Panama to Antigua

You can find yachts from across the globe at the Balboa Pier, the Pacific gateway to the Panama Canal. Originally built to accommodate the American administrative headquarters for the Canal, the area is lined with elegant buildings showcasing early 20th-century American colonial architecture.

A journey through the Panama Canal is a remarkable experience showcasing one of history's most outstanding engineering achievements. This iconic passageway links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, guiding ships through a complex system of locks and waterways at the heart of the Americas. As vessels traverse the canal, passengers are treated to a firsthand view of the intricate process of lifting and lowering ships—a testament to human ingenuity. Surrounded by Panama's lush tropical scenery, the transit is both an educational and awe-inspiring adventure, offering insights into the canal's historical significance, breathtaking landscapes, and essential role in global trade. It's a must-do experience that blends natural beauty with an appreciation for human innovation.

The vivid colors of the San Blas Islands inspire the fanciful birds, fish, and animals in brilliant reds, oranges, blues, and greens that decorate the intricately appliquéd molas created by the indigenous Kuna women. Strung along the throat of Panama's dramatically beautiful Kuna Yala coast, the remoteness of these coral atolls protects an independent people who prize their communal culture with its rich oral history and artistic heritage.

Each Star Clippers ship offers a traditional and elegant way to see the world. Feel the wind fill the sails and gently carry you from one gorgeous destination to the next. During your time on board, you can choose to relax on a sun lounger or cool off in one of the pools on the top deck, while more adventurous passengers may enjoy the opportunity to climb the rigging or even have a go at steering the ship. Alternatively, you can wander the interior areas of the ship and discover relaxing lounges, a revitalizing spa (Royal Clipper only), and a peaceful library.

Cartagena is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located on Colombia's north coast, Cartagena hosts a spectacular collection of buildings and massive fortifications dating from the early 1600s. The Fortresses were built to protect Cartagena from pirates. City highlights include Saint Philip of Barajas Fortresses and the Fort Ferdinand Fort.

Santa Marta is the oldest city in Colombia. Its beautiful beaches are backed by the stunning mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Range. Tayrona National Park is great for exploring ancient ruins amidst the lush mangrove forests. Enjoy a meal in one of the many cafes that serve meals that combine a fusion of Latin American, Caribbean, and European flavors.

Each Star Clippers ship offers a traditional and elegant way to see the world. Feel the wind fill the sails and gently carry you from one gorgeous destination to the next. During your time on board, you can choose to relax on a sun lounger or cool off in one of the pools on the top deck, while more adventurous passengers may enjoy the opportunity to climb the rigging or even have a go at steering the ship. Alternatively, you can wander the interior areas of the ship and discover relaxing lounges, a revitalizing spa (Royal Clipper only), and a peaceful library.

Bon boni means welcome in the local dialect, Papiamento, and it's universally understood by all who visit little Aruba. Just 15 miles from Venezuela, this almost independent nation still has a ceremonial Dutch Governor General. Once, it depended on oil for income, but tourism was the new king. No wonder Aruba's endless beaches and spectacular diving are too tempting.

The gabled houses and warehouses of Dutch colonial Willemstad march in tight formation along the entrance to St. Anna Bay, an incongruous vision of a tropical Amsterdam where the floating market sells mangos and papayas instead of tulips. In Curacao's interior cunucu, a few Dutch landhuis or farm owners still wrest a living by ranching on the near-desert soil.

Pink flamingoes, divi-divi trees, Papiamento, and the best diving in the Caribbean - You can only be in Bonaire. The blinding white salt flats of Bonaire were once marked by tall obelisks of red, white, blue, and orange (the colors of the old Dutch flag) to guide mariners. Today, they are marked by clouds of pink - enormous flocks (500 or more!) of fluttering flamingoes feasting on the orange brine shrimp that gives the flamingoes their unmistakable color.

Each Star Clippers ship offers a traditional and elegant way to see the world. Feel the wind fill the sails and gently carry you from one gorgeous destination to the next. During your time on board, you can choose to relax on a sun lounger or cool off in one of the pools on the top deck, while more adventurous passengers may enjoy the opportunity to climb the rigging or even have a go at steering the ship. Alternatively, you can wander the interior areas of the ship and discover relaxing lounges, a revitalizing spa (Royal Clipper only), and a peaceful library.

The aromas of nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla baking in the sun - are the tropical flavors of Grenada. From the horseshoe-shaped Carenage at St. George's, follow the Sendall Tunnel (hand-built in 1895) to the Esplanade and old Ft. George for a spectacular view of Grenada.

Marigot Bay, one of the prettiest anchorages in the Caribbean, is surrounded by lush hills and ringed by drooping coconut palms. Your alternate stop, the little Port Town of Soufrière, was named after a nearby volcano. Prettier sights are to be seen at Diamond Falls and Mineral Baths, where you can walk through the gardens and dip in the pool under the waterfalls.

Guadeloupe looks like a butterfly from the air. Its giant wings are two islands separated by the Rivière Salée, a natural saltwater channel. Basse Terre, the southern or leeward part of Guadeloupe, is lush and rugged, dominated by La Soufrière. A stream of boiling water gushes from the top of the 4,800-ft mountain, reminding you that this volcano is not dormant but very much alive.

The dockyards, marinas, old inns, venerable pubs, and convivial crowds of sun-tanned yacht crews are the epicenter of the Caribbean yachting world.