This was our first cruise (ever), and it did not disappoint. We were hesitant to take any cruise because the idea of joining thousands of people on a ship did not appeal to us. When we ran across the smaller Windstar Star Pride online and its itinerary (Greece/Italy), we decided to take the chance. The ship has been beautifully redone to accommodate more passengers (up to 312). We were impressed with our cabin, the restaurants, lounges, decks, spa, and exercise room.

The crew members were absolutely topnotch and were what made the trip so special. They go above and beyond in making you feel welcomed and know how to strike the perfect balance between respecting your privacy and checking in with you to see if you need anything. Because the ship is smaller, it gave us the sense that we were part of community traveling together. We got to know many of the crew and passengers and enjoyed the social atmosphere very much. The food and beverage service was fantastic. The different restaurants offered a wonderful variety of excellent dishes. Antony, the wine sommelier, was excellent and helped us with our wine selections. Dwi, our server for many of our meals, memorized our names the first night and was on top of our every need. The entertainment consisted of two bands: "Top Society" and "The Delight Duo". Top Society had an extensive song list that covered several decades/genres. They had beautiful voices and even gave a special Beatles performance. The Delight Duo (Natalie and Mauricio) were a great complement to Top Society. Mauricio (guitar/singer) created arrangements for the duo that were lively and got passengers out of their seats and dancing. Natalie (percussion/singer) was not only a wonderful musician but an expert dancer. She taught the passengers a variety of dances which kept us moving. Steve, who oversees the entertainment, definitely knew how to complement the ship's events with the right music and dance!

The ports we visited were picturesque and the cities were filled with beautiful architecture and places to see and dine. We had such a great time on this ship and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a smaller cruise ship experience. Simply amazing!