Royal Clipper Review
Rating by category
Additional details
It is important to remember that this is not a cruise ship, but a superbly equipped five-masted yacht, albeit a rather bigger yacht than one might expect to find.
We sailed from Barbados at 10pm, when it was dark. The sky was clear with bright stars, a full moon, and with the mast lights on as the Clipper moved away from the dockside, the sails started to unfurl, and the music of Vangelis' Conquest of Paradise 1492 started to play. If anyone had any doubts about moving away from the big ship cruise experience, the early feelings evoked by just leaving the port were positive.
After eight cruises before Royal Clipper with P&O (2), Cunard (2), and Celebrity (4), this was a brave departure from the norm. At less than half the length of a typical ship, and maybe 1/20th or less of the weight, some movement is to be expected, but it was not troubling - apart from the last day when a few passengers were perhaps a bit off colour, owing to the larger swells between Martinique and Barbados as the Captain picked up speed for the 18 hour sail to Barbados.
Cabin Review
Like the other review made in February this year, we had the cabin on the port side at the back near the aft deck. It has an outside window (covered by a horizontal blind), so it was kept 'slatted' to prevent folk passing by from looking in. It was also advisable to keep the door locked, as other passengers often thought it was door to the inside of the yacht. On the occasion we forgot I reckon the wayward passenger was the most embarassed.The bathroom had a bath, which is unusual when cruising, unless paying a lot of money, with a jacuzzi. And whilst the cabin is smaller than what can be found for similar cost on a larger cruise ship, it was not intrusive to the point where the extra space was missed. The cabin steward, meanwhile, was an expert at making animals out of towels, and one was always waiting on the bed, with chocolates, by the time we were ready to settle down for another night.