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Wednesday 13 January 2010

CLIPPERS CRUISING CARIBBEAN GEMS


Star Clippers will have two luxury tall ships sailing to the jewels of the Caribbean between November this year and April 2011 -- the 227-passenger flagship Royal Clipper, and the 170-passenger Star Clipper.

Royal Clipper will cruise the Windward and Grenadine Islands from Barbados, and the four-masted Star Clipper will sail alternating seven-night round-trip itineraries from St. Maarten to ports where large cruise ships typically don¹t call.

 These include The Leeward Islands featuring calls at Nevis, Dominica, Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe, Antigua and St. Barts; and The Treasure Islands with calls at Anguilla, Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, Tortola, Jost van Dyke, St. Kitts and St. Barts.

"This region of the Caribbean has proven very successful with our guests in the past, providing an interesting mix of the colonial heritage of the British, French and Dutch," said Mikael Krafft, owner and president of Star Clippers.

"Plus, having two ships in the Caribbean provides an opportunity for Royal Clipper and Star Clipper to easily rendezvous off Dominica for tall-ship racing, which is an amazing thrill always much appreciated by our guests," he said.

The re-positioning of Star Clipper to the Caribbean after an upcoming season in the Mediterranean means that Star Clippers will not have a tall ship operating from Phuket (usually from November to March each season) for the first time in more than a decade.

Mr Krafft said that the decision was "due to the rise of piracy in the Strait of Malacca, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, and the increasing boldness of the pirates".

"We believe it is not prudent to transit those areas between our cruising grounds in the Mediterranean and the Far East. The future stability of the region is too unpredictable at this time", he said.

"Ensuring the safety and security of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and that is what we have considered in taking this difficult decision," Mr Krafft said.

"It is our sincere hope that the piracy situation can be alleviated and when that happens, we plan to return to Thailand and Malaysia".

The company's three ships (including Star Flyer) will operate more than 70 itineraries to some of the world's most exotic ports in the east and west Mediterranean in 2010. Star Flyer moves to a new cruising ground in Costa Rica in November.

For reservations see your travel agent or contact the Australian General Sales Agent for Star Clippers on 1300 362 599 or email: starclippers@creativecruising.com.au

www.starclippers.com

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