Public Areas & Facilities

Royal Clipper is the first five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship built since 1902. As the largest true sailing clipper ship in the world today, she carries 42 sails with a total area of 56,000 square feet.

Unusual for a sailing ship, a three-decade atrium graces the heart of the vessel.

Her interior is decorated in Edwardian-era style with abundant gleaming woods, brass fixtures, and nautical touches. Light filters into the piano bar, three-deck high atrium, and the dining room through the glass bottom and portholes of the main swimming pool located overhead.

The rarely used Observation Lounge is located forward of the deluxe suites and affords great sea views. It is also the location of the computer station for all Internet access.

Restaurants

The multilevel dining room serves a single, open-seating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For early-risers, a Continental breakfast is set up in the piano bar, and a buffet lunch is sometimes offered in the Tropical Bar, as are snacks and predinner canapés. Room service is only available to occupants of the Owner's Suites and Deluxe Suites.

What Works & What Doesn't

The feeling of the wind powering this large vessel through the water is spine-tingling. Unfortunately, you will miss the glorious sight of her underway unless the captain can schedule a photo-op via one of the tenders. Always lively and the center of most of the action day and night, the Tropical bar on the main deck is where the evening entertainment happens. Outdoors, on the teak deck, is the place to be. The library, with its cushy seating and faux fireplace, is a cozy place to read or play board games, but bring your own books because the selection is thin.

Accommodations

Layout-Amenities: Think yacht, and the cabin sizes make sense. Although efficiently laid out with tasteful, sea-going appointments and prints of clipper ships and sailing yachts on the walls, cabins are small by comparison to most cruise ships. All have a TV, personal safe, desk-vanity, small settee, hair dryer, and marble bathroom with standard toiletries.

Suites: Owner's Suites, Deluxe Suites, and Category 1 cabins have a sitting area, minibar, whirlpool tub-shower combinations, and bathrobes to use during the cruise. Deluxe Suites also feature a private veranda. Category 1 cabins have doors that open onto a semiprivate area on the outside deck. Only the two Owner's Suites have connecting doors.

Good to Know: Cabins are equipped with 220-volt electrical outlets and a 110-volt outlet suitable only for electric shavers. For 110-volt appliances, you'll need to bring a transformer; for dual-voltage appliances, pack a plug converter. None of the staterooms is designed for wheelchair accessibility, nor are there any interconnecting doors (except for the two Owner's Suites).

Category	Size (square feet)
Owner's Suite	355
Deluxe Suite & Cat. 1 Ocean View	204
Standard Ocean View	150
Cat. 5 Ocean View	118
Inside	107

Favorites

Heads Up: In Category 3 cabins forward, you'll notice a definite slant to the floor, due to the location near the bow. You may also feel a bit more motion forward than aft and should also remember that creaking sounds are common on sailing ships.

Best Splurge: Massages in the spa are no-nonsense and reasonably priced.

Best Place to Escape the Crowds: Lookout stations at the first yardarm on each mast are the most private spaces on board and afford the best views -- provided that you aren't bothered by heights.

Our Favorite Spot for a Nightcap: Almost anywhere outside at the rail is about perfect on a moonlit night.

Best Snack Spot: Coffee and fresh fruit are always available in the Piano Bar.