Debbie's latest trip on the Star Clipper
Actually, a trip on the Star Clipper isn’t as much as a ‘cruise’ but a sailing adventure!
No lifts, no entertainment team !! - Just a guitarist/ pianist!! & a small sports team.
We boarded in Malaga, where the sun was shining ! We were able to drop off our baggage leaving us free to explore this city prior to boarding at 4.00 pm
Our cabin was small but totally adequate, all cabins had just portholes and even the top grade cabin on the top deck didn’t stretch to a balcony – just a door directly onto the outside deck.
78 crew on board and although the ship will carry 160 passengers there were in fact just 107 of us. At 10.00 pm we sailed away from Malaga, sails raised with a drink in hand – our journey had begun.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, it is sold as a luxury cruise however, a good description would be a 4* ship with a 5* experience!
Our first night took some getting used to, with the noise of the waves against the side of the ship and the rolling movement as we sailed through pretty calm waters to Gibraltar.
We docked into Gibraltar with the help of a local pilot and two tug boats – one attached a rope and was pulling us, whilst the second (with large black tyres hanging all around it), was pushing Quite a site as it niftily poked us from all directions to get us safely into port.
After every encounter with the tug boats, ship crews were out touching up our paintwork.
An afternoon in Gibraltar was lovely and again the sun was shining, we did the ‘must do’ tour of the rock, visiting the famous monkeys, caves and fascinating WW2 tunnels.
Back on board we set sail at 6.pm for Tangiers.
We arrived into Tangiers at 0900. It was quite a moment when the local Moroccan pilot (with no visible lifejacket) climbed the rope ladder to get on board. Quite a portly chap who really struggled and we were all watching with baited breath as he appeared to be struggling with the climb.
Most cruise ships have a hatch at sea level that the pilots use to board, so climbing a rope ladder to board the clipper was probably not what he was used to!!
I was very pleasantly surprised with Tangiers, it was clean, modern and the tour of the Medina, showed lots of brightly coloured painted and well kept homes – many of which had been bought by foreigners including one of the Dubai princes!
At 7.00 pm we left enroute to Cadiz.
The entertainment team consisted of Luddel - he played a lovely white piano during meal times in the restaurant and then he played the guitar in the outside covered bar area, where most things tended to happen, from rope tying classes, to lectures to dancing!
Cadiz was beautiful, the sun shone and it was a beautiful day. It was good to be on firm ground! We left Cadiz that evening and prepared ourselves for a day at sea! The days activities started with keep fit in the bar area, followed by mast climbing – a lesson on laughing , sailing stories, a singalong of sea shanties , a treasure hunt, a lesson on reading a sea charts and a few other activities offered by the sports team.
At 0700 we arrived into Safi – a commercial port half way down the coast of Morocco.
The excursions from Safi were either Marrakech or Essaouira – both a long way! I opted for Essauira as we regularly sell it as a two centre with Marrakech. At 8.00 pm we left Safi heading for Lanzarote, with another day at sea before reaching the Canary Islands.
The day was overcast, quite windy and pretty rough going! – but we made it (Hurray!!)
On our 8th day aboard we arrived into Lanzarote – beautifully warm and sunny. We had a wander around Arrecife and sipped a sangria before setting sail to Fuerteventura
Another warm and sunny day with everyone realising our journey was almost at an end and hence a few sad faces.
About 75 to 80% of those aboard had cruised before on one of the three Clipper ships, and not just once or twice. There were many that had sailed 7, 11 15 even over 20 times! – it seems to draw you in !! Once bitten forever tied to these magnificent ships.
There were English, Americans & Germans mostly, but also the odd, Italian and Swiss. You chatted with everyone and discovered some fascinating characters.
Leaving in Gran Canaria was like leaving long known, good friends, with the promise of keeping in touch !
No lifts and pretty steep stairs I would say you need to be fully able bodied! - However the age range with a couple of exceptions was of an older range (60 plus)
Food was good, especially as the galley was so small – every evening the choice was good and the staff couldn’t do enough to fulfil every wish.
Drinks onboard were very well priced with wine, beer and cava just 4 euros a glass. An extensive wine list and even though we formed a group with 8 other Sailors, meeting in the bar and eating together I was very pleasantly surprised that our bar bill was just 370 euros!
All in all it was a real experience – Definitely for those who enjoy an adventure.
Debbie
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