HuliHuli

On 10/26/2021 at 2:53 PM, scorpioncrawl said:

We have been avid cruisers, 2-3x a yr, BEFORE the world changed! Just recently received our covid boosters and feel like we may be ready..

So what are the changes that y'all are seeing on the ships? Does it still feel the same? Inquiring about boarding/disembarkation.....restaurants, lounges, buffets, areas around ship to read or play cards.....Would appreciate your input.

 

Thanks much!

 

Kim & Mike

Like you, we're avid cruisers - 2-3x a yr.  After 4 cancellations, we jumped on Windstar to try the small ship environment in July.  Despite needing to mask and three suspect COVID tests onboard, it was as good or better than ever.  Now, just 30 days from sailing on the Gem, passenger loads still look low (50%) and it is mask free onboard.  No lines, great food and service, and choose your own excursions ... what's stopping you?

12 hours ago, Ski Mom 2 said:

FREE AIR! What? Since when does WS give free air?

Don't be fooled.  Fares have increased for these sailings by $600-700 over similar cruises this past summer.  Included air, yes; free air, NO!

On 9/23/2021 at 6:50 AM, Acruzaholic said:

How do you confirm double points when booked thru a big box travel (cxxstco) and you don't see/get an actual NCL invoice.  

That TA does not reflect the extra points on their confirmation documents unless you press them to do so.  You can always ask NCL for an Amenities Confirmation.

6 minutes ago, Seany527 said:

What did you upgrade from and what did you upgrade to?

 

If you took a free at sea offer and upgraded it to unlimited, the unlimited I believe only applies to one device. So if your girlfriend wants unlimited as well, she needs to pay the full price since you took the free at sea offer and converted it to cover the cost of your unlimited internet. 

Bingo!

9 hours ago, SireDoime said:

Is there a reason you don't just call them now and just get it taken care of?

Well of course - that would take some actual effort to get it corrected as opposed to asking a community of cruisers for a solution they cannot provide. 🤪

58 minutes ago, alyssamma said:

Is there an option to get pizza?

It's an Italian restaurant!  See https://cruisefrugal.com/cruise-ship-menus/norwegian-ncl-joy-la-cucina-menu/

47 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

I just booked a cruise and when I did check in I was offered to upgrade the internet for about $85 for the week and I did it for myself but it says it is not available for my girlfriend. Why would the exclude her from such a wonderful deal

I think it is for the same reason they can't upgrade both of you to separate bathrooms.  Think about it!

14 hours ago, SpainAlien said:

Thanks everyone, I guess we could ask for the standard machine they have in balcony cabins instead. The trouble is I like fairly weak coffee and by the time I have added enough milk to an espresso for my taste it's cold.

I'd like a Javabot coffee machine, but at a $1,000,000 a copy, I don't think FDR will be installing them anytime soon.  Until then, a battery operated frothier and a Nespresso will work just fine.

But if you truly want weak, tasteless coffee, head straight to the buffet ... do not pass go, do not collect $200. 🤪

6 hours ago, KAYKAY121 said:

Thanks for the responses and pictures. I am still undecided. Wish it was a Murphy bed so we would have all that room either way. 🙂

 

I hear Murphy snores.  Won't that keep you awake? 🤪

On 10/13/2021 at 3:52 AM, bigjohnwvu said:

Can I make a 10:40 AM flight out of Tampa?

Who knows? If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creek Don't Rise maybe yes; maybe no.  If the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars, then peace will guide the planets and your chances might be better.  CONTEXT?

I have not cruised to Rhodes (yet), but if I had the chance I would definitely forego dinner on board and seek out one of the dinner venues in the old town area.  I spent nearly a week in Rhodes some years back and the area is awesome in the evening.

13 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Thanks for the link😀 sounds like you had a fantastic time!!!!👍

Indeed we did! 🍹

On 9/20/2021 at 1:39 PM, Lois R said:

😃Hello Windstar cruisers, after looking at Windstar for a long time, I have a cabin on hold on The Breeze for May 2022.

 

The itinerary is San Diego to Vancouver........I love the Pacific Coast and haven't been in quite a few years.  I have been sailing Silversea over the past 5 years and prior to that Celebrity for many, many years.  So been on Mass Market and Luxury.......Windstar has been on my radar for a long time.  I know the Breeze has recently been in a drydock.......what can ya'll tell me about the line and the ship?😃

 

Thanks so much!!!

@Lois R:  You might like reading my review of the Star Breeze July 31 sailing at https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=682006.

Cheers and happy sailing.

On 9/14/2021 at 2:13 PM, complawyer said:

hey, dcguy64. just out of curiosity, what are you gonna do if all 4 bids are accepted?

I'm sure he will enjoy his "goof luck."  🤣

23 minutes ago, complawyer said:

contrary to the other post, we've been there twice, and for a 3rd time, i wouldnt even bother to get of the ship. 

I guess I wouldn't get "of" [sic] the ship either, but I WOULD certainly get off the ship on the earliest possible tender to enjoy the sand, food and drink throughout the cay.  It's a YAY!

On 9/28/2019 at 11:41 AM, BirdTravels said:

Can't really get a good smoked BBQ on a ship with no open flames.

Actually, the new Steven Raichlen Grill on the Windstar power yachts delivers excellent smoked meats following Raichlen's recipes.  So you can get "good smoked BBQ on a ship," just not NCL apparently.

With all of French Polynesia closed to cruises this seems like a moot point.

We had cloth masks on our Star Breeze cruise and they laundered just fine.

On 8/28/2021 at 6:55 PM, complawyer said:

club suites are not----repeat after me, not suites, haven or otherwise and do not include any of the amenities that come with the real suite category cabins.

 

again, a club suite is just a renamed mini suite (with a fresh coat of paint)  sorry. i do believe however you are entitled to book dinner reservations and shows earlier.

 

all that being said, however, if you are able, i suggest you consider booking a haven if you are looking for all the extra perks. the only draw back is you will never be satisfied with a lessor category cabin

We get it; I I think you have repeated yourself four times now.  And please don't regale us with your Haven thoughts - we've heard it too many times as well.

36 minutes ago, themutis said:

Well that is good new.  Could I ask what cabin you had?

415

On 8/31/2021 at 9:20 AM, milepig said:

Why do we need the test WS is selling?  It seems like they’re covering everything including the disembarkation test?

My discussions with Windstar onboard indicates their provision of the test is linked to whether the port of call requires them to conduct the test as part of their port entry requirements.  If the port does not require it, you may be responsible.

3 hours ago, LTCOP said:

Yes, I have a friend currently on board the Breeze and they will still sail to Tahiti without passengers.  Hopefully, the Covid numbers will come down quickly and cruises will be able to resume soon.

 

I think we all have friends on the Star Breeze!  So sad to see such a wonderful ship taken offline.  Fair winds and following Breezes during the transit.

2 hours ago, complawyer said:

d**n rumrunner2021 you got me again. by the way, did you disagree with my position, or just want to point out it was inthe wrong spot.

 

tell you what (if we are ever on the same ship) if you keep track of evereytime i misplace a post. i will but you an equal number of beers (or rum as your name implies. I am partial to the mojitos at sugarcane)

That sounds like a hollow promise @complawyer.  You'll be in the Haven and @RumRunner2021 will be out with the masses, unable to enter the Haven bar.  Oh wait, maybe you can sneak them in? 🙃

15 hours ago, milepig said:

Regardless of whether they CAN, I hope Windstar does the right thing and voluntarily leaves Venice itself as a port. The cruise industry is destroying a treasure. 

I respectfully disagree.  If one wonders why cruise ships are in Venice, they need to research the history of the lagoons themselves.  Cruise ships are not the principal cause of damage to Venice; that award goes to "man," i.e., those that made past decisions to vastly alter the lagoons surrounding this picturesque city.

• The lagoon used to have an average depth of 40cm until less than 100 years ago. The digging and deepening of canals to allow (in part) oil tankers to pass led to the erosion of 70% of the natural sediments and an increase in depth to an average 1,2m… that’s an increase of +200%.
• The increased amount of water led to the erosion of sandbanks of the lagoon. Sandbanks are home to the Venetian wildlife: fishes, birds, small rodents, and plants. Since the digging of the canals started, the habitat of local species has decreased drastically.
• Finally, the other significant cause of erosion in Venice are the annual acqua alta flooding events caused by a combination of factors, from rising sea levels and unusually high tides to land subsidence that has caused the ground level of the city to sink.

Does the passage of cruise ships add to the long term problem?  Sure.  But any thought that simply banning cruise ships will solve the problem is sadly naïve.  JMHO

For our cruise from Sint Maarten, Windstar simply pointed us to the country's own websites for entry information.   This is much safer for them since they have no control over the ever changing national entry requirements nor should they assume the responsibility to inform each passenger every time they change.  I support their decision - a little self responsibility never hurt anyone.