Star Flyer Review

4.0 / 5.0
58 reviews

Beautiful Adriatic islands & the Dalmation Coast with a week in the Greek Isles

Review for the Eastern Mediterranean Cruise on Star Flyer
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Mimi A
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

Rating by category

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Value for Money
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Sail Date: Oct 2017
Sailing past St. Mark's Square area in Venice during sail away.
Introduction of Staff at the Tropical Bar
Local Folklore shore brought on board while in Dubrovnik
View of sundeck while sailing
Fabulous views while sailing along the Dalmation Coast in the Bay of Kotor.
View on excursion on Corfu island to Palaiokastritsa resort area.
View from the Crow's Nest during a Mast climb at sea.
Crew performing in talent show.
Waiters/maitre'D performing in talent show.
Lunch buffet one day
View from ship of sunset behind Nea Kameni, while in the caldera at Santori
Early evening view of Thira, Santorini prior to sailing.
Mykonos (on our own) - View of the windmills and islands.
Cabin with bunk bed
View of sails at night.
Dining Room
Monemvasia as seen from the ship; church of Agios Sophia on hilltop at left
View of Monemvasia from hilltop at Church.
View of Pilos with ship anchored (at extreme right)
View of sails while sailing under sail power only.
Pilot and Captain while docking in Syracusa, Sicily.
Greek Theatre on excursion in Syracuse, Sicily.
Arrival in Valletta, Malta.
Fishing village near Hvar.
View of sunset while sailing from Hvar.
Stop at winery near Hvar for wine with snack
Anchored in the evening in Dubrovnik
View of Old Town Dubrovnik from Cable Car
View of sunset from mountaintop at Dubrovnik.

We had previously sailed with Star Clippers aboard the Royal Clipper in the Caribbean --one of our best cruises. We were intrigued by sailing the small clipper ship in the Adriatic, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas and chose this back-to-back cruise from Venice, allowing us to spend time seeing that port first, and disembarking in Malta, a port not found on a lot of itineraries due to its out of the way location south of Sicily. Ports for this cruise after sailing from Venice included Mali Losinj, Hvar, and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Katakolon (for Olympia), Santorini, Mykonos, Athens (end of first leg), Monemvasia, and Pilos, Greece; Syracuse, Sicily, and disembarkation was in Valletta. We took two private tours during the day in Venice, having arrived the day prior, arriving for embarkation (which began at 4 pm) at the terminal at 4:45 pm and being exhausted already, having arrived via a water taxi with 2 suitcases of 50 lbs.+ each which we dropped off at a different point of the terminal (to be scanned and sent to our stateroom), 2 roll-on carry-ons, and two backpacks, we found quite a few fellow passengers were in line, so we had a fair wait to go through security before boarding which also was compounded by another ship embarking in the same terminal. Upon embarkation via gangway to the Tropical Bar, we were met by the Captain and Hotel Manager with an alcoholic beverage. We elected to complete check-in in the piano bar and take carry-ons to our cabin, then return for snacks being provided at 5-6 pm that night as well as every evening on deck at the Tropical Bar. Muster drill was at 6:30 and was very comprehensive (with life jacket on and detailed instructions), compared to most cruise lines' drills nowadays. Second muster drill was the following morning (without donning life jackets). Sail away party was at 7:30 on Sundeck (top) to views the sails being raised. Dinner was served by waiters most evenings 7:30-10 as previously mentioned, open seating style (come at any time and join others at a table).

The "tall ship" Star Flyer was built in 1991, is 360 feet long, and can accommodate just 170 guests. She spends her summers in various parts of Europe and her winters in the Caribbean. Life aboard is blissfully relaxed, much like traveling on a private yacht. You’ll never feel confined on Star Flyer. The ship offers spacious accommodations and expansive teak decks with ample space and not one, but two swimming pools. In fact, you’ll find that the ship offers more outdoor space per passenger than most conventional cruise ships.

The décor of Star Flyer and her sister Star Clipper is reminiscent of the grand age of sail. Antique prints and paintings of famous sailing ships please the eye, while teak and gleaming mahogany rails are richly reminiscent of Star Clippers’ proud nautical heritage.

Cabin Review

Cabin Outside Cat. 4

Due to the size of the ship, cabins are small - ours was about 120 sq. ft., only room for a fixed double bed against the exterior wall (with a porthole), requiring the person sleeping there to enter/exit at the foot of the bed. There was a bunk available for a third person. At the foot attached to the wall was a small settee and a narrow, but 4 ft. long, shelf (to be used as a desk) mounted over a movable stool. Three small closets including a safe were in the corner with enough room for two for 15 days with plenty of shelf space. A large drawer was under the end of the bed and another drawer under the settee. My husband's luggage fit under the bed, but I needed to stand mine up in the bottom of a closet. Toiletries were provided in travel size bottles in a basket and were replenished as needed. Bathroom was average size, however, shower was small with curtain, while a crowned floor was positioned to allow shower water to drain in the corner with an additional floor drain under the sink. Flat-screen TV (with limited stations), with DVD player and radio which we never used were mounted on the wall across from the bed. A/C vent/adjustment was on ceiling above bed - no temperature control.

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