Royal Clipper, one of three ships in the Star Clipper’s fleet, will spend the summer months of 2010 in Italy, Croatia, Greece and Montenegro. Photo by Michael Coleman
By Michael Coleman
Star Clippers has added 40 new port calls to its 2010 sailing roster including maiden visits to Costa Rica, the Far East and the Mediterranean.
The line operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels — Star Clipper, Star Flyer and Royal Clipper. The line often visits ports untouched by larger cruise ships plus offers passengers the activities, amenities and atmosphere of a private yacht.
Star Flyer has been tapped to make most of the fleet’s maiden calls in 2010.
The ship will make its way back to the Mediterranean from Tahiti in early 2010 with a 34-night voyage from Papeete, Tahiti, to Balboa, Panama. The ship will make maiden calls at Hiva Oa and Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands before heading east across the Pacific. Cocos Islands, Costa Rica, and Pearl Islands, Panama, will welcome Star Clippers for the first time.
Star Flyer arrives in the Mediterranean in May 2010 with new seven-night itineraries between Monte Carlo, Monaco, and Cannes, France, or round-trip Monte Carlo. The cruises call at a variety of ports throughout Italy and France, including St. Tropez, France; Portofino, Italy; Bonifacio, Corsica, and Portoferraio, Elba. Two maiden calls debut on the itineraries: Sanary-sur-Mer, France, and Lerici, Italy.
In July and August, Star Flyer moves east offering a series of seven-night, round-trip Rhodes, Greece, cruises. The new itineraries take the ship throughout Greece and venture into Turkey’s “Blue Voyage” region – famous for its stunning beauty and heavy yachting activity.
In October the ship repositions from the Mediterranean back across the Atlantic. The 14-night Panama Canal sailing from Barbados to Balboa includes three maiden calls: Bonaire, and Porlamar and Blanquilla in Venezuela.
Come November 2010, Star Flyer will sail two seven-night, round-trip itineraries from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. The itineraries mark the first time Star Clippers has deployed a vessel in this region, making every stop a maiden port.
Star Clipper, meanwhile, returns to the Mediterranean in May 2010 with a host of seven-night round-trip Athens cruises. Milos and Tinos, Greece, make their debut. The ship sails 10- and 11-night cruises between Venice, Italy, and Athens, as well.
Come winter Star Clipper makes its way back to the Far East and sails two itineraries between Singapore and Phuket, Thailand.
Following a trans-Atlantic crossing, look for Royal Clipper to sail a 12-night cruise from Malaga, Spain, to Civitavecchia, Italy, in April 2010 introducing the port of Puerto Banus, Spain. The ship will then resume its seven-night round-trip Civitavecchia itineraries and its 10- and 11-night cruises between Venice and Civitavecchia that call at ports throughout Italy, Croatia, Greece and Montenegro.
The ship’s 16-night westbound trans-Atlantic crossing from Lisbon to Barbados in October 2010 offers a maiden call at Essauira, Morocco. The ship will then sail seven-night, round-trip Barbados itineraries during the winter and spring to St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Martinique, Granada, Bequia and Dominica.
On the Web: starclippers.com