Royal Clipper

Royal Clipper is a steel-hulled, five-masted, fully rigged sailing ship operated as a cruise vessel by Star Clippers. Completed in 2000, it was developed as the company's third major sailing ship after Star Clipper and Star Flyer. The vessel combines the visual and sailing characteristics of a traditional square-rigged windjammer with the accommodation, dining, and onboard services associated with a modern cruise ship. The ship's design was prepared by Robert McFarlane of McFarlane ShipDesign, who had also worked on Star Clippers' first two vessels. Rather than being constructed entirely from the keel up for the cruise company, Royal Clipper used an existing steel hull designed by Polish naval architect Zygmunt Choreń. The hull had originally been commissioned by Poland's communist authorities under the name Gwarek for use as a floating holiday facility for miners. Financial difficulties led to the unfinished hull being sold. It was subsequently substantially modified at Gdańsk Shipyard, including an approximately 24-metre extension, before the Merwede shipyard completed the interior in 2000. The ship's aesthetic and sailing concept draw heavily on Preussen, the famous German five-masted Flying P-Liner launched in 1902. Its Mediterranean-themed interior includes frescography murals by artist Rainer Maria Latzke. Royal Clipper was designed to preserve the experience of sailing a large traditional tall ship while providing the comfort expected from a cruise holiday. Powered controls allow the extensive sail plan to be managed by a relatively small crew. Star Clippers describes Royal Clipper as the largest true sailing ship built since Preussen. Guinness World Records lists it as the largest square-rigged ship in service, with approximately 5,202 square metres of sail. This distinction, together with its five-masted profile and ability to enter smaller ports, forms the core of the vessel's identity and market appeal. Royal Clipper generally operates in the Mediterranean during the summer season and moves to Caribbean itineraries during winter, particularly among the southern Lesser Antilles. Seasonal repositioning voyages can include transatlantic crossings. Its smaller scale compared with large motor cruise ships enables calls at ports and anchorages that may be inaccessible to much larger vessels. The product is therefore positioned around intimate sailing, access to less-developed destinations, and a more traditional maritime atmosphere rather than mass-market cruising.

Royal Clipper originated from an unfinished steel hull commissioned during Poland's communist period. The hull, designed by Zygmunt Choreń, was intended to become Gwarek, a floating vacation facility for miners. Financial problems prevented that project from being completed, and the hull was eventually sold for conversion into a large sailing cruise ship. For Star Clippers, the vessel represented an expansion beyond the company's first two ships, Star Clipper and Star Flyer. Robert McFarlane of McFarlane ShipDesign redesigned the project for the Swedish cruise operator. The existing hull was lengthened by about 24 metres at Gdańsk Shipyard, allowing the completed vessel to support the scale and accommodation requirements of an ocean-going cruise ship while retaining the proportions and rigging concept of a traditional tall ship. The interior was completed by the Merwede shipyard in July 2000. During a visit to the Pool of London, the nearly finished ship was presented to the travel industry before entering commercial service. Interior decoration followed a Mediterranean theme, including frescography murals created by Rainer Maria Latzke. The ship's overall appearance and sailing plan were consciously influenced by Preussen, a celebrated five-masted German Flying P-Liner launched in 1902. Royal Clipper was built with five masts and a fully square-rigged sail plan. Its approximately 5,202 square metres of sail made it a notable modern tall ship, and Guinness World Records recognized it as the largest square-rigged ship in service. Powered sail-handling equipment was incorporated so that the extensive rig could be operated by a crew of roughly twenty, helping make a historically styled vessel practical for commercial cruising. In service, Royal Clipper became the largest and most distinctive vessel in the Star Clippers fleet. Its itineraries have followed a seasonal pattern: Mediterranean cruising in summer and Caribbean voyages in winter, particularly around the southern Lesser Antilles. Transatlantic crossings may be scheduled during the transition between regions. The ship's relatively modest size allows it to visit smaller ports that are unsuitable for the largest contemporary cruise ships, reinforcing its niche as an experiential sailing vessel rather than a conventional resort ship. Royal Clipper's historical significance lies less in corporate branding than in its revival of the large commercial sailing-ship format. It applies modern shipbuilding, powered rigging, and cruise amenities to a design language associated with the age of sail. Its identity continues to be defined by the combination of authentic square-rigged sailing, a five-masted silhouette, intimate capacity relative to mass-market cruise ships, and itineraries built around maritime scenery and smaller destinations.

• 2000

  Royal Clipper completed

  [1]Royal Clipperen.wikipedia.org

  The Merwede shipyard completed the ship's interior in July 2000 after the former Gwarek hull had been modified and extended at Gdańsk Shipyard.

• 2000

  Pre-launch presentation in London

  [1]Royal Clipperen.wikipedia.org

  The completed vessel visited the Pool of London for a pre-launch presentation to the travel industry.

• 2000

  Entry into sailing-cruise service

  [1]Royal Clipperen.wikipedia.org

  Royal Clipper entered Star Clippers' fleet as its third major sailing cruise ship, following Star Clipper and Star Flyer.

A premium small-ship sailing-cruise experience combining the romance and active sailing character of a traditional tall ship with modern cruise accommodation and services.

• Sailing cruise ship · 2000

  Royal Clipper

  A steel-hulled, five-masted, fully rigged sailing cruise ship completed in 2000. The vessel was adapted from an existing hull, extended at Gdańsk Shipyard, and finished at the Merwede shipyard. Its Mediterranean-themed interior, extensive square-rigged sail plan, powered sail controls, and small-ship scale support a cruise experience centered on traditional sailing and access to smaller ports.

1. 1Royal Clipperen.wikipedia.org