Star Clippers

What Star Clippers does

Star Clippers is a privately held sailing cruise specialist founded in 1989 by Swedish entrepreneur Mikael Krafft, operating a fleet of three authentic tall ships under the legal entity Star Clippers Limited (Monaco), with US sales and marketing handled from Miami. The fleet comprises the 227-passenger Royal Clipper — a five-masted full-rigged square rigger recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's largest in service — and twin four-masted clipper ships Star Clipper and Star Flyer, each carrying 166 guests. Total berth capacity is 559 across the three vessels, all registered under the Malta flag with DNV classification.

The company's product is sailing cruises across the Caribbean (winter season), Western and Eastern Mediterranean (summer season), Central America, Panama Canal transits, Suez Canal crossings, and transatlantic ocean voyages, ranging from 7 to 28 nights. Onboard experience emphasizes traditional tall-ship sailing aesthetics (antique nautical decor, teak decks, Edwardian libraries), participatory sail-handling, an open-bridge policy, complimentary water sports (including a unique lowering marine platform on Royal Clipper), open-seating dining, and themed programming (yoga, culinary, photography). Cruise fares range from approximately $2,000 to $16,000+ per person depending on cabin category, itinerary length, and season, with Advance Purchase Rates offering up to 65% off brochure pricing.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer sales (own website portal mycruise.starclippers.com, US toll-free reservations, Miami-based call center) with a travel agent distribution network (dedicated agent portals, groups/charter sales line) and full-ship charter revenue from corporate incentives and family reunions. Pricing is per-cabin in USD with single supplements at 150-200% of double-occupancy fares; onboard accounts must be settled pre-disembarkation with a €75 administration fee otherwise. The company has won multiple World Travel Awards (World's Best Boutique Cruise Line 2023-2025), Condé Nast Traveller, and Travel + Leisure recognitions, and operates with no disclosed institutional capital, parent company, or public listing.

Name

Star Clippers

Legal name

Star Clippers Limited

Website

https://starclippers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Star Clippers is a privately held sailing cruise specialist operating three authentic tall ships — including the Guinness-record Royal Clipper — offering 7- to 28-night itineraries across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Panama Canal, and transatlantic crossings for luxury travelers, honeymooners, and corporate charter groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sailing Cruises

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Deep Sea Passenger Transportation (483112)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Sailing Cruises (Windjammers & Tall Ships) (THAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (THAEABAF), Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (Under ~500 Guests) (THAEADAC)

Keywords

• Sailing cruises
• Tall ship cruises
• Boutique cruise line
• Luxury cruise experiences
• Ocean crossings

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-germain-en-laye

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Cruise fares: Primary revenue from passenger cruise fares. Pricing varies by cabin category, ship, itinerary length, and season. Brochure rates range from approximately $5,740 to $21,220 per person for 7-28 night sailings. Advance Purchase Rates offer up to 65% savings off brochure rates.
2. Onboard spending: Revenue from alcoholic beverages, wine, beer, sodas, mineral waters, and personal items. Shore excursions are sold separately. All onboard accounts must be settled before disembarkation with a €75 administration fee for non-settlement.
3. Group and charter bookings: Corporate incentives, group bookings, and full ship charters with completely customizable itineraries for corporate events, family reunions, and special interest groups.
4. Single supplements: Single supplement fares at 150% of published cruise fare for categories 2-6, and 200% for category 1 cabins, Deluxe Suites, and Owner's Suites.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Star Clippers operates a fleet of three authentic tall sailing ships offering multi-night cruise itineraries across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Central America, Panama Canal, and transatlantic ocean crossings. The company sells per-cabin cruise fares (ranging from approximately $2,010 to $21,220 per person), bundled with complimentary water sports, open-seating dining, and optional participation in traditional sail handling.

Product overview

Star Clippers is a sailing cruise specialist operating a fleet of three authentic tall ships: the five-masted Royal Clipper (largest square rigger in service, 227 guests) and twin four-masted clipper ships Star Clipper and Star Flyer (166 guests each). The company offers cruise itineraries across Caribbean, Mediterranean, Central America, Panama Canal, and ocean crossings, supplemented by themed cruises (yoga, culinary, wellness), shore excursions, honeymoon packages, and group/charter services. The three ships serve as the core products, with various destination-based services and experience offerings building around them.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Royal Clipper Sailing Cruises Multi-night sailing cruises aboard the Royal Clipper, a 134-meter, five-masted full-rigged tall ship carrying 227 guests. Features 42 sails, traditional clipper aesthetics with Edwardian-style library, a retractable marine platform for direct water sports access, and stabilization systems that minimize heeling under sail. For travelers seeking the largest traditional sailing experience available.
• Star Clipper Sailing Cruises Sailing cruises aboard the Star Clipper, a 115-meter four-masted clipper ship carrying 166 guests, featuring antique prints, teak decks, two swimming pools, and Edwardian-style décor evocative of the grand age of sail. For travelers seeking an authentic four-masted clipper experience with full cruise amenities.
• Star Flyer Sailing Cruises Sailing cruises aboard the Star Flyer, a 115-meter four-masted clipper ship carrying 166 guests. Twin sister ship to Star Clipper, offering spacious accommodations, expansive teak decks, and traditional nautical elegance.
• Caribbean Sailing Cruises Winter season sailings (December through March) visiting Caribbean destinations across the Windward Islands, Leeward Islands, Grenadine Islands, and Treasure Islands itineraries. Includes new 2026 10- and 11-night sailings from Grenada, Jamaica, and Antigua.
• Western Mediterranean Sailing Cruises Summer season sailings visiting Croatia, Montenegro, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal, with new 2026 itineraries from Nice aboard the Star Flyer.
• Eastern Mediterranean Sailing Cruises Sailings visiting Greek islands across Northern Cyclades, Southern Cyclades, Sporades Highlights, and routes between Greece, Turkey, and Malta.
• Central America Cruises Panama Canal and Costa Rica sailings visiting destinations between Balboa and Puerto Caldera and around the isthmus, including Christmas and New Year's themed cruises.
• Panama Canal Sailings Transits of the Panama Canal connecting Caribbean and Pacific routes, including sailings from Barbados to Panama and Panama to Antigua.
• Ocean Crossings Transatlantic crossings between Europe and the Caribbean, including westbound and eastbound Atlantic Ocean voyages ranging from 15 to 28 nights (Nice to Bridgetown, Malaga to St. Maarten, Bridgetown to Lisbon, Bridgetown to Nice).
• Grand Voyages Extended voyages of 14 to 20 nights combining multiple regions and destinations across all three tall ships.
• Suez Canal Crossing Voyages crossing the Suez Canal connecting Mediterranean and Red Sea routes, including Cairo overland excursions.
• Yoga & Themed Cruises Specialty cruises featuring yoga teachers, chefs, sommeliers, wellness experts, and photographers with curated onboard activities and demonstrations.
• Water Sports Program Complimentary water sports including kayaking, paddle boarding, water skiing, windsurfing, and snorkeling at beach stops, with a special marine platform on Royal Clipper enabling direct water entry without tenders.
• Honeymoon Packages Romantic celebration packages for honeymoons and anniversaries including champagne, sweet treats, special gifts, and Captain-signed certificates.
• Groups, Charter & Incentive Cruises Corporate event and charter services for groups, with full-ship charter options and custom itineraries for incentive programs, team building, and special-interest groups.
• Shore Excursions Pre-arranged and on-board bookable shore excursions at various ports including cultural tours, adventure activities, and destination experiences.
• Pre & Post Cruise Hotel Stays Hotel accommodations in Mediterranean ports (Athens, Venice, Rome, Nice, Malta) and Caribbean ports (Barbados, St. Maarten, Panama) for pre- and post-cruise extensions.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours: Australian-headquartered luxury cruise operator (Scenic Eclipse ocean yachts and river ships) carrying 114-228 guests. Competes in ultra-luxury small-ship space with similar pricing and experiential focus.
• Viking Cruises: Major river and ocean cruise operator with 80+ vessels, including Viking Ocean ships (465-930 guests) targeting culturally curious affluent travelers. Competes in Mediterranean and Caribbean small-ship segments with strong brand recognition.
• Silversea Cruises: Ultra-luxury cruise line owned by Royal Caribbean Group, operating 12 ships carrying 100-728 guests. Competes for the same affluent segment with all-suite small-ship offerings and expedition itineraries in overlapping regions.
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Ultra-luxury all-inclusive cruise line owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, operating five ships (490-750 guests). Competes for the same affluent experiential traveler with luxury inclusions and exotic itineraries.
• Crystal Cruises: Luxury cruise line (relaunched under A&K Travel Group ownership) operating ocean and expedition ships for 60-740 guests. Competes in luxury and luxury-expedition small-ship segments overlapping with Star Clippers' experiential positioning.
• Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: German luxury and expedition cruise line owned by TUI, operating five ships (HANSEATIC-class) for 120-230 guests. Competes in the premium small-ship expedition segment with similar DNV-class safety standards and European clientele.

Direct peers

• Lindblad Expeditions: US-based small-ship expedition cruise operator (publicly traded as LIND) with a fleet of 15+ vessels carrying 50-200 guests. Comparable boutique positioning, premium pricing, and experiential travel focus across global destinations.
• Ponant: French luxury expedition cruise line operating 13 small ships (under 250 guests) including the three-masted Le Commandant Charcot. Directly comparable as a small-ship luxury and expedition cruise specialist serving affluent travelers in similar geographies.
• Windstar Cruises: Operates a fleet of six small sailing yachts (motor and motorized sailing yachts) carrying 148-312 guests. Closest direct competitor to Star Clippers, specializing in boutique sailing cruises with similar itineraries in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
• Sea Cloud Cruises: Germany-based operator of three authentic tall ships (Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II, Sea Cloud Spirit) carrying 64-136 guests. The most direct competitor in the luxury tall-ship sailing category, with similar 19th-century-rig aesthetic and small-ship positioning.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/wvFPsHRl6JE
• Xx.com/starclippers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/star-clippers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Star Clippers