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Star Clippers

Celebrating 25 Years of tour excellence

Recreating the romance of classic sailing, Star Clippers’ ships are authentic recreations of traditional clipper ships, paired with the activities, amenities and atmosphere of a private yacht. The experience is intimate and unique, with days spent on deck under wind-filled sails and smaller ships able to call at ports not frequented by larger vessels. Well looked after by a highly skilled crew, with excellent dining and plenty of activities onboard and ashore, it’s easy to see why Star Clippers has forged a reputation for once-in-a-lifetime adventures.

For more than 30 years, Star Clippers has given guests the chance to experience the thrill of sailing aboard a tall ship. With gleaming mahogany, brass fittings, leather and hardwood throughout, alongside modern features and facilities, guests can enjoy the adventure of the past with the comforts of the present.

Life onboard is convivial, with the indoor-outdoor Tropical Bar at the heart of the ship and acting as a social hub. It is here that many onboard activities and evening entertainment are arranged by the crew and officers. A range of watersports may be available at suitable stops, including snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing dinghies, water skiing and windsurfing, subject to weather conditions and local regulations. Shore excursions are also available to book locally, offering the chance to explore each destination in more depth. Plentiful deck space offers room to relax, while each ship has swimming pools and the library’s leather armchairs provide a peaceful retreat. More adventurous guests may also have the chance to climb to the lookout station, with safety equipment and crew supervision.

With an open-seating dining policy, meals are laidback and relaxed. Breakfast and lunch are generally buffet-style, while dinner is served in the elegantly appointed dining room, where the chef’s evening menus draw on flavours from around the world. At selected island stops, guests may also be treated to an outdoor barbecue on shore. Mealtimes are adapted around port calls and activities. In the evenings, shorts are not accepted in the Dining Room, and gentlemen are requested to wear shirts with collars and sleeves.

Paired with a Wendy Wu land programme, a Star Clippers voyage feels less like a conventional cruise and more like a journey aboard a private yacht.

Wendy Wu Cruise & Tour Holidays featuring Star Clippers

Cruise & Tour Brochure Launch Offer 2026

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Classic

Costa Rica Tall Ship Adventure

16 days from £7,190pp

Inclusive of Tour, Cruise & Flights

Places Visited: UK – San Jose (1N) – Tortuguero (2N) – Arenal (2N) – Monteverde (2N) – Cruise (7N) – San Jose (1N)

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Why Star Clippers

What makes Star Clippers different?

The ships are working sailing vessels, not cruise ships with sails for decoration. The engines run when there is not enough wind, but the fleet sails wherever conditions allow. Onboard, the atmosphere reflects the scale, with fewer than 230 guests, personal service, uncrowded public spaces and no pressure to do anything at all. There are no production shows or formal evenings. Social life centres on the Tropical Bar and Piano Bar, and in port, local musicians may occasionally come aboard in place of scheduled entertainment.

On Deck

Guests are welcome to take an active role in sailing the ship if they choose, helping to raise the sails, climbing to the crow’s nest with safety equipment and crew supervision, or simply watching from the bow nets. Watersports equipment such as kayaks, paddle boards, sailing dinghies, windsurfing equipment and snorkelling gear may be available at no extra charge, subject to weather conditions and local regulations. Star Clipper has two swimming pools and deck space per passenger is generous by any measure.

Dining

Ships operate open-seating dining throughout the voyage, with no assigned tables and no fixed sittings. The menu changes daily and draws from a broad international range. Breakfast and lunch are generally buffet-style, while dinner is served in the Dining Room. The evening dress code is informal, although shorts are not accepted in the Dining Room and gentlemen are requested to wear shirts with collars and sleeves.