Clipper vx Windstar

[CruiseFever]

Clipper vs Wind Star- any difference?

I peeked inside a Wind Star ship in Barbados and it looked like a really unique sailing experience could be had.

If you've sailed both, which would you recommend for a first timer?

[mikiew]

We did a Windstar cruise....it was fine.....nothing fantastic.


However, we prefer the smaller ships.......and are going on the Clipper Odyssey in November.

I cannot compare, but Clipper is highly rated, and everything is included except for drinks......(of course, massage etc is not included, but all tours, etc.)

[LindaKay]

We have been on the WindStar and Clipper and enjoyed them both. The WindStar is geared more toward luxury; Cipper is a more educational experience. I have not liked the Wind Surf as well as the smaller Wind Star and Wind Spirit. The Odyssey is a step up from the Nantucket and Yorktown . The food on both lines is good. A woman on the Odyssey on the Great Barrier Reef told me she could not imagine a cruise without natualists and speakers. We read histories of the areas we are going to visit; it does make for a greater appreciation of our trip.
A cruise (or any trip) is so personal, it's hard to advise anyone what their choices could be. I read lots of brochures and general cruise books. Unfortunately. there are not many people on the Clipper board to give more opinions. They are a very good line we have enjoyed cruising with. We do have open minds and we are fairly flexible. There's always something to keep a trip from being perfect!
LindaKay

[CruiseFever]

Originally Posted by LindaKay

We have been on the WindStar and Clipper and enjoyed them both. The WindStar is geared more toward luxury; Cipper is a more educational experience. I have not liked the Wind Surf as well as the smaller Wind Star and Wind Spirit. The Odyssey is a step up from the Nantucket and Yorktown . The food on both lines is good. A woman on the Odyssey on the Great Barrier Reef told me she could not imagine a cruise without natualists and speakers. We read histories of the areas we are going to visit; it does make for a greater appreciation of our trip.
A cruise (or any trip) is so personal, it's hard to advise anyone what their choices could be. I read lots of brochures and general cruise books. Unfortunately. there are not many people on the Clipper board to give more opinions. They are a very good line we have enjoyed cruising with. We do have open minds and we are fairly flexible. There's always something to keep a trip from being perfect!
LindaKay

Thanks so much for your comments. You're right; there's not a lot of input on this board.

If you would indulge me, what's the motion like on these ships? They look so enchanting and like such a REAL sailing experience.

Also, are there any particular tips you might give to a first timer? The smallest passenger ship I've sailed was Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas at 49,000 tons other than my dads little 25' sailboat when I was a kid.

[LindaKay]

The WindStar ships have stabilizers; I don't believe the Clippers do. It depends on the conditions; Clippers would probably have more motion in open seas. We have never been seasick. WindStar has an active board for a small cruiseline. You might read that if you are interested in their cruises. The best sailing experience I have had is with Star Clippers which is sometimes confused with Clipper Cruises.. They do have the motion you would expect with a sailing ship.

[surfklutz]

Keep in mind that a big difference is that Clipper uses American crew where Windstar uses an international crew.