janecambridge Posted May 2 #1 Share Posted May 2 (edited) Recently back from the star clipper. We concluded it really needed a good upgrade/makeover. Some passengers woke up one morning very early and their cabins were ankle deep in water. Leak overnight from top deck around the bridge. Rotten wooden floorboards and rain! Our cabin was quite dated, tatty and rusty in the shower room. The tips: You really are obliged to leave tips for cabin stewards and waiting staff. They get no wages and rely on the tips as their ‘salary’. I find it quite disturbing that we have to do this, especially when passenger numbers are low. Others on the ship get a salary and nothing from tips.! Only 2 of 4 tenders were good enough to use. This led to cancellation of beach bbq. A real treat normally and especially for the staff who love to get off the ship for a change. This and some more has made us think about using star clipper again. Edited May 2 by janecambridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbsie65 Posted May 2 #2 Share Posted May 2 5 minutes ago, janecambridge said: Recently back from the star clipper. We concluded it really needed a good upgrade/makeover. Some passengers woke up one morning very early and their cabins were ankle deep in water. Leak overnight from top deck around the bridge. Rotten wooden floorboards and rain! Our cabin was quite dated, tatty and rusty in the shower room. The tips: You really are obliged to leave tips for cabin stewards and waiting staff. They get no wages and rely on the tips as their ‘salary’. I find it quite disturbing that we have to do this, especially when passenger numbers are low. Others on the ship get a salary and nothing from tips.! Only 2 of 4 tenders were good enough to use. This led to cancellation of beach bbq. A real treat normally and especially for the staff who love to get off the ship for a change. This and some more has made us think about using star clipper again. It is quite normal for the crew to have there salary 'topped' up by tips - I worked on cruise ships for years & that was always the case. I think the non tipping culture in the UK & Australia makes it difficult & that is why P&O included tips as do MSC I think from the UK. We just included our tips in our bill & slip the cabin steward a little extra. I don't know how many clipper cruise you have done but they have always been a bit basic although we think the experience far outweighs that but flooding in cabins is no fun but I had this on much newer large ships as well. They do need to watch it though if standards are slipping but we go back for the sailing experience & to meet like minded people of all nationalities, most of whom also have a love to travel & try new experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janecambridge Posted May 2 Author #3 Share Posted May 2 Tips weren’t for topping up.They are their wages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rothko1 Posted May 4 #4 Share Posted May 4 Sounds like a disappointing trip. I know that upkeep and maintenance is hugely expensive, but as soon as you start foregoing it on a ship (I think they called it "deferred maintenance"), things can start to go south quickly. The water and salt air really gives these vessels a beating. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guintama Posted July 14 #5 Share Posted July 14 Thank you for the honest feedback. I have been intrigued to go on a Grecian sailing in 2024. Although my memories are fond, my previous trips were in 2003 and 2005... I just don't read enough good to take friends or family on a "medium" priced (but a healthy sum) trip if it's a bad adventure. This is really too bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchenectadyTraveler Posted July 20 #6 Share Posted July 20 Which ship were you on? We are scheduled for our first cruise on Star Flyer and waking up to water would scare the pants off of me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janecambridge Posted July 21 Author #7 Share Posted July 21 We were on Star clipper. I heard rumblings that this ship and Royal were going to dry dock soon. Worth checking it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mapsd Posted July 24 #8 Share Posted July 24 Just back from our trip on the Star Flyer (Athens to Venice) and everything went perfectly (except the heat). No mechanical issues, cabins were cool on the hottest days, great service & meals the entire cruise! I asked several, and they do not work strictly for tips. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchenectadyTraveler Posted July 30 #9 Share Posted July 30 Thank you both for the information. Very much appreciated. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tea4ular Posted August 11 #10 Share Posted August 11 On 7/14/2023 at 1:26 PM, guintama said: I have been intrigued to go on a Grecian sailing in 2024. I just placed my deposit as a solo female traveler for the Athens to Venice sailing in Aug 2024. I've read that Star Clipper will go to dry dock before then. I hope so, but I will will make the very best of it regardless. The itinerary is what sold me. I will meet a friend afterward and we will continue by land to Barcelona, Beaucaire (France) and Paris. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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