Star Clippers’ five-masted tall ship will explore lesser-known Croatian, Montenegrin and Italian ports on new weekly summer sailings from Venice.
Star Clippers is bringing its grandest vessel, the Royal Clipper, to the Adriatic Sea next summer for an intimate exploration of Croatia, Montenegro and Italy’s hidden coastal treasures.
The world’s largest fully-rigged sailing ship – a five-masted clipper carrying just 227 passengers beneath 42 sails spanning nearly 56,000 square feet – will operate weekly seven-night roundtrip voyages from Venice between 27th June and 22nd August 2026. This throwback to golden age sailing combines period authenticity with contemporary cruise comforts, from three pools and 9,000 square feet of open deck to a tri-level dining room and spa.
The Croatia and Montenegro itinerary deliberately sidesteps overcrowded hotspots in favour of authentic ports. In Croatia, guests will visit Šibenik’s medieval streets, ancient Vis with its unspoilt beaches dating to 397 BC, historic Rovinj, and Dubrovnik’s 10th-century fortifications.
Montenegro’s contribution is Kotor, a Roman settlement later fortified during Byzantine rule, now affectionately dubbed “cat city” for its population of historically significant strays. Italy’s stop showcases Pesaro, a UNESCO Creative City of Music where composer Gioachino Rossini was born – visitors can tour his former residence alongside 5th-century religious architecture.
Adventure-seekers can climb 75 feet to the crow’s nest for panoramic views, whilst those preferring relaxation might choose the bowsprit netting, suspended directly above the waves. Fares begin at $2,570 per person based on double occupancy.
