Windstar Cruises offer voyages throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and Polynesia. Windstar Cruises is a relatively small fleet with only 4 ships. They are all sailing ships although their sails are powered by the flick of a button, instead of sailors having to spend time up at the top of the masts.
Windstar Cruises ships are quite small, with less than 400 passengers carried at a time; the Wind Star carries only 148 passengers. So they are special in two ways: first they can access ports that other, bigger cruise ships cannot even attempt to get into and secondly they offer a very intimate feel, but are still very well equipped in terms of passenger facilities.
On all four Windstar Cruises ships there are alternative dining facilities, so you can eat where you wish. Although some fine dining experiences can be had (this is after all the lap of luxury) there is no reason to take a tuxedo with you when you travel, the emphasis is on casual attire. However, if you are travelling to Monte Carlo and you plan to visit a casino there, then you will have to have the appropriate wear with you. Guests should also note that although the emphasis is on casual, there is also an air of casual elegance about the ships, so clothes may be casual, but scruffy clothes that are too informal may be frowned upon.
Onboard Windstar Cruises activities are quite extensive, but on the Wind Surf, one of the older ships in the fleet, there is no casino and the fitness centre is not quite as extensively equipped as in other ships.
Complimentary water sports can be participated in when the ship is in harbour, so if you do not fancy taking the planned excursion, well just try some water sports. Other water sports may be available for a cost. Note that the availability depends on the weather at the time. Sometimes, if the sea is particularly rough the water sports may have to be cancelled.
Windstar Cruises is not all inclusive and if you do buy some alcohol (other than wine or champagne) on board or when you are on shore, this cannot be drunk on the ship. You can however, drink wine or champagne in your stateroom. If you want to drink the wine in a restaurant or a bar, then a corkage fee will be levied. If you buy spirits or beers either when ashore or at the ship’s shop, then staff may keep them and simply return them to you as you are leaving the ship.
Guests who have a disability or who simply cannot climb stairs very well should be aware that the Wind Star and Wind Spirit ships do not have any lifts, so they may not be suitable for use by all.
So the Windstar Cruises are just that little bit different and they are very much like being on a private yacht. Service levels are very good and there are a wide range of facilities available, particularly when the ships themselves are so small. They really do offer that little bit of a different take on cruising!
Find out about all the ships in the Windstar Cruises fleet
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