Gigantic Five-Masted Ship 'Royal Clipper' at Palma's Quay

An unusual guest at the harbor

Walking today along the Passeig Marítim promenade, you could hardly miss how the light fell on the mighty masts of an old familiar friend: the Royal Clipper. The ship towers with its five masts over many other cruise giants and provides talking material for walkers, café-goers and a few surprised port workers.

Old-fashioned charm, modern technology

At first glance the Royal Clipper seems from another era: teak decks, a net of rigging, and a traditional figurehead in the form of a mermaid. Upon closer look one notices that classic sailing architecture and today's comfort come together. With about 134.8 meters in length and around 16.5 meters in width, the ship stands as a special case in the harbor — large enough to impress, small enough to still feel nostalgically charming.

A brief history in broad strokes

Originally the ship was designed as a sailing school ship and over the years has taken on various roles. In the late 1990s it was rebuilt under a luxury-oriented shipping company; the current variant was completed around the turn of the millennium at a Dutch shipyard. Since then the ship spends summers regularly in the Mediterranean, winters further south.

Records and figures

The five-masted ship leads many lists: roughly 4,400 tons displacement, a sail area that adds up to several thousand square meters, and entries in record books for sailing ships with square sails. On board only a few hundred guests travel — officially a maximum of 227 passengers —, served by a stately crew of a little over 100 people. For guests there are spots that you rarely find on other cruises: small observation platforms in the masts, sofas with views over the water and the possibility to get a bit closer to the crew life.

What people at the harbor say

A fisherman on the mole laughed and said at 11:15 that he last saw such a ship as a child. Next to me a woman sipped her Cortado and pulled the camera from her bag: "That just lifts the mood," she said. Tourists stood with phones in hand, older island residents waved nostalgically. For many it's an image that recalls sailing times that exist here anyway — only combined with the service ethos of modern cruising.

A quick look ahead

The Royal Clipper won't stay long — that's typical with such guests. But as long as she lies here, a walk to the mole is worthwhile. It's the small details that linger: the creaking of rigging, the smell of teak and diesel, the murmur of voices in several languages. And the memory that sailing lives on in many forms — sometimes very large, sometimes very stylish.

Practical tip: If you want to see the ship, late morning is usually the right time — the backlighting effect in the early afternoon makes good photos more difficult. And yes: The cafés on Passeig have today especially high turnout.