Our coming review of Windstar Cruises

If you’re a regular reader of our website, you’ll remember I told you that about 20 years ago I vowed to never again step foot on an ocean cruise ship after a horrible and disappointing experience. The food was sub-par, we were constantly barraged with folks trying to sell us “art work”, the cruise ship seemed to be in cahoots with every store on every island, and I got real tired of our waiters streaming in singing “Hot, Hot, Hot”.

Well, the ocean cruise industry has changed significantly over the past 20 years and I no longer hold that “never again” opinion. We’ve since sailed with Silversea, Crystal Cruises, and most recently Viking Ocean Cruises.  While there are distinct differences in these three cruise lines, we greatly enjoyed all three.

As we’re becoming raving fans of some of the ocean cruise lines, I thought it might be fun for Carol and I to experience an ocean cruise line that has perhaps a dash of nostalgic romance, sprinkled with just the right amount of soft-adventure.

Therefore, in the not too distant future, Carol and I will be enjoying a fabulous 10-day sailing of the Eastern Caribbean Islands with Windstar Cruises.  We’ve got a small group of 9 “roaming boomers” coming along, and we can’t wait.

So, why Windstar Cruises?

Why We’re About to Sail with Windstar Cruises

1. The idea of a small sailing yacht cruise has a certain allure to me.  I can’t quite tell you why.  Perhaps it’s the sails flapping in the breeze, my perceived peacefulness of the whole experience.  No crowds.  Getting into small ports that larger cruise ships can’t reach.  And to me, the ships are graceful and beautiful.  Plus, we’ll be sailing on the world’s largest sailing yacht.  Sounds worthy of a try … right?
2. A number of our clients have sailed Windstar in the past.  They reported good things.  And, a travel blogger friend of ours just got back from sailing with Windstar in the Polynesian Islands. He raved.
3. Windstar has garnered “Best Small Ship Cruise Line” from Condé Nast, “Best Small Ship Cruise Line” from Travel + Leisure, and Windstar is also regarded highly with my industry peers as well as the Virtuoso Travel Network.
4. I’ve heard wonderful things about their service and cuisine.
5. Some folks that we talk to have been concerned that they don’t have a balcony on a yacht.  Well, I suppose that goes without saying.  So now, I’ll be able to report back and share the experience of a cabin with a picture window instead of a balcony.  My guess is that we’ll all be top deck enjoying the wind in our faces, watching the sunsets, and sipping something with rum in it.
6. Instead of sailing to the Caribbean from Florida, our sailing starts in the Caribbean.  Therefore, we’re not wasting days of ocean sailing just to get to the islands.  And, because of that, we can explore many more islands.  We’ll be exploring 9 different islands in our 10 days.  Pretty sweet.  Right?
7. And lastly, we consider it our job to explore different travel experiences and report back to our readers and clients.  I know.  It’s a tough job.  But, somebody’s got to do it.

Therefore, if you’re not already subscribed to our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, click the links and follow along.  It won’t be long and we’ll be singing “Sailing, Sailing, Over the Bounding Main“. Argh me hearty! 😊
 
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