What is the Royal Clipper cruise ship and when does it visit Gibraltar?
Short answer
Royal Clipper is a five-masted Star Clippers sailing ship for 227 passengers, in service since 2000. Its upcoming visits to Gibraltar, with times and expected passengers, are listed on this page.
Upcoming visits to Gibraltar
Thursday 15 April 2027, in port 09:00–19:00, about 227 passengers expected
Wednesday 3 November 2027, in port 09:00–17:00, about 227 passengers expected
Plan your shore day in Gibraltar
From the Port of Gibraltar schedule, last checked 6 November 2026.
Detailed answer
Royal Clipper is a steel-hulled, five-masted, fully rigged tall ship used for cruising by Star Clippers. It was designed by Robert McFarlane, who also designed Star Clipper and Star Flyer, and was built on an existing hull from the Gdansk shipyard that was lengthened by 24 metres. The Merwede shipyard completed the interior in July 2000. Wikipedia gives a gross tonnage of 4,425, a length of 134.8 metres, 42 sails, room for 227 passengers and a crew of 106. Its design was based on Preussen, and it is listed by Guinness World Records as the largest square-rigged ship in service, with about 5,202 square metres of sail. Murals by Rainer Maria Latzke decorate the interior. The ship sails the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean in winter, crossing the Atlantic between seasons.
How busy will town be?
The upcoming visits listed on this page show the passengers expected on each call and any other ships in port the same day. Town is busiest when several ships are in at once or a large ship arrives at a weekend. A ship carrying a few hundred passengers makes little difference on its own.
Can you sail on it from nearby?
Yes. The call on Wednesday 3 November 2027 is part of a ten-night voyage from Valletta in Malta to Lisbon that leaves on Tuesday 26 October 2027 and calls at Cagliari, Mahon, Palma, Cartagena, Malaga, Gibraltar and Portimao before arriving in Lisbon on Friday 5 November 2027. The call on Thursday 15 April 2027 is part of a five-night voyage from Lisbon to Malaga that leaves on Monday 12 April 2027 and calls at Portimao, Tangier, Gibraltar and Puerto Banus before arriving in Malaga on Saturday 17 April 2027. The same call is also sold within a 12-night voyage from Lisbon to Villefranche (Nice) and a 28-night eastbound Atlantic crossing from Bridgetown, Barbados, which leaves on Saturday 27 March 2027. Star Clippers sells its voyages internationally, and the port listing describes the passengers as international.