Royal Clipper

Royal Clipper is a steel-hulled, five-masted, fully rigged tall ship used for cruising. She joined the Star Clippers fleet in 2000 and carries around 227 guests, making her a small ship by cruise industry standards, though a genuinely remarkable one. She holds a Guinness World Record as the largest square-rigged ship in service, with 5,202 square metres of sail, and was modelled after the famous German windjammer Preussen, built in 1902.

Her earlier identity adds real character to the story. Originally built by Polish communist authorities as Gwarek, she was intended as a floating vacation home for miners. The hull was later acquired, modified, and lengthened at the Gdansk Shipyard before being redesigned entirely for cruising, taking on a completely different life at sea.

What makes Royal Clipper feel genuinely distinct among cruise ships is the sailing experience itself. Unlike most modern vessels, she relies primarily on wind and canvas, with sails handled by a relatively small crew thanks to powered controls. Her five masts rise dramatically overhead, and being under sail remains central to the rhythm of each day. There's none of the theatre hall grandeur found on larger ships. Instead, the atmosphere aboard stays intimate and genuinely focused on the sea. Like all three Star Clippers vessels, she features extensive teak decks, swimming pools, relaxed dining venues, convivial tropical bars on deck, and inviting piano lounges.

Her size means she can visit smaller ports that larger motor cruise ships simply can't reach, a genuine advantage for passengers seeking places beyond the standard roster. Onboard, a marina platform supports watersports, and spa facilities bring a touch of contemporary comfort to a vessel firmly rooted in maritime tradition. Cabins are compact but comfortable, scaled sensibly to the ship's overall intimacy.

Royal Clipper suits travellers who want to step away from big ship conventions and sail aboard an actual tall ship with proper rigging, where the elements and the wind stay visible and real, not backdrop scenery. She appeals to those curious about how ships actually moved before steam, and who value smallness, authenticity, and the sensibility of a genuine working sailing vessel.

Cruised aboard this record-breaking tall ship? Log your Royal Clipper voyage on The Cruise Globe to trace the precise route your specific cruise took!