steph7021 Posted July 20, 2017 #1 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Hey all We have cruised big ships and ready for something different. Can you tell me what is included in your fare? Water sports? Drinks? Any excursions? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vacation Nut Posted August 5, 2017 #2 Share Posted August 5, 2017 HI Steph No excursions are included, neither are drinks. Snorkel equipment is provided, and there was one day when they made kayaks available. This was in the Aegean so there might be more water sport days in the Caribbean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie21 Posted August 5, 2017 #3 Share Posted August 5, 2017 HI StephNo excursions are included, neither are drinks. Snorkel equipment is provided, and there was one day when they made kayaks available. This was in the Aegean so there might be more water sport days in the Caribbean. Correct! Drinks are markedly cheaper than on the big ships. Excursions, such as they are, are generally less expensive. Quality of excursions varies widely with local vendors. Some of the islands have very little infrastructure for tourists. Many of the Caribbean port stops include an option to tender to town or to the beach. Tenders run right up onto the beach and you climb over the bow.. Kayaks, water skiing and sailing (Laser) are usually available, subject to local regulations, time available etc. There is one beach barbeque stop with lunch on the beach (included) and beer and drinks available chargeable to your cabin number. The sports crew will for sure have everything out for that stop. Robbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurleyKing Posted August 6, 2017 #4 Share Posted August 6, 2017 Note that coffee and tea are available to help yourself to all day at no charge. There's a fountain to fill up your water bottle too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredT Posted August 8, 2017 #5 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Just a note... Yes, Star Clippers charges for drinks, BUT they charge in Euro's, which makes sodas/beer/drinks REALLY cheap to Americans at this time... If you are into "tropical" drinks make sure and try their Caipirinha, (National drink of Brazil) Unlike many places I have ordered it, they do it up RIGHT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john watson Posted August 11, 2017 #6 Share Posted August 11, 2017 Are you familiar with the "wet landings" situation? Sometimes jetties and quaysides are not included. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steph7021 Posted August 12, 2017 Author #7 Share Posted August 12, 2017 Are you familiar with the "wet landings" situation? Sometimes jetties and quaysides are not included. Regards John Can you explain further? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john watson Posted August 12, 2017 #8 Share Posted August 12, 2017 Sometimes they decide that the ship will do a tender operation, anchor a little off shore and ferry passengers ashore directly onto the beach in the zodiac ribs. This might be a situation where they are intending to do a beach barbeque for example on an isolated beach middle of nowhere. They do not guarantee the zodiacs will be able to get you ashore completely dry, they do try and limit water depth to knee high but you probably need waterproof reef shoes. I am not joking this is in their small print and unique to Star Clippers. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinmike Posted August 13, 2017 #9 Share Posted August 13, 2017 White Bay on Jost Van Dyke is a fairly typical Star Clippers wet landing . . . with the added benefit of coming out of the surf on the doorstep of the Soggy Dollar Bar. Painkiller anyone? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vacation Nut Posted August 13, 2017 #10 Share Posted August 13, 2017 There were no wet landings in my trip from Venice to Athens, but I have done them on other cruises. I am very short and wondered if I could manage, but no problems, sit on the side of the zodiac and lower myself into no more that calf-high water. On the way back, they had a one step rope ladder that gave us a leg up if we needed it. No problem. We had water shoes, but wouldn't need this on a sandy beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steph7021 Posted August 13, 2017 Author #11 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Sometimes they decide that the ship will do a tender operation, anchor a little off shore and ferry passengers ashore directly onto the beach in the zodiac ribs. This might be a situation where they are intending to do a beach barbeque for example on an isolated beach middle of nowhere. They do not guarantee the zodiacs will be able to get you ashore completely dry, they do try and limit water depth to knee high but you probably need waterproof reef shoes. I am not joking this is in their small print and unique to Star Clippers. Regards John Love it Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ional Posted August 19, 2017 #12 Share Posted August 19, 2017 Not wishing to put you off, but one wet departure from a beach in the Caribbean sticks in my mind! One 40 something 'gentleman' who thought he was the bees knees waded out first to show us how to do it, there was surf so you needed to get onboard in swim suits. Unfortunately, he made a big jump, a wave washed by, and he lost his shorts!!!! It was a sight to behold, the rest of us managed with modesty intact, and big grins on our faces. Just a shame I didnt have a camera to hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie21 Posted August 19, 2017 #13 Share Posted August 19, 2017 Sometimes they decide that the ship will do a tender operation, anchor a little off shore and ferry passengers ashore directly onto the beach in the zodiac ribs. This might be a situation where they are intending to do a beach barbeque for example on an isolated beach middle of nowhere. They do not guarantee the zodiacs will be able to get you ashore completely dry, they do try and limit water depth to knee high but you probably need waterproof reef shoes. I am not joking this is in their small print and unique to Star Clippers. Regards John A bit of a correction - the zodiacs are rarely (never) used for wet landings on beaches including the regular beach barbeque. We have been on 8 Star Clipper cruises and never did a beach landing off a zodiac. Basically they are too small to be efficient in landing any significant number of people. Star Clipper carries two zodiac style boats with a capacity of around 10 people. We have snorkeled in open water off of both the zodiac and the tenders. The regular tenders are used for beach landings in the Med, the Caribbean and in Tahiti (alas, no more). There are some differences between the tenders on the Royal and on the smaller ships but they are all designed to run up on the beach and for passengers to exit over the bow. There is a ladder that is lowered for that purpose. As stated the water is usually ankle to knee deep and you should expect to get wet. If you get in a hurry and go over the side you will likely get very wet and it is dangerous as the tender may move with a wave and bash you. Just want the newbies to know exactly what to expect. Robbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurleyKing Posted August 20, 2017 #14 Share Posted August 20, 2017 We were heading for the beach on a Costa Rica cruise, using the Zodiacs as there was a sand bar to be crossed about 200 yards from shore that the tenders wouldn't be able to get over. We were in the first Zodiac of the day. On approaching the sandbar very carefully, the sports team member driving the Zodiac felt that the water was too shallow over the sandbar for even the Zodiac to get across. At this point, one of the six passengers on board made the seemingly reasonable suggestion that we passengers could jump out onto the sandbar, float the Zodiac across, and jump back in. Just as this was being discussed, a four foot alligator / crocodile swam by within twenty feet of us. Thus ended any thoughts of people going to the beach that day! Needless to say, by dinner that evening and after countless re-telling of the tale in the Tropical Bar, the croc had grown to twenty feet. We later found out it was a freshwater croc - so much rainwater flows down from the hills that, where the rivers meet the ocean, the saltwater is diluted and the crocs can therefore come out into the sea a ways. Note that after about 10 cruises on Star Clippers, we have only used the Zodiacs twice for beach landings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie21 Posted August 20, 2017 #15 Share Posted August 20, 2017 Well, PurleyKing, I stand corrected. We have not been on that central America cruise so I will amend my comments to say that Zodiacs are rarely used for beach landings :). I can definitely say that they are not used on the Royal's windward and leeward sailing out of Barbados nor on the cruises out of St Martin. Also, not used on the Venice to Rome (or reverse) although we did take a zodiac to an island/beach area but there was a pier. That's all I know for sure. That was certainly an interesting story. How big do you suppose the croc is now? Robbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcl410 Posted September 3, 2017 #16 Share Posted September 3, 2017 Here's a link to a YouTube video I posted of a wet landing at Rodney Bay on St. Lucia. Note that in most Caribbean ports, there are usually two stops on the tenders; a wet landing for those looking for a close beach where the ship has the water toys, and a dry landing at a dock for those going to town. The second half of the video shows me sailing one of the ships Lasers. (In my defense, the wind was very shifty, :-) ) Aloha, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamsbock Posted September 4, 2017 #17 Share Posted September 4, 2017 We returned from Bali Eastbound, 7 days, yesterday. I will clarify some open points in the former posts: - price of the drinks, examples: soft drink (330 ml, Coke etc.): 2,50 €, beer from tap, 0,3l: 3,30 €, Weissbier from Bavaria: 0,5l: 4 €, house wine bottle 0,75l: 16 €, lot of other wines between 20 and 28 €, some expensive up to 160 €. Cocktail 5,80 €, Cocktail of the day: 5 €, water bottle 3 €. - seasickness: the Star Clipper was rolling often, after the first day some people got a plaster behind the ear, helping 72 hours. My wife got a pill, it helps within 15 minutes and she got no additional symptoms the rest of the journey. Pills are available free from the nurse (there is no doctor on board, only a nurse). - wet landing: we had totally 3 dry landings (Komodo / Gilli Tranwangan and Gilli Nanggu) and 4 wet landings (Gilli Kondo, Satonda, Pink Beach and Gilli Meno). One wet landing was with the tender, you must leave the tender at the front with the installed ladder, also enter. The other wet landings with the zodiac, jumping or climbing from the side into the water, enter at the back close to the outbord motor. Water was between 3 inch and 1 foot in the depth, recommended are water shoes or swimm slippers, you need them also for swimming due to many corals. 2 wet landings in sandy ground, possible barefoot. For the wet landing with the Zodiac, you have to change from Tender boat to Zodiac approx. 30 feet distance to shore (more or less), climbing from Tender to the side of the Zodiac. Staff is always helping. But this cruise is focused on beaches, no trips to villages or excursions, only Komodo was a small excursion to the Dragons. On the last day there was a possibility to enter a Tender during the Star Clipper was lfting the anchor and set all the sails (16) for taking photos. That was very very great, also some staff including the captain was standing on the sprit. The attached phots have been taken with my Canon 750D. Have you additional questions, may I can answer them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsglow Posted February 12, 2018 #18 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Wet landings are great. As others have said, it's typically over the bow of the tender into calf deep water. You likely have your swimwear on anyway and your water sandals. All good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Solent Richard Posted February 13, 2018 #19 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Great post and answers -- I am consider my first Star Clippers voyage in 2018 and came to ask the same thing. I love small boats and I am a sailor myself (small 5-cabin catamarans tho) so this should be a unique journey for me. I already cruise somewhere between 12 and 16 times a year on the big ships but am starting to look at alternative options and the clipper ships are somethings I've always wanted to do. Good morning Adam. Hope I'm not too late with this link but it really is a comprehensive review of life on Star Clipper.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/11/04/star-clipper-java-sea-limited-edition-cruise/ PS. For any Star Clipper folk on the next Singapore to Bali repositioning cruise, I'm busy writing a review on how to see Jakarta. Stick around if interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_r_a Posted February 13, 2018 #20 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Thanks for the link, SR. Ira Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Solent Richard Posted February 19, 2018 #21 Share Posted February 19, 2018 A bit of a correction - the zodiacs are rarely (never) used for wet landings on beaches including the regular beach barbeque. We have been on 8 Star Clipper cruises and never did a beach landing off a zodiac. Basically they are too small to be efficient in landing any significant number of people. Star Clipper carries two zodiac style boats with a capacity of around 10 people. We have snorkeled in open water off of both the zodiac and the tenders. The regular tenders are used for beach landings in the Med, the Caribbean and in Tahiti (alas, no more). There are some differences between the tenders on the Royal and on the smaller ships but they are all designed to run up on the beach and for passengers to exit over the bow. There is a ladder that is lowered for that purpose. As stated the water is usually ankle to knee deep and you should expect to get wet. If you get in a hurry and go over the side you will likely get very wet and it is dangerous as the tender may move with a wave and bash you. Just want the newbies to know exactly what to expect. Robbie Hi Robbie. Never say never. As recently as last October we had experience of a 'zodiac' wet landing... This was on the island of Gili Meno (Bali and Lombok)... The tenders could not get near the beach so we transferred from Tender to zodiac and vice versa for return. Many passengers gave up. What was annoying was that having landed and walked some 600 yards along the shore line there was a perfectly good landing spot where the local inter island ferries disembarked... There is a full review of my 14 days on Star Clipper here... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/11/04/star-clipper-java-sea-limited-edition-cruise/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIJOY Posted March 1, 2018 #22 Share Posted March 1, 2018 I'm planning on sailing Phuket to Phuket in 2019. Can someone give me an idea of the cost of excursions, we hope to do a lot of snorkelling. I know prices change but would really like to know if excursions are closer to $50 P.P. or $200 P.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john watson Posted March 2, 2018 #23 Share Posted March 2, 2018 Hey all We have cruised big ships and ready for something different. Can you tell me what is included in your fare? Water sports? Drinks? Any excursions? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Professionally run quizzes are not included after the first one. As soon as the first quiz has been won by somebody that passenger wins the prize of having to organise and present the next quiz and so on. So if you are good at quizzes make sure you have prepared a few questions and answers to compile at least one full quiz and sort out your microphone technique. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steph7021 Posted March 2, 2018 Author #24 Share Posted March 2, 2018 Professionally run quizzes are not included after the first one. As soon as the first quiz has been won by somebody that passenger wins the prize of having to organise and present the next quiz and so on. So if you are good at quizzes make sure you have prepared a few questions and answers to compile at least one full quiz and sort out your microphone technique. Regards John I’m super confused by this response. Quizzes??? Is this like trivia? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john watson Posted March 2, 2018 #25 Share Posted March 2, 2018 (edited) I’m super confused by this response. Quizzes??? Is this like trivia? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Yes, the first day they ran a trivia quiz. The passenger who won it had to think up a load of questions for tomorrows trivia quiz, this was the prize! You need to write them all your questions down and read them out on the microphone, the cruise director then repeated the questions in German. Cruise director helps you but you present the questions and have the correct answers prepared. You go through the answers on the mike and he repeats answers in German. If you make a factual error, the adjudicator is you as you are the quizmaster. This entertaining style quiz set up is commonplace on Star Clippers. One has to understand that there is a language problem with all the entertainment. There is no casino or other sophisticated games to play so a lot of it is a bit impromptu, like charades or pictionary with a flip chart. People were shouting out the answers in German and English but the cruise director knew if either was correct. We also played darts with correct equipment and a bit of plywood for safety and Deck Golf. Golf as you might expect wont work with ball so they used plywood discs and plywood putter shaped cutout putters. An entertainments crew member had drawn eighteen holes in chalk on different decks as well as bunkers with different penalty points values throughout the course. We ran in groups of three to four players with a championship round for the leaders. Not sure what they put on on most cruises but we were Transatlantic, just 46 passengers in total doing what turned out to be eighteen sea days in a row. Entertainment was different when we sailed Dover to Hamburg. Entertainmentwise anything might be put on in my opinion. Regards John Edited March 2, 2018 by john watson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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