Romance Abounds on Indonesian Sailings with Star Clipper

April 11, 2018

The Indonesian island of Bali has become a hot spot for honeymoons and romantic getaways, and it’s not hard to see why—the tropical climate, unique natural beauty and captivating culture provide an ideal backdrop for an intimate trip for two. But the romance of Indonesia—the largest archipelago on earth covering almost 773,000 square miles—extends far beyond Bali, and Star Clippers offers a variety of sailing itineraries that explore lesser-known ports and remote beaches for a unique and authentic Indonesian experience.

The opportunity to “get away from it all” is an essential element in any romantic vacation. Ports of call like Gili Nanggu on the southwest coast of Lombok Island are still relatively undeveloped, offering a pristine natural region to explore. The only noise that breaks the silence here is the singing and twittering of the birds, and the beaches are powder white sand and the water crystal clear. In Waikelo, on Sumba Island, couples can visit waterfalls in the forest or walk the quiet beaches hand in hand.

When it comes to ideal locales for a romantic beach stroll, Indonesia has an endless supply. On Komodo Island, Pink Beach, or Pantai Merah to the locals, is one of only seven pink sand beaches on the planet. The amazing color here comes from microscopic animals called Foraminifera which leave a red pigment on the coral reefs. Pink Beach is bounded by turquoise blue sea—an ideal backdrop for snapping a photo—and is known to be one of the best spot for snorkeling on the island.

Onboard, the best spot for cozying up can be found in the bowsprit netting—a hammock-like area stretching 30 feet forward of the bow where guests can lay suspended over the ocean. In addition to affording one of the most unique and exciting settings on any cruise ship afloat, it’s also an ideal spot to spend some quiet time and maybe even pop the big question. More adventurous guests might opt to climb the mast to the Crow’s Nest for unbeatable views of the ocean, landscape and ship below. For those who like to make their romantic getaways more “official,” the crew of the Star Clipper can do a vow renewal ceremony onboard.

And of course, travelers wishing to extend their romantic Indonesian getaway and further explore iconic Bali can add a pre- or post-cruise land tour package with Star Clippers. A four-day, three-night package at the Nusa Dua Beach Resort includes hotel, breakfast and lunches, a full day Spirit of Belimbing Tour and a full day Balinese Culinary Experience. A similar but shorter, three-day, two-night package is also available. Both are available pre- or post-sailing, giving guests flexibility in their travel plans.

Star Clippers starts and ends its Indonesia sailing season with 14-night sailings between Singapore and Bali, and in the months of May through October offer an assortment of seven-, 10- and 11-night sailings round trip from Bali covering East and West coast Indonesia. Guests booking select seven-, 10- and 11-night Indonesia sailings will receive an $800 air credit per cabin, $500 onboard credit per cabin and 15% off cruise fares on consecutive sailings. This offer is good on a range of sailings from June through September 2018 with rates starting as low as $995 per person based on double occupancy.

For more than 25 years, Star Clippers has been introducing travelers to the thrill of modern tall ship sailing to remote ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indonesia and Far East. The company operates three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels: Star Clipper and Star Flyer are traditional clipper ships with modern amenities carrying 170 guests, while the 227-guest Royal Clipper holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest and only five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship in service today. All three ships have expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, convivial tropical bars on deck and piano lounges. The brand’s newest vessel, Flying Clipper, will debut in late 2018.