There’s something undeniably romantic about the idea of sailing the Caribbean on a tall ship. Real sails. Open decks. Salt air. A slower pace. The kind of travel that feels like stepping back into the golden age of sailing, when towering masts and wind-filled sails were the only way to cross the sea.
That authenticity is what first drew me to Star Clippers. While there are cruise lines out there that incorporate sailing-inspired design or decorative sails, very few offer the experience of traveling aboard a true tall ship under sail. Star Clippers’ fleet of three ships is among a small handful in the world still providing that experience.
I recently spent a week aboard the Star Clipper with my 14-year-old son, sailing from Antigua to St. Barts, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, and St. Kitts. It was a memorable trip and a style of cruising unlike anything we had experienced before. As someone who loves being out on the water, on a small ship like this, I felt completely connected to the sea, the wind, and the islands around us.
If you are looking for a unique family cruise experience, this review shares what it’s really like to sail on a tall ship, the highlights of our week onboard, and what to know before you book.
A Tall Ship Cruise Is Not a Typical Cruise
The first thing to know is that Star Clipper is not trying to compete with the big cruise lines. This isn’t a floating resort with nonstop entertainment and a schedule packed with kid-friendly programming.
A tall ship cruise is about the sailing itself.
It’s about standing on deck with ropes being piled all around the ship, watching the sails fill at sunset, and walking on deck feeling like you’re actually moving across the sea. Sailing is not simply about being transported between islands and looking outside through a window. It’s small, quiet, and has a feeling that is impossible to replicate with a mega ship.
Our 7-Day Caribbean Itinerary: Antigua to St. Barts and Beyond
Our sailing was a 7-day Caribbean itinerary in March, beginning in Antigua and visiting:
- St. Barts
- Several British Virgin Islands
- St. Maarten
- St. Kitts
This route included a mix of well-known islands and relaxed beach-style stops. If you’re imagining cultural tours, hiking adventures, or busy sightseeing days, the Caribbean itinerary (at least the one we experienced) leans much more toward sun, swimming, and beach bars.
For some travelers, that’s exactly what they want. For others, especially active teens, it may feel repetitive after a few days. Star Clippers has several different routes in the Caribbean, so don’t get too locked into where we visited. There is one ship that offers two routes all season long, and then another route that uses another ship and moves through the region in a one-way direction. This offers guests the opportunity to book back-to-back cruises and see different things if they have more time to be on board.
Our Cabin: Category 3 Commodore Deck (Room for Three)
We stayed in a Category 3 cabin on the Commodore Deck, with space for three people and a porthole window. The room was comfortable, and I never felt claustrophobic. I have never been on a ship without at least a window that I can open, so I was unsure how I would feel about it. But it was fine. Mattias and I made some funny Titanic references about the watertight doors and the bottom deck while doing our emergency drills, but after the first night, we didn’t think about it again.
Small rooms are something we always think about as a family, as we are usually three to a room. I only had Mattias with me, so it worked fine (time for showering and stuff that comes with three people instead of two, etc.). The cabin had everything we needed, and we did not spend much time actually in the cabin unless we were sleeping, showering, or getting changed.
We were in Room 108, and one of the things I really liked about it was that the top bunk came down over the length of the bed (not the head of both bottom beds), so if you had three people, only one person was sleeping under the bunk. Now, the downside to this was that the porthole was not above the bed, but that did not matter much to us, as I said, we didn’t spend time sitting in the room looking out of it.
A few things worth noting:
- The cabin had air conditioning, and the temperature was comfortable.
- If it was too warm on deck in the middle of the day, there were plenty of cooler indoor spaces. (There are also shade sails on deck)
- The bedroom location was convenient and quiet, even though it was at the bottom of the main stairs to our lower level.
- If you have trouble with stairs, do not choose a bottom-deck room, as you will be going up and down a lot of extra stairs. You also need to be able to go downstairs to get to the tender to get off the ship, and the dining room is one floor down from the tropical bar, and the main deck is one floor up from the tropical bar. Make sure everyone in your group (if you are looking at a multi-gen trip) is comfortable with stairs.
- If you’re used to the large balcony cabins on mega ships, a porthole cabin will feel different. But for us, I was able to walk upstairs, grab myself a coffee, and drink it in peace, in the sun on the top deck in just a minute. No long walks and waiting in line for coffee.
Read More about cabins for three on Star Clippers
Life Above Deck
So, where did we spend our time on board? There are a variety of indoor and outdoor areas to relax in. The spaces include the Tropical bar (indoor and outdoor seating), a quiet nook indoors with tables and chairs to play a game, have a drink, or socialize, read a book in the shade on the sun deck, or lounge in the sun by the saltwater pools. Yes, there are pools on Star Clippers! They are small, but they do the job to cool you off and have perfect sitting ledges to enjoy a cool drink while in the pool.
The Best Part of Star Clipper: Sail Away at Sunset
If I had to pick one moment that defines the Star Clipper experience, it is the sail away. Every evening at sunset, the anchor is pulled up, and the sails go up.
The crew works the ropes, the music plays, and everyone gathers on deck. It’s a ritual. It feels like a performance, but also like something timeless, and a moment worth gathering for.
It’s also something you simply don’t get on a mega ship. On large cruise lines, sailing away from port is often just a quiet departure you barely notice unless you’re standing outside at the right time.
On Star Clippers, “sail away” is the main event. Most nights Mattias would join me, lazing on deck in a pool chair, a quiet moment scrolling some cell service from a nearby island or wathing a movie. If he read books, I would say that this would be an ideal time to enjoy some quiet, but hes not a book guy.
What a Typical Day Looks Like Onboard Star Clipper
One of the best ways to understand a tall ship cruise is to picture the rhythm of the day. On Star Clipper, the pace is relaxed and predictable.
Here’s what our days typically looked like:
Morning: Slow Start
Breakfast was available depending on the shore excursions. With a smaller ship, the time changed depending on our daily activities. For early risers, there were early breakfast options, and there is always hot coffee and tea at the bar.
Midday: Lunch Becomes the Main Meal
We had lunch on board most days (unless we were at the beach). This ended up being one of the best parts of the day, because the food was consistently good and it was usually quiet.
Afternoon: Shore Time (Beach Days + Water Sports)
Most afternoons were spent ashore. Depending on the stop, we would:
- head to a beach
- snorkel
- kayak
- paddleboard (SUP)
- waterski (my 90s childhood loved this)
- stop at a beach bar
This itinerary definitely leaned into classic Caribbean vacation mode.
Late Afternoon: Tea Time Onboard
After returning to the ship, there was a tea time snack moment on board which usually lead to our sail away and then time to get ready for dinner.
Evening: Dinner + Entertainment
Evenings were structured around dinner, followed by entertainment.
After dinner, my son usually retreated to our cabin to relax and watch something on his phone.
And honestly? That’s a realistic teen vacation moment. Sometimes I stayed up for the evening shows, but if you know me, I am an early to bed person, so usually by 9:30-10 I was in our cabin as well.
As for the shows, they leaned into a small crew and guest list. There was a fashion show with crew and guests wearing Star Clippers branded items that could be bought on board, there was a talent night (with guests and crew), and other musical evenings. The music and dancing leaned to the older crowd, but I am sure if there were more kids on board, any ask to the DJ could have played some music they wanted to hear!
Food on Star Clipper: A Highlight According to the Teen
If there was one thing my son genuinely enjoyed every day, it was the food.
Star Clipper offers a classic dining experience with plenty of variety, and meals felt more like a restaurant setting than a chaotic cruise buffet.
There are also multiple opportunities to eat throughout the day (about five food moments daily), which makes it easy for teens who snack constantly (or sleep through breakfast).
His favorite meal of the week was Italian lunch day, which was a standout and felt like a fun change of pace. And yes, he also enjoyed a daily Virgin strawberry daiquiri from the bar (food, water, coffee, and tea are included in your cruise package, but drinks are an extra charge. We found the drink price very reasonable, considering we were a captive audience)
Dinner was semi-formal. No one was wearing tuxedos or gowns, but men wore pants and collared shirts, and the dress code encouraged dressing up a little.
It wasn’t intimidating, but it was definitely more polished than casual.
There were also dinner themed nights, which included a pirate night that ended up being a lot of fun!
The Onboard Activities: Sailing Is the Entertainment
One of the biggest adjustments for families is understanding that on Star Clipper, the entertainment isn’t constant. It’s not a ship where your day is packed with scheduled games, competitions, or big productions.
The ship itself is the attraction.
Some of the main experiences onboard include:
Raising the Sails: Guests can participate in raising the sails, and it’s a surprisingly fun experience. It’s hands-on, tough work, and makes you feel like part of the journey.
Mast Climb: There is also the option to climb the mast. I did it and loved it!
Water Sports: The ship offered a variety of water sports, and we took advantage of them:
- waterskiing
- kayaking
- stand-up paddleboarding
The watersports crew was in their 20s, energetic, and very friendly.
Pools: There are two saltwater pools, which are refreshing after beach days, but they are small compared to what you’d see on a large cruise ship.
Evening talks: The cruise director is the main part of the entertainment. There are morning briefings and then evening talks which are small and everyone is able to participate.
One Thing Star Clipper Does Better Than Mega Ships: Being Outdoors
This is where Star Clipper truly shines.
On big cruise ships, it’s surprisingly easy to spend most of your day indoors—walking through hallways, browsing shops, sitting in theaters, lining up for activities.
On Star Clipper, the deck is the heart of the ship.
People are outside constantly. Reading, relaxing, watching the horizon, chatting, taking photos, or just enjoying the feeling of being on the ocean.
Even when you’re not doing anything, it still feels like you’re experiencing something.
For me, this was one of the most refreshing parts of the trip. It’s a cruise that feels connected to the sea at all times.
Entertainment and Evenings: Classic and Low-Key
Evening entertainment on Star Clipper is relaxed. It typically starts with pre-dinner drinks and then everyone comes to the dining room at dinner time. After dinner there is entertainment on the deck next to the bar. Its a mix of live music and entertainment, from talent shows to fashion night. With such a small crowd, its a hang out with friends kind of vibe.
My son would often use the ship’s Wi-Fi (Starlink is available, but expensive) to stream a movie or scroll on his phone in the evenings. Some people might have a problem with it, but for my family, thats how we roll. There are also several board games in the library if that is more your evening vibe and there are movies you can borrow to watch in your cabin.
If my son had been traveling with a friend, I could easily imagine him spending more time on deck at night, enjoying the breeze and the sailing atmosphere. But without peers onboard, the evenings naturally became quieter for him.
What It Was Like Sailing Star Clipper With a 14-Year-Old
Here’s the honest part. My son was the only guest under 35 that we saw all week. Most passengers are in their 60s and 70s. I was with a group of ladies who skewed younger, but the cruise line does appeal to the older crowd. (and hopefullly after reading this we are able to change that vibe to get more people like me who love the allure of sailing for a week!)
Everyone on board was incredibly kind. The older guests were friendly, and the crew was wonderful.
Traveling with family or friends would definitelly offer a more social vibe for teenagers, but do not assume there will be families on board. That suprised me because I travelled during spring break. I was told by the ship’s cruise director that Christmas sailings often have more families on board, as do their Mediteranean sailings.
If your family genuinely enjoys spending time together, playing games, and relaxing as a unit, the experience would be completely fine for your kids.
What I’d Do Differently Next Time (Family Tips)
If I were booking Star Clipper again as a family, here’s what I’d do differently:
Pack Less Clothing – You don’t need as many outfits as you think. The vibe is casual during the day, and evenings are smart casual rather than formal.
Bring an Extension Cord – The Star Clipper was built in the 90s. Long before bedside phone chargers were a thing. You will feel the classic vibe of the ship almost immediately when you go indoors. The outlet placement isn’t always ideal, so having a longer cord makes it easier to charge our phones and laptops. There is typically one European plug and one American plug, so an extension cord like this one helps everything stay charged! Between my drone, my laptop, our phones, airpods and my various other camera gear, having an extension cord would have been handy.
Note that Star Clippers does not have a huge “do not bring” list like other ships. They only have a few requests, which include no alcohol and no high-heeled shoes.
This is a small detail, but it makes charging devices so much easier.
Download Entertainment Before You Board – Wi-Fi is available but expensive, and teens will appreciate having movies, shows, and games ready for downtime. There is no unlimited streaming options, just a pay per gig type of model.
Consider Timing Carefully – I assumed sailing during spring break might mean more families on board, but that wasn’t the case for our trip. I’ve since learned that Star Clipper tends to attract more families on certain sailings (Christmas and some Mediterranean routes).
Consider Bringing a Friend (If Possible) – If your teen travels with a friend, the entire experience changes. Star Clipper has plenty of beautiful spaces to relax and hang out. It just isn’t naturally social for teens if they’re the only one onboard.
Who Star Clipper Is Best For (And Who It’s Not)
This is the most important part of planning a tall ship cruise: knowing who it’s truly designed for.
Star Clipper is a great fit for:
- couples and honeymooners
- travelers who love sailing and the ocean
- relaxed luxury travelers
- multigenerational families
- families with older teens who enjoy quiet travel and don’t need a constant social scene
- travelers who want something different than a floating resort
It may not be the best fit for:
- families with younger kids
- teens who want high-energy activities, waterslides, and lots of peers
- travelers who need a packed schedule and constant entertainment
Our verdict: A Beautiful Experience If You Book It for the Right Reasons
Star Clipper offers something that’s becoming rare in modern travel: a cruise that feels like true sailing. The sail-away moments, the open decks, the quiet rhythm of the ship, and the nightly raising of the sails at sunset are unforgettable.
It’s peaceful, classic, and incredibly scenic.
Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.