I wasn't going to put up any posts on this cruise but a) I've discovered why Star Flyer was delayed a day, preventing me from getting on board when I should have, and b) there is wi-fi after all and given they have gone to the trouble of putting it on, it seems churlish not to use it.
According to my spies (that's the passengers who were already on the Star Clippers-owned ship when the delay occurred) the ship's flag was changed from Luxembourg to Valletta a little while ago but nothing was changed on the ship.
Small things like changing its call sign, the country of registry on the lifeboats and lifebuoys, and so on.
Seems the Greeks were not happy with this so when, on this cruise - a 14-nighter that has been sold also as two seven-night voyages - the ship was due to move from Greek to Italian waters, they "arrested" it.
For 23 hours, the ship was held outside Elafonisos by customs officials while things were put in order. Passengers were not allowed off the ship and some hasty paint work changed the name on the lifeboats from Luxembourg to Valletta.
Captain Yurii Kuschenko said he didn't know why was the ship's registry changed after 20 years or so flying the Luxembourg flag, but I'm guessing money is in there somewhere.
Or maybe Star Clippers is getting ready to offer weddings at sea, which is possible under the Malta flag. It would be a wonderfully romantic way to say "I do".
Jane Archer
