Golden Horizon

The 2019-built Golden Horizon cruise ship (fka "Flying Clipper") was originally planned to be chartered to Star Clippers as the company's newest (fleet's 4th) sailing vessel. The megayacht (square-rigger / 5-Masted Schooner) is also the world's ever largest clipper (tall-sailing ship).

The vessel (IMO number 9793545) is currently Croatia-flagged (MMSI 238129940).

On June 5, 2020, the shipowner (DIV Group Ltd/Croatia) announced that the sailship will be chartered to Tradewind Voyages UK Ltd instead of Star Clippers Ltd. The boat charterer Tradewind Voyages manages the vessel and most onboard and ashore operations (hotel, wellness, shopping, entertainment, water sports, tours/shore excursions). For the ship's Deck-, Hotel- and Engine operations was contracted the DIV Group's subsidiary company BSM (Brodosplit Ship Management).

The vessel was renamed "Golden Horizon", rebranded and scheduled to start cruises for Tradewind in May 2021. Tradewind Voyages plans to charter more newbuilt sailships and expand operations over the coming years. The company's CEO is Alan McGrory.

DIV Group Ltd is a 1990-founded Croatian industrial group, also Brodosplit Shipyard's owner. The corporation DIV Group operates in 30 countries, fully owns 55 subsidiary companies and specializes in shipbuilding, steel structure manufacturing, marine engine manufacturing, railway infrastructure, among others.

Flying Clipper was intended as Star Clippers' biggest ship, and also the company's first newbuild (since the 2000-built Royal Clipper). The shipbuilder is Brodosplit Shipyard (Split Croatia). The vessel was launched on June 10, 2017, and scheduled for delivery in 2017-Q4 but was rescheduled for 2018-Q1 and finally for 2019-H2.

The ship was designed by Zygmunt Choren (Polish naval architect) and modelled on France II - the 1912-built sailing vessel which was the world's biggest at its time. Previously, Star Clippers modelled Royal Clipper (capacity 227 passengers) on Preussen (German, steel-hulled 5-masted ship, 1902-built). Flying Clipper's rig is the same as that of the cargo ship France II, which sank in 1922.

Currently ranked the world's largest tall sailing ship, Golden Horizon has max passenger capacity 330 (plus 140 crew-staff), volume 8770 GT-tons, and is wind-powered (by 68320 ft2 / 6347 m2 of sails) - a total of 42 sails (all square-rigged). Alternative power is provided by new-design, fuel-efficient diesel engines.

If you're interested in maritime technologies and the vessel details, see the ship's Wiki section.

Decks and Cabins

Flying Clipper/Golden Horizon staterooms are 140, in 3 types (Suite, Balcony, Porthole) and 14 categories. All cabins on Deck 3 (Main Deck) have a step-out balcony. The four Owner Suites are all located forward on Deck 4 (Upper Deck/Pool Deck).

All cabins are outside, with smart HDTVs (satellite reception), en-suite bathrooms (WC-toilet, shower, washbasin), plenty of luggage storage space. Complimentary bottled water (replenished daily) and twice-daily housekeeping service are also provided. Balcony cabins have a shower over the bathtub. Suites are with separate shower-bathtub. Cabin decors reflect clipper ships' Golden Age - marked by polished wood furniture and prints on the walls of the world's most famous sailships.

The boat has 4 decks, all of which have cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The ship has one restaurant (main dining room) spanning 2 decks and with an open-seating arrangement, large windows, wood paneling. The Restaurant's entrance is from the Lobby level of the 3-deck high Atrium. Meals include buffet-style breakfast and lunch. Dinner is waiter-served, with a choice of gourmet dishes and vegan-vegetarian options.

BBQ parties are held in Horizon Bar (on sun deck) and also ashore.

Tea, coffee and fresh fruits are complimentary and always available.

Ship's focal point is the alfresco Horizon Bar (fka Tropical Bar / Star Clippers' hallmark) hosting port talks, live musical entertainment, shows, exercise classes, outdoor dining (BBQ, light lunch food, afternoon snacks). Inside, there is an elegant Piano Bar for those who prefer casual buffet lunch, calm music and air-conditioning. The ship also offers a Dive Bar by the swimming pool on the aft deck.

The company provides complimentary 24-hour room service.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The sailing cruise ship Golden Horizon has two plunge pools. One of the swimming pools is glass-bottomed, funneling sunlight through into the Atrium below. A third pool (scuba diving pool) is located aft (close to the stern), descending 18 ft (5,5 m) through 2 decks. This pool is glass-walled, allowing guests to watch the divers. Diving classes are offered onboard as the ship carries its own professionally-trained Dive Master.

The aft-located water sports platform (marina at the ship's stern) is lowered when Flying Clipper is at anchor. Complimentary water sport activities include snorkeling, dinghy sailing, waterskiing, sea kayaking. When the ship is at open sea, a signature onboard fun activity is supervised mast-climbing. Passengers are also allowed to lounge in the 2 nets strung on either side of the bowsprit.

This sail cruise ship also has a small SPA (Sauna Room, Snow Room, Jacuzzi, Treatment Room for Thai massages), Beauty Salon (facials, manicure/pedicure, hairstyling, blow-dries), Library, Function Room (meeting room for guest lectures and private events). Tradewind Voyages has no kids' programming. Babysitting and childcare are also not available onboard. However, kid-friendly activities are occasionally organized on select itineraries during the summer holidays.

The company provides complimentary live entertainment - a resident pianist (at Piano Bar) and local performers (boarding the ship in call ports). Debeljak's Bar Lounge is the venue for after-dinner cocktails and premium brand gin and whisky offerings.

Passengers are encouraged by the crew to participate in the ship's navigation and even setting the sails. Other popular onboard activities include wine tastings, cooking demos, and sundeck-hosted games. From the aft Marina are launched complimentary water sports. Also complimentary are the Fitness classes held on Sun Deck.

Tradewind Voyages 2021-2022 (inaugural cruise itinerary program)

For summer 2020, Star Clippers planned for Flying Clipper cruises in Europe (Mediterranean). Following a Transatlantic repositioning crossing, during winter 2020-2021, the sailship was planned to operate cruises in the Caribbean.

Golden Horizon ship's Inaugural Cruise in 2021 was initially scheduled for May 1st, but later rescheduled for July 1st (both leaving from Harwich). Tradewind Voyages' Northern Europe 2021 itinerary program includes ports and destinations in the UK, Iceland, Norway (Svalbard Islands, Norwegian Fjords), Baltic ports (also St Petersburg Russia).

The Baltic itineraries have durations 7-14-21-days and are all roundtrips from the UK. Select voyages are 10- and 11-days in length. The ex-UK program (May through September 2021) has a total of 9 itineraries, including 7 from Harwich (England) and 2 from Greenock-Glasgow (Scotland).

Other destinations to be served by Tradewind Voyages with SV Golden Horizon (SV=sailing vessel) include Asia, South Pacific, Australia-New Zealand, Arctic.

In 2022, due to the Russia-Ukraine war (which started on Feb 20th) and the following EU sanctions against Russian entities (particularly, VTB Bank Germany - Tradewind's Russia-based creditor), Tradewind Voyages canceled all Golden Horizon sailings (24x total) between May 1st and October 26th (2022).

Next table shows Golden Horizon's schedule for 2021-2022, which was eventually canceled.

Bookings were opened in September 2020. However, in early-March 2021, Tradewind Voyages announced (in a press release) that the brand's inauguration (and Golden Horizon's Inaugural Cruise) is rescheduled for July 1st ("Eastern Coastal Contrasts" itinerary roundtrip from Harwich). The next itineraries were "Scotland East to West" (July 6, from Leith-Edinburgh), "West Coast Gems of Scotland" (Jul 15, from Greenock-Glasgow), "Maritime Cities of the Northwest" (July 21, from Greenock-Glasgow) and "Rounding the South West" (July 25, from Liverpool). Tradewind's cruise program from August 4 onwards remained unchanged.

The "Maritime Silk Route" itineraries were replaced by "All Inclusive Dubai" (Arabian Gulf) and "Indonesian Islands Collection" series (including "A passage to Singapore" /14-day repositioning cruise from Dubai to Singapore). All affected bookings received 100% cash refund or 110% refund in FCC (future cruise credit).

(deployment/itinerary changes) In August 2021, Tradewind announced Golden Horizon's Caribbean 2021-2022 winter season, replacing the previously planned Australian deployment. The changes were due to Australia's ongoing COVID-related international travel uncertainties. The Australian season was replaced with homeporting in Bridgetown Barbados (November 11, 2021, through March 31, 2022) and visiting the islands St Barts, St Vincent, Mayreau/Grenadines, Grenada, Tobago, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts. The Caribbean season had to end with a 15-day Transatlantic repositioning crossing from Barbados to Lisbon. However, in October 2021, this program was also canceled.

For more information see the ship's Wiki page.

Tradewind Voyages 2022-2023 itineraries

Tradewind Voyages 2022-2023 itinerary program (announced in June 2021) was divided into 4 collections that included a total of 23 different itineraries. Prices per person (per itinerary group) started at:

• GBP 1100 ("Antipodean Summer - Crossing the Tasman Sea"), GBP 1800 ("South Pacific Collection - Pearls of French Polynesia", GBP 2100 ("West Coast Americas - Colours of the Mexican Coast") and GBP 3200 ("North Pacific - Contrasts of Japan".
• The program's signature destinations included Southeast Asia, Japan (May-June 2022), Alaska (and the Aleutian Islands), Arctic Russia, Canada USA, Central and South America (August-October 2022/El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile), Pacific Ocean Islands (Easter Island, Pitcairn Islands, French Polynesia, Tonga, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands), Australia New Zealand (2023).

Golden Horizon's Maiden Voyage was eventually rescheduled for May 1, 2022, leaving out of Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Spain). The inaugural season (in the Mediterranean) included a total of 23x itineraries (see the above table of canceled cruises) visiting ports in the Western Med (Spain, France, Italy), Adriatic Sea (Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia) and the Eastern Med/Aegean Sea (Greece, Turkey). The canceled Meditteranean 2021-2022 programs included homeporting in Palma, Civitavecchia-Rome, Split Croatia, Piraeus-Athens. The season had to end with the 14-night Transatlantic crossing (themed "Canaries to the Caribbean Voyage") followed by the Caribbean season (winter 2022-2023) with homeporting in Barbados (Bridgetown).