PATRIC BAIRD reports on an Star Clipper cruise off Central America’s Pacific coast...

THE dolphins swimming closely alongside the hull of our clipper ship under full sail as it cut through the crystal clear waters of the Pacific Ocean would have been unaware of the date - it was Christmas Day - But they had unwittingly provided the perfect gift to everyone on the deck of the Star Flyer as it headed away from the shores of Costa Rica, bound for the next exotic destination.

While most of our friends and family at home were shivering in record low temperatures and enduring the hardships of water shortages, here we were, my wife and I, surrounded by water, basking in tropical temperatures and feeling just a little bit smug at our decision not to spend another Christmas in Belfast.

Even the fleeting thoughts that the contents of our house might be under several feet of water from burst pipes did little to dampen our spirits - after all, there wasn’t much we could do from over 5,000 miles away!

The Star Flyer, a modern, yet intimate, cruise ship created for luxury-loving passengers who also love the traditions and romance of the legendary era of sailing ships, was to be our home for seven days, with an itinerary which took in some of the most beautiful and fascinating ports of call in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

We had flown into Costa Rica from the United States, arriving a day before the cruise set sail and spending the night at San Jose’s luxury Intercontinental hotel, a short drive away from the Star Flyer’s dock at Puerto Caldera.

To read the rest of Patric Barid's feature on his Star Clipper cruise and see all the pictures, pick up a copy of Northern Ireland Travel News...

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