First timer

[leongcpa]

Hi,

 

I just signed up my wife and I on our first Star Clipper cruise to the eastern Mediterranean. We have cruised on the bigger ships before with NCL, Royal Carribbean, and Celebrity, but we have no experience with sailing.

 

Would you guys have tips for us newbies? Or anything else we should think about?

 

Thanks!

[Got2Cruise]

We did the Venice to Athens itinerary this July. My best advice is to throw out any notions of a regular cruise and just enjoy. You will feel like you are sailing with a bunch of friends. But the good stuff about cruising, an attentive cabin steward, friendly bar tenders, and hard working waiters who want to please are all present.

[muskatnuss]

And please remember - cruising is not sailing and sailing is not cruising. Even on the tallships, you feel everything. The boat "lives". It breathes, it talks and the wind sings through the sails.

Sailing is wonderful!!! Enjoy!!!

[Denarius]

Get up on deck for when the ship sails on embarkation day. Sailaway is not the entertainment team dancing on deck as on many big cruise ships, it is something altogether more magical as the sails are slowly unfurled.

[SailorJM]

Excellent tips offered already!

You are in for a treat as long as you remember what's already been noted above. Truly.

[bplazo]

We were a little disappointed on our Star Clippers sailing. They did not have the water sports and we have had friendlier service on larger ships.

[SailorJM]

Water sports can depend on where you are sailing.

For example, in the Pacific, along the west coast....too many waves. Snorkeling usually not offered because of all the churn beneath those waves: you just can't see much at all, if there is anything to see.

 

If water sports are important to you, it's best to ask before you book.

Edited October 13, 2015 by SailorJM

[Got2Cruise]

We were a little disappointed on our Star Clippers sailing. They did not have the water sports and we have had friendlier service on larger ships.

 

 

You didn't have the water sports team onboard? Which itinerary?

[bplazo]

You didn't have the water sports team onboard? Which itinerary?

 

We had a water sports team aboard but I do not think that they knew too much (very young guys and I will not mention what are tablemates nicknames they gave them). Maybe it was their first trip. Also, the excursions that they had were not very exciting.

 

Next time it will be the Caribbean.

 

I did like the ship so we may try it again or maybe windstar.

[Got2Cruise]

We had a water sports team aboard but I do not think that they knew too much (very young guys and I will not mention what are tablemates nicknames they gave them). Maybe it was their first trip. Also, the excursions that they had were not very exciting.

 

 

 

Next time it will be the Caribbean.

 

 

 

I did like the ship so we may try it again or maybe windstar.

 

 

The water sports crew can only do what the port master allows them to do.

 

We were on the Venice- Athens itinerary. Some ports allowed them to use the motor boat for water skiing while others such as Dubrovnik and Corfu allowed no water sports. They also offered kayaking and paddle boarding. They also took the pax via zodiac to beaches.

 

Windstar is not an actual sailing ship like a Star Clipper the sports team also supervises the climbing of the mast.