Special thanks to Travel Writer Kristin Luna of Camels and Chocolate: Tales from a Travel Addict for writing this wonderful article recounting her recent Caribbean sailing on Star Clipper.

I’m not a fan of traditional cruises. I don’t mind if you are — really I don’t — it’s just that personally, they’re just not my cup of tea. I get anxious just thinking about being in the midst of 6,000 people (like the behemoth, Oasis of the Seas) while trapped out in the open of a body of water, far from any escape route leading me back toward land. That’s exactly why I like Semester at Sea and Enrichment Voyages; the ship’s capacity is just 836 people (and many times, there are far less people than that sailing). Or the Holland America cruise we went on to Alaska; that has around 1,200 passengers and is about my max in terms of cruising.

So when the owner of the travel agency with which I am affiliated invited SVV and me along on a scouting trip with her and her husband over Thanksgiving, I took one look at the Star Clippers website and needed no more information. The ship was perfect, and Carol and Steve are the ideal travel companions. (My dad has been a long-time friend and colleague of Steve’s but this was SVV’s and my first trip with our new favorite people. Hopefully, the first of many…)

But why did I love the Star Clipper so much? Let me count the ways …

It was small and intimate. No getting lost in the crowd. No running into people your every turn around the ship. It’s an environment that fosters meeting your fellow sailors and striking up friendship with others. On our cruise, there were 117 passengers, though the tall ship can accommodate 180.

To read the full article, click HERE.