Sunday 2 February 2014

Star Clippers has selected ten of its most exciting, adventurous cruises.

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers has selected ten of its most exciting, adventurous and romantic cruises for the 2014/15 season. Each voyage highlights a different aspect of life on three of the world’s finest tall ships, from the great cultural sites of Europe to the most picturesque Croatian ports, the best beaches in the Caribbean and the most fashionable spots in the Balearics. Guests can choose between 16-night transatlantic voyage, or a three-day taster cruise. There are opportunities to learn yoga, to attend lectures or simply to relax on the sun-warmed teak decks, gazing up at a mass of billowing sails, as the wind carries the ship to its next destination.

All voyages include full board on the ship, entertainment and use of the watersports equipment on board.

Top new cruising area: Cuba

Star Clippers is sailing the Cuban coast in 2014 for the first time, offering a spectacular series of itineraries exploring the island in depth, visiting stunning beaches and anchorages, colonial towns and villages and with a pre- and post-cruise option to stay in historic Havana, famous for its cigars, nightlife, architecture and the legacy of Hemingway.

Six nights round-trip from Cienfuegos on Star Flyer, departing 23rd March 23, 2014  and calling at Archipelago de los Canarreos; Punta Frances; Cayo Largo; Casilda; and Cayo Blanco, costs  £941 plus £110  port charges; flights extra (price includes 10% early booking discount - book before 30th April 30, 2014) 


Top spot for attending the Monaco Grand Prix
Star Flyer will sail a one-off Monaco Grand Prix cruise as part of a series of voyages from Monaco and Cannes. The ship will spend the day of the Grand Prix in the harbour at glamorous Monte Carlo, near the heart of the action, before sailing to Corsica and ports along the French Riviera. Many of the Monaco and Cannes departures visit the Scandola Nature Reserve on Corsica, a new call for Star Clippers, cruising an area known for its dramatic rock formations and bird life, including sea eagles. 
A seven-night cruise from Cannes to Monaco, departing 24th May 2014, costs from £1,380 plus £155 port charges (excluding flights and Grand Prix tickets).


Top for body and soul
Star Clippers is offering guests free daily yoga and meditation classes on the spring and autumn 2014 transatlantic crossings of the line’s flagship, the 227-passenger Royal Clipper.
With nothing but the vast, open ocean as a distraction, yoga classes will take place in the open air, on Royal Clipper’s sun-warmed teak decks, under 56,000 square feet of billowing sails – the ultimate relaxation for body and soul.

Qualified yoga teacher Christel Vollmer, back on board by popular demand, will be holding the daily sessions of Astanga yoga, also known as power yoga, on deck in the cool morning air, with a second session just before sunset, including meditation. Christel will also deliver lectures on the philosophy of yoga and advice for practice at home.

Christel will be on board Royal Clipper on the 16-night spring 2014 crossing, from Barbados to Malaga, departing 12th April, from £1,340 plus £80 port charges (flights extra). She will then join the autumn transatlantic sailing, when Royal Clipper departs Lisbon 6th November , calling at Casablanca, Safi and Tenerife and arriving Barbados 22nd November. From £1,420 plus £120 port charges for 16 nights; flights extra.


Top for culture
Take in some of Europe’s most dazzling historic sites on a nine-night voyage from Valletta to Malaga. Calls include La Goulette in Tunisia, from where it’s possible to visit the antiquities at Carthage; Mahon, known for its dramatic harbour and association with Lord Nelson and Admiral Collingwood; Cartagena, one of the oldest cities in Spain, dating back 2,000 years; and Motril, for the beautiful Alhambra’s Palace at Granada and the Generalife Gardens.
Nine nights on Star Clipper costs from £1,690 plus £205 port taxes, departing 23rd October 2014. Flights extra.
Top new European itinerary – the hip Balearics
Star Flyer will operate a series of seven-night voyages from the yachting paradise of Palma de Mallorca in summer 2014, cruising the Balearic islands (a favourite sailing spot of the King of Spain) and calling at anchorages only accessible to small ships, including the sleepy but beautiful islands of Formentera and lively Puerto Pollença on Mallorca.

A seven-night cruise round-trip from Palma costs from £1,315 per person plus £155 port charges for departures in July and August, 2014 (flights extra).


Top Caribbean voyage – Venezuela and the ABC islands
Royal Clipper will spend winter 2014/15 operating her usual enticing Windward Isles and Grenadines itineraries out of Barbados but a new, exciting cruise has been added, circling the entire southern Caribbean. Departing Barbados, the 14-night voyage calls at four ports in Venezuela (the coast of which is scattered with beautiful, unspoiled islands); the ‘ABC’ islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao in the Dutch Caribbean; and the Grenadines and St Lucia.
The 14-night voyage sails round-trip from Barbados, departing 28th March 2015 and costs from £2,394 plus £250 port charges; flights extra (price includes 10% early booking discount - book before 30th April 2014).
Top mini-cruise
Royal Clipper will sail three short ‘taster’ cruises in 2014, out of Venice (three nights), Rome (four nights) and Malaga (five nights). The Venice cruise calls at Rovinj in Croatia and Piran in Slovenia. The Malaga itinerary visits the Balearic Islands and the Rome departure calls at ports in Corsica and Sardinia. Star Clipper will also offer a five-night voyage from Athens to Valletta, via ports in Greece and Sicily.
A three-night cruise round-trip from Venice costs from £630 plus £65 port charge) departing 3rd September, 2014 (flights extra).

Top educational voyage
Cross the Atlantic on a five-masted square rigger on a one-off voyage hosted by TV naturalist Tony Soper. This is a fantastic chance to spend time with Tony, one of the pioneers of adventure cruising and founder of the popular TV series Birdwatch, while experiencing the thrill of a transatlantic crossing under sail. During the voyage, Tony will give five lectures and will mingle with the guests, including at a welcome cocktail on the first night and a farewell talk on the last night of the voyage before arriving in Malaga.

This 16-day adventure departs the UK for Barbados on 11th April 11, spending one night in Barbados at the Hilton Hotel before boarding Royal Clipper on 12th April 12. From £ 2,669 per person  (category 3 cabin) including flights, transfers, one night at the Barbados Hilton, 16 nights’ full board on Royal Clipper and port taxes.


Top for spectacular scenery
Join Star Clipper for a spectacular 11-night voyage from Athens to Venice, visiting some of the most beautiful and iconic ports in the eastern Mediterranean. From pretty Mykonos with its famous windmills, the voyage takes in the dramatic volcanic cliffs of Santorini, Katakolon (for Olympia) and Corfu, characterised by stately Venetian architecture and graceful cypress trees. Then it’s onwards to Kotor, Montenegro, situated at the end of a dramatic fjord and surrounded by mountains, and Dubrovnik, its medieval centre perfectly preserved. The final three calls are some of the prettiest in the Adriatic; Korcula; Hvar, surrounded by lavender fields; and the yachting favourite of Mali Losinj.
From £2,065 plus £245 port taxes for 11 nights, departing 13th September 2014 (flights extra).
Top for beaches
Bask on some of the finest beaches in the Caribbean on Star Clipper’s Treasure Islands itinerary. Sailing from St Maarten (itself blessed with stunning beaches), the voyage calls at Anguilla, famed for its soft, white sand; Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, which give new meaning to the concept of laid-back beach life; St Kitts, known for its long, unspoiled stretches of sand; and chic St Barths, where the pretty Shell Bay is an easy walk from the harbour at Gustavia.
From £1,115 plus £125 port taxes, departing St Maarten 6th and 13th December 2014 or 3rd and 10th January, 2015. Book before 30th April 2014 for an early booking discount 20% and pay £892 plus £125 port taxes (flights extra).

For more information, telephone Star Clippers 0845 200 6145 or visit www.starclippers.co.uk.

Notes to editors:
Star Clippers operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels. Visiting ports often untouched by larger cruise ships and offering passengers the activities, amenities and atmosphere of a private yacht, Star Clippers is recognised as one of the premier speciality cruise lines.

Guests can enjoy the romance of sailing on board a true tall ship in a relaxed atmosphere with high standards of service provided by an attentive crew. All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, a convivial Tropical Bar on deck and a comfortable piano bar and are large enough to offer first class accommodation and dining, but small enough to call into intimate ports, untouched by large cruise ships.

The two smaller ships, Star Flyer and Star Clipper, take 170 passengers each, with a crew of 70, while Royal Clipper carries 227 with a crew of 106.

Contacts:
Star Clippers reservations: 0845 200 6145

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