Strenz

Windstar's pricing policy is rather straight forward as is most cruise lines, hotels, trains, tour companies, airlines etc. I have found if I book late the air is more expensive. Very inexpensive fares often do not come perks or little add ons etc. We do the best we can and get over it. Have an extraordinary on these beautiful small ships. Everything in life is not a gimmick. Life is too short. Happy Sailing

We were on the Surf over Christmas. The ocean was not that choppy but there were very big swells. St. Barts was canceled twice due to swells, and Falmouth Harbor was cancelled due to same. We went into St. John's and we were able to watch the final for the World Cup, great fun. We went into St. Kitts twice which was nice because of Carambola Beach that was fabulous and very beautiful. Great cruise.

The " Tips for Traveler " mentioned by ciaoYacht is not up to date information on WS cruises. There are no more casinos, gratefully, you can by an " all in " beverage package, or simply alcohol package, if you reach an alumni level you get the laundry and WI-FI as part of your cruise. WS is sophisticated simplicity, beautiful ships with character. If you are basing a cruise on the " best bargain" and you are unhappy with the price or have a sour taste in your mouth before you go, don't go. There is an informality and a positive friendliness about WS. I would imagine from my reading because I have never been on the huge ships, that WS gives you a very different feeling about ocean cruising than mainline line giant vessels. Don't go with a negative feeling it will impact other who simply love the experience. We have completed 27 cruises and absolutely love it whether is is vacations or traveling. Happy Sailing

We agree. We can not seem to jump ship. We love the sails the most but looking forward to Reykjavik to Montréal via Greenland next Sept. Happy Sailing.

We were at Prickly Pear for the Bbq on the Christmas Cruise, first time since the 2017 hurricane, great to be back. Beautiful island, it has made a good comeback. Love the BVIs.Happy Sailing.

Sorry for the delays, got home today rarely go online when vacationing. The Captain Simon Terry, new last summer, terrific man, very personable, loves his job. Of the previous 26 WS Cruises we always thought the food great, healthy, diverse, inventive, this cruise the 27 th the best we ever had. Let me preface me: hobby is food culture and food history, I understand the science, love to cook, can be a " snoot" about food do not need/ want Michelin 3 stars love real food, appreciate efforts, the food on this trip the very best. Finally a great and true lobster bisque, better risotto than any I have eaten in Italy, some great breads ( my addiction and rarely eat it on the ship, but the bread featured at Candles was supreme ), not a soup eater most of the time, the sweet pepper soup we had one night I tasted from my husband, it was too late to order it not to disrupt the dinner so I ordered it for dessert to the amusement of the dining staff. Exceptional food for 17 days. I do believe the chef was French. It was a great cruise in every aspect. Happy Sailing

Fabulous. Of our 27 cruises with WS food always great, I am knowledgeable about food, we think best ever. Seriously, the best risotto I have ever had, including many times in Italy. Great cruise. Happy Sailing, sadly we are off that day.

I think all inclusive is very personal and also depends on your status with WS. You really have to do the math. With our status we get WI-FI ( we rarely use it ) and WS's great laundry. We drink very little: my husband is diabetic so perhaps a beer a day, maybe every other a glass of wine wine or a gin tonic not both on the same day, me a glass of red wine with dinner, maybe a rum punch or a glass of champagne. I can not drink during the day due to headaches. The math does not work out for us. I never feel " nickeled and dimed " on a WS cruise. You can get any drink at any time regardless. I would hate it and not go if WS was all inclusive, I never understood why I should pay for strangers drinking habits. It would annoy me. I have no problem signing a slip. We also have to budget for these trips. Obviously we are good budgeters for this week is our 27 th since 1999. Personal preferences, one's pocketbook and simple math, ( former math teacher ) is the determination. Tahiti with WS is beyond great, happy sailing.

Gustavia: nice walk to Shell Beach, need water shoes for beach, taxis very expensive as is the island, lovey marina Jost: White Bay, taxi or open air vans were $5, great beach, we like Gertrude's, buy drink get a chair, great conk fritters Virgin Gorda think that is where beach party/ lunch is, beautiful across from Bitter End, tender to beach Bequia beautiful island taxi to beaches Ils des Saints, beautiful walk to Plage des Pompiers walk with goats, great beach, 10-15 minutes, also on the main street look for the crèpe maker, grumpy old guy but you will think you were at the best crépe maker in France, tiny outdoor shop Enjoy, those are some of our favorite islands. Happy Sailing

Thank you, WS central should be notified, that is creepy, she should never be allowed back on. She was a liar, very grim. In my 26 cruises with WS have never seen that gratefully. We are on 12/10 I hope to see your masts when I awake on that morning. Glad you had a terrific trip. Happy Sailing

Beautiful, thank you. These photo bring back great memories of May 2014 the Spirits first sail in Tahiti, glorious. As I have stated before that Lagoon screams sails it is so beautiful. Happy Sailing.

Forgot, we were on the Spirit, Tahiti and the Lagoon scream sailing.

We were in May and it was perfect: sun, calm seas, no rain, simply perfect. Great Cruising

Hi, You are given slips which you fill out by listing your laundry items, there is a line " special instructions " you write cold wash line dry. I usually have 2 bags one for underwear and such regular and the other cold wash, line dry. Terrific service. Happy Sailing

I do not know your itinerary but most of our WS Tahiti cruise was within the beautiful lagoon so very calm. We were there in May. Spectacularly Beautiful. Happy Sailing.

I too ask for cold wash line dry for most of my clothes and feel they do it, great service. Remarkable really. Happy Sailing

Great idea and on board they try to answer questions correctly or they get back to you. The service is so great aboard WS, truly it is a pleasure giving gratuites. Happy Sailing

R&rd, You will love the Trans- Atlantic We have a slogan " rather 14 days on a ship that 6 hours in an airplane ". Happy Sailing

Hi, We always arrive 2-3 days before a cruise with Windstar, because our Caribbean Windstar Cruises are always in the winter and we are from the Northeast. After the big hurricane a few years ago The Divi rebuilt and we really like it especially with Covid times because you can dine 100% of the time outside: it is near the dock, nice beach, great pools, outside bar and 2 outside lunch places, an evening restaurant that you can reserve and outside table and good food, like the Wind Surf it fits us. We also have stayed in Oyster Bay which is a semi island, before Covid it had three independent restaurants, nice beach and good pool. We did not want to rent a car. Philipsburg is midway between Oyster Bay and the airport. We have also stayed at the Holland House which is very close to the dock, nice beach, lovely restaurant, no pool even though it is in the town the way it is build it is quiet. You do need a beach side room. On the French side further away is the Grande Clase Beach area, an area that was completely rebuild, hotels, lovely restaurants. About a $40 cab ride to the dock. We have been very happy with the Divi, won't break the bank, I am a swimmer so I love the pool and the beach. Enjoy, great cruise. Happy Sailing.

Congratulation. I hope you have a happy, healthy life together. Good Start selection and the Spirit as well. We think Tahiti and the Laguna screams out sails. The beautiful reflections bouncing off the hills into the water. Sailing under a profound umbrella of stars at night. If you love nature and raw beauty you will love Tahiti. We completed the Sicilian Splendors a few weeks ago and we had a 4.5 hour sail along the Amalfi Coast as beautiful as that sail was, we both decided that Tahiti beat it in beauty. Tahiti first and Amalfi second. Truly two sailing cruise experiences made for sails. This is after 25 sailing cruises with Windstar Cruises. We did the WS's first Tahiti cruise back in 2014, on the Spirit after completing the Pacific crossing, we stayed onboard. We swam with the sharks and the string rays, we did Michael Pool's Spinner dolphin excursion fascinating, on the Island of Huahine we saw the blue eyed eels, the ancient Maraes, " relatives " of the Moais on Easter Island we had seen, great museum there too, only thing left are the stands because the statues were built of wood unlike on Easter Island they were rock. Fascinating. We learned, swam, snorkeled, experienced, was great.Have a grand time. Happy Sailing.

We like Deck one, smoother sail,if you are prone to any kind of seasickness you want to be on deck one middle. However, we like being forward on either deck because when we go into port to dock you can still use the elevator. We do not get sea sick so we like being forward. Happy Sailing

Love your postings. I agree on a trans ocean journey there are not enough hours in the day to do lots of " nothings ". Staring at the sea, reading, napping, leisure feasting, walking laps, exercise in the pool, greeting sunsets and sunrises, joining a trivia game, reminding oneself of the grandeur of the ocean. We never get sick of the Surf and our travels and vacations on her 217 days on her and 17 to come. We always feel fortunate. Enjoy the rest of the crossing, keep up the posting. Thanks Happy Sailing.

How nice of you to write all this. We, here, on Cape Cod can relive our crossings " sans" the huge waves, our three gratefully both ways Atlantic and one to Tahiti were are as if the oceans never had waves, we were indeed lucky. Happy Sailing, WOW 69 luckily people.

We are " go backers ", whether it is the WS cruises up coming 26 th, more than that 25 under sail 1 motor pre stretch, hotels/inn that we love, we will often make detours, restaurants ( sadly we have not eaten inside since 3/13/20 in our home area and only when absolutely necessary on the road or inside on the Surf ) and in traveling and vacations. It is all individual. We adore the Surf, for us if something is off so be it, I sometimes will write WS privately and that goes for all the other places we frequent. Life for us is too short to moan. We appreciate what people try to do for us to make our trips lovely. We feel fortunate to be able to do what we do. Frankly rudeness, moaning over trivia saddens us. People simply need to do what they like: don't like WS don't go, go to a happy place so others can enjoy theirs. Happy Sailing

We have been cruising with WS since 1999. We love it, therefore time and again we go again. I have always said the difference between Seattle and onboard is night and day. Over the years one sees a bit of improvement from the central office but it always manages to fall back, especially now there is Miami and Seattle offices. We just had an OMG incredible cruise 10/6. I wish there central office could be better, does not need to be OMG incredible but it needs to improve. Happy Sailing