Star Flyer November Panama Canal

[vtbobby]

HI...any CC'ers aboard for the 11 day November repositioning cruise from Barbados to the shipyard in Panama City? About 25 of the old gang from past Antigua Regattas on Star Clipper have already signed on...it should be lot's of fun with plenty of hands-on sailing across new waters. We're really looking forward to the transit of the canal!

 

We're also going on the 5/26 Northern Cyclades cruise while we are in Greece for a month. Hope to see familiar faces on both trips. :D

[vtbobby]

As of this morning, 44 "alumni" of past Antigua Classic Yacht Regattas, aboard Star Clipper, have booked with Bert Klein for the Barbados/Panama cruise on the Flyer. Anyone going from this board?

 

Beatrice and I leave on Sunday for Greece (including Star Flyer 5/26), and will be away from a computer till June 4th.

 

Cheers,

 

Bob Ring :cool:

[vtbobby]

Sorry to bump this thread up since I seem to be the only poster :rolleyes: ....but I can't believe there aren't other Cruise Critic members on this Star Flyer repositioning trip. I think it's the best cruise that Star Clippers has put together in over a year.

 

There are now over 50 "alumni" of the old Antigua Classic Regatta cruises on Star Clipper signed up, many staying (partying?) at the Savannah, in Barbados, before the cruise. It is 11 days of truly "hands-on" sailing, with stops at Curacao, Cartegena, the full Canal transit, and remote islands in Venezuela and Panama.

 

We hope to see other CC'ers aboard ! Bring your sailing gloves!

 

Bob & Beatrice :cool:

[vtbobby]

Sun 11/04 - Bridgetown, Barbados

Mon 11/05 - Tobago Cays/Mayreau

Tues 11/06- At Sea

Wed 11/07 - Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela

Thur 11/08 - Willemstad, Curacao

Fri 11/09 - At Sea

Sat 11/10 - At Sea

Sun 11/11 - Cartegena, Colombia

Mon 11/12 - At Sea

Tues 11/13 - San Blas Archipelago, Panama

Wed 11/14 - Panama Canal Transit

Thur 11/15 - Balboa, Panama

[vtbobby]

Well, finally back in Florida after an unexpected family business detour north.

 

The cruise was quite wonderful...and everything we expected. From Oistens Fish Fry in Barbados to the exciting transit of the canal...we had a great time. The sailing was magnificent...we were heeled over most days...one night off Panama the plates were flying, but that was our only rough weather. We had a total of 149 passengers...technically full since all cabins were occupied...from US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and Antigua. Fifty five, from all countries, were alumni of the old Antigua Regatta cruises on Star Clipper.

 

The ship was trying to use up all it's stores before the shipyard and French Polynesia. All heavier clothing was on sale at deep discounts. There was talk of mutiny when the ship ran out of Mt. Gay rum four days after Barbados.:rolleyes:

 

The only negative was the extreme heat and humidity...both in the 90's. It was blisteringly hot at sea, after Curacao, with many canvas awnings set in an attempt at more shade. But ashore in Cartegena and San Blas was the worst. We were in Cartegena on Colombia's Independence Day...parades, bands, everyone out in their finery, and a photo of Star Flyer on the front page of the paper. But even in the shade, sweat would be running off every extremity and into your socks. But what a party.

 

Evenings were cool and breezy, and we always sailed off the anchor. In fact, Capt. Brunon sailed as much as he could.

 

We spent a full day in Cristobal prepping for the transit; being inspected; and installing gps/epirb type gear so they could track us through the canal. At first we were disappointed to be making the transit at night...but the night passage was awesome, with the canal lit up like Las Vegas. Many signal lights guided the pilots, and our searchlights were used to scan the shoreline especially through the Gaillard Cut. The many passing ships were also all lit up for the transit. We were in company with a Malaysian sail training ship (a fully rigged brigantine), with a full complement of uniformed students.

 

Most passengers ate dinner while crossing Gatun Lake, then gathered again around the bridge for the remainder of the night. Beatrice and I lasted till about 3am, and went to bed while crossing the short Miraflores Lake. Star Flyer docked at Pier 6 in Balboa, disembarked passengers and contiued on to the shipyard at 10am.

 

We spent two more days in Panama City at the El Panama Hotel...ate well...and bought a stash of Fine Cigars for Christmas presents. The Panama Canal Museum, in the old city plaza was the highlight...we spent four hours there.

 

Back to Panama on Tuesday (12/3) for the next leg of the adventure...on to Tahiti with 37 passengers and 76 crew.

 

Here is a story that was on the wires this week:

 

USA: Star Clippers ship makes line's first transit of Panama Canal

 

Monday, 19 November 2007

 

"Star Flyer" made history for Star Clippers yesterday as the first ship

in the fleet to transit the Panama Canal. En route to its new homeport

in Tahiti, the tall ship first will undergo a three-week drydock in

Balboa, Panama to make the vessel ready for French Polynesia.

With the line's three vessels sailing in the Caribbean, Mediterranean

and Far East (by way of the Suez Canal), there had never before been a

need for Star Clippers' ships to transit the Panama Canal. Star

Flyer's move to year-round cruising in Tahiti enabled Star Clippers to

take advantage of the opportunity to sail a ship through the lakes and

locks of the man-made engineering marvel.

"Our guests tend to be on the more adventurous side, and we're always

thrilled when we can offer them an exhilarating experience such as

transiting the Panama Canal," said Jack Chatham, vice president of

sales and marketing for Star Clippers. "Because Star Flyer will sail

in Tahiti year-round, who knows when we'll go through the canal again,

possibly making this a true once-in-a-lifetime experience for the

guests on board."

 

During the 11-night cruise, which departed Bridgetown, Barbados, Nov.

4, guests had the opportunity to explore ports in the Tobago Cays; Los Roques Archipelago,Venezuela;

Curaçao; Cartegena, Colombia; and the San Blas Archipelago before disembarking in Panama City.

 

Following the drydock, Star Flyer will make its way to Papeete,

Tahiti, sailing Dec. 5th. The first official cruise in Tahiti is set

to depart Dec. 30, and then the ship will begin sailing three distinct

products in the region -- seven-, 10- and 11-night round-trip Papeete

cruises.

During Star Flyer's seven-night itinerary, the ship visits Huahine,

Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, and Cook Bay and Opunohu Bay, Moorea, with

an overnight in Papeete before disembarkation.

The 10- and 11-night cruises take Star Flyer to the Society and

Tuamotus Islands, with special cruising in the Rangiroa Lagoon. The

ship calls at Fakarava, Rangiroa, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Taha'a, Huahine

and Moorea.

 

Star Clippers, ranked one of the Top 10 Small-Ship Cruises by

"Travel+Leisure," combines the luxury of mega-yacht cruising with the

thrill of sailing aboard an authentic clipper ship. Guests rediscover

what sailing was like during the golden age of tall ships while

visiting intimate ports of call untouched by larger cruise ships.

The four- and five-masted clipper ships feature a relaxed yet elegant

atmosphere. Passengers dress in resort-casual attire and dine in one

unhurried, open seating. Whether unwinding in the bowsprit net while

gazing at the sea below or climbing the mast for a panoramic view of

the horizon, a unique sailing adventure awaits.