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Wind Surf

Star Pride

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Wind Star

Wind Spirit

Exceeded Expectations!

Saint-Tropez

We sailed on the Windsurf Pride in 2018. A delightful trip with fond momories of ports of call and the people and staff we met on the Pride. Fast forward to 2023 Wind Surf sailing expecting a wonderful sailing experience with friends we invited to come along and join in the smaller ship luxury experience that Windstar had offered in the past.

Pro's of this trip:

Stateroom is comfortable and A/C worked well

Food in dining room was amazing.

Ports of call were interesting

Embarkation and debarkation were stream lined.

Cons:

 The level of service provided while in the pool/ lounge area to the boarding of tenders to get to shore was terrible. We were on the ship for 8 days and spent every afternoon and or evening poolside. We had 2 servers stop by our table to inquire if we wanted anything the entire time. Otherwise for any type of drink you needed to go to the bar and get it yourself. 

The seat cushions on most of the chairs had black mechanics grease on them. After watching the sail away expedition where they raise the sails we watched as grease dripped from the gears on several of the masts onto the chairs below. This observation came to light when we couldnt figure out how we kept getting black grease on our clothes after sitting on the deck. 

As other reviews have noted the ship is a bit tired. The sink on our bathroom had been painted over with white paint that chipped and peeled off onto the counters.

 A leaking ceiling above the main stairway where the water was captured by a bucket was left unrepaired for 4 days. 

We stayed on deck 1 where every evening the hallways wreaked of sewer gas. Staterooms did not smell but the walk to our room was uncomfotably smelly. 

Tender service absolute nightmare. There were 300 guests on board. We tendered at all but one port. At each port they took anyone with a shore excursion booked thru the ship first. 

All others had to wait. The 1st port it took 90 min to get off the ship. 2nd port 75 min to get off ship. all others a min of 60 min before you could get off the ship after tender procedures had begun. We had tours booked thru private vendors as did others on the ship. Tours were missed with money lost because of the massive delay. We were told after the 1st port they would stagger 1 tender for ship tours then 1 tender for others. This never happened. there were supposed to be 3 boats to tender however only 2 were operational the entire cruise. Guessing these also doubled as life boats so the fact that 1 was inoperable for the entire trip is wreckless. 

Gluten free options other than the food  prepared for dinner is disappointing. A loaf of packaged white bread was the only bread option at all times. When I inquired I was told that because of the limited space on the ship they can't bake fresh GF options. Completely understandable, however pre packaged bagels,muffins,rolls etc are all commercially available and would be a welcome change. 

Needless to say we were quite disappointed in our ship experience. The staff is friendly but seemed to be spread quite thin. We have sailed on cruise lines from Carnival, Princess,Celebrity,Azumara,Royal Caribbean and Sea Bourn. This Wind surf cruise was by far the most disappointing when it comes to tendering proceedures and ship maintenance.

Standards changed since last cruise

Venice-to-Athens cruise, with stops in between, very enjoyable, Made a lot of sense to tack on a few days in Venice and Athens, at beginning and end. 

(Note to self: take lots of shorts and polo shirts, long pants not so much, given summer high humidity. Skip jackets as small umbrella suffices. Also, seriously consider Premium Economy, at a minimum, for daylight flight back. Since we procrastinated over booking hotels, could have made better and more optimal choices, booking earlier.) 

Concerned at first that we were younger (early 60s) than the average (mid-70s) and the ship had minimal activity/amenities (compared to a RCI), once we rested and relaxed, however, we fit right in, making acquaintances, and  enjoying each other’s company. 

On the plus side, cabin, bed, pillow, steward, all excellent; on the negative side, food very hit or miss. Default Amphora dining room dinner menu descriptions not matched by food quality (in a word, terrible--are they cutting costs?). Ditto French-themed restaurant, Stella, food served never hit the mark, regardless of evening or menu choice.  

On the other hand, buffet lunches and breakfasts at Veranda (outside deck), and Compass Grill dinners in same location, were high quality. We worked the reservation system to have as many meals as possible in the Compass Grill, five dinners, I believe. 

BTW, ‘James Beard’-inspired meals cruise theme a joke: single item on menu taken from JB recipe book, normally the worst entrée choice. On-board visiting chef never graced or sweated in the kitchen, cooking demo equally a joke. (Perhaps others don’t notice or care?) 

The few tours booked were ok, guides not exactly world-class, and let’s be honest, Croatia, Montenegro, Peloponnese: solid tier-2 (vs. a tier-1 Rome or London) so worthy of visit, say, every 15 years? Outings and strolling on our own with digital guides was just right. 

Plan to skip sketchy and expensive ship Wi-Fi and use 15G of 5G data supplement to monthly US cellular plan, paid off. Good connection in ports, and often off the coast, and definitely available for essential google maps navigating in ports. (Google Maps and Tripadvisor has everything you need: where to go, what to see, and how to get there, and walk back. Apple Pay or contactless Visa works a charm, too. Best to use bank-affiliated ATM for cash withdrawal, stand-alone ATMs rake in fees.) 

In sum, great to get away for a full two weeks, cabin was excellent and low-key aspects of Windstar we turned into positives. Ship needs refurbishment (Spring 2024?), however. 

Since dining and food served are seemingly important to us, a consideration for a next cruise. Personally miss the corny aspects of Royal Caribbean: shows, obnoxious cruise director, late-night comedian, extensive spa rooms, serious pool and lounge areas, etc., perhaps opt for a larger vessel next time? 

Grateful for much-needed get-away Adriatic cruise. Despite high airfare costs, hope it's a welcome spur to more regular European vacations.

06/17/23 Adriatic: Comfortable cabin, hit-or-miss dining, more restful than stimulating.

Rostock (Warnemunde)

My husband and I have traveled a lot, but never cruised.  We weren't interested in large ships, so our first cruise was on the Wind Surf in May, 2023, Italy and Croatia.  In spite of very bad luck with the weather, we loved the experience and are already planning our next Windstar trip.  The ship is older and shows signs of wear if you look for it, but that didn't bother us a bit...we loved the really nautical feel and particularly the layout, light and spaciousness of the public spaces.  As everyone always mentions, the crew is just fantastic...whatever they're paid, I'm sure it's not enough. Their attitude goes a very long way towards making the experience relaxed and enjoyable.  

It was very easy to meet other passengers, but you could also get alone time if you wanted it.  Apparently, there were 240 passengers on board so around 80 under capacity.  Never stood in a line for anything other than very short lines boarding the tenders.

We found the food to be very good, most of the time not anything exceptional.  But more than fine.  Seemed that, for dinners, there was always one or two elements - maybe appetizer or dessert- that excelled if the main dish didn't.

We booked a suite and I'm glad we did because the size of regular cabin would have seemed confining to us.  Lighting in the suite and the bathrooms was great, and more than enough storage. Yes, there's a shower curtain, but plenty of room for my 6'2" husband.  Almost every other passenger we met was in regular cabin and had no issues, so paying for size upgrade is just our personal preference.

Particularly loved the quiet on the side decks and other public spaces.  So happy there was no piped in music in anywhere.

If we had better weather, cruise would have been perfect.  Had to skip Dubrovnik altogether because of weather, which was a major disappointment.  And ship excursion to Pompeii was also pretty awful because of steady rain, but obviously, had nothing to do with Windstar.

First Timers - Now Hooked!

I know all these ships do pretty much the same thing…travel overnight to the next destination & drop you off for a land excursion that’s just long enough t give you a little taste of the local flare. What made this smaller ship stand out was the AMAZING staff. Not just welcoming, but vibrant and funny personalities that truly made the trip. To name the standouts; Anthony (thanks for your hilarious dry humor & wonderful food service), Jearve (thanks for making my Lemon Drops perfect every time served with your sweet demeanor), Shelley (thanks for my four shots of espresso every morning with your gorgeous smile), Aaron (thanks for your all around great hospitality and getting the small crowd going till the bar closed down), Hicham (thanks for the above & beyond on seating & everything else), Michelle (thanks for the never ending cheerful organizing of the shore excursions & dealing with us with humor), Russ (thanks for hustling in the breakfast hours to make hungry cluster of tourists happy), Zarko (thanks for serving us in gift selection & the swing dance) and the infamous Gareth…thanks for the entertainment & knowing who could be joked with and ribbed a bit more with expertise! Our housekeeping was swift and impeccable & I apologize for not recollecting the gentleman’s name who was in charge of our floor. He never forgot my name and I feel terrible for spacing out while writing this months later. To all onboard Terima kasih again and again! 

THANK YOU to the never seen cooking staff who made remarkable food for the dinners in the various restaurants. I ate at Michelin restaurants in Italy prior to boarding the ship and surprisingly my tastebuds were more impressed with what was served on the Wind Surf. 

Great late night entertainment in the bar with brother and sister musician team. I danced every night until they closed.

While he Wind Surf is clean and comfortable, I noted that the old girl is in need of a renovation, modernization and facelift! She is dated and a few things appear as if they’ve been touched up too many times. Lots of boo boos on the exterior too. 

Overall a great experience.

The staff onboard made the trip great and the dining was truly exceptional! Bigger isn’t better on cruises.

This was our 5th cruise with Windstar and our 2nd on the Wind Surf. Took this 4/30/23 sailing as it was as far out as our FCC would take us on the schedule. We knew the Spring weather could be a mixed bag (and it was) but that didn't damper our spirits or Windstar's casual elegance. Windstar consistently excels at great staff; they call you by name by the second day, excellent dining options; never a disappointing meal, and the size of ship that makes for a very relaxing atmosphere. Our cruise was only 3/4 full with 265 passengers so all areas of the ship were never over crowded. It is this small yacht feel that sets the Windstar's sail ships apart. 

A nice advantage with Windstar is that both occupants of a stateroom don't need to purchase the all inclusive drink package. On this sailing I did and my wife did not. It was perfectly catered to the individual's preference. Very few cruise lines do this, nice touch.

Excursion options are numerous at each port and are of high quality but seem to be a tad on the pricey side. We did 3 of them and were very happy. 

Ship was repairing a section of the teak deck while we sailed that led to the outdoor BBQ being moved to the rear of the ship around the pool and Compass Rose bar areas. Windstar should make this a permanent move, was a great atmosphere with the band front and center with everyone dancing the night away.

Overall Windstar knows who they are, know what their customers want and do it all very well.

Windstar keeps excelling 

Izmir

This was the third trans-Atlantic cruise we have taken on Windsurf.  She remains our favorite ship - she's not young but elegant, graceful, and really just about perfect.  Embarkation in Sint Maarten was seamless and we quickly got checked in.  Found many familiar faces from past crossings - some come back every year.  Staff just as welcoming and helpful as always.  After a brief muster drill (no need to bring lifejackets) we went up to the Captain's reception - lots of champagne, and an introduction to the department heads.  The signature SailAway was not possible because of wind conditions, but they eventually had 2 more.  Out of a possible 342 passengers, our sailing had 153.

Dining was as delicious as we remembered and everything about the ship looked well cared-for.  They take time to do some needed refreshing during this 2 week voyage and Stella Bistro was closed for a few days for carpet replacement, but it was no bother.

You really make your own entertainment getting acquainted with the interesting people on board.  There was a terrific duo in the Compass Rose - we have found the duos are always good and often superior to the bands and this was no exception.  The crew show varies because of who is performing - all are very talented!

Since this cruise does not stop until it reaches the Azores, there are interesting things to do offered every day, if you choose to take part.  Trivia is always hilarious and there was an author aboard discussing his latest book and the writing process.  Very knowledgeable photographers gave mini-workshops for taking photos with cameras and phones.  A couple of crew-led programs included navigation, the use of charts and sextants, stargazing, and bridge and galley tours, etc. It's all very low key on this cruise and if you just want to sit, knit, read a book and look at the ocean, you aren't bothered.

We did go to the fitness center and found some excellent weight machines, treadmills and bikes.  Of course, there's also a nice circuit of the teak deck to walk and plenty of deck chairs.  Windsurf's pool is more of a dip pool as it is small, but flanked by 2 large hot tubs.  The average age of the passengers is about 55 and we would say kids would probably be bored silly on this particular route (children under 8 are not allowed anyway), but older children especially those with an interest in nature, navigation, and ships would fit right in, assuming they aren't addicted to Internet pursuits.

The WiFi is quite limited: slow, inadequate for streaming videos, and expensive (determined by the number of cruising days).  It's all too easy to use data without realizing especially if you have more than one device.  Well, you are out in the middle of the ocean, after all.

Tours in Sao Miquel, Azores were interesting and ranged from a minibus tour to a hike.  Or there's plenty to see in the town of Ponta Delgada where the ship docked for the day.  The SailAway from there was magical!  Passing under the 25 de Abril Bridge in Lisbon is quite an experience too.  The Captain announced that even at the lowest tide there is only about 7.5 ft (2.2m) clearance for the masts.  Several passengers were up at 5:30 AM to see it.  Disembarkation is always sad, but we were all made comfortable with a nice breakfast and send-off to our next destinations.  We will be back on this beautiful ship again soon.

Windsurf - Our Favorite Ship

Prepandemic planning found a great cruise  combining three back to back itineraries to fulfill many of our bucket list places to visit - Caribbean to the Mediterranean, with a TransAtllantic Crossing! We have traveled WindSong, WindSpirit and WindStar ships in the past and enjoyed the casual atmosphere of the Windstar Cruise line, great cuisine and most importantly, attentive attention only these smaller ships can offer.  We particularly enjoyed WindSurf’s slightly larger size, especially on a two week ocean crossing and if the weather cooperates, the aspect of traveling with those beautiful sails up!!

Public spaces on these ships are second to none, no casino or large scale show productions, but quiet nooks on the promenade decks to read, nap and disconnect from this fast paced life we all lead.  Open bridge deck to visit with the captain and/or first officer, walking up to the aft deck bar for a sunset cocktail with the staff greeting you by name and have your preferred cocktail ready.  Friends that have traveled with us on this cruise line agree with this type of vacation lifestyle.  We also love the opportunity of anchoring in smaller harbors, quiet pier destinations and providing the water sports platform to enjoy the areas via the water, especially in tropical destinations.

Our age is 69 yeats old and we also like the cultural enrichment this cruise line provides!

Can’t wait to plan our next adventure

Adventure at second home on WindSurf!

Quick background.  This was our 46th cruise, the 3rd on Windstar. We treated my son and his family so they could experience a 5-star cruise line.  Windstar didn't disappoint!  

Flying from Charlotte, NC no problem to St Maarten.  Customs there was very slow but the transfer to the ship was fine.  Checked in at the cruise terminal and showed our vaccination paperwork & passports again and found out there were only 183 passengers on a ship that holds 342.  Off to the Wind Surf and checked at reception.  No glass of champagne, and was offered a bottle of water which we declined.  Escorted to our cabin, #245, with the family.  We had 3 cabins in a row and met our cabin steward, Toya.  Toya did a great job always with a smile.  Sail away was great with the music and the unfurling of the sails as we left St. Maarten. 

We had dinner in the main restaurant, Amphora, and afterward explored the ship.  Our previous cruises on Windstar had been on the smaller ships, Wind Song & Wind Spirit.  More about the cabins later.

At the first breakfast at the Veranda we met Arcmed, Russ and Prast.  These 3 gentlemen were with us on our last cruise on the Wind Spirit for 17 days around the Tahitian Islands.  I was amazed that they remembered us and we enjoyed the excellent service they provided my entire family.  On the last night we had dinner at Stella Bistro and all three came there to wish us a safe trip come and hoped to see us again on another Windstar cruise.  Just a really nice touch.

As for the food, it was excellent in every restaurant.  The BBQ buffet one night that was outside was great as was the beach BBQ on Virgin Gorda.  Candles and Stella Bistro were very good but they have the same menu every night so one visit to each was enough.

Comment on the entire crew staff.  I know it's been mentioned in other reviews about the crew on Windstar but after a day or two they really do remember your name, and drink order and always have a smile.  Any request is met with the answer, "no problem, consider it done."  Simon Terry, the ship's Captain, was seen every day and was easy to engage in a conversation.  As we were leaving to go home he was at the gangway shaking our hand, thanking us for sailing with Windstar.  

Overall, a great family cruise that we all will remember.  Not really a cruise if you are looking for nightly entertainment, there is no casino or movies.  The pool is small but there are lots of lounge chairs and a bar is right there.  I like the policy with the drink package for the following reason.  My wife is not a drinker and on other cruise lines if one person wants the drink package they charge both passengers.  On Windstar they only charge the drinker.  How fair is that?  You also get 30% off on a bottle of wine that you can share.  The wine by the bottle was very reasonable.  A bottle of Caymus Cab last month a Greg Norman's restaurant cost $195.00.  The same bottle on Windstar, $130.00.  A little  pricey but we had lots of onboard credit to use up and we were on vacation.  

One other comment.  It doesn't hurt to tip early in the cruise as the crew will remember you and maybe give you a little more attention, but on Windstar every crew member was great.

VIRGIN GORDA - Beautiful beach where we had the beach picnic.  Lots of water toys to play with.  food and service were provided by the ship.  No locals bothering you selling junk or hair braiding!! 
ST. BARTS - Small strip of shops with snobby French sales persons.  Quick look around than back to the ship.
ANTIGUA - Took a cab to the beach, don't remember the name.  
Other ports were nothing to write about.

Great Family Cruise

I have been on numerous other cruises with other companies. Hands down this was the most fun. The ship is beautiful and in excellent condition and very well maintained. The staff was incredible from the Steward to the Hotel Manager, The excursion desk, the restaurant staff and the captain. I can't figure out how so many people knew my name. The food was great and all home made not pre-made which you get on the big ships. I loved the two beach parties and the 2 onboard barbecues. We liked this so much we booked two more trips. Venice to Rome via the Dalmatian Coast and Sicily and I am now booking from Lisbon to Rome 15 days. Also I liked the eclectic  mix of the passengers.  We loved all the stops along our itinerary especially the British Virgin Islands. Another standout. The French Island Les Asese an English Harbor Antigua.

I agree with another reviewer 100 Awsome. We loved the ship

We travel with Windstar Cruises and we vacation with Windstar Cruises. Since we are from the freezing  Northeast, we like to vacation in the Caribbean preferable early winter. We were fortunate to spend 17 days on the Surf over the Christmas Holiday. When traveling in the Caribbean in December the sea can be rougher but usually not that bad. This trip the ocean was not really choppy but it did have swells which lying the their great WS bed rocked us to sleep. These swells did cause us to not to be able visit Falmouth Harbor and St. Barts twice but WS made other great substitutions. We went into St. John's,  Antigua, the day of the final for the World Cup and that was fantastic and fun watching it with the people of Antigua. We also went into Basseterre, St.  Kitts twice which we thought was great due to the beautiful vistas and great beaches. 

This cruise had a great itinerary with three beautiful days in the BVIs and a daylight sail from one island to the next through the BVIs. We love the BVI's they are like a lovely island necklace circling the Caribbean Sea. Sitting  deck side, under the sails  looking out at the splendid vistas is " We are lucky to be alive " sailing experience. 

Singularly, Windstar Cruises has the best crew and service of any travel provider, they are consistently, 100% excellent. After 27 cruises with Windstar, while always excellent, this cruise  food shined absolutely delicious. The laundry service is better than any laundry we have at home, plus it enables us to travel very light. 

What tickles us is that the shower has fabulous hot water and great water pressure, no water trickles on this ship!

We have loved our years on Windstar and we hope that whoever reads this and cruises with WS,  they will as well.  Happy Sailing

Great Holiday Vacation On the Wind Surf, Again

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