As part of its ongoing program to keep the tall ships of Star Clippers looking fresh, Star Flyer and Star Clipper, two of three tall ships in the fleet, recently underwent refurbishments that revitalized the décor and furnishings in all cabins.  In and of itself, that’s not big news; cruise lines perform that sort of maintenance on ships regularly.  Unique to the Star Clippers rendition of a dry dock remodeling: the one single owner’s commitment to quality operations and an excellent passenger experience.

“It’s important for Star Clippers to maintain the highest standards of always having ships that look renewed and immaculate,” said Mikael Krafft, owner and president of Star Clippers, echoing a spirit of sailing and adventure that weaves itself throughout the brand.  When we sailed Royal Clipper earlier this year, we were impressed with the ‘family-owned’ vibe that contributed to the experience.  Rabidly-loyal crew members and officers on board ‘wouldn’t think of working for someone else’ we were told repeatedly, along with stories of the sea that went back to the three-ship line’s origin.

Designing and building the world’s tallest and largest clipper ships was an incredible task that has drawn fans of sailing worldwide as passengers too.  Boasting an extremely high 50% of all passengers on any given sailing as past-guests, the Star Clippers experience is not a first-timer swing through the Caribbean.

“When our guests join us for a sailing, we want them to feel like they are coming aboard their own pristine yacht. Maintaining the appearance of the ships is an important part of the overall Star Clippers experience.” – Mikael Krafft, owner and president of Star Clippers

On our sailing, we quickly learned the difference between our idea of ‘setting sail’ and actually setting the sails on a tall ship, sails that would provide propulsion for the vessel.  We were impressed with the able bodied seamen who were constantly working on the ship’s maintenance.  That the sails (and thus a considerable amount of the ship’s propulsion system) were above deck, gave us a good look at what life at sea is like for the crew members.

In the recent upgrade, bed linens were replace, new bed covers and throw pillows with deep tones of gold and navy were added to beds and the yacht-like woodwork that runs throughout the ship brightly polished.

Some shots of the new upgrades

Photos- Star Clippers

Guests who like to read in bed will appreciate new LED bedside reading lights designed to not disturb a sleeping cabin mate, and Category One cabins also received new side lamps. New flat-screen TVs in all cabins except Category Six provide a more vivid viewing experience.

In addition to the cabin décor enhancements, during the transatlantic crossing at the start of the Mediterranean season Star Clipper had a complete facelift, with all cabins and public areas receiving a fresh coat of paint and varnish, as well as new upholstery in the dining room.

Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and Star Flyer are sailing the Mediterranean this summer, cruising the coasts of Italy, Spain, France, Montenegro and Croatia; the Balearics; the Aegean; and North Africa.

See more of Star Clippers in our @exposure photo storybook, Star Clippers: Tall Ships With Sails and a number of Facebook Photo Albums