Cruise news
Star Clippers announces 76 sailing voyages for summer 2028
Star Clippers has unveiled its Mediterranean summer 2028 program, announcing 76 sailing cruises. The schedule is divided among the three tall ships Royal Clipper, Star Flyer and Star Clipper, and includes regular departures as well as new routes and shorter voyages. The figure refers to the number of cruises offered, not necessarily 76 distinct routes. For travelers, the key considerations are which ship sails on which date, how many nights the voyage lasts, and whether two segments can be combined.
From short Greek island trips to a passage to Turkey
According to the announcement, travelers looking to try a sailing cruise for the first time or spend just a few vacation days at sea will find new short voyages departing from Athens, Rome and Venice. The official route overview lists, for example, a four-night round trip from Athens aboard Star Clipper on May 10 and a six-night trip on May 14, 2028. In the eastern Mediterranean, it also lists a ten-night voyage from Antalya to Istanbul on June 7, 2028. A voyage in the opposite direction, from Istanbul to Antalya, is scheduled for May 27 and lasts eleven nights.
The voyages differ not only in length, but also in whether they begin and end at the same port or connect different embarkation and disembarkation ports. When planning, it is worth checking the specific port of arrival: for Antalya–Istanbul, travelers need to arrange arrival and departure from different ports, while the Athens round trip mentioned above returns to its starting point. Star Clippers also says that almost all of the new voyages, most of which last a week, can be combined into longer cruises. This gives guests with more time an option for a longer trip than the individual week-long voyages.
New embarkation ports and small harbors
Star Clippers names Istanbul, Antalya, Malta and Barcelona as additional departure points in its Mediterranean program. The operator’s website already shows specific routes from Antalya and Istanbul; Malta features in the offerings under the port name Valletta. Expanding the choice of departure ports across the eastern and western Mediterranean can help travelers coordinate their journey to the port with their preferred direction of travel.
The company also positions its tall ships on routes to smaller ports and islands that are not included on every large-ship itinerary. It plans Star Clipper voyages in the Greek islands, while Star Flyer will operate routes that include Malta and the Spanish Mediterranean coast. On combined voyages in July and September, Star Flyer is due to call at Malta, Rome, Barcelona and Nice in succession. This may appeal to guests seeking a longer itinerary rather than a single week-long voyage.
Madeira and a sailing regatta in autumn
One notable autumn option is a Star Flyer voyage to the Canary Islands and Madeira. The official route overview lists it as a nine-night cruise departing from Las Palmas on October 10, 2028. This extends the company’s summer program beyond traditional Mediterranean itineraries and into the Atlantic. For travelers who want to combine Madeira and the Canary Islands on one trip, it offers a concrete alternative to the shorter Mediterranean voyages.
Star Clippers has also announced that Royal Clipper is expected to accompany the Voiles de Saint-Tropez sailing regatta at the end of September. The event adds a special sailing occasion to the regular port-of-call voyages. Throughout the season, wind will remain the preferred means of propulsion, weather permitting, according to CEO Leo Chang. Those seeking the atmosphere of sailing and visits to smaller ports can compare short introductory voyages, combined Mediterranean passages and the autumn trip to Madeira.
