Posted on: Sunday, December 24, 2006
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SAVVY TRAVELER
Tall ships offer classic thrills at sea
By
Irene Croft Jr.
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No casinos, no talent shows, no glitz. Just you and 15 to 150 other rogues experiencing the "classic thrills of the sea." Plus comfortable to luxe cabins, good food, informal ambience and congenial companions. That's a typical tall-ship sailing experience.
Tall ships are sailing vessels that cruise the Caribbean, East Coast U.S.A., Mediterranean, New Zealand, Australia, Galapagos, Adriatic and islands of the South Pacific. Wind-driven but with auxiliary motor power, these vessels take a small complement of passengers in simple-to-sumptuous comfort on unforgettable sea voyages.
Among the two dozen or so tall ships in regular operation are authentic, refitted early vessels as well as replicas of older sailing ships. And there are modern sailing ships, custom-designed for passenger cruising. The old-style vessels tend to offer tiny cabins, sometimes bunk beds without private facilities, meals served family-style and few if any structured activities. There are a small number of elegant tall ships outfitted in old-time luxury that provide adventure in glorious style. The new computerized-sail contenders feature sleek designs and upscale comforts with attentive service.
Anchoring in sheltered bays, tall ships seek out deserted sand beaches and tranquil villages, steering clear of congested tourist centers. Folks who can entertain themselves with books and conversation and water activities and shore ambles are the ideal candidates for this cruise experience. Many of the older vessels encourage passenger participation in the actual sailing, an opportunity to develop or polish skills of seamanship. Parents with pre-teens and older children will find this active cruise-style to be a delight for the entire family. The American Sail Training Association, (401) 846-1775 or http://tallships.sailtraining.org, links to most of the world's tall ships that offer sail training.
Fares for tall-ship voyages represent excellent value for your vacation dollar — from under $150 per day to as high as $900 per day, all-inclusive. Those rates compare favorably with the price of conventional ocean cruises, for double the pleasure, if billowing sails and informality are your cup of tea.
Contact any of the following companies for details:
The Maine Windjammer Association, (800) 807-9463 or www.sailmainecoast.com, markets 12 19th-century-style ships. They voyage along the northern East Coast and occasionally in the Caribbean. Several of their vessels have been designated National History Landmarks by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior. Family-oriented, old-timey ambience featuring lobster bakes, deserted islands and fishing villages.
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, Inc., (800) 327-2601 or www.windjammer.com, with a fleet of four of the largest ships, carrying 64 to 130 guests, sails to dozens of islands throughout the Caribbean and along Panama and Costa Rica. Basic amenities, lots of booze and very convivial atmosphere that draws a contingent of active singles and couples.
Divers and nondivers alike are drawn to the three contemporary 65-foot sloops in the fleet of Blackbeard's Cruises, (800) 327-9600 or www.blackbeard-cruises.com. They each take up to 22 passengers on cruises to the Bahamas and provide some of the best scuba and snorkeling opportunities in the area. The atmosphere is casual.
Other sleek tall ships include the luxurious sailing vessels of Windstar Cruises, (800) 258-7245 or www.windstarcruises.com, that ply the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Greek Isles, Europe and Transatlantic. Five-star service and cuisine for 148 to 312 guests.
The three fully rigged sailing ships with generous comforts and amenities operated by Star Clippers, (800) 442-0551 or www.starclippers.com, offer itineraries in the Far East, Caribbean, French Polynesia, Mediterranean, and Atlantic and Indian Ocean crossings.
Tropical Sails Corp., "sailing tall ships to small islands worldwide," can match you up with handsome sailing ships and compelling cruise itineraries in the Caribbean, Aegean, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and the Turkish coast. Contact the company at (800) 595-1003 or www.tropicalsails.com.
Refined, upscale features prevail on the 32-cabin Le Ponant, a sleek French-operated ship exhibiting a handsome blend of tradition and modern technology. Its cruises in the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean Isles may be booked through Compagnie des Iles du Ponant at www.ponant.com.
And then there is the legendary Sea Cloud, E.F. Hutton's wedding gift in the 1930s to his heiress bride Marjorie Merriweather Post. A four-masted bark with 30 square-rigged sails, the splendrously restored and appointed 359-foot Sea Cloud reigns today as the grande dame of aristocratic yachts. Up to 65 fortunate passengers can sail in cosseted luxury on itineraries traversing the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Caribbean. Contact Elegant Cruises & Tours, (800) 683-6767 or www.elegantcruises.com.
Sea Cloud's modern sister-ship, Sea Cloud II — a classic three-masted bark with state-of-the-art technology and sumptuous appointments — is based in the Caribbean during the winter, in the Western Mediterranean in spring and fall, and in Northern Europe and the British Isles during the summer. Contact Sea Cloud Cruises, (888) 732-2568 or www.seacloud.com.
Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.
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