Necessary to prebook excursions?

We're on the Windsurf Feb 7 out of St Martin. Will be our first time sailing Windstar. Not sure how busy or lazy we want to be. For those who have done this itinerary, is it really necessary to book excursions in advance or can we decide once on board? The ones we might be most interested in are the catamaran sails. Would love some input.

I am a crazed super-planner, so you are asking the wrong person :).

I booked ours ahead of time, in the end one of them was cancelled, so we had to adjust our plans that day. Our itinerary was the Yachtsman, I think your's is the Classic. Of the 5 ports we visited, I think I had 3 shore excursions so it was a nice mix. Like you we favour catamarans or similar.

In the end if I was doing it again, I'd still book ahead; the ports are small and we found it nice to have something planned for most of them.

So I would suggest that if there is one you are really keen on, you might want to book that one ahead, if you change your mind, you can adjust on board.

Either way, you'll enjoy your Windstar cruise; its fabulous.

We're just back from the Wind Star, and none of the shore excursions had sold out in advance.

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Some excursions are offered in the AM and the PM. Enquire beforehand which time periods are better for you. In some port, people with the early excursion departure are taking the first tender out. (This was the case in our Yatchman cruise last month)

We generally do not book ahead in the Caribbean, but if it is something you really are interested in, do book ahead. You can cancel if need be. We will be aboard Feb 7 as well.

We book on board, but don't dawdle because some are very popular once everyone on board starts to check them out.

We've always booked in advance, but I don't think its necessary unless there is one that you know will be in high demand. On our itin that took up to Normandy, the beaches tour sold out, ditto our trip to Granada. But we've also had tours cancelled due to low attendance.

I agree that if you don't prebook you should do it early on the cruise, often the time between embarkation and departure is dead time.

We book on board, but don't dawdle because some are very popular once everyone on board starts to check them out.

If it is something you REALLY want to do, then book it ahead. Keep in mind, Windstar ships are small but who knows if a bigger ship(s) are in port that same day. For the most part you are competing for space with other ships as well. Maybe Windstar has some spaces available, or reserved, but these excursion operators are not running their tours exclusively for Windstar. There may be exceptions but rest assured, space is often available, but not guaranteed so if you REALLY want to do it, book it.

If it is something you REALLY want to do, then book it ahead. Keep in mind, Windstar ships are small but who knows if a bigger ship(s) are in port that same day. For the most part you are competing for space with other ships as well. Maybe Windstar has some spaces available, or reserved, but these excursion operators are not running their tours exclusively for Windstar. There may be exceptions but rest assured, space is often available, but not guaranteed so if you REALLY want to do it, book it.

Really?? - Every Windstar shore excursion I've been on has been exclusive, right down to our own bus. No one from any other cruise has joined us, except maybe one time when 2 Windstar ships were in the same port the same day, but even that it was Windstar only.

I'm with Milepig....I've never been on a Windstar cruise where anyone but Windstar passengers were on the tours from the ship.

After 30 Windstar cruises I can say we have never shared a shore excursion with anyone from another ship. However, at times when other ships are in port the tour operators are not able to handle an additional bus because they are all "taken" by the other ship. So it won't affect what the cruise line has prearranged but they may have limited ability to increase the number of people. But I do have to say that Windstar is pretty good about estimating the number of people who may be interested in an excursion - especially in ports they stop at often.

I tend to book my cruises more than a year in advance. I have noticed that the closer to sail the price of excursions sometimes go up, at least this was true for our Normandy excursion. I'd say if your pretty sure you'd like an excursion, book it in advance. If you cancel you do get a refund.

I agree with what others have said:

1. I have never seen anyone else other than fellow cruisers on an excursion booked through Windstar.

2. If you are really interested in a particular excursion, go ahead and book it. You can always cancel once on board if you no longer wish to take it.

After 30 Windstar cruises I can say we have never shared a shore excursion with anyone from another ship. However, at times when other ships are in port the tour operators are not able to handle an additional bus because they are all "taken" by the other ship. So it won't affect what the cruise line has prearranged but they may have limited ability to increase the number of people. But I do have to say that Windstar is pretty good about estimating the number of people who may be interested in an excursion - especially in ports they stop at often.

I think of the several diving excursions I was on with Windsurf. Several other ships involved. My DW went on the sugar train, (broke down) several other ships involved. I haven't been on 30 Windstar cruises so I can only speak of my experience.

You people are lucky you can pre book shorex on Windstar website, doesnt work for my cruise after you spend ages making all the selections it declines the tarnsaction . E mailed Windstar who advised me to ring them to book shorex. Tried that now 3 times and get an answering machine . Not very good customer service .

kuldalai, their phone lines are not open 24/7 which could be part of the problem since you are calling from Australia. They are open Monday-Friday, 6am to 6pm (Pacific time) and Saturday 7am-3pm. I believe that translates to 1am to 1pm and 2am to 10am Sydney time (what time zone are you in?) - and I'm not even sure which days of the week that would be for you!:confused:

I have not had to call their customer service lately, but I've heard several others complain. I know they are going through some growing pains related to doubling their fleet; hopefully, they will correct this soon and get up to speed and not let it become an ongoing problem.

There are sometimes problems with credit card transactions between countires. I recently was completing a booking on Aerlingus and ended up having to get the credit card company on the phone with me as the transaction was going through so they could manually approve it. So, I understand your frustration.

I hope you are able to get it resolved soon.