As I clambered out on to the springy cargo net in a rather ungainly fashion and settled down into something akin to a giant hammock, the surrounding scene neatly encapsulated the fact that this was a cruise with a difference.

Below me, the sparkling water of the Mediterranean scudded past while the sun reflected on creamy sails stretching nearly 200ft overhead.

It was my first morning aboard Royal Clipper, the flagship of the three-strong Star Clippers’ fleet, which holds the Guinness World Record as being the world’s biggest five-masted ship.

Around me fellow passengers lounged on deck as the team of 20 riggers clad in blue and white striped tops variously scrubbed the varnished deck, trimmed the 42 sails and kept everything shipshape.

For a week I was immersed in a world that was a throwback to the age of seafaring elegance, romance and adventure, complete with a few (friendly) pirates thrown in for good measure. The boyhood dream of Swedish entrepreneur and classic boat enthusiast Mikael Krafft, the modern recreation of a 19th-century ship really is the stuff of Hornblower fantasies.

The complete opposite of the all-singing all-dancing nautical giants of the cruise world, Royal Clipper won’t appeal cruisers who want floating shopping malls, wall-to-wall entertainment, multiple restaurants and any excuse to don their best bib and tucker.

However, for those in search of a unique experience with plenty of shore-based sight-seeing en route, Royal Clipper won’t disappoint.

The scene was set as we sailed out of Barcelona, bound for the French Riviera, with the rousing sound of the 1492 Conquest Of Paradise by Vangelis resounding around the deck.

Carrying 227 passengers, plus 105 crew, the 400ft ship is small, relaxed and informal. It was a surprise to find that we could stop by at the bridge at any time, aside from when the ship is manoeuvring in and out of port, and chat to the officers.

Where possible the ship is under sail, which is around 70% of the time on Caribbean itineraries and 40% in the Med. Armchair sailors can lend a hand when the sails are being unfurled, have a go at tying knots and listen to the captain’s daily seafaring tales.

If you’ve got a head for heights then have a go at climbing up the rigging to the first crow’s nest which, with a selection of watersports, is one of the most exciting activities on offer. Egged on by the crowd that had assembled on deck, and armed with the hint to look straight ahead rather than down, I reached the reassuring crew member who helped me on to the platform that provided some of the most unforgettable views of the whole trip.

Days onboard are leisurely, beginning with the expansive breakfast and invariably ending in the al fresco Tropical Bar, where the wheels of conversation are ably oiled by daily cocktails such as the Pain Killer – rum, apricot brandy, orange juice, coconut cream and cinnamon dust.

There’s a piano bar and inside lounge, a small library, gym and unusual underwater spa, where you can watch the passing sea-scape through a porthole while being pampered or pummelled by the two expert therapists.

All meals are in the dining room, beneath the eye-catching three-level atrium topped by one of the three top-deck splash pools. I really liked the fact that there were no strict mealtimes, you can just turn up when you want during the allotted hours. Similarly, with no enforced seating arrangements it’s fun to chop and change tables to swap tales with fellow passengers, who were an assorted bunch that included young and older couples, groups of friends, families with older children and some singles.

While the entertainment can be a tad cheesy, with plenty of Euro-pop and light-hearted games, you can easily slope off if it’s not your thing and do a spot of stargazing on deck. That said, we indulged our inner Jack Sparrow by attempting to dress up on pirate night.

Maybe it was the self-medicated Pain Killers, but each night I slept like the proverbial log in my cosy wood-panelled cabin where the small portholes added to the atmosphere (there are no balconies to spoil the sleek outline of the ship).

During the week, our ports of call included the cosmopolitan Mallorcan capital Palma, laid-back Mahon on the quieter sister island of Menorca, the millionaires’ paradise of Monaco and chic St Tropez. Various excursions, from coach tours to energetic guided mountain bike rides, are on offer or you can simply stroll off and explore by yourself.

I never tired of the thrill of returning to port and seeing Royal Clipper waiting for us to board. The ship was the scene stealer in every harbour, even against the wall-to-wall gin palaces of Monaco. One morning, in the middle of the Med, we were taken out in a tender so we could take photos of Royal Clipper at sea and it was a majestic sight.

That said, the wind was quite literally taken out of its sails when a totally unexpected photo opportunity appeared in the shape of a whale. Eyes and cameras followed the dark shape gliding through the water and we were amply rewarded when it broke above the surface.

It was yet another highlight. But even if you aren’t fortunate enough to spot the largest marine mammal during your cruise, you’ll have a whale of a time aboard this glorious sailing ship.

  • Star Clippers offer fully-crewed sailing voyages on the world’s largest tall ships in the Mediterranean, Central America, Caribbean and Cuba.
  • A three-night Mediterranean cruise on Royal Clipper costs from £695 per person during 2014, or from £1,470 for a week’s Mediterranean sailing on board sister ship Star Clipper, based on two sharing, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, entertainment and all port calls. Call 0845 2006145 or visit www.starclippers.co.uk