Tom Stieghorst
While sailing in Indonesia last week aboard the Star Clippers cruise line's namesake vessel, I was struck by the many similarities it had to river cruising, which remains so popular with North American travelers.
Start with the size of the passenger contingent. The Star Clipper holds 170 guests, which is about average for a European river boat. Cabins are on the small side compared to a typical ocean-going ship. They are arrayed in three decks, with a handful of penthouse accommodations on the topmost deck.
Corridors are rather short and narrow, and stairs are fairly steep. There is no elevator on the Star Clipper.
Some of the amenities found on a typical ocean vessel, but lacking on river ships, are also absent on the Star Clipper. There is no casino, no gym, and no theater. There are two pools, which are perhaps deeper than the ones found on river ships, but are barely bigger than a good sized whirlpool.
Like most river ships there is a single main dining room. There is no secondary or alternate restaurant. There is a single indoor/outdoor bar. The indoor lounge has a white baby grand piano where the ship's single entertainer plays before dinner. The outdoor bar area serves as a dance floor in the evening and doubles as an exercise area in the early morning before the bartender gets busy.
Another aspect that you'll like about the Star Clipper experience, if you like river ships, is the proximity to the water. On Star Clipper, you can hear the water rushing around the hull as you bed down for the night. The top deck is no more than 15 feet above the surface of the sea. It's really easy to feel like you're doing something nautical, as opposed to observing the water from 12 or 14 decks up.
There are some differences. The most important may be that the Star Clipper doesn't have the sedate movement of a river ship. It rolls, lists and pitches with the motion of the ocean. Built 25 years ago, the vessel lacks balconies, or even large windows. Most cabins have portholes to provide light and air.
cruise itself is a less urban experience than most river cruises. Our week-long itinerary in Indonesia included several beaches and coral reefs but no cities to speak of.
And of course no river cruise ship I know if is powered by sails, the way Star Clipper is when the winds are favorable. Still, if you or your clients like river cruises, a sailing on the Star Clipper or one of its sister ships might be a good extension of the river cruise experience.