reach to enjoy the culture of the place without the the presence of thousands of tourists who land all sets as it happens in the big cruise liners.
Starting from Civitavecchia the first stop is at Ponza of the Pontine Islands and then continuing for Palmarola, tourists obviously have the chance to land at these places to visit the features. Then proceed to the south of the Mediterranean with a stop to Sorrento, where you can by ferry to visit both the beautiful island of Capri and the lovely Amalfi Coast. Continuing, you reach Sicily with a stop to Taormina crossing the Strait of Messina.
The ship in this case is also supported by the presence on board of two large diesel engines useful to ensure navigation in the absence of wind or “bonaccia” but above all to perform, if necessary, fast maneuvers such as dodging fishing boats and other boats as when crossing the close to Messina.
Arriving in Taormina, passengers have two options or explore Sicily or stay aboard and with the help of the crew to climb safely on top of a tree to enjoy the awkward panoramas of extraordinary beauty such as the Calabrian and Sicilian coasts at the same time and become stroking from the wind, listening to the noise of the sea, a truly unforgettable experience.
The cruise continues east to reach the island of Corfu in Greece, then continue up the Adriatic Sea with a pass to Montenegro’s Kotor , where the passengers have half a day to visit. Then climb again to the Adriatic to reach Rovinj (in Croatian Rovinj) Croatia and then continue for the penultimate stop at Piran in Slovenia (in Slovenian Piran), the cruise ends through the wonderful Grand Canal in Venice.
During the entire cruise the eyes will be filled with breathtaking views. At each stage you can visit the places you have reached, although for some just staying on the ship is already a time of arrival with all the entertainment, entertainment for the passengers. On the deck there are 3 small pools, an electro-hydraulic system opens the back of the ship by slipping a platform that allows you to dive directly into the water and make water sports and other dives. In addition, there is a body care spa and a piano bar for the evenings. There is also the possibility to relax in the bright interior spaces, determined by a three-story atrium where they filter light rays or bask in the sun on the outside areas.
The fine cuisine is served in an elegant dining room. The most refined menu with lobster and champagne served to celebrate the official dinner with the commander on board a memorable event that now as a solemn ritual is repeated two days after the end of each cruise.
The thrill of the sea is also offered by the sailors’ activities as sewing the sails sailed by the wind directly on board the deck outdoors, polishing the brass, climbing the master shaft for maintenance of the engine winches that explain the sails. Before the end of each cruise, the sail-handling and maintenance crew team in uniform on the bumper of the ship to photograph the passengers, showing their pride to work on a single sailing ship.
Obviously, this description refers to one of the cruises planned for Royal Clipper then there are others that vary in duration and destination throughout the year. The cost per person for the undercooked cabins ranges from $ 1,800 and reach $ 4,600 for a cabin with private staircase, master bedroom and whirlpool.
It seems that the true luxury vacation is just like a century ago in full freedom with a daring adventure spirit available to acquire new friendships.
