Royal Clippers New Cruises

The 227-passenger Royal Clipper spends winter in the Caribbean, offering seven, 10 and 11-night voyages from Barbados, alternating between the Windward Isles and the Grenadines, from £1,225pp, excluding flights. The ship will then offer seven and 11 night voyages round-trip from Rome, or between Rome and Venice, during the summer of 2012, cruising the Amalfi Coast and Sicily, from £1,515pp, excluding flights.

Cruises on Star Clipper

· Star Clipper, with a capacity of 170, winters in St Maarten, offering seven-night voyages to the Leeward Islands and around the British Virgin Islands from £1,245 pp excluding flights. The ship will sail the Greek Islands all summer, round-trip from Athens and between Athens and Venice and Athens and Istanbul. A four-night mini-cruise from Venice starts at £770pp, excluding flights, departing July 28 and calling at popular yachting ports in Croatia.

Special offers for Christmas and New Year 2011

· €300 per person onboard credit on Star Flyer’s Christmas and New Year Costa Rica cruises, from £1,770pp excluding flights.

· No single supplements on Christmas and New Year Costa Rica cruises.

· Third passenger occupying a cabin on Costa Rica cruises over the holiday season pays only port taxes

· 50% discount for children in Costa Rica at Christmas and on New Year cruises on all three ships

For more info and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

Star Clippers bring Costa Rica expert on Board.

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers has announced that it will carry a guest lecturer, German-born Steffi Adels, on board Star Flyer for the ship’s forthcoming 2011/2012 Costa Rica season.

Steffi, whose professional background was originally in healthcare, fell in love with Costa Rica at first sight when she travelled there on holiday a few years ago. She was offered the chance to stay on and work in the country and has never looked back, saying she ‘went native’ with great ease, learning fluent Spanish and replacing her passion for schnitzel and fries with one for arroz con pollo, the Costa Rican staple of chicken with rice.

During each voyage, Steffi will talk to the guests about her experiences in Costa Rica, where she worked for a year as a tour guide for German-speaking guests as well as visitors from the USA and Canada. She has guided and travelled in all the most beautiful and popular areas of the country, including the volcanoes, the cloud forests, the rivers and canopy trails, the rainforests and national parks, as well as being a regular visitor to neighbouring Nicaragua.

Steffi, who is known for her energy and enthusiasm, will offer lectures and Q&A sessions every day in both English and German, covering topics such as the flora and fauna of Costa Rica; natural resources; volcanoes; forests; and the people.

The 170-guest Star Flyer spends from November to March each winter sailing the tropical waters of Central America’s Pacific coast, visiting dramatic rainforests, sweeping beaches and secluded inlets and islands, with plentiful opportunities for spotting wildlife and birds, as well as snorkelling over the reefs and hiking the forest trails. Most itineraries include a day at sea so that passengers can enjoy the full experience of a magnificent tall ship under full sail, whether it’s from the crow’s nest or the comfort of a lounger on the sun-warmed teak decks.

Star Clippers offers a seven-night Costa Rica and Nicaragua cruise from £1,140, cruise-only, round-trip from Puerto Caldera, calling at San Juan del Sur, Playa del Coco, National Park Santa Rosa, Samara, Puerto Carrillo, National Reserve of Curu and Isla Tortuga.

To book visit www.starclippers.co.uk.or The Cruise Line

Cruise guests from niche tall ship operator Star Clippers have removed 1,700 pounds of rubbish from North Friar’s Beach and Keys Beach in St. Kitts in a beach clean-op operation organised by on-board marine biologist, Mariano Peruzzo. This is the third time Star Clippers guests have take part in beach clean-ups, on this occasion joining volunteers from a local charity to rid the island’s beaches of plastics and other litter.

The marine biology team on board the flag-ship five-masted Royal Clipper have been resident for two years, carrying out research in the marine environments of the Mediterranean and Caribbean as well as leading dives, beach walks and conservation efforts and giving talks to guests.

Star Clippers’ vessels operate under wind power up to 70% of the time. All ships use very pure, high-quality low-sulphur gas oil, for which Star Clippers has been awarded the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate. And all three ships’ crews operate on a ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ policy, while only eco-friendly, biodegradable products are used for cleaning on board the three ships.

Other eco-initiatives include the recent appointment of a qualified naturalist/marine biologist to accompany all cruises on the 170-passenger square rigger, Star Flyer, in its winter sailings in Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua, providing passengers with first-hand information about the incredible diversity of flora and fauna in the region, as well as the volcanoes and cloud forests.

On 11^th December one of Britain’s most respected authors, environmental campaigners, broadcasters and botanists, David Bellamy, will be on board Star Flyer in Central America to share with passengers the magnificent experience of cruising under sail, to host a shore excursion, to mingle with guests and to give presentations about the environment. Including an additional three days land stay, the 10 night Central America holiday costs from £2239pp, with return flights from London, transfers, 3 nights’ hotel accommodation and the seven night cruise with David Bellamy, including all meals on board.

Star Flyer also carries a highly qualified dive master who will give talks on board on invertebrates, crustaceans, fish and marine mammals

Contact Star Clippers 0845 200 6145 or visit www.starclippers.co.uk.