Sujormik

Thanks all, and I apologize to OP for hijacking the thread. There’s a deal in for a July 2019 sailing that is quite a lot less expensive and so even though we wanted to go in August for our anniversary, that savings seems significant.

So one more question, in Alaska ho pow essential is it to have a “balcony” suite. Last trip we had one and it’s really just a windo since it’s like a Juliet balcony and you can’t sit out there or anything. It was nice to open the window but I wonder if Alaska weather makes it less essential. Thanks!

Thank you, I’ve never tendered and it makes me nervous. Did you feel you missed out on anything by not going to Glacier Bay?

Hi, we are looking to do Alaska in August 2019, and have cruised on Windstar previously (Lisbon to Barcelona May 2016). We loved the ship,size, suites, and not having to tender, so are considering trying WS again next summer.

I’m eager to hear from those of you traveling to Alaska now so please share your thoughts—good, bad, ugly-when you return! Thanks.:)

You might look at Windstar for a smaller boat option. Their itinerary visits spots that the big ships don't in addition to the typical main stream ports. You get a huge cabin and wonderful food at a lot lower cost on a ~200 passenger ship than the smallest ships.

 

I wrote a report on the first Windstar sailing in this thread:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2635721

The day by day report that I wrote after I got back starts at post #84. Before that are posts including some questions I answered while on the cruise.

We actually sailed Windstar from Lisbon to Barcelona 2 years ago! I will recheck their options, thanks for commenting!

Another just beginning our trip planning (land and cruise) for August 2019 and SO GRATEFUL for this thread! I’ve already learned a lot, and am going to save it so I can find it again.

Like the lodging sitch...who woulda thunk there were no upscale hotel options?!? I’m actually giving thought to that RV rental idea.

We prefer a smaller boat for the ability to get into tighter spots and don’t care too much about on board entertainment (though good food is crucial, posing another dilemma!). I’d considered the luxury all inclusive but I don’t want to love the ship that much or I won’t want to hit all the stops lol.

We want to do Denali and Anchorage first, then cruise southbound for a two days in Vancouver.

Anyway, thanks again to OP and all,those who’ve replied, your help is invaluable!

Sue

Hello everyone. Home from the big European adventure and wanted to reply to this thread both to thank you all for your in out and to share our experience on the small ship in bad weather.

Our first night in the Star Breeze we left Lisbon on our way down the Algarve for docking in Portimao. Apparently it was one of the worst nights anyone had experienced on a cruise. People who've been on many cruises and never had issues were blown away by the bouncing and bumping. More than half didn't make it to dinner. The crew was short handed as well due to sea sickness. The captain acknowledged the next day that it was one of the worst nights he'd experienced as well. Fortunately my hubby went to sleep early and wasn't affected too badly at all!

We made every port so weather wasn't an issue there. However it was cold and rainy the first several days of the cruise which did impact our enjoyment greatly. The limited entertainment options were felt as well, since there wasn't much reason to stay in ports when the weather was so crappy and thus everyone was in the boat. The outdoor bar was virtually unused. The boat was silent by 10:30 every night. We were unable to eat outdoors due to the rain and cold but it took a few days for them to figure out that breakfasts etc should be served in Amphora. Candles was indoor as well.

In our low 50s, we were among the youngest on the ship. Nobody we encountered had a drink package, the pricing was just so high pretty much everyone felt the one or two drinks plus possibly wine at dinner made the cost untenable.

Still we did enjoy the trip overall, enjoyed much about the smaller boat and would definitely consider trying it again.

Just a brief reply, will do a full report later. First night in the boat was declared one of the worst nights ever experienced by MANY of the 200 guests. Crew was sick, officers were sick, apparently pretty unusual but it was major.

Hubby took some stuff from the ship doctor ( name escaping me, you'll all know it), wore the bands, and managed it as well as anyone. Rest of the time he held up pretty well. Thanks all.

Sorry, that was pretty whiny of me. I'm hoping weather forecasts are wrong and the seas won't be super choppy. Thanks for the support.

The weather is horrible?

So far the forecast here along the coast of Spain is horrible for the next 2 weeks. My hubby has been checking daily, and things don't look good at this point, even though we don't board til Sunday.

Does the boat movement get really bad? My husband is way nervous about the seasickness potential.

Does the boat cancel dockings? How do you tender in a storm? In places like Seville where there's no tendering do you not have to worry, or could storms keep the boat from getting inland up the river?

What do you do on the ship if there isn't any outdoor option? I mean, where do you hang out? I know big ships have zillions of lounges and other spaces, on Windstar boats is there anything other than the casino? What about say lounge chairs, are there any inside? I don't relish hanging in our cabin all the time.

How do you not be super bummed out when your once-in-a-lifetime trip sorta sucks? I know it's early, I'm just struggling with the potential. It's my husband's fault.

Thank you both.

Yes we chose the ship's tour for the same reason. I'm so unclear about how these things work! Thanks for responding.

We are going on the ship-offered excursion to the Alhambra, didn't want to risk traffic delays or whatever in trying to go solo, but I'm curious about the day. I know it is a long ride from the port to the site, but that's an 8:00 am to 10:00 pm day....is the entire day spent on the excursion or is there free time/down time to do other things, get a meal, etc.?

I hope these aren't ridiculous questions, just truly don't know what to expect. Thanks.

Thanks for your replies, helps a lot. The person insisting we hit the restaurant has a different insisted-on lunch place lol. I suspect we will be fine at either one!

Do you know if dinner on the ship is held later on nights when the ship is staying later in port?

Hi,

We are sailing Lisbon to Barcelona on the Star Breeze beginning May 8. Wondering how the port thing works.

The itinerary says we dock in Seville from 10:00 a.m. until 10 p.m. IF we hit land on time, and the day goes as planned, what does 10:00 p.m. actually mean? That we need to be ON the ship by 10:00? That the ship leaves port at 10:00?

I have an insistent dinner recommendation for Seville, the restaurant opens at 8:30 and we would get there before they open but obviously don't want take a chance of missing the boat!

Thanks.

Let us know what you find out. I assume it's this itinerary:

 

http://www.windstarcruises.com/Cruise/Itinerary-Ports/Mediterranean/Spanish-Serenade/?id=18&sid=18832#port-CSV

 

and it indeed shows the port as Seville. Since others have reported that the Legend actually docked there in the past rather than Cadiz, and given that Cadiz isn't mentioned anywhere on the website, I think you may indeed to docking at Seville. Works well for you, but we actually found Cadiz to be a very interesting port, and we enjoyed it.

No citation handy but I'm sure I read initially that the Star Breeze docks IN Seville, not Cadiz. It was sold as a benefit of the smaller ship size, and time saving to boot. Would love to hear how your reunion works out!

Thanks all for of your information. We will be going from Lisbon to Barcelona on the April 17. First time on Windstar so just trying to keep the wife calm.

Would love to get an update from you after your trip, we do the same trip May8-16.

Great news, lunch off the boat was my plan for sure, thanks!

And thanks for the smooth ride comment up thread, my husband is apprehensive about motion sickness so this is good news. He felt it on our one other cruise (one of the Disney behemoths) and I'm going to get him pressure bands for his wrists.

You guys are great, thanks so much.

Thanks everyone! I bring a flat iron, prefer not to schlep the dryer too so that's good news that there's one on board already.

As for the on and off, to add to my earlier question: there are a few late departures on this cruise, Seville comes to mind, maybe Granada. I'd totally want to partake of local cuisine whenever possible, but this trip isn't cheap! Do people usually eat meals on the boat? On the one hand, duh, it's already paid for. On the other, mealtimes in Spain aren't going to coincide with standard mealtimes. And is the food good enough to justify missing an in-town meal?

I'm the foodie, my husband not so much. Thanks in advance, you guys are great.

Hi. Some beginner questions if you don't mind:

Does the Star Breeze have a hair dryer in the cabin bathroom?

Can one exit and return to the ship more than once a day? In other words, can we do a shore excursion for a few hours, come back to boat for lunch and relaxation, head back out to land for drinks and/or dinner?

If we got the last cabin on a sailing does that mean we got a crappy cabin?

I'm sure I'll have more but appreciate in advance anyone who chooses to reply. Thanks.