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Essential Star Clippers Review: Sailing Ship Cruise

Our Star Clippers review proves that there truly is a cruise for everyone. A small ship with Star Clippers can accommodate up to 170 guests, and its sails allow you to feel nature’s gentle push on the open water. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience on one of the cruise line’s three classic sailing ships, Star Clipper. There were surprises we weren’t expecting (like how spacious our room was), and those we were hopeful for that were proven accurate (like how friendly the crew and other passengers were). 

This post will walk you through Star Clipper, sharing everything you may be wondering about this sailing experience so you can book your next trip with them, from the cabins to entertainment, expected cost, some itineraries, and more things to expect. 

Disclosure: We thank Star Clippers for generously hosting us. We also may make a small commission from affiliate links in this post (at no cost to you), but all opinions are ours, and we bring you genuine content with real facts, photos, thoughts, and recommendations. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Star Clippers Review Overview

Our overall experience on the Star Clipper ship was phenomenal, and we had a great time. It's one of the only true sailing ships where the sails are manually raised and lowered, there's a casual vibe with an international crowd, we had plenty of time onboard, and the shore excursions were enjoyable.

Star Clipper is one of three ships in the Star Clippers fleet. (The other two ships are Star Flyer, which is a sister ship of Star Clipper in its architectural design, and the elegant Royal Clipper.) 

This tall ship is beautiful. It’s modeled after a classic Clipper ship (not one in particular, simply a Clipper ship in general, during the classic days of sailing). Though it can take a minute or two to get used to the vibe of this classic vessel, if you’re accustomed to sailing on modern cruise ships, you soon realize the beauty of her details.  

The sailing cruise ship experience gently reminded us of our American Eagle Schooner experience with Maine Windjammer Association. But most of the similarities stop at their sails and beautiful craftsmanship since their size, crew, and where they sail differ greatly.

Our cabin was spacious, the crew members were incredibly friendly, and the food was good. The onboard activities were just enough to give us options that kept us entertained but did not overwhelm us so that we had so much to choose from we couldn’t pick. 

We enjoyed an afternoon nap once or twice during our 7-night cruise, which, we admit, is a favorite cruise activity we indulge in when we get the chance. 

Star Clippers Cruise Cost

Depending on the itinerary and time of year , expect the cruise to start at $1,560 per person. 

Prices vary based on a few factors, including the time of year, length of the cruise, and what category cabin you book.

The Owner's Cabin, for example (there is one on each ship, and it's the highest category level), can be up to $10,000 for the cruise. There is a budget for every cruiser on Star Clippers, whether you have $2,000 to spend per person, $3,000, or $5,000, for example.

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Does Star Clipper Include Alcohol and Excursions? 

They do not include these things. Alcohol, however, is very affordable onboard. (Read on for detailed beverage information.) 

If you want to book excursions, be sure to factor in around $75 to $150 per person per excursion, depending on your cruise itinerary. 

You do not have to buy the excursions if you want to stay on the ship or explore the port on your own. 

Star Clipper Itineraries 

Our itinerary was one of two offered in Costa Rica. It sailed along the Pacific Coast of this spectacular Central American country. 

However, they have plenty of itineraries. For example, they have options in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, the Caribbean (where they can sail 70% of the time – a high percentage – because of the helpful Tradewinds in that area), and the Panama Canal. 

You can also sign up for an ocean crossings cruise 

Star Clippers Review of the Ship's Interior Design

The ship’s motifs are nautical. If we had to mention the ship’s color palette, we’d say it’s navy blue, crimson, and yellowish gold. The colors reveal themselves in things like the carpet, the dining room upholstery, and the carpet and bedspreads in the cabins. 

Star Clippers Cabins

We were in cabin 130, which is a Category 4 Outside Stateroom. We were pleasantly surprised with how spacious it was. Details follow about our room…. 

Cabin Access

You use a good ‘ole physical key to access your room. When you embark on your cruise, the Purser checks you in. 

He or she gives you keys when you embark in exchange for your passport. The Purser also records a credit card to have on file for your expenses and takes a digital photo of you for the ship’s digital ID system.

This is an easy way for a crew member to match your digital ID card with a face when you enter/exit the ship during port days, like any cruise ship does. 

The bed was very comfortable — not too hard, not too soft. We were provided two pillows each (a total of four pillows), which was exactly what we normally sleep with. If you’re particular about pillows and you’re curious what kind they were, they seemed to have a cotton filling of some sort.

Two comforters were laid on the bed for us so we could each have our own. 

Cabin Porthole

Most cabins have one porthole unless you are in one of the 11 inside cabins. The window let natural daylight in when the sun was up. 

At night, the cabin steward closed curtains over it as part of turn-down service, so when the sun rose the next morning, we could still sleep in darkness until we opened the curtains.

Cabin Storage

There was plenty of storage for our clothes, shoes, and the like, with closet shelves and hanging room for clothes. We appreciated that the closet door had full-length mirrors on the outside. There was also a pull-out drawer under the seat that was next to our bed and under-bed storage for luggage. 

A large mirror in our room was above a vanity shelf of sorts. Under that shelf were two outlets and a sitting stool. 

Our cabin, in particular, had another shelf under the television simply because of the architectural location of our cabin on the ship. 

Safety Deposit Box

Each cabin has a safety deposit box in the closet, controlled by a digital code you choose the first time you use it. We put jewelry and cash in ours. There was no need to store our passports because the Purser’s office has them for your entire cruise. 

We were glad we packed carabiners (as we always do) to clip our toiletry bags up on the bathroom hooks so they could be near us without taking up the small sink space around our corner sink. 

Some cabins have more sink space, and some have less.

Two shelves above the toilet fit our toiletry bags, but they weren’t where we wanted to have them handy. Thus, we used our carabiners to have them as close to the sink as possible. We easily clipped them to the hand towel hooks. 

The shower in our cabin was simply an adjustable shower head on a stationary rod above a floor drain, with a curtain to enclose the corner. 

The whole bathroom floor ever-so-slightly sloped towards the shower drain. 

Cabin Air Conditioning 

Each cabin has its own air conditioning unit that you can adjust by dial. It’s literally a dial to let more or less air into the room from the vent that is on the ceiling.

When we first went to our cabin, it was very stuffy, even though we opened the dial all the way to maximize the airflow. However, once Star Clipper got moving, the air started to circulate more, much like an airplane’s ventilation system being better once the plane’s engines start.

Television and DVD Player

Star Clipper cabins are equipped with both. The television only had two channels that we were able to tune into. One continuously played an old video of Star Clippers Royal Clipper ship.

We recommend renting a DVD from the Sloop Shop if you want to watch something in your cabin or checking out our Star Clipper Packing List, which recommends downloading shows and/or movies to your iPad before you leave home. 

Electrical Outlets

Hidden underneath the vanity shelf was one outlet with two plugs. They fit both European and US two-prong plugs. 

We recommend bringing an outlet extender to create more plugs if you know you’ll have lots of electronics to charge. It’s one of the useful things we included in our handy Star Clippers packing list.

Onboard Laundry Service

Should you wish to have the Star Clipper crew do your laundry while on board, there is a laundry bag and price list in your closet. It takes 24 hours for the laundry to come back to you.

Prices vary from around €0,50 to launder underwear to €5 for a nice shirt or €3 for a t-shirt. 

Noise and Cabins Above the Engine Room

It’s important to note that Cabin 130, and those nearby, are above the Star Clipper engine room. (It’s the same on Star Flyer, her sister ship.) Overall, this wasn’t an issue during the cruise. 

There was one evening, however, that we began sailing at midnight. That night, the ship engine could be heard very loudly from our room, and the heat from the engine room could definitely be felt! 

If you sail during the day, this likely won’t be an issue unless you’re trying to nap. Also, if the ship can run on sail power instead of engine power, the captain and engineers opt for that. In that case, the engine wouldn’t be running anyway. 

The cabins on Deck 2 (the 200 numbers) and the decks above are not on top of the engine room. Additionally important to note is that not all the 100 number cabins on Deck 1 are above the engine room; only some of them.

Owner’s Suite on Star Clipper

We had the pleasure of seeing inside the Owner’s Suite cabin on Star Clipper. It’s a beautiful cabin with a deep bathroom tub and wrap-around built-in couches. 

An important note is that Dan wouldn’t have been able to stay there for an extended period of time.

He’s very tall (6’2”), and his head touched the ceiling of the Owner’s Suite. But, judging from his height, if you’re 5’10” or shorter, then it’s truly a lovely cabin that any guest would be lucky to stay in. 

Star Clippers Review of the Food

The food on Star Clipper was very good. There were a few food standouts, with some appetizers and entrees being better than others, as can be expected. All the buffet signage is written in English and German. 

There is only one main dining area on Star Clipper, which has open seating. There’s table seating with chairs and booth seating. The buffet area is in the center of the space. 

Two breakfasts were available daily: An early riser’s option and the full breakfast buffet.

We loved the omelet station that was part of the full buffet. We had one daily, along with fresh fruit, bread, cheese, and potatoes. Protein was also readily available, including things like smoked fish, bacon, or sausage. 

The buffet was usually from 7:30 am to 9:30 am, give or take 30 minutes, depending on the day’s schedule. 

The Early Riser’s Breakfast was in the Piano Bar area. It offers small pastries, including croissants and danishes, and some fruit. Coffee and tea were always nearby and available all the time. (Drinks like cappuccinos and lattes cost extra.) 

A buffet lunch was available for two hours a day. Times vary slightly depending on the port schedule, but generally, lunch was between noon and 2:30 pm.

The buffet had something for everyone, with plenty of delicious options from fish to meat, vegetables to pasta, and a salad bar. 

Dinner was always served at your table as plated appetizers, soups, and entrees, ending with dessert.

One of the interesting things about Star Clippers is that they set out display food in the Piano Bar area approximately an hour before dinner so that you can see the appetizer and entree options for the evening. This very much helped us decide what we wanted to eat for dinner.

Some entree hits were Chateaubriand Steak, Pork Cordon Bleu, and Salmon with Sundried Tomatoes. 

Appetizer-wise, we really liked their Mushroom Soup (we must say, Star Clippers had surprisingly flavorful soups), zucchini-wrapped feta cheese, and Smoked Salmon with Capers. 

Their ice cream sundae bowls were always yummy. They have a cheese option each night as well that we enjoyed. (We love a cheese dessert, especially after barge cruising and river cruising in Europe so much, with plenty of delicious cheese to spare!) 

Snacks were available every day at 5:00 pm, accompanied by acoustic guitar music. This included fresh fruit, tiny finger sandwiches, and a small hot item, like egg rolls or chicken skewers. One day they treated us to a snack taco bar – it was a hit!

A snack was available again at midnight if you were still awake and wanted a nosh.

Star Clippers Review of Drinks

Drinks are done a bit differently on the ship than you may be used to if you’re a big ship or river cruiser because they don’t offer drink packages. Instead, they are priced reasonably per drink. 

Some you pay for, and others are complementary, like filtered water from a water station by the Tropical Bar. It is great for filling reusable bottles. Coffee and tea are complimentary and self-serve outside of dining hours. 

There are two bars on board: Piano Bar and Tropical Bar. The Tropical Deck welcomes guests starting from 8:00 am. 

Coffee and Tea 

There is a station for coffee and tea that is always available.

Teas including Earl Grey, Lipton’s, English Breakfast, Mint, Peach, and more are set out. They did not have any decaf tea on our sailing, so if you enjoy a cup, be sure to bring some of your own tea bags. 

Drinks like lattes, espressos, and cappuccinos can be purchased on the ship from the bartenders and are not complementary. 

All the varieties of alcohol you would expect are available on board, including vodka, gin, tequila, Aperol, and rum. Drinks are an average of €5 to €6 each, depending on what you get. I ordered a vodka dirty martini with several dinners; each was only €6. 

There is always a “Drink of the Day” for €5. It’s usually some sort of fruity cocktail, like a Rum Punch, Pina Colada, or Melon Ball. 

If you buy alcohol in the ports or bring it on board during embarkation, you cannot consume it on the ship. (They do not search your bags when you first board, nor do they search your bags when you board after time in the ports.)

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Star Clipper offers a selection of non-alcoholic beverages, including sodas (coke, ginger ale, sprite, and orange soda, for example), sparkling water, and non-alcoholic beer, priced per drink. 

Star Clipper Public Areas

Aside from the dining room and two bars mentioned above, there is also the following on board: 

• Sloop Shop (Star Clipper Store) 
• Two Pools 

Bowsprit Net

Smoking area.

The library is lovely (and very air-conditioned). Its dark-red upholstery, carpet, and dark wood give it a nice warmth, finished with a framed painting of a sailing ship. 

Library books are free for guests to enjoy. There are books in several languages, including Dutch, English, French, and German. 

The library also has games, like Scrabble, for guests to play. Lastly, it’s where the excursion sign-up sheets and booklets are during the cruise. 

Sloop Shop 

Star Clipper had some of the best items to purchase we’ve seen on any cruise ship, large or small. It’s stuffed to the brim with linen shirts, t-shirts, cufflinks, watches, silk scarves, bags, etc.

It’s all very tastefully designed, with small “Star Clippers” logos and insignia incorporated into the design. There was a sale on some of the older “season’s” apparel on the last full day of the cruise, which was the day before disembarkation. 

They also sold toiletry items, like sunscreen, over-the-counter medication, and tampons. 

Two pools filled with salt water are open during most hours. It’s unavailable overnight, and, weather permitting; it is not available when the sea is rough .

At the front of the ship is the bowsprit net, which is often open for guests to lay out at the front of the ship. It’s not a place to bring your phone or items that could fall through the net into the ocean! 

There is a small area for smokers on one side of the outdoor Tropical Bar, where ashtrays are provided. 

On Board Afternoon and Evening Entertainment 

One of our favorite surprises on Star Clipper was live music and entertainment. 

Music During Late Afternoon Snacks

The daily schedule included music in the Tropical Bar area from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm and afternoon snacks. We’d be remiss not to mention Kirby for our Star Clippers review, who was the fantastic musician onboard.

Despite his youth, he delights with a decades-long songbook, including Frank Sinatra chart-toppers. 

Late Night Entertainment

Dinner started at 7:30 pm every night and lasted a good two hours. After dessert, you could either mingle with guests, go to bed, or stay up for the 10:00 pm nightly entertainment. 

We had a variety of entertainment throughout our 7-night cruise, including a dance party, trivia night, and a light show on the sails. The show has solid colored lights projected on the cloth. While it’s not Disney-quality entertainment , it’s still a fun experience, especially if the weather is nice.

One of the last evenings was a talent show. Guests and crew alike could sign up to show off their talents.

The hit of the show wasn't just the singers and musicians among us who revealed their talents during the two-hour show but particularly the activities crew, who were all teenagers enjoying a summer job as crew on the ship. They were inventive and fun-loving with their act creating costumes and singing traditional Scandinavian songs from their home country of Denmark for the show. It was very entertaining!

On multiple evenings, guided stargazing was held on the top deck at 11:00 pm with the Third Officer. They shut the deck lights off so you can see the night sky more clearly. 

Daytime Activities

Aside from simply enjoying your cabin and the ship’s pools and library during the day, additional programming is onboard. 

This includes things like a morning workout or a knot-tying class led by someone from the Sports Team. We enjoyed a Q&A session with the captain and appreciated the opportunity to climb to the Crow’s Nest platform about ⅓ of the way up one of the masts. 

The Crow’s Nest climb was so popular they held it twice during our cruise. Unfortunately, we were the last two people on the signup sheet and didn’t get to climb before sunset on the second day. We look forward to doing it on our next Star Clippers cruise! 

On Board Wellness

There is a massage therapist on the ship. Massages are extremely affordable at €60 for a 60-minute massage. The massage room is a lovely tented area on the top deck that is very tranquil inside. It's decorated with electric candles, shells, and a comfortable massage table.

Is there a gym on Star Clippers?

While there is no gym or workout room on the ship, a fitness class was offered every morning around 8:00 am, with instruction by one of the Sports Team members.

Star Clipper Tendering and Excursions

Excursions vary depending on what itinerary you are signed up for. Regardless of the ports you visit and your excursion options, several things are universal: 

• If you’re not directly docked on a cruise ship pier where you can step from the boat to the land, you’ll either have a dry landing or wet landing to get to the port from the boat.
• Excursions are priced per person per excursion.  

Tendering to Shore

A boat like Star Clipper often “docks” by dropping anchor in the open water and mooring at sea, as it’s called. This is opposed to docking directly on a cruise pier and means guests must be transferred to the shore. This is done via tender boat or “Zodiac” boat. 

One of two shore landings can happen in this case: 

• A wet landing is where you step off the boat, into shallow water, and then to shore. 
• Dry landing, where you step from the tender boat or Zodiac onto a dry dock of some sort. 

In the case of situation #2, you often need to walk up or down stairs to get on/off the boat to the dock in small port towns. 

You always need to walk down steps to get from Star Clippers boats to the tender boat, which takes you from the second deck down to the water level. 

Wet-Landings 

We had several wet landings during our cruise in Costa Rica on Star Clipper. They tell you you’ll have a wet landing ahead of time so that you can prepare with the proper footwear and clothes. 

We either took off our shoes to go into the water barefoot or went in with our water shoes on. 

We preferred wearing our water shoes because it can be risky to step into murky water barefoot if you cannot see what’s beneath the surface, like a rocky or shell-filled shore. Because of this, we recommend water shoes on our Star Clippers packing list . 

Note:  Don't cheap out on a pair of water shoes if you want to use them in the future after your first trip. Pairs that are $10-$20 rip easily. Plan to spend around $30 on a pair of water shoes , which will last a long time!

Our clothes got a little wet in some cases. One such instance was when we were on our way back to the ship in a tender boat when a wave from the wake of another boat splashed over us.

Another time was when we had to step into the water to get to shore. The water was thigh-high for shorter people (like Mikkel) but shallower for tall people (like Dan). 

Luckily, if you’re in a hot climate (and Star Clippers usually is), your clothes will dry quickly. 

Dry Landings

This type of landing is easier, of course. In this case, the tender ship can pull up right next to a dock, and you can step from the dry tender onto dry land or a dry structure. 

During our Costa Rica cruise, we had a dry landing four times. Twice for embarkation and disembarkation in Puntarenas, another time in Golfito, and once more in Quepos. 

We did a mix of things in ports during our week-long cruise. We signed up for excursions in some ports while we simply walked around on our own in others. 

The excursions very much differ from port to port and itinerary to itinerary. For this reason, we won’t get into the details of our excursions other than to say they were well orchestrated. 

Generally, the cost of the excursions was between $75 to $150 per person, depending on the experience. This included transportation, entrance to the experience if applicable (like a fee to get into a national park), a guide, and a meal if the excursion spanned lunch or dinner time. 

You sign up for excursions in a very simple old-fashioned way: while you’re on the ship by putting your name down on a sign-up sheet in the library. The excursion sign-up sheets are in a binder with 8.5×11” paper, with each excursion printed on its own sheet. They may cancel it if too few people sign up for it.

Star Clippers will inform you via email if any excursions need to be booked before your cruise. In our case in Costa Rica, the Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour had to be signed up for in advance. 

There was a short daily port talk to discuss the port we’d be visiting the next day and answer any guests' questions. 

Star Clippers AccessIbility

If you need the assistance of a walker, a cane, or a wheelchair to move around, we do not recommend Star Clippers.

There are simply too many stairs with no option to use an elevator and too many places you can potentially trip if you're mobility-impaired.

Additionally, it would be difficult to exit and re-enter the ship in ports where you need to go down stairs to get on a tender to reach the shore in 99% of the cases during the cruise.

Star Clippers Review, in Conclusion

A Star Clippers cruise is a wonderful experience for people who want a relaxing, small-ship cruise that truly sails and operates the old-fashioned way with a crew that hoists sails. 

Star Clipper goes to beautiful destinations. With the crew and fellow passengers you’ll meet, the enjoyable activities and food on the ship, and the wonderful itineraries, your vacation is sure to be memorable.

Read this next:

• Star Clipper Cruise: Interesting Facts about the Sailing Vessel
• Star Clippers Packing List (And Dress Code) with a Printable
• Coastal Maine Windjammer Cruises: Overnight Schooner Sailing Vacations

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Great post with a ton of detailed info for our upcoming Star Clippers cruise! Thanks for all of the great tidbits for packing and what to expect!

Thank you so much for your comment, Lauren. It means so much to us!

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Star Clippers’ Cruise Along Panama and Costa Rica: What to Expect

By Heidi Sarna

January 8, 2024

Heidi Sarna is the co-founder of QuirkyCruise.com , a guide to small-ship cruising .

For more than 30 years, Star Clippers has offered small-ship cruising in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and other regions aboard a trio of sailing tall ships inspired by the speedy clippers of the 19th century.

I recently spent a week aboard the four-masted, 166-passenger Star Clipper vessel as it cruised westward along the Pacific coast of Central America from Balboa, near Panama City, to Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica .

The ports along this route are showcases for nature walks and beaches. 

The setting for my favorite beach day: Panama ’s Isla Iguana , where we snorkeled, swam in the teal-blue sea, and walked along a trail to the other side of the island. We caught sight of iguanas, scads of tiny white beach crabs, and, off to the side of the path, a crater left by one of the bombs the U.S. government tested in the area during the mid-20th century. 

On beach days, the crew brings a few kayaks and paddleboards ashore for passengers to use at no extra charge.

In Costa Rica, we signed up for guided walking tours of two nature preserves near the coast:  Piedras Blancas National Park and the larger, better-known Manuel Antonio National Park . 

We saw two- and three-toed sloths doing their slow-motion moves up in the trees as well as howler and white-faced Capuchin monkeys and tropical birds including the yellow-throated toucan. Guides carried high-powered telescopes on tripods to assist us in spotting the wildlife. 

Sailing Vibes

For many passengers, being aboard a traditional clipper ship is as important as the ports—and it’s the sailing experience that keeps a lot of customers coming back. One cruiser told me she was on her 15th Star Clippers cruise; I myself was on my sixth.

The ship’s 16 sails were raised (via electric winches) whenever conditions were right to run with the wind. Generally, that happens anywhere from 25% to 50% of the time. Otherwise, the vessel relies on engine power in order to stay on schedule. 

Whenever sails were raised on my voyage, the schmaltzy theme song from Ridley Scott’s adventure movie 1492: Conquest of Paradise was broadcast to set the mood. A core group of passengers always remained on deck to watch the world go by through the web of rigging. 

Once or twice per cruise, interested passengers are invited to don harnesses and climb the masts to reach the crow’s-nest nearly 60 feet up. 

Alternatively, you can ask to descend into the bowsprit netting at the front of the ship for the novelty of lying above the sea and getting some good photos from a unique perspective. If you’re lucky, you’ll glimpse dolphins and sea turtles swimming near the hull.

Another tempting visual opportunity: Once per cruise, tenders take out anyone interested to photograph the ship under full sails.

Onboard Meals, Service, and Amenities

Our Category 2 cabin was 129 square feet with wood and brass trim. The majority of the ship’s cabins are similar (though a bit smaller) and each also has portholes, a compact bathroom, a desk and stool, and a surprisingly adequate closet.

Open seating is the rule at mealtimes, with breakfast and lunch offered buffet style. At dinner, you’ll get a menu with several options for each course. Highlights: sea bass with asparagus, filet of pork with applesauce, crab cake with aioli, lobster tail, and delicious desserts such as apple crumble. 

Before dinner each day, we enjoyed prosecco (at just €3.50 a glass) at the Tropical Bar on the deck. A decent bottle of wine at dinner will set you back about €25. (On Star Clippers cruises, meals are included but alcohol, excursions, and spa services cost extra. Note that prices on board are in euros, but, as on most other ships, you can pay with a credit card at the end of the voyage, so it's not necessary to have cash on hand.)

There were only about 80 passengers on the cruise I took. If the ship was closer to its maximum capacity of 166, the restaurant would definitely feel tight. 

Up on deck you’ll find two small pools and a massage hut where you can get an excellent €60 massage (I booked twice). 

As this was dubbed a “yoga cruise,” a daily guided yoga class took place on deck each morning. Some of the line's yoga cruises (though not this one) offer a second daily class later in the day. 

In the way of entertainment, the ship has a library with a small selection of books and, after dinner most nights, the Tropical Bar hosts simple events such as a crew-and-passenger talent show and a pirate-themed dress-up party.

Onboard irritants were few, save for the Wi-Fi (I never encountered a clear explanation for how to log on) and the frequently disorganized tender service used to get passengers from the anchored ship to shore. It seemed like the tender crew were all new and often that no one was in charge.

Still, Star Clippers’ traditional-style tall ships provide a special experience combining adventure and comfort that’s hard to match. I look forward to planning my seventh cruise on a clipper sometime soon. 

Central American cruises operated by Star Clippers start at $4,570 per person. For more information, go to StarClippers.com .

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About star clippers.

Star Clippers cruise ships are a sight to behold. Their masted sailing vessels offer the ultimate cruise experience. Reminiscent of true clipper ships, these three luxury sailing vessels feature teak decks, polished brass and all of the modern amenities that one would expect on a luxury cruise. The Star Clipper ships arrive into to exotic ports under full sail which is a true sight to see. Onboard, Star Clippers guests are treated to a world of informal elegance on ships that accommodate a maximum of 227 passengers, inviting a congenial atmosphere where many friendships are formed.

Onboard the Star Clipper ships guests will find a friendly crew, a relaxed atmosphere and exceptional service.The accommodations aboard a Star Clippers cruise feature staterooms with double beds or twin beds that can be converted to queen beds, televisions with DVD players, in cabin videos, direct dial telephones, private safe, a hair dryer and comfortable furnishings and a marble bathroom. The staterooms are decorated with soft fabrics, nautical prints and mahogany trim designed to recall their nautical heritage.

Dining onboard a Star Clipper ship is a culinary adventure. Guests can choose a continental breakfast or a full breakfast complete with a variety of fruits, bacon, sausage, smoked salmon, fresh breads and made to order eggs and omelets. Buffet lunches offer a variety of salads, seafood and grilled favorites. In the evening the gourmet menu includes the finest culinary presentations served by a gracious and friendly staff. The dining on the Star Clipper ships is always open. Guests are free to dine when and with whom they want. Formal attire is not required. Casual elegance is the key.

Guests are free to do as they please while onboard a Star Clipper ship. Listen to a live band, gather round the Piano bar with new found friends, or find a secret hideaway to relax with a good book. Take a dip in one of the pools or for and more unique experience, guests even climb the mast to one of the crow's nests for an incredible view. On the Royal Clipper the Marina Platform is lowered for watersports and diving.

Star Clippers cruises sail to many unique and hidden ports. They offer a number of itineraries ranging from 5 to 35 days. Their three ships, Royal Clipper, the Star Clipper and the Star Flyer, sail to the Caribbean, Northern Europe, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Western Mediterranean, transatlantic sailings and even Grand Voyages ranging from 12 to 35 days. Call now or book online to receive exclusive rates, special deals and extra amenities on your next Star Clippers cruise.

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Star clipper highlights.

Masted Sailing Ships The most unique highlight of Star Clippers is their ships themselves. The Star Clipper ships combine the romance of the grand age of sailing with the modern amenities of a luxury cruise ship. The Star Clipper ships offer the ultimate sea-going experience.

Unique Destinations and Ports The Star Clipper itineraries sail guest to many ports off of the beaten track. In the Caribbean they sail to the Grenadines, Bequia and St. Vincent, Saba, Nevis and more. In Europe, sail into Amalfi, Corsica, Sorrento and Portofino. On a Star Clipper Cruise you will discover unique ports and private sanctuaries where adventure and memories will stay with you for a lifetime.

Romance There is nothing more romantic than cruising beneath the open sails. The intimate Star Clipper ships are perfect for a wedding, honeymoon, anniversary or a romantic getaway. Relax on the ship's netting with the sea beneath you as you sail to romantic ports throughout the world.

Exceptional Service With a maximum of 227 guests the experience of sailing on a Star Clipper cruise is like sailing on your own personal yacht. The gracious and friendly staff is there to attend to your every need and desire and to pamper you in a relaxed and unhurried atmosphere.

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• Piraeus-Athens (Greece)
• Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica)

Star Clipper current position

Star Clipper current location is at North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 30.86296 N / -30.43167 W) cruising en route to Ponta Delgada. The AIS position was reported 3 hours ago.

Current itinerary of Star Clipper

Star Clipper current cruise is 20 days, one-way from St Johns Antigua to Malaga . Prices start from USD 3050 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 06 Apr, 2024 and ends on 26 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Star Clipper

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Star Clipper Itineraries

Star clipper review, review of star clipper.

The 1992-built Star Clipper cruise ship is a 4-masted barquentine (in comparison, the fleetmate Royal Clipper is 5-masted). The yacht was constructed by Scheepswerven van Langerbrugge ( Ghent Belgium ) and is currently operated by the Monaco -headquartered Swedish company "Star Clippers Ltd".

The vessel (IMO number 8915445) is currently Malta- flagged (MMSI 248786000) and registered in Valletta .

History - construction and ownership

The 170-passenger ship Star Clipper is a tall sailing ship owned by Star Clippers Ltd (Sweden) . The sisterships Star Clipper and Star Flyer are both created for affluent passengers who love to travel in luxury on traditional sailing superyachts.

Decks and Cabins

Star Clipper has 4 passenger decks with a total of 85 cabins, of which 1x Owner’s Suite, 8x Deluxe, 6x Inside, 79x Outside. The cabin grades number is 7. The boat is intimate, providing room for only 170 passengers.

All staterooms feature marble-lined bathrooms and include twin or double beds. Also included are direct dial telephone, television with video, and hairdryer.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

All of the Star Clippers cruise line's vessels offer open-seating dining. All meals onboard the Star Clipper are served in single, open seating in the Dining room and Saloon. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style, while dinner is ordered from a 5-course menu. The fare is simple and tasty, generally with 2 choices per course, with "Chef's Suggestion" for the main course. Steak with French fries and one vegetarian selection are always offered as a nightly alternative.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Life on board the Star Clipper ship is relaxed like travelling on your own private yacht and guests never feel confined. The Star sailing ship provides spacious accommodations, expansive teak decks and two swimming pools. Actually, all Star Clippers ships offer much more outdoor per passenger space than most of the conventional ships. Star Clipper yacht decor is reminiscent of sailing grand age. Antique paintings and prints of famous ships please guests' eye. Gleaming and teak mahogany rails are proud nautical heritage of the Clippers cruise line. The Piano Bar and Tropical Bar, Edwardian style library with Internet station and Belle Époque fireplace reflect the friendliness of Star Clipper hospitable crew. Other facilities include Lounges (outside and inside), Health club, Sloop shop, Purser's Office, Wireless Internet Access.

Itineraries

Star Clipper schedule calendar includes the Mediterranean, departing from Piraeus-Athens and Valletta , as well as the Canary Islands and Eastern Caribbean from Philipsburg (St Maarten Island) .

Star Clippers will sail in Indonesia waters for the first time in 2017. The line will be running 19 departures from May 6 until October 14. The duration of the cruises will be between 7- and 14-days out of Bali and Singapore . The Star Clipper ship is deployed to the region operating 6 itineraries, including the opportunity to see Komodo dragons. Typical ports of call include the volcanic isle of Pulau Satonda, off Sumbawa's northern coast, also Marine National Park.

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Star Clipper ship related cruise news

Star Clippers announces Grenada as new homeport for Star Clipper

Star Clippers has unveiled plans to designate Grenada as the new homeport for its 166-guest Star Clipper during a series of upcoming sailings in...

Star Clippers expands Caribbean itineraries with homeporting in Grenada

Grenada, renowned for its scenic beauty and warm hospitality, has been chosen as the latest Caribbean home port for Star Clippers, an esteemed tall...

Star Clippers unveils “Grand Voyages” to exotic ports in the Mediterranean

For those seeking an extensive and effortlessly curated vacation experience, Star Clippers offers a series of "Grand Voyages" ranging from 13 to 19...

Antigua Cruise Port projects over 100% growth in summer traffic

More than half a million cruise passengers visited Antigua (Port Saint Johns) during the winter season 2022-2023, an excellent performance for the...

Star Clippers opens bookings for all cruises until March 2025 on their 3 tall sailing ships

Star Clippers is now accepting bookings for all sailings until March 2025 on its three majestic tall sailing ships. New destinations available for...

Star Clippers lifts COVID vaccine mandates for cruise passengers

Star Clippers announced a new set of health & safety protocols with regard to the prevention of COVID for their fleet of tall clipper ships. The...

Star Clippers restarts cruises with all 3 ships in the Mediterranean

The tall-ship sailing company Star Clippers resumed its full sailing program for the first time in 2+ years with its all 3 yachts operating in the...

Star Clippers opens bookings for Costa Rica cruises through Winter 2024

Star Clippers opened bookings for its new Costa Rica 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 winter itinerary programs. The company is now offering a “Triple...

Star Clippers opens bookings for 2023 Mediterranean summer season

Star Clippers announced they were taking bookings for the 2023 summer season Mediterranean sailings. With all 3 sail ships cruising together in the...

Star Clippers introduces new Central American itineraries for winter 2022-2023

For the first time since 2014, Star Clippers is planning to call on ports in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, as well as Panama and its famous canal...

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Star Clipper Wiki

The Star Clipper cruise ship is a 4-masted barquentine operated by the Swedish cruise company Star Clippers. The vessel is the first newly-built clipper ship since 1912, classed 100A1 by Lloyds.

This is a tall sailing cruise ship with 63-meter tall masts. Its sailing rig has 16 sails. The vessel relies on the wind 80% of the time. A marine diesel engine works as the main  propulsion engine  in poor wind conditions and when the clipper ship is not under sail.

Water sports facilities on board include scuba and snorkel equipment, a water ski boat, eight Zodiacs. Sports directors provide dive instruction for a fee. There are no shows, except local folklore performances from ashore. Dinner and “captain’s story-time” are the main events in the evening. During the day, guests can learn about sails and their repair.

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Sail the Caribbean with Star Clipper

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• 3 nights All-Inclusive at Crystal Cove by Elegant Hotels
• 7 nights sailing the Caribbean with Star Clipper
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Sail the Caribbean with Star Clipper! Combine a 3-night, All-Inclusive stay at Crystal Cove by Elegant Hotels, Barbados, before sailing the Caribbean onboard the Royal Clipper !

Exclusive departure – 09 December 2020

3 nights at crystal cove by elegant resorts – all-inclusive, 7 nights onboard the royal clipper, from £3374 pp.

Based on 2 people sharing, departing London or Glasgow 09 December 2020

Crystal Cove by Elegant Resorts

Crystal Cove is the perfect romantic spot to enjoy special time ‘just for two.’ Our sensational oceanfront scenery with some of the best sunsets on island and attentive team members take over the planning to enhance many romantic moods. From a sunset dinner on the sand and a beachside couples’ massage to a submarine tour and rum tasting, our Barbados couples resort offers amenities for unforgettable moments.

An all-inclusive Barbados holiday at Crystal Cove means everything is included – breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and snacks in between. Our tropical, ocean front resort experience features versatile dining including buffet and a la carte choices and exciting theme nights throughout the week. Savour international fare and delicious local cuisine or arrange for beach and pool ambassadors to deliver directly to your lounger. Fancy afternoon tea? We have that for you, too. Enjoy our Elegant signature inclusions like free motorised water sports, Wi-FI, water taxi and more.

Sail the Caribbean with Star Clipper onboard the Royal Clipper

Star Clippers offer a cruise experience that is like no other. If you are looking for an adventure on the waves which includes the atmosphere and character of traditional sailing but still with the comfort and luxury found on most modern cruises; you have come to the right place. Our small ship cruises will provide the opportunity to meet new people, see new places and, most of all, create the holiday experience of a lifetime.

Feel the wind in your hair and the salty breeze in your face as you sail aboard what feels like your own private yacht. Our vessels provide a much more intimate experience than you may expect to find onboard a contemporary cruise liner, and whilst the surroundings you find yourself in hark back to the ships of the nineteenth century, the superb, personable service will be on hand to make you feel right at home, wherever you are in the world.

Price Includes

• Return flights from the UK
• 3 nights All-Inclusive at the Crystal Cove
• 7 nights cruise with Star Clipper
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These 3 lesser-known cruise lines offer amazing voyages on sail-powered ships

There is nothing quite as magical — or romantic — as a cruise on a sailing ship.

To stand on the deck of a vessel topped with dozens of billowing sails, propelled through the waves by the power of the wind alone, is to go back in time to an earlier age of travel, when crossing the world's oceans was as adventurous as it was challenging.

It's an experience that's all about the feeling of the wind in your hair, the lean of the vessel (known as the heel) as it's pushed by the wind and the sway from the waves (which is actually smoother than what you get on a motor ship).

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In contrast to what you'll find on so many motor-powered ships, cruising on a masted ship is about the simple thrill of traveling across the sea and not about all the many attractions you'll find on board.

Only a handful of small cruise brands — so small that you might never have heard of them — offer trips on sailing ships. Here, we look at the three biggest players in this niche subset of the cruise industry.

Sea Cloud Cruises

If it's an authentic, old-style sailing experience you want, then Sea Cloud Cruises is the line for you. The Germany-based company operates three large sailing ships where the sails are unfurled by hand, just as they were on sailing ships centuries ago.

On the biggest of these three vessels, the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit , 18 deckhands scurry high into the rigging on sea days to manually untie and prepare the sails, an amazing sight. Unveiled in 2021 , it's a full-rigged, three-masted sailing ship of the sort that hasn't been common on the world's oceans for more than a century.

Related: Why Sea Cloud Spirit is a sailing vessel you'll want to try

Sea Cloud Cruises' two other vessels — Sea Cloud 2 and Sea Cloud — are smaller but offer a similar show as the sails are set by hand the old-fashioned way. The former is a 23-year-old, three-masted barque propelled by 23 sails (five fewer than Sea Cloud Spirit); the latter is a 93-year-old, four-masted barque with 30 sails and a storied past.

Now configured to carry 64 paying passengers, Sea Cloud was originally the private yacht of Postum Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband, the famed financier E. F. Hutton. At the time, the vessel was the largest private yacht in the world. It later served the U.S. Navy as a weather ship during World War II, after which it became the presidential yacht for the Dominican Republic. It only began sailing as a cruise vessel in the 1980s.

If you have money to spare, you can still book Post's opulent private quarters on Sea Cloud, now its owner's suite. It'll set you back around $5,000 per day per couple. Her husband's slightly smaller quarters are also available to book at a similar rate.

Post, the wealthiest woman in the U.S. during her lifetime, notably also built Mar-a-Lago, the massive estate in Florida that is now the official residence of Donald Trump.

Sea Cloud Cruises is the most all-inclusive and upscale of the three brands listed in this story, with pricing to match. Expect to pay nearly $1,000 per person per day or more for many sailings.

Sea Cloud Cruises' three vessels offer a diverse array of sailings in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Canary Islands and Morocco, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.

Related: Cruising Costa Rica, Panama with Sea Cloud Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Founded in the 1980s, Windstar Cruises got its start as a sailing ship line. While it now operates traditional motor-powered ships, too, voyages on sailing ships are still a big part of its business.

Three of the Seattle-based brand's six vessels — Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf — are sailing vessels, and they all offer a similar yacht-like, small-ship experience.

Two of the three vessels (Wind Spirit and Wind Star) are particularly intimate, measuring 5,407 tons and carrying just 148 passengers with every berth full.

Related: The 2 types of Windstar ships, explained

The line's third sailing vessel, Wind Surf, is nearly three times the size at 14,745 tons. It's one of the biggest sailing ships in the world (only a sister vessel that sails for Club Med is bigger). Wind Surf carries 342 people, an enormous number for a sailing ship.

Unlike on the vessels operated by Sea Cloud, the sails on Windstar's sailing ships aren't unfurled by hand in the old-fashioned way but by the push of a button from the bridge. It's a fully automated system that is much more modern, if less dramatic.

Still, the experience of slicing through the waves by the power of the wind alone on Windstar ships is as glorious and romantic as it is on the Sea Cloud ships.

Windstar Cruises is less all-inclusive and pricey than Sea Cloud but still offers a relatively upscale experience. Its dining program is done in partnership with the food-focused James Beard Foundation, which also brings James Beard Award-winning chefs to the ships regularly for food-themed itineraries.

For an extra $89 per person per day, passengers can also make the experience more all-inclusive with included Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine and cocktails, and gratuities (three things that aren't included in regular fares).

The line's three vessels typically spend nearly all of their time sailing in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.

Related: Read more about Windstar's itineraries

Star Clippers

Like Sea Cloud and Windstar, Star Clippers operates three sailing vessels that are among the biggest and most elegant sailing vessels in the world.

The belle of the ball at the line is Royal Clipper, a stunning five-masted ship that is billed as the largest square-rigged ship in the world. Its enormous array of 42 sails has a sail area of 56,000 square feet — significantly more than the sails atop any of the Sea Cloud or Windstar vessels. (Only Sea Cloud Spirit comes relatively close with a sail area of 44,100 square feet spread across 28 sails.)

Built to resemble Preussen, a legendary tall ship of the 19th century, the 24-year-old Royal Clipper shares the spotlight at Star Clippers with two smaller sister vessels, Star Flyer and Star Clipper.

Carrying 166 passengers apiece, the smaller vessels were designed to resemble the speedy clipper ships of the 19th century, which were known for their narrow profile and large sail area. Each vessel has a sail area of 36,000 square feet spread across 16 sails, a large amount for the size.

When it comes to the setting of sails, Star Clippers vessels offer a level of old-style authenticity that is in between the ships of Sea Cloud and Windstar. Like on Sea Cloud vessels, the sails are pulled into position by a team of deckhands using hand power and winches to tighten the "sheets," or ropes.

Unlike on Sea Cloud vessels, the deck hands don't climb high into the rigging to untie and prepare the sails for winching. That part is done automatically at the push of a button from the bridge, as it is on Windstar vessels.

In one key difference, though, Star Clippers lets passengers harness up and climb into the crow's nest of its vessels — a thrilling experience. Just be prepared for your knees to go a bit wobbly as you get to the top; it's way up there.

Star Clippers sailings are the most affordable option among the three sailing brands, in part because the onboard experience is less all-inclusive and upscale.

The three Star Clippers vessels mostly operate sailings in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean and along the west coast of Central America.

Bottom line

It's still possible to get a taste of what traveling the world's oceans was like in the days before motor power. Three small cruise companies — Sea Cloud Cruises, Windstar Cruises and Star Clippers — offer voyages on large sailing ships that are as majestic as anything that has sailed the seas in centuries past.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Clippers NBA playoff seeding picture: Breaking down the clinching scenarios

Adjust your plans accordingly. There are just five game dates left in the NBA regular season.

For the LA Clippers , who sit 50-28 and fourth in the Western Conference, just four games remain. A home-and-home with the Phoenix Suns begins Tuesday night in Arizona before the Suns come to Los Angeles on Wednesday night in what will be the Clippers’ fifth game in seven days. The Clippers will play their last prime-time home game Friday against a cooked Utah Jazz team, and then they will finish the season at 12:30 p.m. (PT) Sunday against the eliminated Houston Rockets at home.

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Kawhi Leonard will miss his fifth straight game due to right knee inflammation, and while the Clippers remain unconcerned about his status overall, team sources maintain that they will not rush him back.

James Harden will play Tuesday night, but the Clippers downgraded him to questionable before Sunday afternoon’s comeback win against the Cleveland Cavaliers , a game in which Harden did not play in the fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook could start at least one of the final games in Harden’s place when the Clippers can reach a clinching status.

Paul George has already said that he hopes the Clippers clinch their playoff spot before Sunday’s season finale, saying “I don’t need to be in that one.”

Here is what to watch for as the final week of the season gets underway.

You can buy tickets to every NBA game  here .

Chances of being in top three?

After the first weekend following the All-Star break, I posted that the Clippers would need at least 19 more wins to have a chance to be the No. 3-seeded team or better. The Clippers can’t reach that mark now.

• The Clippers would have to win their last four games. AND
• The Nuggets would have to lose their last four games (Utah Jazz, Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs , Memphis Grizzlies ). AND
• The Oklahoma City Thunder (53-25) have to lose at least three games (four home games versus Sacramento Kings , San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks , Dallas Mavericks ).

If the Clippers, Nuggets and Thunder were all 54-28 at the end of the season, then the Timberwolves would be No. 1 and the Clippers would be No. 2 on the strength of being the Pacific Division winner. The Clippers and Nuggets tying at 54-28 while the Thunder lose each of their last four games would favor the Clippers on the same division title tiebreaker.

The Clippers lost the regular-season tiebreaker to the Oklahoma City Thunder 2-1. The Clippers could be No. 3 if they win their last four games and one of these two things happen:

• The Thunder win at least two games and the Nuggets lose the last four games. OR
• The Nuggets win at least one game and the Thunder lose their last four games.

Again, the chances of all of these things happening are quite unrealistic, especially with Jamal Murray back for the Nuggets after being out for 15 days due to right knee inflammation and All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returning to the Thunder after being out for eight days due to a quad injury.

Clippers likely missing Play-In Tournament

Since Feb. 25, the Clippers have been fourth in the West every night except one, when they briefly slipped to No. 5 on March 25. Since then, the Clippers are 6-1 and the New Orleans Pelicans are 2-5.

The Sacramento Kings (45-33), Los Angeles Lakers (45-34) and Golden State Warriors (43-35) will at least be in the Play-In Tournament, but they cannot pass the Clippers in the standings. The only way the Suns and Pelicans (both 46-32) can pass the Clippers is if they win out and the Clippers lose out.

If that all happens, then the Clippers would lose the Pacific Division to the Suns based on Phoenix having a better division record (would be 10-8, with Phoenix getting two extra division games based on the In-Season Tournament giving the Suns a fifth contest against the Lakers and the Kings), while the Pelicans have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Clippers after winning three of four regular-season matchups. The Suns have the two Clippers games, followed by visits to Sacramento and Minnesota to end the season. The Pelicans continue a West Coast road trip to Portland, Sacramento and Golden State before returning home for the season finale against the Lakers.

The only way for the Clippers to be the seventh seed in the Play-In Tournament goes as follows:

• The Clippers would have to lose the last four games.
• The 48-30 Dallas Mavericks (lost tiebreaker 2-1 to Clippers this season) would have to win at least two of the last four games ( Charlotte Hornets , Miami Heat , Detroit Pistons , Oklahoma City).
• The Suns and Pelicans would both have to win the last four games.
• If all four of the Clippers, Pelicans, Suns and Mavericks finish with a 50-32 record, then the Suns and Mavericks would win their respective divisions and the Clippers would lose the tiebreaker to the Pelicans, dropping the Clippers into the Play-In Tournament.

Clippers clinching

For the Clippers to stay out of the Play-In Tournament and clinch a playoff spot, they need to win one game, or they need the Suns or Pelicans to lose a game, or they need the Mavericks to lose three games. The Clippers have two chances to take care of the Suns with the home-and-home starting Tuesday in Phoenix.

The Clippers have only two division titles in franchise history (2013 and 2014), and while that is not anyone’s ultimate goal, it is still a relevant achievement when it comes to these standings. The Clippers winning the Pacific Division also would make them the fifth team to win the division in the last six NBA seasons, making it the only division that has all five teams winning one in that span.

For the Clippers to clinch the fourth seed, they need a combination of two wins or Mavericks losses since the Clippers have the head-to-head tiebreaker. Back-to-back wins against the Suns could do it, though the Clippers haven’t won the fifth game in a five-in-seven game stretch since New Year’s Day 2022 in Brooklyn (ironically, a game that Kevin Durant and James Harden played). It took until the final day of the regular season in Phoenix last season for the Clippers to clinch a playoff spot, so they are ahead of that pace this season.

Who Clippers could play in first round

Because the possibility exists that the Clippers could be in the Play-In Tournament or mathematically could be a top-three seed, the Clippers could play any of the other nine teams still alive in the West.

The possibility exists that the Clippers could be getting a playoff preview of the Suns, a team they have already beaten decisively twice in January. The Pelicans are playing the worst recent stretch of basketball of any of the top 10 teams in the Western Conference, having lost six of the last 10 games. Every other team in the West has won at least half of their last 10 games. The Pelicans have dominated the Clippers as of late, while the Suns have three star scorers.

The Clippers are likely headed for a collision course with the Mavericks since it is doubtful that the Suns or Pelicans will pass either with one week to play. The Mavericks hold tiebreakers over both Phoenix and New Orleans. Dallas has a powerful offensive fulcrum in Luka Dončić , his best scoring teammate in Kyrie Irving and improved frontcourt talent in trade acquisitions power forward P.J. Washington and center Daniel Gafford (at least compared to outgoing offseason acquisitions Grant Williams and Richaun Holmes , respectively). The Mavericks have won 14 of their last 16 games with the NBA’s top defense since March 6 and strengthened by Gafford’s elite rim protection.

But at least from a personnel standpoint, the Clippers would likely rather see Dallas than any other team with a realistic chance of meeting in the first round. The exception to that preference is the Kings, but they are long shots to get in front of Dallas. The Kings will host the Suns and Pelicans this week in addition to visiting the Thunder before finishing the season at home against the Trail Blazers .

(Photo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard: Jason Miller / Getty Images)

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Law Murray is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the LA Clippers. Prior to joining The Athletic, he was an NBA editor at ESPN, a researcher at NFL Media and a contributor to DrewLeague.com and ClipperBlog. Law is from Philadelphia, Pa., and is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California. Follow Law on Twitter @ LawMurrayTheNU

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Travelocity's Russia hotels database doesn't list any place to sleep in Elektrostal.

When you and your family plan to book Travelocity-listed hotels near this region of Russia, Moscow could be an ideal alternative. It can be located 35 miles (54 kilometers) from Elektrostal. Moscow hotels and apartments include he The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow and Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow .

Once you and your family have got to know Elektrostal, why not explore a little more of the area? The Central Russia district has myriad things to offer visitors. Discover Central Russia's old towns and don't forget to see the region's forests, rivers, canals and mountains. In this corner of Russia adventurous travelers might partake in ice skating and four-wheel driving.

35 miles (59 kilometers) to the west of Elektrostal you will find Garden Ring, where you can spend a little time at the Arena CSKA. Khoroshevskiy rooms include the Kutuzovsky prospekt II and Hotel Bega . If you're looking for an alternative, you can visit Garden Ring, 35 miles (53 kilometers) west of Elektrostal. While you are in Garden Ring, take the time to explore the State Literary Museum. The Hotel Savoy Moscow and Hotel Metropol Moscow are great places to retire for the night.

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Before you and your traveling partner journey to Elektrostal, make sure you browse Travelocity's Elektrostal city guide where you can hear local secrets about the numerous attractions on offer.

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