WINDSTAR CAFEs (plus a Coffee Question)

[Bilyeu5]

What is the purpose/niche of the Windstar Cafe's that are being added to the new ships? What kind of food? Is food free, or is this some other kind of "specialty dining" idea to part us from more money????

Most important, though...do they have great coffee and espresso? I have this fear that ship coffee will be weak and tasteless, and I will be in caffeine withdrawal all week!

Barbara

[Stevesan]

What is t he purpose/niche of the Windstar Cafe's that are being added to the new ships? What kind of food? Is food free, or is this some other kind of "specialty dining" idea to part us from more money????

Most important, though...do they have great coffee and espresso? I have this fear that ship coffee will be weak and tasteless, and I will be in caffeine withdrawal all week!

BarbaraThe purpose is enhanced revenues for the cruise line. Windstar sells specialty coffees, ie cappucinos, espresso, etc as well as snacks such as pastries and cookies. Nothing there is free from extra charges as they have been in the Java cafes. These still exist in the S class ships; unfortunately, they are bound for extinction in the near future.

Windstar prices are reasonable when compared to such as Starbucks, although I'd argue Starbucks prices are totally unreasonable.

Ship's coffee (free of extra charge) is available 24/7 in the Lido buffet. It ain't Jamaican Blue Mountain, but it does contain caffein so you can get your fix. The dining room coffee is a slight cut above Lido's offerings.

[gizmo]

Now this is something new to me. I knew they charged for the coffee :mad: , but didn't realize they charged for pastries and cookies. What a rip off. I will stick to the dining room and Lido.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Now this is something new to me. I knew they charged for the coffee :mad: , but didn't realize they charged for pastries and cookies. What a rip off. I will stick to the dining room and Lido.gizmo, to my understanding the cookies and pastries are free if you purchase a coffee or tea or soda. The soda's are speciality sodas I think they were called Tommys Clear Sodas. DH really liked the creme soda, but they also had a clear cola and rootbeer and a few others. I know when I purchased my sugar free vanilla fat free latte they offered me a pastrie and I declined.

Actually their coffee drinks are quite good, as good as Starbucks if not better.

[uncialman]

gizmo, to my understanding the cookies and pastries are free if you purchase a coffee or tea or soda. The soda's are speciality sodas I think they were called Tommys Clear Sodas. DH really liked the creme soda, but they also had a clear cola and rootbeer and a few others. I know when I purchased my sugar free vanilla fat free latte they offered me a pastrie and I declined..

Uncialman replies:

Hey guys. The Windstar aboard the Zuiderdam, if I recall correctly, offered some pastires a couple of times for free late in the day or face the possibility of throwing the goods out (if I recall correctly). All the other times that we had gone to the Windstar, my wife paid for her pastry along with her daily mocha latte.

On both of our sailings aboard the Zuiderdam, the Windstar was significantly empty, outside of the fact that a tremendous amount of European employees of HAL seemed to be found of using the service. When I asked the gal behind the counter how many cruisers they have come in compared to staff, she stated "It's about 80% staff and about 20% guests."

Laffnvegas stated:

Actually their coffee drinks are quite good, as good as Starbucks if not better.

Uncialman replies:

No doubt, the quality is high (As I sit here typing this enjoying a morning cup of Tanzanian Peaberry). They are certainly trying to give a reason for the charge by offerning a gourmet service. Now, if they could just lose the pop-rock music in the Windstar...

[merryecho]

A dumb question, but is the Rotterdam S class or vista class?

[dakrewser]

A dumb question, but is the Rotterdam S class or vista class?
Neither :)

-dave

[bepsf]

Rotterdam is the first of the R-Class ships (Rotterdam, Volendam, Amsterdam, Zaandam)
Windstar Cafe serves Torrefazione coffee - much better IMHO than Starbucks - also better than the 'plain' coffee served in the Java Cafe and still available 24/7 in the Lido (both on the Oosterdam & Amsterdam).
Pastries & other food in the Windstar on the Oosterdam were free when I was there - of course I wasn't there 24/7 either...
The same Torrefazione coffee is also available in the Pinnacle Grill and Neptune Lounge.

[merryecho]

Thanks Bep- to continue with dumb questions for $300, what is the difference between s, vista and r class ships?

[Esme]

Thanks Bep- to continue with dumb questions for $300, what is the difference between s, vista and r class ships?

Mostly size of the ships.

R class - Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Zaandam, Volendam - 3 sets of elevators

S class - Statendam, Veendam, Ryndam, Veendam, Maasdam - 2 sets of elevators, a little smaller than the R class - but otherwise almost the same.

Vista - Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Noordam (coming 2006) much larger - more balconies. Have not been on one yet, so can't tell you all the differences.

[shipcafe]

Well said, Esme. Have you sailed HAL before?

[Orcrone]

Mostly size of the ships.

R class - Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Zaandam, Volendam - 3 sets of elevators

S class - Statendam, Veendam, Ryndam, Veendam, Maasdam - 2 sets of elevators, a little smaller than the R class - but otherwise almost the same.

Vista - Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Noordam (coming 2006) much larger - more balconies. Have not been on one yet, so can't tell you all the differences.Are there two Veendams?;)

[merryecho]

More elevators- it's a good thing.

[bepsf]

...looks like Esme is faster on the buzzer than I am today!!!
;)

Here's a link to my gallery of recent pix that includes the Vista Class Oosterdam and the S-Class Veendam side by side:

http://www.cruise-addicts.com/picturepost/view.php?uid=2170 (http://www.cruise-addicts.com/picturepost/view.php?uid=2170)

Hope that helps give you an idea of how much different they are!:)

[HeatherInFlorida]

...looks like Esme is faster on the buzzer than I am today!!!
;)

Here's a link to a my recent pic of the Vista Class Oosterdam and the S-Class Veendam side by side:

http://www.cruise-addicts.com/picturepost/image.php/2170/Guatemala_040.jpg

Hope that helps give you an idea of how much different they are!:)
Third edit: I'm not finding side by side pictures, Brian. Lot of nice pix, but not of the Veendam and Oosterdam side by side. Is there another page?

[bepsf]

I wish I could post it here for you - but the other site won't let me...

:confused:

Its midway down the page in the center column - 4th below the bathtub pic and just above the bow-shot of me standing in front of the 'O'.

http://www.cruise-addicts.com/picturepost/view.php?uid=2170 (http://www.cruise-addicts.com/picturepost/view.php?uid=2170)

[merryecho]

aha! so I take it the r class ships are somewhere in the middle?

[doone]

The R class ships are my favorite. I love the size of these ships, they are perfect, for me anyways. I will sail my first Vista Style ship this March, then the Volendam, so I will be able to write my opinion of the differences in the two ships.

[bepsf]

aha! so I take it the r class ships are somewhere in the middle?
Yup - basically a slightly stretched (one lifeboat/one staircase longer) S-Class...

[marybeach]

At the Windstar, can you just get plain coffee, free? What about hot water, tea bags? Or, must you go up to the Lido?

Thank goodness I'll still have Java Cafe next month!:)

[Roadwork]

When we were on the Oosterdam, there was no free coffee in the Windstar Cafe. I don't recall anything about tea, but someone else might.

I am sticking to coffee in the Lido.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I wish I could post it here for you - but the other site won't let me...

:confused:

Its midway down the page in the center column - 4th below the bathtub pic and just above the bow-shot of me standing in front of the 'O'.

http://www.cruise-addicts.com/picturepost/view.php?uid=2170 (http://www.cruise-addicts.com/picturepost/view.php?uid=2170)
Brian, now I see it!!! Thanks:D . That is so unbelievable. I have to say that the Veendam looks so much nicer from a distance. But that is an awsome shot of you at the bow of the Oosterdam! I have to remember to try to get a shot like that on our cruise (yaaaaay! 3 weeks from today:) )