Windstar?

Windstar Cruises is perfect for active, open-minded, young-at-heart people seeking a casually elegant experience with a penchant for truly immersing themselves in the region. With an innate ability to stay an intimate distance from the port as well as authentic, off-the-beaten-path excursions, Windstar attracts adventurers who wish to integrate more with the locals. With travellers who are not necessarily revellers, Windstar passengers are instead early risers who wish to head right into town and uncover all the delights & secrets the destination has to offer.

Empty nesters and recent retirees are often seen travelling on Windstar Cruises. With this being said, honeymooners, birthday celebrants, and groups celebrating a special occasion also frequent these cruises. In general, Windstar cruises are quite multigenerational, there is always a group of people in each generation who naturally congregate to each other and socialise regularly.

Across all ships, your cruise fare covers:

• All non-alcoholic beverages (including expresso coffee and speciality tea)
• Water sports platform (snorkelling, kayaking, sailing, etc.)
• All dining options onboard, including 24-hour in-room dining
• Open Bridge where you can learn how to sail with the Captain or Officers
• Local performances onboard
• Cooking demonstrations powered by the James Beard Foundation (on select cruises)
• Signature Onboard Barbeque and the beloved crew show
• Champagne welcome reception
• Signature Sail Away event

• Reach unique ports and lesser-known areas bigger ships cannot get to
• Choose from a beautifully designed masted sailing ship or all-suite motor ship
• Savour outstanding service with attentive staff with a 1.5 to 1 guest to staff ratio
• Enjoy excellent onboard food due to their unique partnership with the James Beard Foundation

Socialise with your travellers and crew!

Due to the more intimate nature of small ship cruises, the crew will quickly know your name after only a few days on the ship. Similarly, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to meet, interact and develop strong bonds with your fellow travellers.  To facilitate this you can request to dine at an open table in the main restaurant, Amphora, where you will be seated with other like-minded travellers.

Stay above deck when you enter or leave a port

We also highly suggest being above deck as you enter or leave a port, especially in the smaller towns, as people tend to be lined up onshore waving hello or goodbye! Make sure you are on the open decks early for Windstar’s Signature Sail Away event as this is one not to be missed, and the majority of the ship's passengers will venture outside to enjoy it. Due to being a smaller ship, you get much closer to port than others, allowing you to personally greet people as you head in or out. It’s a magical moment and we find that these memories tend to stick with passengers long after they disembark.

The kind of accommodation is dependent on what style of ship you are boarding. Deck plans on each ship are different and as such room types vary from vessel to vessel. Below is a quick breakdown:

Wind Class Ships (Wind Star, Wind Spirit, Wind Surf)

These are sleek sailing ships, perfect for warm weather adventures, featuring an abundance of wide-open decks and elegant outdoor spaces.  The Wind Class ships boast gracious ocean view staterooms with queen beds beautifully appointed with seascape colours.

Both the Wind Star and Wind Spirit ships offer the opportunity to enjoy the amenity of an owner’s suite - a spacious 20m² room fitted with a gorgeous dining space and sitting area - perfect those seeking the highest level of comfort.

The grander Wind Surf, recently renovated in November 2019, has a strong selection of suites available for guests seeking a higher level of indulgence. The officers’ and bridge suite are additionally offered for travellers searching for more space and an expanded bathroom with additional quality features such as a massage shower and whirlpool spa tub.

Star Class Ships (Star Breeze, Star Legend, Star Pride)

These three identical all-suite motor ships, which are currently undergoing a US$250 million dollar upgrade, feature expansive interiors and are perfect for island-hops or longer journeys in cooler climates. For your accommodations, you have the choice to stretch out in what is considered a very large suite by cruising standards at 26m². Relax in the stylish comfort of your exquisite private quarters featuring a picture window or French balcony.

For breakfast and lunch, Veranda offers a buffet-style venue with options for indoor and outdoor seating, don’t forget to see the chef at the egg station to have your eggs cooked to order.

For dinner, choose between the main dining room Amphora or Candles– which replaces Veranda at night – both of which are typically only open daily between 6pm to 9pm. While Amphora does not require reservations and is free to simply walk in, reservations for Candles is highly recommended. Wind Surf also offers an additional restaurant, Stella Bistro, which offers delectable French cuisine.

And if you prefer a quiet night in, you can always order from the 24-hour in-room dining menu.

What makes this experience even better is that all dining options are free! So make sure to try out every option available and settle into the restaurant that suits you the best.

During the day casual dress is acceptable onboard. Windstar encourages their passengers to dress in a style that is “casually elegant”, which is enforced a little more strongly at the dining room and during the evening.

Please keep in mind that shorts, jeans and t-shirts cannot be worn in any of the specialty restaurants and public rooms at night. However, with no formal nights, themed events, or costume parties, you can rest easy knowing that packing for your cruise holiday is that little bit easier.

Most passengers, at some point during their cruise, utilise the water sports platform available. Generally though, Windstar passengers spend the majority of their time immersing themselves in the local culture and exploring the port being visited rather than staying aboard the ship. After returning from an incredible day exploring, passengers will spend their time socialising in the lounge area with live music beautifully played in the background.

Another recommended activity is to take a tour of the bridge! Windstar has an open bridge policy that allows guests to visit the bridge at any time and interact with crew. The crew is more than pleased to socialise and deliver a comprehensive tour of the bridge, allowing you to learn about the storied history of each vessel. Safety is naturally a concern, so the bridge does close to the public when the ship heads into or leaves a port.