Stad Amsterdam

Sailing from Panama to San Francisco

An adventurous sailing voyage that takes you from Central America to North America

February 10 - March 7, 2024

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Welcome onboard the Clipper in Balboa

In the summer of 2023, the Clipper Stad Amsterdam set off on a two-year world tour. Adventurous travelers and fans of the Clipper can join parts of the world tour for unforgettable sailing adventures.

In Balboa, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, the captain and his crew welcome you aboard the Clipper.

Balboa is a beautiful city to explore before stepping on board with us. Enjoy watching yachts from all over the world or take in the American buildings from the early 1900s colonial past. Panama City is just a short distance from Balboa and is definitely worth a visit as well. A stroll through "Casco Viejo," the 341-year-old Spanish colonial district that is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must-do!

The following morning, we'll hoist the sails and depart from Balboa, setting course for our final destination, San Francisco. In nearly four weeks, we'll sail non-stop across the Pacific Ocean.

Practical information

A northerly course

Sail with us for over 3 weeks non stop. On this voyage you will learn how to sail on a square-rigged ship in the unpredictable weather conditions of the Pacific Ocean by working together with the crew.

The route we sail follows the highly variable weather patterns. During the months of February and March, the weather can be quite unpredictable due to the changing seasons. In case of headwinds, the captain may choose to use the engine, making certain that we arrive in San Francisco on the planned arrival date.

However, we can assure you that there is always plenty to do on board and a lot to learn from our crew and captain. Enjoy the breathtaking sunsets and sunrises, as well as the serenity of the Pacific Ocean. At sea, no two days are the same, and completing the 3400 miles will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience!

Sea all around

During the sailing voyage on the Pacific Ocean that will take you to San Francisco, you will learn as many aspects of sailing on a square-rigged ship as possible. We expect an unpredictable amount of wind on our voyage, which means we will use the engine a bit more regularly than on a typical adventurous sailing trip. Sitting idle will be a rare occurrence since there is a lot to do!

Besides sailing, there are plenty of other activities to engage in! We recommend that you assist the crew, for example, in maintenance, to truly experience life on board a sailing ship.

The meals are enjoyed together with the crew in the longroom at times adjusted to the watches. Every night the captain will give a short briefing on the mileage achieved on a preceding day, the mileage still to go, and any other points of interest. During the presentation, there is also an opportunity to view some of the best photos of the day, taken by you or by our crew. Would you like to give a lecture or presentation that is entertaining and/or informative? In that case, a laptop, projector and screen are at your disposal.

Sailing and watches

The ship’s crew stand watch in three shifts. These shifts are called the Red Watch (from 12- 4 AM and PM), the White Watch (from 4-8 AM and PM) and the Blue Watch (from 8-12 AM and PM).

We welcome you to join one of these watches. This way you can fully experience how things work on a ship like the Stad Amsterdam. Setting or furling the sails, keeping the lookout, setting the course or standing watch: you can participate in all of it.

As a member of the Red Watch, you can enjoy the peacefulness of being at sea at night and the endless starry sky. In the White Watch, you will experience the break of dawn like you never did before, whilst in the Blue Watch, you can enjoy the sailing while maintaining a regular day and night rhythm.

a Pacific Ocean adventure

The Pacific Ocean stretches over a vast expanse. Just imagine what all is happening beneath the water's surface. If you pay close attention, you can catch a glimpse of this impressive underwater world on board with us. During the transition from winter to spring, entire families of whales migrate from one place to another. Whales in the distance and dolphins at the bow... that's sure to provide a beautiful photo memory!

Imagine standing on the lookout surrounded by nothing but the sea. The waves, the sea being rough now and then, maybe some other ships and sometimes even dolphins playfully dancing just ahead of the bow and the experience of feeling so insignificant in the overwhelming nature.
Enjoy the peace and quietness around you, be completely disconnected from our hectic lives at home, find the time to relax on deck or in the longroom with a book from our well-stocked library, and have interesting conversations with the crew and the other guests.

Final destination San Francisco

On Wednesday, March 6th, the final destination, San Francisco, will be reached. Many miles have been covered by then! Your next morning will undoubtedly be filled with unforgettable memories when the crew says goodbye.

Perhaps you decide to visit the beautiful city by the bay before returning home. San Francisco's famous highlights, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Alcatraz Island prison, and the cable cars, continue to be fantastic to see. San Francisco is also a very trendy, progressive place. It's no wonder it's the hippie capital of the world. Good food, stunning views, and a very active nightlife characterize this vibrant city!

 

Practical information:

Embarkation: Saturday February 10, 2024 at 17h00, in Balboa, Panama.
Debarkation: Thursday March 7, 2024 at 10h00 am in San Francisco, U.S.A.

Price 3 person cabin: € 2.930,- p.p.
Price 2 person cabin: € 3.450,- p.p.
Price 1 person cabin: € 5.175,-.

On this trip, a youth discount of 50% applies (ages up to 25 years).

Are you interested in a cabin with a double bed?
The surcharge is € 250,- (depending on availability).

This price includes:
· Breakfast with coffee, tea and juices;
· Morning coffee;
· Lunch buffet with coffee, tea and juices ;
· Afternoon coffee;
· Dinner buffet with coffee, tea and juices;
· Fresh fruit;
· Harbor and port dues.

Additional costs are:
· Flights and transfers;
· Additional drinks & snacks on board;
· Other personal expenses.

The meals are enjoyed along with the crew in the long room at times adjusted to the watches. 

Clipper Stad Amsterdam & COVID-19: Vaccination or testing no longer required.
All our guests are strongly encouraged, but not required, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19*. For sailing trips with Clipper Stad Amsterdam, there is no longer a requirement for vaccinations or testing. Depending on the developments, there may still be restrictions in the ports of call. Furthermore, entry requirements can always change for a country. We ask you to always check the current travel conditions per country. 

* Health authorities around the globe still recommend that you obtain and keep your vaccinations/boosters updated. Furthermore please keep in mind that should the Covid-situation become worse, we might have to reintroduce stricter requirements again.

Travel Insurance
Taking out travel insurance is mandatory at all times on all our sailing trips. The mandatory travel insurance to be taken out by you must cover medical costs, accidents, and repatriation (article 13.9 of the general terms and conditions). When you take out your travel insurance please make sure that these costs are indeed covered.

Passport
All guests are obliged to have a valid* passport with them on board Clipper Stad  Amsterdam. An ID card is not sufficient.

*Always inquire about the rules for the validity period of your passport for the country you are traveling to. In many countries, a passport is required to be valid for several months beyond the date of entry/departure.

Visa:
Please contact the American and/or Panamanian embassy in your home country for required visas.

U.S.A.: The Clipper does not have an agreement with the Visa Waiver program ESTA. This means that all passengers (except United States or Canadian Nationalities) will have to apply for a B1/B2 visa for the United States of America. We advise you to contact the embassy in your home country for more information about the required visa and actions to undertake in order to be able to enter the United States by ship. Please be aware that applying for a B1/B2 visa can take around 2 months and involves associated costs.
We want to emphasize that an ESTA visa waiver is NOT accepted by the U.S. authorities upon entry with our ship in the U.S.

Also please check if any vaccinations are needed. Your health situation, the duration of your stay and the areas you want to visit may be of influence.

Unfavourable weather conditions & maintenance
Please note that due to unfavourable weather conditions (e.g. lack of wind or too much wind) the captain may decide to proceed under engine power and/or arrive at or depart from a harbour either sooner or later. During our adventurous sailing trips, the crew of the Stad Amsterdam is also occupied with the continuous maintenance program of the Clipper. A part of life on board Tall Ships as well. Should you wish to help, this is welcome but certainly not a must.

Flight suggestions:
Be advised that you must at all times be aware of and act by the travel advice and the corona measures that apply when you are travelling to and from the ship. These trips are your responsibility.

For more information about possible flights you may visit: www.skyscanner.com.

Would you like more information?
Contact us! 

Travel description of this adventures sailing trip

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