A Transatlantic Odyssey Under Sail

Avast there, me hearties! Get ready for a look at luxury cruising under sail this week as here at World of Cruising we've had a couple of stories from companies who specialise in sail-cruising.

Want to climb the mainsail or sit on the bowspit? Read on...!

With their teak-lined decks and billowing white sails, luxurious amenities, gourmet cuisine, exceptional service and only 150 to 300 guests on board,thet  here ships of Star Clippers allow you to soak up the ambience of almost owning your own private yacht. Passengers can even help the crew hoist the sails or learn their knots.

There is even more chance to experience the full majesty of these traditional vessels on a transatlantic voyage and Star Clippers are offering a special early-booking deal on one of their autumn sailings that make the opportunity more appealing.

The unique five-masted Royal Clipper (left, above) has a typical transatlantic cruise from Europe to the Caribbean, when she departs Lisbon on November 6, calling at Casablanca, Safi and Tenerife before arriving in Barbados on November 22. Early-booking fares are from just £1,540 for the 16-night voyage (with flights extra).

More info: call 0845 200 6145 or visit www.starclippers.co.uk.

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A Tall Ship, Yoga - And Barbados

Yoga and cruising together increasingly well in our hell-conscious world, hence we are always keen to bring you news of new options that feature these kinds of opportunities. It is something we have featured in the World of Spas section of the magazine, and it will be very much on our agenda as we go to SIX editions in 2014 (so look out for more news of that in the near future!).

In the meantime, Star Clippers are featuring TWO of their signature Yoga-At-Sea programmes next year, and we're keen to highlight them here at Time Spent At Sea.

Free daily yoga and meditation classes will be the order of the day on both the spring and autumn 2014 transatlantic crossing of the line’s flagship, the 227-passenger Royal Clipper. With nothing but the vast, open ocean as a distraction, yoga classes will take place in the open air, on the ship's classic teak decks, under 56,000sq ft of sails – the ultimate relaxation for body and soul.

 

Qualified yoga teacher Christel Vollmer, back on board by popular demand, will be holding the daily sessions of Astanga yoga, also known as power yoga, on deck in the cool morning on the 16-night spring  crossing, from Barbados to Malaga, departing April 12 and arriving April 28, from £1,420 (flights extra). She will then join the autumn transatlantic sailing, when Royal Clipper departs Lisbon on November 6, calling at Casablanca, Safi and Tenerife and arriving in Barbados on November 22. Prices are from £1,540 for 16 nights, with flights once again extra.

More info: call 0845 200 6145 or visit  www.starclippers.co.uk.

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Cruise the Moorish Mediterranean and stay in a Moroccan riad

Tall ship sailing specialist Star Clippers is offering a unique opportunity to explore the history of the Mediterranean, combining the romance of a voyage through the Balearic Islands and Andalucia to Morocco with a stay in a beautiful riad in Marrakech.

This one-off cruise, on the line’s flagship, the five-masted square rigger Royal Clipper, departs Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, on October 15.

After a day exploring the dramatic medieval fortress town of Bonifacio in Corsica, the ship sets a course to Mahon, Menorca (above), Lord Nelson’s chosen base for the British fleet during the Napoleonic wars. There’s a day in Ibiza, best known for its nightlife but actually rich in history, from its Carthaginian origins to 500 years of Moorish rule. Ibiza is especially lovely in autumn, when the summer crowds have left but the sea is still warm enough for swimming.

Royal Clipper next calls at Motril on southern Spain’s Costa Tropical, an easy hop from Grenada and the magnificent Alhambra Palace. Then there’s a day at Safi in Morocco, famous for its pottery, before disembarking in Casablanca and being transferred to Marrakech.

Here, in conjunction with short break specialist Kirker Holidays, guests will spend four nights in the Riad Kniza, an exquisite town house that has been restored by one of the city’s top antique dealers, situated in the heart of the old Medina, just minutes’ walk from the famous Djemaa el Fna Square.

The riad, built around three open air courtyards, has just 11 rooms, as well as a pool, traditional hammam and roof terrace. Marrakech is a wonderful city for browsing the tangled streets of the souks, walking along the massive ramparts, soaking up the carnival atmosphere of the Square, or taking day trips into the Atlas Mountains.

From £2,199 per person, including flights to Rome and from Marrakech; eight nights’ full board on Royal Clipper; four nights’ B&B at the Riad Kniza, a three-hour private tour of Marrakech, transfers and the services of a Kirker Holidays concierge.

For more information, please visit http://www.starclippers.co.uk/ or contact the adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.