Tallships

Sailing History on Deep Water

The term “tall ship” refers to a class of sailing vessels characterised by square-rigged masts, standing and running rigging of traditional design, and a scale of canvas that is simply not found on modern yachts or conventional sailing cruise ships. We offer voyages aboard a selection of classic and contemporary tall ships operated by independent specialist organisations, each vessel with its own character, history, and sailing profile.

These are working sailing ships. The sails are handled by crew, and in many cases by participating guests who want to learn the skills of square-rig sailing alongside professional deckhands. The experience is unlike anything available on motor vessels and unlike the refined sailing of a private yacht – it is seamanship at scale, on vessels whose design has not fundamentally changed since the great age of commercial sail.

Who Sails on Tall Ships

Guests who choose tall ship voyages are not a homogeneous group. Some are experienced sailors who want to handle square sails and work alongside a professional crew on deep-water passages. Others are landlubbers who want to understand how the wind actually moves a vessel and are prepared to participate physically in that process. A significant number are simply drawn to the romance and presence of a large square-rigger under full canvas in open water – a sight that has no equivalent in contemporary travel.

Accommodation and facilities vary considerably by vessel, from spartan berths in shared cabins to comfortable private staterooms with en-suite bathrooms. We match guests to the right ship based on what they want from the experience, the degree of physical participation they are comfortable with, and the itinerary that suits their available time.

On-Board Life

Life on a tall ship is structured around the watch system and the demands of the vessel. At sea, the crew maintains a continuous watch schedule; guests who want to participate join a watch and learn the routines of deck handling, steering, and sail trim alongside the professional crew. Meals are served at fixed times in a communal saloon. The social dynamic is closer to that of an expedition or adventure travel group than a cruise ship: shared purpose and shared physical challenge create a particular bond among those on board.

When the wind is fair and the sails are drawing, a square-rigger moving under full canvas at hull speed is a sensory experience that no description fully prepares a guest for – the sound of the bow wave, the angle of the deck, the size of the canvas overhead. It is one of the reasons guests return.

Destinations and Programmes

Our tall ship programme covers Atlantic passages (the Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira, transatlantic crossings), the Baltic, the Norwegian coast, the Mediterranean, and occasional deep-sea passages to the Caribbean and beyond. Programme length varies from long weekend departures in sheltered waters to multi-week ocean passages. We can advise on which vessel and programme best fits first-time tall ship guests versus those with prior experience at sea.

Why We Recommend Tall Ship Voyages

For guests who want to understand what it means to travel under sail on a ship large enough that the sails are the primary means of propulsion, there is no equivalent available in conventional cruise travel. The tall ships we work with maintain professional standards of safety and seamanship while offering a degree of participation and physical engagement with the sea that is simply not available anywhere else we offer.