My second time on a cruise. This time, cruising Indonesia on a sailing boat with the Star Clipper, one of the tallest sailing ships in the world.

Going on a cruise on a sailing boat is quite different than going on a cruise on a ship like I did back in June this year on the MS Europa 2. First even the safety rules are different than a norma cruise ship. For informations read this blogpost about how safe are cruises?

The Star Clipper – review

First of all, sailing with the Star Clipper is a one in a lifetime experience as it is the opportunity to travel as in the 1900s when the sailing ships of the same type of Star Clippers were used to transport goods thanks to its fast speed. The Clippers have stopped operating for this purpose more than 40 years ago but are nowadays used for cruises to allow their passengers to experience an exceptional experience full of history and very intimist. Indeed, the Star Clipper is rather small with 3 common floor area and 3 accommodations floors. The common area are the upper deck, where there is the starboard as well as a chill area with sun chairs and 2 pool; a floor with 2 bars and the library and the dining room floor. 

There are also 3 different room categories. I stayed in an inside cabin with window. It was quite small but still very v-comfortable and well furnished with all you need, a double bed, a wardrobe, a dressing table which can also serve as an office and even a television. The bathroom is also rather small but functional: toilet, washbasin and shower. 

Cruising Indonesia – Our sailing route

We started our journey at the port of Benoa in Bali and sailed for 7 days east from Bali through a few island in Indonesia including a day at sea that is a perfect to fully enjoy the sailing and all the boat facilities and get to know the other passengers.

I really liked the route chosen by the Star Clippers as it included stops for every taste and gave us a very good impression of the diversity of Indonesia. We had the opportunity to visit unique destinations like for Komodo Island, the more east that we went on our journey to admire the famous Komodo Dragon in their natural habitat. This was the highlight of this trip as I am a big reptile fan. In the afternoon we went to Pink beach, also on Komodo island. It is also a nature wonder because of the sand that becomes pink due to foraminifera, microscopic animals that produce a red pigment giving the beach a pink color. Read more about exploring Komodo island here. 

Also, we stopped at Satonda island, a volcanic island whose crater is a saltwater lake formed during a tsunami formed by the eruption of Mount Tambora, a volcano on a nearby island.

The route did not took us only to such unique places like the one mentioned above, it also took us to some more popular destinations that are not to miss. I guess many people have heard about the Gili islands : Gili Meni, Gili Air and Gili Trawangan. We stopped at two of them : Gili Trawangan, aka the party island that is very famous among young people and Gili Meno that is popular for it’s many turtle and very cute resort. Here it is a great place to walk around and do some snorkeling.

Finally, the route also took us to some deserted island.  Gili Kondo : a small (Gili means small) deserted island and Gili Nanggu, an small island with only a resort on it. We took advantage of the islands and the beaches of fine sand for a few hours. On the program, mask and snorkel to see magnificent small fish of all colors, diving for some, stand up paddling, sailing boat etc. A great free sporting offer organized by the Star Clipper to enjoy the island to the fullest.

Bisous

Amandine