Unforgettable Adventures on a Star Clippers Cruise Through Italy

In the past, I’ve sailed on mega cruise ships, river cruises, small ships, and now, I can add a tall sailing ship to that list. I recently had the opportunity to explore Italy with a Star Clippers cruise on their Star Flyer ship. 

Before booking a cruise vacation I want to make sure the product and destination are a good fit for myself and my audience. I have friends who have taken a Star Clippers cruise to other destinations and they all highly recommended it. That was all I needed to move forward with this adventure.

Star Clippers Cruise Italy Amalfi Sicily

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**I was a guest of Star Clippers for the purpose of this review. As always, opinions are 100% my own.

Lead image ship photo credit: Alberta Testanero

Civitavecchia Port – Transfer and Arrival

Our ship departed from Civitavecchia port, which is about 40 minutes from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport by car. We arrived early and spent 24 hours in Rome before taking a train from Rome’s Termini Station to Civitavecchia’s train station, followed by a quick five-minute taxi ride to the ship. Transfers from Rome to the port will cost around 100 Euros per person or more, whereas the train cost less than 10 Euros per person.

About Star Clippers

Star Clippers has 3 tall ships that travel to destinations around the world. Their ships Star Flyer and Star Clipper are sister ships and nearly identical. The Royal Clipper is larger and can hold up to 227 people.

Star Flyer and Royal Clipper have Caribbean itineraries in the winter, while Star Clipper cruises Central America (Costa Rica and Panama). All three ships sail the Mediterranean in the summer and complete ocean crossing sailings at the end of that season. In total, they cover around 40+ countries in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Central America.

Who Would Love a Star Clippers Cruise

I traveled with my friend on this cruise and I think the ship is perfect for traveling with friends, as a couple, or with extended family. The cabins are quite intimate, so be sure you like your roommate. There was one family with a young teen and toddler on our sailing, and I would say both the teen and toddler did not seem to be enjoying themselves. However, I would say older teens and young adults would be perfectly happy on this ship.

About Star Flyer

Star Flyer is a massive sailboat with sixteen sails. It has a crew of 72, and can sleep up to 170 travelers. On our journey, there were just under 120 passengers and the boat never felt crowded.

Star Flyer Cabins

There are 6 different cabin categories available of differing sizes. On Star Flyer there is one owner’s cabin, category 1-4 are outside cabins, category 5 is inside or outside, and category 6 is an inside cabin with bunk beds. 

We had a category 3 cabin on the Clipper Deck (room 343), and we had all the things you need to have in a room. There were two beds that can be pushed together (with storage space for luggage beneath), a port hole window, a desk, a television, and a small wet room with a toilet and shower.

Star Flyer Category 3 bedroom
Photo credit: Star Clippers

The closet space in this cabin is extremely efficient with 3 floor-to-ceiling columns. One has hanging clothes only, another is a combination of hanging clothes and shelves, and the other is shelves only. We found there was plenty of room for storing our clothes and toiletries.

There is an assigned room attendant who will visit and tidy up your room throughout the day. Our attendant, Ahas, was able to help us with anything we needed and was easy to find. He was always smiling and we loved having him as part of our day.

On-board amenities

If you are looking for a ship that has a casino and endless activities, this isn’t the ship for you. On the Star Flyer you will find a library (with books and games), two dipping pools with shaded and full sun lounge chairs, a piano bar/lounge, and main dining room. 

Other services include a masseuse (available for sign up once on board), a coffee and tea station, laundry, and evening entertainment organized by the captain and crew.

Food on a Star Clippers Cruise

You will never go hungry on the Star Flyer as there is more than enough food throughout the day. In the morning there is an early bird breakfast served in the bar with juices, pastries, and fruit.

There is a daily breakfast and lunch buffet, an afternoon/evening snack, sit down dinner service, and even a midnight snack (which I didn’t stay up for, but heard it included chicken tenders and even egg rolls one night).

Asian lunch Star Flyer

Breakfast had an omelette station and just about every other imaginable breakfast food out there. Lunches sometimes had themes, like Asian day, when everything served was an Asian dish (the sushi was fabulous).

Bar lounge Star Flyer
Express breakfast in the bar/lounge

The dinner service was typically a list of 10-12 items and guests can choose their favorites. There was always bread with a special butter (one night was pickle butter), soup and salad option, one to two meats/seafood, vegetarian option, and a cheese platter. Everyone usually ordered a salad or soup and a main dish. Dessert came later, and there were typically 3-5 options. 

The food was solid, and we never had a bad meal.

On-Board Activities

Every morning there were yoga or exercise classes in the Tropical Bar. We tried the exercise class one day, but in all honesty, there’s just not a lot of room for walking on a sailing ship.

Some days when we were at sea or arriving late in port, there were classes offered like Italian lessons and dance lessons (cha cha on our ship). Massages were available every day, but you had to sign up as soon as you arrived onboard because spots filled up quickly.

Dance class Star Flyer

One night there was stargazing on the top deck and sometimes they offer climbing the mast and water sports like paddle boarding (weather dependent).

Watersports star clippers

If you are taking a cruise with Star Clippers, you can expect evening activities like a White Night or Pirate Night. While a lot of people did wear white to the party, plenty of people didn’t. 

White Night cruise

For Pirate Night I brought a red bandana and gold hoop earrings. Obviously I’m not into theme nights, but I know some people love them! 

Other evening entertainment included a local dance group from Amalfi, music trivia, and a crew/guest talent show (so much fun)! There is plenty to keep you entertained in the evenings!

Some Star Clippers Cruises offer themes, like yoga, photography, wine lectures, or art. You can find those offerings HERE.

Extras on a Star Clippers Cruise

As with most ships, there are extra expenses you will incur on board. Be sure to bring your own water bottle because there is a water dispenser, but you need to pay if you want water bottles.

Alcohol and soda are not included, but I felt the drink prices were reasonable ($5 for hard liquor (beer was a bit less I think), $2.50 for a cappuccino, bottles of wine at dinner started around $20 and went up from there. Coffee, tea, and juice are complimentary and there is water service at all meals.

All ships in the fleet are equipped with Starlink WiFi. I paid 80 Euros for 5 GB which lasted about 4 days, so I added on 1 GB for the last couple of days and that cost me 18 Euros. The connection was pretty solid most days we were at sea, but sometimes at night there was limited service.

Excursions are bookable onboard only and there are typically one to two offerings per day depending on popularity. You will need to sign up for these in the library when you arrive on board or shortly thereafter.

Of course you will want to pay gratuities for the staff (typically the host for your room, servers, bartenders, etc.). There is an option to pre-pay gratuities which is around $80 USD per person.

Excursions on our Star Flyer Cruise

Lipari

After spending a day at sea, our first stop was the island of Lipari. There were two excursions available – an island tour of Lipari or a boat tour of Vulcano, a volcanic island. We opted for the bus tour of Lipari, and it was a lovely island to explore. 

Lipari Italy

The highlight was a stop at Marisa’s Place, where we sampled local Malvasia wine and some delicious cookies. From here, the bus took us to an overlook that had stunning epic views of the coastline and Vulcano Island.

That evening at sea we were treated to some amazing fireworks from the active Stromboli volcano.

Messina 

The following day we docked in Messina (this was the only day we didn’t have to take a tender to the destination). There were two options presented – a day trip to Taormina and the Greek Theater or a lunch and wine tasting in addition to Taormina. We decided to skip both of these and see Taormina on our own.

Taormina Greek Theatre

In the port we were able to secure a driver to take us to and from Taormina (it wasn’t cheap, but our driver waited while we explored the city for 4 hours). We started out at the Greek Theater, an architectural masterpiece that dates to the 3rd century BC. It has epic views of the Bay of Naxos and Mount Etna. This is a must-visit in Taormina.

From here, we headed to BamBar, which was recommended by my Sicilian friend, Franco. There was a line about 30 people deep, but we figured there must be a reason. We are so glad we waited, because we enjoyed some of the most delicious granita. You choose your flavor, with or without whipped cream (get the cream), and a brioche roll. The bread is simply a tool for putting the cream and shaved ice in your mouth. Worth it!

After, we wandered the botanical garden, Piazza IX Aprile, and shopped our way along Corso Umberto I. This is one place I can’t wait to return.

Amalfi

Excursions in Amalfi were a bit difficult to navigate because we didn’t drop anchor until 3pm. Tours offered were Ravello and the Villa Rufolo, hiking along the “Lemon Trail” between Maiori and Minori, or a Positano coastal cruise. We opted to stay and explore Amalfi on our own.

Let’s just say August in Italy is HOT. Like scorching hot. And the Italian air conditioning doesn’t offer one bit of respite. Add to this hundreds of tourists, and you can easily visualize our day in Amalfi.

Taormina Greek Theatre

Our first mission was to find shade and cool off, so we sought out these stunning lemon sorbets we saw others enjoying. The bottom is half a lemon, and it is filled with sorbet, then topped with the other half of a lemon. Very delicious, especially on a hot day.

Amalfi crowds

Next, we went in search of air conditioning and found ourselves at the Amalfi Cathedral. Sadly there was shade, but the air conditioning and fans were limited. After wandering through the grounds, we decided to head out into the main square and grab a drink.

While sipping our over priced beverages we decided to find a place for dinner. We settled on Taverna Buonvicino, which is tucked away in a back alley behind the cathedral. The setting was charming, and in the shade. We would highly recommend the fried pizza and seafood pasta.

Amalfi restaurant

Sorrento

Sorrento isn’t too far up the coast from Amalfi Town, but it was a completely different experience. The town was much quieter and the tourists were few and far between. Probably because it was another scorcher and just about everyone was at the beach.

Capri view

The excursions offered were a day trip to Pompeii or Herculaneum, or exploring Capri on your own. We opted to book our own ferry tickets to Capri at the last minute and I will say we learned a few things.

  • Book your departure and return trip before you arrive in Sorrento. We did not do this and were forced to wait for a later ferry, essentially wasting an hour of our time in port.
  • Bring a wide brimmed hat. The sun is intense and there is not a ton of shade in Capri.
  • Take the funicular. The line might be long, but do not make the mistake of climbing the hill to Anacapri.

Once we arrived in Anacapri we had lunch at Hotel La Palma. A bit overpriced, but worth the splurge. We wrapped up our day with some souvenir shopping and headed back to the boat.

Ponza

Ponza is the last stop on the Star Clippers Cruise through Amalfi and Sicily and there is one excursion offered, an island tour by boat with a swim stop. After two days of dealing with crowds and the heat we decided to sit this one out and just relax on the boat. Others raved about the excursion, so in hindsight, this is one I would try next time.

Ponza Italy

Our Italian cruise returned us to port in Civitavecchia, and for a small additional supplement we were transferred to Rome Fiumicino (FCO) airport. Our epic Italian cruise concluded, but the memories of exploring these unique destinations will sustain us for years to come.