STAR ST AR CLIPPERS
Dani’s Blog A Roman Discovery... Aboard Star Flyer
A Roman Discovery... Aboard Star Flyer Rome - The ancient city steeped in unimaginable history.
The next morning we arrived for our pre-booked tour of
Frequented by travellers around the world, city break revellers
the Vatican City. A 3 hour guided tour took us through the
and those wanting to lose themselves in another century, just
many Vatican museums and the famous Sistine chapel. If
for 24 hours. The traditional trattorias line the cobbled streets
you have time I would really recommend this experience, a
and piazzas, with cold prosecco and limoncello available
surreal and overwhelming few hours that genuinely left us
on every corner, fresh pizzas and pasta let you indulge in
speechless, the history, the art, the religion, makes this a very
the Italian way of life, whilst you soak up the incredible
special place.
architecture as you realise, Rome really wasn’t built in a day.... After a quick spot of lunch, we rushed to Termini train station to catch the train to Civitavecchia port, where we were to board the Star Flyer. At just €6pp, this is definitely the cheapest way to reach the port as it is a fair distance, over €100 in a taxi I believe. I would suggest you leave plenty of time to get to the station and find your train as Termini is very large and can be quite stressful if you leave it to the final minutes like we did! Other than our time keeping, the process was easy and if you have the time, it’s definitely worth doing to save on the taxi fare. Just over an hour later and we were there; ready to meet our home for the next 8 nights. For all of the above reasons, and so much more, I would always recommend a stay in the city before or after your
Lined up next to Norwegian Cruise Lines and Pullmantur,
sailing, just a night or two would suffice, and we opted for
there was no mistaking the Star Flyer, standing taller than
a one-night pre-cruise stay at the 4* boutique Marcella
the rest, but in every other way the most petite and elegant
Royal hotel. The location was good, a 10-minute walk to the
ship in port, her four masts standing proud as guests look
Spanish steps, so fairly central, allowing us to do everything
up in excitement before boarding the ship. The fruity
on foot. Starting with the Colosseum, we ventured in awe of
welcome cocktail is always appreciated, especially after the
our surroundings, before taking a rest at the famous Trevi
train journey we’d had, so we happily drank ours before the
Fountain, an awesome sight, but in late July, littered with tourists, like us, of course! The Marcella Royal has a real selling point, it’s beautiful roof top bar, the perfectly kept flowers and traditional style Veranda offered the perfect spot for pre-dinner drinks, boasting views over the ancient city as the sun sets, the only way to end the day in style.
seamless check in process which didn’t last longer than 3
safety drill and crew introductions in the Tropical Bar. After
minutes, eventually being shown to our cabin.
our only required engagement of the day. We then found two sun loungers on the sun deck and lazed the day away, reading, chatting, drinking and eating, a day that allows you to completely switch off from reality and relax. Watching the ropes and sails above you from the sunbeds, open ocean every direction you look from the decks, total escapism. As I’d been on before, we were invited to the ‘back on board cocktail party’ hosted by the captain at 7pm that evening, we enjoyed the friendly chats we had with fellow repeat passengers, all sharing sailing stories from past trips with Star Clippers as we sipped chilled prosecco and spoke
Cabin 309 is a category 2 cabin on the Clipper deck, a
with the Captain, the sinking sun was dancing on the still
spacious cabin with a porthole, marble lined en-suite shower
blue sea making the most spectacular backdrop for this
room and plenty of hanging space for our clothes. All the
exclusive party.
cabins on Star Clippers are designed in the 1920’s theme, in keeping with the rest of the ship, the nautical touches
After another delicious dinner, everyone gathered in
ever present, all in all, a lovely cabin. If you are sensitive to
the al fresco Tropical Bar for the infamous ‘Star Clippers
noise, you will hear the waiters setting up for breakfast each
Fashion Show’, mainly modelled by the crew, with occasional
morning, so you might want to choose a cabin a little further
passenger participation, a fun show of the luxury fashion
away from the dining room if this is the case, but for us it was
on offer in the Sloop Shop. The drinks start to flow and the
perfect.
music plays until late into the night, as people start to fill the dance floor and enjoy their second night on board this
The first evening on board is always special, your first few
beautiful sailing ship...
hours with fellow guests, new friendships start to form and the anticipation of the first sail away is building among the small crowd, a wonderful atmosphere. After dinner, at 10pm, everybody gathers up on the teak decks by the bridge, the bartenders serve glasses of champagne for €7.50 up on the sun deck for this magical moment, which everyone is ready to indulge in. As the classical sounds start to fill the air and the skilled members of the crew start to pull the ropes, the sails start to rise above us as we glide carefully out of port. The champagne sail away on Star Clippers will always impress, not just the first time,
After a light breakfast, we left the ship for a walk
but Second, third and even twentieth, as some of our fellow
around Cagliari, Sardinia, our port today. We explored
guests were experiencing...
independently, strolling up the hill to a small piazza, the typical Italian buildings, red and yellow, but washed away
An early night for us, after a busy few days, so we retired
from the years of wear, the wooden shutters and Juliette
to our cabins for a long sleep, tomorrow was going to be
balconies with overgrown flowers wrapped around them,
impossibly tough, a day relaxing at sea!
mopeds sped along the narrow streets, the old churches and cathedrals stood out in their natural beauty. We stopped for a
We woke late, so opted for the lighter continental
quick drink before walking back to the ship, only spending an
breakfast, available until 1130am in the Piano Lounge and
hour or so soaking up the town, which was very quaint and
enjoyed fresh pastries and coffees while we attended the
pretty, certainly worth a look around!
Back on board, we enjoyed the French lunch buffet, before
ventured past a few local restaurants where the food looked
once again retiring to our favourite spot on deck, ready for
out of this world. Huge plates of fresh fish, the largest prawns
our first daytime sail away!
I’d ever seen and tempting pasta dishes with the wonderful smell of garlic filling the air. The prices were more than
After dinner, the ever competitive ‘Music Quiz’ took centre stage in the Tropical Bar. Two teams formed, one on
reasonable, with main courses for around 6 euros, I would recommend eating lunch in Trapani next time!
Portside and one Starboard, ready to battle it out during several rounds covering a variety of music genres. The energy
Back on board we were slightly delayed leaving, meaning
and fun that this provides is fantastic, and always culminates
we had to miss today’s sail away to make sure we were ready
in everybody dancing the night away... Another perfect Star
for dinner, but we spent the best hours of the afternoon up on
Clippers evening!
deck still, indulging in the cocktail of the day of course, and chatting to fellow guests about their experiences of Trapani that day - it seems to have been a hit! Down at dinner, we perused the tempting menu, which if you wanted to, would allow you to enjoy a 6-course al a carte meal every evening. We usually opt for 3 courses, a bottle of wine and an espresso to finish the evening off, before heading back up to the bar for the light hearted and low key entertainment on offer. Tonight was slightly different as we had chosen to sign up to the ‘stargazing’ at 11pm, hosted by one of the officers at the bridge. The night sky is lit up by
This morning we sailed into Trapani, on the west tip of
thousands of stars, with no other light apart from the natural
Sicily. We didn’t dock until 1pm so everyone was able to
skylights shining down on us, as the various constellations
spend the morning at leisure, relaxing on the deck, eagerly
were explained to us all and tips given on how we can see a
watching the officers at the bridge expertly guiding us into
shooting star. Everyone was looking up in wonderment, a
our next port. During the hours at sea, there is usually several
really special experience and a wonderful way to spend an
different nautical activities offered to guests, such as mast
evening.
climbing, water aerobics or interesting lectures in the library, this week by a lady called ‘Renate’, a specialist in her field, archaeology. Once alongside, and after a delicious ‘deck lunch’ we took a slow walk into the quaint town of Trapani. Again, a really typically Italian town, with several Piazza’s, famous statues, stunning architecture and endless Vespa’s filling the roads. We walked north of the port, through the narrow streets, and found the other side of the island, a small beach area. There were people swimming and hand gliding from the beach, but we’d forgotten to bring our towels forcing us to
Sunday saw us arriving alongside in Porto Empedocle
admire from a distance, before finding a cute Gelato parlour
– Sicily. The cruise director had given some information
for a compulsory ice cream stop. Italy is, of course, famous
the previous day at the ‘port talk’ but had indicated that
for its ice cream and in my opinion, the smaller towns and
unless you were doing the excursion, it might not be worth
villages do it best! Always try to find a small shop, slightly
getting off the ship, as this was a very industrial port, and
off the tourist track, for the best original Italian ice cream -
not particularly pretty. We stayed on board for lunch, and
simply delicious! We paid €4 for two massive ice creams, so
considered staying on the decks, but feeling the weight of our
the prices were really good too. Walking back to the ship we
waistlines we decided a stroll around was required! Not
for anyone that wants to be involved, but distant enough if you just prefer to sit having a drink and chatting among yourselves. Along with the Fashion Show & the Music Quiz, there was also a ‘Star Clippers photo quiz’ a skylight cinema showing the film ‘Cape Horn’ and a night of ‘Disco Dancing’. Malta is a fascinating city, and to have the day in Valetta was a real treat. Hours could easily be spent (and were) in and out of the shops, wandering around the many squares lined with restaurants and craft stalls, much like Covent Garden in the sunshine really – but of course – it is the architecture and history that make Valetta stand apart. We decided to take a horse and carriage to see some of the sights, haggling the man down from 45 euros to 25 euros before we started of course, so make sure you get a good price! After a relaxing 30 minute ride, taking in some fantastic viewpoints and interesting facts about the city, we searched for a local restaurant to have our first lunch ‘ashore’. I opted for the ‘Maltese Pasta’ which was delicious, and my partner settled on two very local dishes, a ‘Maltese pie’ and ‘Aranchini’.All washed down with a couple of cold local beers and we were on our way again. The heat expecting much, we began walking slowly out of the port
today was exhausting, so after taking the 1 euro lift back
area, which was indeed very built up and quite unsightly.
down to the port (don’t try to walk up or down in the heat!)
We wandered only for about 10 minutes, before stumbling
we ran straight to the decks and jumped straight in the
on a quaint backstreet, just adjacent to the port, and lined
swimming pool!
with cafeterias, pizzerias and small bars. There were locals chatting in the streets, with not a tourist in sight (apart from
We spent this afternoon in and out of the pool, sunbathing
fellow Star Clipper passengers) we were pleasantly surprised
and reading, before enjoying yet another food filled evening
to have found this hidden haven, in ‘real Sicily’. We stopped
in the dining room.
for Italian espressos and sat with a family who we’d seen on board – they had chosen to eat lunch off of the ship every
The following day we were anchored off Taormina – Sicily.
day, to get the real flavours of Italy, so were enjoying their
After a short tender ride to the pier, we walked along the very
pizzas and cold beers as we sat in the cobbled streets soaking
busy beach, until we found a spot close to the water to lay
up the ambience. Although, agreeably, it’s not the most
down our towels. It was a perfect contrast to be lying on the
picturesque port on the itinerary, it’s definitely worth having
beach, compared to the previous ports of call that had seen
a look around and finding this street.
us walking around and exploring towns and cities on foot, to have a beach day was just what the doctor ordered. Beer
This afternoon I had booked my second massage of the week, with the masseuse up on the sun deck There is a small tented area, with a proper massage bed, undercover from the sun or prying eyes, where you can completely relax and enjoy a very skilled massage. At just 54 euros for 60 minutes, it’s easy to see why this was my second of the week! The evenings on board that followed, continue in a similar rhythm to that I’ve already described. The entertainment on board is purposefully low-key and light-hearted, there
o’clock soon came round, so we tried one bar, before moving
swiftly on after a rather rude waitress put us off stopping for a
and was just as breathtaking. We got lost in Lipari, in the
second drink leading us to a ‘beach club’ very close to where
best sense possible, letting our sights and senses lead the way,
the tender had dropped us off, but looking to ‘exclusive’
taking us down local roads away from the ‘tourist’ track to see
to enter just for a drink. Hesitantly we enquired, and were
the real Italian charm this place had to offer. We stopped at
greeted by a very friendly waitress this time, who invited us
one of the many pizzerias and ordered two Moretti beers, and
to spend some time on the white sofa loungers on the quiet
sat outside watching the world go by and enjoying the slow
beach, listening to their music and enjoying some beers and
pace of the day, this was one of my favourite ports of call.
snacks, all just for the cost of the beers (4 euros each) which we happily did for the rest of the afternoon. The beach area
Tonight was the infamous ‘Captain’s Night’ on Star Flyer,
here was busy with tourists, but still pleasant enough to relax,
meaning all of the crew looked particularly smart in their
especially with the view of the Star Flyer, and her bigger sister,
bow ties, but still, with no strict dress code for passengers,
Royal Clipper, who had anchored nearby too.
most enjoyed dressing up a little more for the occasion. The dinner was a real treat, with choices of Lobster Tail
Everyone admired the Royal Clipper from the decks of Star Flyer, looking strikingly different in appearance, her five
or Chateaubriand to tingle the taste buds, everyone really took their time in the dining room, which was lovely. A complimentary glass of champagne was brought to the table as the Captain raised a toast and said a few personal words about the cruise, which were very well received. The traditional ‘Baked Alaska’ dance followed, a warm round of applause for all of the crew and lots of happy faces, just before it’s time to retire to the bar for the ‘Talent Show’. Following an array of dances from Goa, songs from one of the waiters, and fun from the sports team, the disco started and the mood was high, always one of the best nights on board and certainly the latest, a great time was had by all.
masts, square rigged shape standing regal against the drop of Mount Etna, the sail away was totally stunning, a perfect photo opportunity to get both of the ships in the moment.
Today was a sad day, it was the day we had to leave the Star Flyer. With heavy hearts, we disembarked the ship after saying our goodbyes to fellow crew and passengers
That evening we sailed through the Straits of Messina,
we now called our friends and over the course of the last
going through one of the most narrow points of the
8 nights, made fantastic memories with. We had a couple
Mediterranean, connecting the eastern tip of Sicily with the
of hours in Amalfi before we left for the airport, but as we
western tip of South Itlay. At it’s narrowest point of just 1.9
had our luggage we could do little exploring, other than to
miles, the scenery is incredible and makes for a very calm and
find another restaurant to sit in! I would definitely like to
serene evening on board, this was certainly a highlight of the
return to Amalfi though, the St Tropez or Monte Carlo of
itinerary for us.
Italy, the dramatic coastline so often seen in films and travel programmes does not disappoint when it comes to life before
Lipari is the largest and most populated of the Aeolian
your eyes. It was expensive, however much more so than the
islands, a volcanic archipelago off the coast of Sicily. As
smaller islands and ports we’d been used too, but it is to be
the tender brought us to shore, the stunning town before
expected in certain areas. We sat with a Peroni as we watched
us swept me away instantly. The pretty shops surrounding
the Star Flyer gracefully set sail and make way to her next
the harbour, the full cafes and bars create a real buzz and
destination…
the winding narrow streets take you on a maze trip around this beautiful place. It reminded me very much of Rovinj in Croatia, the short walk from the pier to the church at the top of the hill gave us the same viewpoint back to the ship as I remember experiencing on that particular itinerary before,
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