Royal Clipper Mediterranean: A 7-Night Sailing Voyage from Nice

A booking just landed on my desk that genuinely made me pause and smile. My clients are headed to the western Mediterranean aboard the Royal Clipper, Star Clippers' five-masted tall ship — and they couldn't be more ready to go. Picture leaving the Côte d'Azur behind with full sails overhead and the Italian Riviera appearing on the horizon. That's the kind of trip that reminds you why travel matters.

At a Glance

• Cruise line: Star Clippers — a small-ship sailing experience unlike any modern cruise brand
• Ship: Royal Clipper, one of the largest fully rigged sailing ships in the world
• Itinerary: 7 nights round-trip from Nice, France
• Region: Western Mediterranean — French and Italian Riviera, Corsica, Sardinia
• Ports: Porto Venere, Portoferraio, Bonifacio, Alghero, Ajaccio, and Menton
• Who it's for: Travelers who want something genuinely different — intimate, nautical, and rooted in real places

About Royal Clipper and Star Clippers

Star Clippers isn't for everyone — and that's exactly the point. This is not a floating resort. It's a working tall ship, rigged with 42 sails and powered by the wind whenever conditions allow. The Royal Clipper carries roughly 227 guests, which means you'll actually get to know the ports you visit rather than flooding them.

The onboard vibe is relaxed and social. Teak decks, a tropical bar, an open-air piano bar, and a small pool tucked beneath the sails set the tone. Dining is communal and unhurried. The crew is genuinely passionate about sailing. Did you know the Royal Clipper is the only five-masted fully rigged sailing ship currently sailing as a passenger vessel? That's not marketing language — it's a legitimate piece of maritime history you get to live aboard for a week.

For travelers who've been curious about small ship cruising but haven't found the right fit, this is a compelling option. It sits in a different lane than the ultra-luxury lines — if you'd like a comparison of what those lines offer, The Honest Guide to Luxury Cruise Lines: Comparing Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, and Seabourn is worth a read.

The Itinerary: Port by Port

Nice, France — Embarkation

You board in Nice at the cruise terminal on the Baie des Anges. Give yourself a day before embarkation if you can manage it. The Cours Saleya flower market, the old town's labyrinthine streets, and the Promenade des Anglais at golden hour are worth arriving early for. Nice is one of those cities that rewards slow mornings.

Porto Venere, Italy

This is where the itinerary announces itself. Porto Venere is a vertical village of candy-colored houses clinging to a rocky promontory above the Ligurian Sea. The Church of San Pietro at the tip of the headland is one of the more quietly dramatic views in all of Italy. It's just a short boat ride from the Cinque Terre — if you've never seen those cliffside villages, this is your moment.

Portoferraio, Italy — Elba

Elba is known as Napoleon's exile island, and the history here is genuinely fascinating. But beyond the museums, Portoferraio offers pale-sand beaches, clear turquoise water, and a hillside town that feels completely untouched by mass tourism. Rent a scooter and explore the island's interior if you get the chance.

Bonifacio, France — Southern Corsica

Bonifacio sits atop white limestone cliffs at the southern tip of Corsica, with a medieval citadel that seems to hang over the water. The old town is accessible through narrow alleys that date back centuries. The anchorage here is one of the most photographed in the Mediterranean — you'll understand why the moment you see it from the ship.

Alghero, Italy — Sardinia

Alghero is Sardinia's Catalan city — a legacy of centuries of Spanish rule that you can still hear in the local dialect. The old town is compact and walkable, with warm limestone walls, excellent seafood, and the nearby Neptune's Grotto (Grotta di Nettuno) offering one of the island's signature natural wonders. Go early in the day before the tour groups arrive.

Ajaccio, France — Corsica

Ajaccio is Napoleon's birthplace and Corsica's capital. The covered market near the port is one of the liveliest on the island — local charcuterie, chestnut honey, and Corsican wine make for excellent provisions. The Fesch Museum houses a surprisingly rich collection of Italian masters, second in France only to the Louvre.

Menton, France

Menton is the quietest jewel on the French Riviera, tucked right at the Italian border and famously sunny. The old town rises in tiers of pastel facades above a harbor full of fishing boats. It's known for its lemon festival and for the garden of Villa Hanbury just across the border — a fitting last port before sailing back to Nice.

Why This Cruise Appeals to Independent-Minded Travelers

This itinerary is a natural fit for travelers who've done the big-ship Mediterranean and felt like something was missing. The Royal Clipper docks in ports where larger vessels simply can't go — and it does so at a pace that lets you actually absorb a place rather than race through it.

It also appeals to travelers with a genuine love of food, wine, and local culture. Every port on this routing — Porto Venere, Alghero, Ajaccio, Menton — has a distinct culinary identity. If that angle speaks to you, Cruise Itineraries for Foodies: Culinary Shore Excursions and Onboard Dining Worth Booking has some useful ideas for how to approach port days with food in mind.

And if you're newer to the idea of small ship cruising, this kind of voyage pairs well with an advisor who can help you understand what you're getting into — and what to expect on a ship that feels nothing like a conventional cruise. 10 Mistakes First-Time Cruisers Make (and How a Travel Advisor Helps You Avoid Every One) walks through some of the common missteps worth avoiding.

Working with a Cruise Advisor on a Booking Like This

Star Clippers sails a genuinely different kind of product — and it takes a little context to appreciate why it's priced the way it is and what the onboard experience actually looks like day to day. When my clients came to me about this voyage, part of the conversation was just calibrating expectations: the ship is intimate and casual, the schedule is shaped by wind and sea, and that's entirely the appeal.

Having an advisor also meant they came away with a complimentary shipboard credit applied to their booking — the kind of detail that's easy to miss when you're booking directly. If you're curious about what that kind of support actually looks like in practice, Travel Advisor vs. Booking a Cruise Online: What's the Real Difference? is a good place to start.

When you're ready to explore a voyage like this one, Ohana Cruises is here to help. Reach out and let's find the right sailing for you.