 |
Windstar Cruise Reviews:
Windstar is not your average cruise company and this is not a cruise
line with a lot of history, founded as it was, by the Anders family,
who, by the 1980's, had bought and were operating New York City's Circle
Line. They enjoyed sail, and thought many would agree
 with them. They
knew from the experiences from Windjammer Cruises and a handful of
charter sail ship operators based in New England that there was a market
for sail cruisers....the difference with this company was that this
would be more of a silk stocking operation, geared to people more
interested in creature comforts and fancy cabins. Market or not, by the
time the third ship came out, they were all too happy to accept a buy
out by Holland America Line, which operated Windstar as a totally
autonomous division, until they sold them a few years back. Because
Holland America owned them, key on-board figures are from that line, and
hotel crews are Indonesian and Filipino.
Gentle service, excellent food, interesting fellow travelers, cozy but
complete accommodations....and itineraries that can't be beat. Windstar
is a line to consider if you are a traveler who appreciates the good
things in life, but wants it all in a casual atmosphere, leave
your fancy clothes at home unless you're planning a special evening
ashore as there are no formal nights or themed events.
When a shipboard kitchen has 1,500 mouths to feed in two sittings, you
can be sure that much of the food will be on par with banquet
fare.....intricate recipes will fall by the wayside. But when a kitchen
has  but one tenth
the number of meals to produce, the food ought to be outstanding, and on
the Windstar Cruises, it is! This company, no different from their
competitors, has been forced to cut back a little.....the high end
perishables....caviar, lobster and such, are served less frequently than
a few years ago....but don't let that deter you from traveling on the
Windstar Cruises....because what they do prepare for you is
delicious....and satisfying. Fewer passengers also means more attention
will be paid to your personal preferences. It also means that if you're
not in the mood to dine with others, there will be available staff to
serve your meal course by course in your cabin. The Windstar Cruise's
restaurant is designed for open sitting service.....you can get a table
for yourselves or a table for many....don't be like me and get into a
rut, insisting on the same table day in, day out....go ahead and
experiment.....change table partners.....it's encouraged here.
The in spot for daytime fuel stops is the Veranda, up on Deck
Four......lots of large windows, a very casual atmosphere, but with
tables set as pleasantly as in the dining room. The Veranda requires
that  you come in
dressed in just about anything but a bathing suit.....and with a
location so close to the outdoor deck, it's great for sun bathers....no
major troop movements from outdoors to indoors are necessary to get
fed. Every single cabin, except the coveted number 107 are identical
and they all have the same price for any cruise. Cabin 107, with roughly
50% more space, carries a surcharge of 30% above the standard cruise
rate. With the cabins located on only two decks, there seems to be a
preference for Deck Two accommodations.....the only advantage to them is
that there's one less flight of stairs to climb when going topside. Each
room has two portholes, and twin beds that convert to a queen and all
have a TV/VCR, CD player, a safe, and a minibar stuffed with water,
juice and wine. The cabins have tons of storage space...you'll find more
drawers and cupboards than on other ships....the only thing the rooms
lack is a real sitting area....the best place to watch TV is from the
bed. The bathrooms are masterpieces of efficient use of space.....with
large mirrors, more storage space, and a perfectly serviceable
shower....they're also pretty, with their teak floors and wood trim.
To feel at home on the Windstar Cruises, you should be.....a good
sailor....these vessels can get their share of movement in a heavy sea.
You should be interested in making your own fun.....you won't find group
 games, large
casinos, and grandiose floor shows here. And you should be a lover of
good, unobtrusive service.....nothing here is loud or vulgar....except
for the occasional misplaced passenger! Windstar gets well traveled,
active people......those who simply must be near the ocean, and who love
to swim, snorkel, scuba, waterski etc. will find they are not fish out
of water on Windstar Cruises. Children are not encouraged to sail on
Windstar Cruises.....there are no facilities for their
entertainment....However, kids are accepted for passage, but they should
be the type of children who can make their own fun....quietly...there
really aren't that many places on board for them to go and act like
children.
The Windstar Cruises will spend the remaining summer months in the
Mediterranean, offering cruises from Civitavecchia...the port for Rome.
In October, after completing her transatlantic sailing, she'll head
though the Panama Canal to set up shop in Costa Rica...offering weekly
sailings from Puerto Caldera to Coiba Island in Panama, Drake Bay, Caño
Island, Quepos, Playa Flamingo, and Tortuga Island. These cruises are an
outstanding way to visit out of the way Costa Rican towns and islands.
info@Windstar-Cruises-Luxury-Lines.com |
|