Athens to Thailand aboard the Star Clipper

[rogerc1944]

We got back Sunday from our 37 nite sailing trip on the Star Clipper (Athens to Thailand). We had a wonderful time. Our fellow passengers were a fun group and very well traveled. The trip was also a real learning experience. The ship itself was beautiful -- well maintained and all the brass and paint was bright. The crew, captain and officers were all accessible and glad to share their knowledge. Passengers are always welcome on the bridge. We did sail and sail -- just what we wanted! The cruise director (Peter) was brilliant. He generally gave two lectures a day on topics ranging from history to the unusual situations encountered by the ship in its travels. As to ports of call, we saw some interesting places and some would be fun to see again. Others, not so much. Athens was interesting in its own way but all the ancient stuff is pretty much under the ground. We did the usual Parthenon tour and the few other such monuments. In many ways, Athens is just another city but very vibrant even so. There are shops and restaurants everywhere. The Greek islands are even better and have lots to see and do. Picturesque is an understatement. Egypt is mostly a pit. Vast poverty and unbelievable crowding (100k per sq kilometer) in Cairo. Imagine, 15 story apt buildings built out of mud brick! Dirt, filth and garbage covers everything. Air pollution so bad you can't see the pyramids even from close up. The city is encroaching on the pyramids (like within a couple of hundred yards!). Enjoyed seeing the Valley of the Kings and entering several tombs (King Tut's was open but we didn't go in as they wanted another $30). The temples at Luxor are much better than the pyramids and in unbelievably good condition. We had police and military protection assigned to us everywhere we went. Was weird speeding down highways with lights flashing and AK47s sticking out of the windows of our escort vehicles (we felt like VIPs in kind of unpleasant way). Strange. Went by Somalia. Didn't see any pirates (we did see them on radar). We had our own security forces including a patrol boat (Delta Mike). The ship was covered in razor wire and high voltage wires to repel invaders. We also had machine guns on board. I didn't have my own. There were a couple of scary nites when it looked like we'd get attacked. One nite in particular was worrisome as the currents and winds were against us. We were only making 2 mph! As we were traveling without any visible lights at nite, we did get stopped by a coalition warship. They thought we were the mother ship of some pirates! Due to the ship's slowness, the scheduled stop in Oman had to be skipped (Star Clippers gave everyone a 50 Euro credit). We went on to India (obvious wealth and vast poverty side by side and we were in the "nicer" part of India -- Goa and Cochin). Cochin does have fascinating waterways. A great many people live aboard boats or along the banks. The waterways serve a multiple purpose (bathing to clothes washing to tooth brushing to watering the stock -- all within feet of each other). Sri Lanka was beautiful away from the coastal cities (Columbo and Kandy). Looks like paradise and you kind of expect Eve to emerge from behind some tree (who cares about Adam). The elephant orphanage is not to be missed! Thailand is even better and much more modern in appearance. Very clean. We'll be back!

[DocH2O]

What an adventure! And I thought sailing transatlantic on the Royal Clipper was exciting. We did have a police escort from Safi to Marrakesh, but no AK-47's. Still I know what you mean about that strange VIP feeling.... but covering the ship in razor wire puts shivers down my spine!

[bajaed69]

In Oct 08 we had a US Navy escourt from the end of the Suez canal to Oman with the wire and electrical stuff, just no guns. We did have a bunch of salty old seniors to help repel any boarders. We aew going on the 34 day cruise from Tahiti to Panama in Feb 2010 on the Flyer.:D

Ed/Sue