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On these sailing cruise ships, sailing is not just for show - itis a true craft. When the orders ring out over the deck and thecrew climb the masts to hoist the sails, everysingle manoeuvre marks a centuries-old ritual being brought tolife. Combine that with great itineraries, genial fellow guestsand the best in service, and you have a winner.
The Essence of Small Ship Sailing
Its gorgeous tiered stern decks feature a lovely outdoor pool area at the back of Deck 6 with a perfect stretch of deck for sunbathing and scenery watching and an open-air bar above for stunning views. In the winter, Royal Clipper island hops around the Caribbean, sailing round trip from Barbados to some of the lesser-known islands. During the summer, it cruises the Mediterranean along the French and Italian rivieras and explores the coast of Croatia and the Canary Islands. The ship attracts a loyal fan base thanks to its roomy size and cabins that open onto covered promenade decks (rather than a central interior corridor). It even features a hot tub on deck and an elevator, a rarity on older small adventure ships like this. After passing through various owners, Sea Cloud I has spent the last several decades offering casually elegant windjammer cruises to old-ship lovers from Europe and North America.
Fellow Passengers Review
Outdoor deck space includes the forward-facing bow area with an outdoor hot tub. There's an impressive spa, salon and gym with panoramic ocean views and several lounges for drinks (always included) and lectures. While small luxury ships typically have fancy owners' suites, the pair of top accommodations on Scenic Eclipse is on another level.
Galileo
The crew seemed to enjoy what they did and working together. At this season [April], be prepared for all kinds of weather. Bring layers, from short-sleeved shirts to a down jacket.
These 3 lesser-known cruise lines offer amazing voyages on sail-powered ships - The Points Guy
These 3 lesser-known cruise lines offer amazing voyages on sail-powered ships.
Posted: Sun, 10 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The ship's sleek angled silhouette makes for a handsome profile. The eye-catching interior is sophisticated, with a stark black, gray and beige color palette, lovely wood details, white Carrara marble surfaces and bold art. Explore these destinations in depth with included excursions. L'Austral is the ideal size for a small ship — intimate but still large enough for amenities such as a gym, spa and show lounge. Fares include everything from wine, beer and spirits to daily excursions. The line's iconic weekly beach barbecue on a remote stretch of sand, complete with Champagne and caviar in the surf, is a cruise highlight on all itineraries.
Sea Cloud Cruises: Sea Cloud I
Here are 18 of the world's best ocean-going small cruise ships, both older and new. Each carries fewer than 400 passengers and all are ideal for your next intimately sized travel adventure. The three large porthole windows give these SEA CLOUD II deluxe staterooms a special maritime flair. With a luxurious yacht ambience, these upscale spaces magnify the feeling of being part of an extraordinary journey on an extraordinary ship. The spacious room exudes elevated coziness with sophisticated furnishing and finishings, a glamorous palette and a beautiful sitting area. The six deluxe staterooms are located mid-ship on the same deck as the massage and cosmetic treatments, fitness room, swim platform and hospital.
Tall Ship Cruises
Very crowded and not much fun...though we imagine they might be very nice when not overflowing with people. But we’re equally sure there are a lot more islands in the Cyclades that would be even more enjoyable to visit. Passengers can enjoy a relatively large spa and fitness area, plus multiple dining venues, including Asian, Japanese, French and Continental restaurants. The expansive wooden sun decks on Wind Star and Wind Spirit make you want to be on topside as much as possible to enjoy the yachting life. Each has multiple dining options, both indoor and on deck, including a weekly barbecue on deck under the stars. What the ships lack in modern touches, they make up for in experience and service.
Where does Star Clippers Royal Clipper sail from?
I like the variety of a buffet, with Greek cuisine, therefore, giving me the opportunity to try foods I would not normally eat. The welcome dinner and the captains dinner was excellent. Also enjoyed having the chance to try out the local restaurants, and local wine and beer. Beautiful places with excellent shopping & restaurants.
of the best small ship cruises to the Greek Islands
One night, the ship’s gentle rolling motion saw us involuntarily and hilariously line-dancing till late. I couldn’t even drag my body to the Finnish sauna after. Sea Cloud Cruises' two other vessels — Sea Cloud 2 and Sea Cloud — are smaller but offer a similar show as the sails are set by hand the old-fashioned way. The former is a 23-year-old, three-masted barque propelled by 23 sails (five fewer than Sea Cloud Spirit); the latter is a 93-year-old, four-masted barque with 30 sails and a storied past.
A specific cabin number or category cannot be selected. You will receive your exact cabin number when arriving on board. On the SEA CLOUD, the range of accommodation starts from Cat. With just enough motion to rock me to sleep, I snoozed like a baby on the firm German-made Dr. Weidner mattress atop a twin bed that can be converted into a double. During the day, I often left the balcony door open to let the sea breeze flow in. Opt for the cruise-only option if you prefer taking charge of your travel arrangements.
Carrying 166 passengers apiece, the smaller vessels were designed to resemble the speedy clipper ships of the 19th century, which were known for their narrow profile and large sail area. Each vessel has a sail area of 36,000 square feet spread across 16 sails, a large amount for the size. Unlike on the vessels operated by Sea Cloud, the sails on Windstar's sailing ships aren't unfurled by hand in the old-fashioned way but by the push of a button from the bridge. It's a fully automated system that is much more modern, if less dramatic. Now configured to carry 64 paying passengers, Sea Cloud was originally the private yacht of Postum Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband, the famed financier E.
An open bar contributes to the social atmosphere on board, and watersports from a stern marina when conditions are right are a great perk for active travelers. Cruise fare covers wine and spirits, excursions and excursion gear. Today, the line's fleet of small ships explores nearly the entire planet, always with an impressive lineup of experts and photographers along for the ride. Lindblad Expeditions has been a leader in small-ship expedition cruising since 1966 when company founder Lars-Eric Lindblad pioneered expeditions to Antarctica, Easter Island and the Galapagos. Of course, the best small ship for you may depend on where you wish to sail and whether you're looking for a relaxing yacht-like experience or a rugged adventure.
Sea Cloud Spirit is also available for private charter. I envied fellow passengers who opted for adventurous options like hiking the Camino de Ronda along rocky trails in Spain’s Costa Brava. Instead, I delved into the history and culture of provincial towns and cities like Girona and Tarragona with walking tours led by enthusiastic on-the-ground guides. With its mix of Romanesque, Baroque, and Gothic architecture, Aix-en-Provence, reached via Marseille, was a revelation. With all the sails up and heavy wind, it really is exhilarating,” Dennis said. When you return to your stateroom, the luxury gets personal.
Viking Octantis spends part of the year in Antarctica and the rest of the year cruising the Great Lakes and Canada, with a handful of repositioning cruises in between. Inside are not only Zodiacs and kayaks but a pair of six-passenger submarines and military-grade speed used to shuttle cruisers on excursions. SH Vega cruises the Arctic region (visiting Greenland, Iceland and northern Canada), South America, the coast of Africa (including South Africa, Namibia and Angola) and the Antarctic Peninsula. The expansive Observation Lounge takes up most of Deck 7 and is the spot for expedition lectures.
Wind Star is a sleek, 4-masted sailing yacht accommodating 148 guests. With four decks and a gross tonnage of 5,703, Wind Star feels like your own private yacht. When the weather's good, skip the main restaurant and eat at the buffet, which is set up at the back of Deck 7, adjacent to the attractive (and heated) infinity swimming pool. Vega also has a small gym and a spa with an ocean-view sauna.
