According to the Family Travel Trends survey and report created by Recommend last year, family travel is a $160 billion industry in the U.S., with multi-generational family trips representing a trend that is here to stay. For families looking to explore the high seas together, Star Clippers offers the opportunity to embark on a true sailing adventure.
For more than 25 years, Star Clippers has introduced travelers to modern tall ship sailing with itineraries fit for travelers of all ages, visiting remote ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indonesia, and the Far East. With a fleet featuring true sailing vessels, Star Clippers ships sail solely under wind power whenever possible—an experience that no other main stream cruise line can offer. Younger guests in particular enjoy watching the sails go up and down, while older kids and adults can dive deeper into the world of sailing with lectures on navigation and classes on the art of nautical knot tying.
The more adventurous and active members of the family can climb the ship’s rigging to the crow’s nest located 100 ft. in the air, where they’ll be rewarded with unobstructed panoramic views. Meanwhile, for a pair of lovebirds looking for a private moment away from the family, the bowsprit netting provides a place to relax with nothing but the sky above them and the sea below. If climbing the bowsprit netting presents too much of a challenge, family members can still gather on the upper decks where they’ll find ample seating allowing them to sit back and enjoy the view as the world sails by.
“Star Clippers is about experiences,” says Mirell Reyes, president. “We get a lot of families, with both the kids and parents traveling together. We also get a lot of Millennials. It’s a great mix.”
Star Clippers operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels. Star Clipper and Star Flyer are traditional clipper ships with modern amenities carrying 170 guests, while the 227-guest Royal Clipper holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest and only five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship in service today. All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, tropical bars on deck and piano lounges. The brand’s newest vessel, Flying Clipper, will debut in 2019.
For more information, visit starclippers.com. To learn more about trends in family travel, click here.
