lkakers

On 11/22/2022 at 6:56 AM, Redtravel said:

On the ship, each cabin gets a cloth bag tote bag, a small zip case with luggage tags.  Nice, but would’ve been more useful before the cruise.  I have a collection of Windstar tote bags. Never got the same bag twice.  

We got the tote bag as expected (I have several now as well, all different!), but no zip case with luggage tags. We did as the above posters indicated, just brought the bags to the pier and they tagged them for us.

Thanks for the info, both of you! Much appreciated.

Does Windstar still mail out embarkation documents/luggage tags prior to sailing? We sail out a week from Saturday and haven't received anything. It's been more than a decade since we last sailed with them, so apologies if this is old news. I tried to search the board for an answer to this and couldn't turn anything up.

Curious about this. Were you able to connect?

IMO, the Clipper captain is correct; the Clippers are more true "sailboats" and Windstar has "sailing yachts" with significant stabilizers that keep the ship level at most normal sea conditions.

I've only done two Windstar cruises; the first one was Costa Rica and IIRC, we spent something like 85-90% it under sail.  We had one day of rough seas, and that was just a lot of rocking and rolling, not heeling. When it wasn't rough, I don't recall much of a heel at all. 

IMO, the Star Clippers are adventure sailing, Wind Star is charming, gentle, luxury sailing.  

On 3/9/2020 at 11:25 AM, ahottoddie said:

Just got home from our Windsurf trip...we were in cabin 245, which we found to be perfect! Once you get the “lay of the land” on board you will find this cabin conveniently across from a central staircase to go up and down between all decks, and convenient for daily disembarking and the water sports deck on deck 2...our friends were in 222, and their only complaint was the morning noise from setting up the disembarking platform outside their window 

Great news, thank you, ahottoddie!  We were originally booked in 151, but got upgraded to 245 so I came to this thread to see if there was any info on that. Your info makes me even more excited. 

Our traveling companions are in 243, so I assume they're in just about the same boat (pun not intended, but not avoided). 🙂

On 8/5/2022 at 3:37 PM, avalong said:

OK, I did some detective work. We were in cabin 123 on our first Windsurf cruise. 123 is on the starboard side. I'm quite certain the head of our bed was toward forward, feet to aft. IF your block of seven cabins is set up like our block of seven was, then cabin number 151 should be set up the same. That's a big "IF," I know.

Better than nothing! Thanks for the effort and response. 🙂

This thread is dormant, but just wanted to see if anyone had any info/feedback/suggestions for where to look for more data.

Spouse and I, and my sister & her daughter are booked on the Ocean Crossing from Lisbon to St. Maarten this coming November.  We're booked in rooms 151 and 149. Feedback suggests 149 must be fine and 151 might catch cigarette smoke. Wondering if there's any new info on that.

My BIGGER question is, tho -- is there any chart or rubric to figure out which direction the beds are facing? My spouse prefers the cozy against-the-wall side of the bed, and I prefer the opposite, the side towards the rest of the cabin.  As our cabins are on the starboard side, this means we'd prefer the head of the bed to be forward, our feet aftward.
 

Any way to figure out if we lucked out?

I think you are confusing Regent with another cruise line. I just got off the Navigator on Nov. 8th and the nights system was still being used. The website also does not indicate any change in the system from nights sailed to number of sailings.

Thanks, Dave. I think I was typing my question when you answered.

Internet is free after four sailings (used to be 21 nights, but that changed this year).

OK, this is slightly off-topic, as this is more about Seven Seas Society benefits, but I'm confused by your statement above. Where did you get the "4 sailings" information? According to RSSC.com, the free internet still kicks in at 21 days.

I'm about to embark on my 2nd Regent sailing (not my fifth), but since they instituted the "your new tier benefits take effect on the first day of the cruise during which you transistion from one tier to the next" rule, and as my first was 14 days, and my upcoming one is 12 days (total 26 days), I'm expecting to get my free internet on this upcoming cruise.

Is this not right?

DH and I were on a Windstar cruise a few years back. We did not find it nearly as lux as a Regent cruise.

 

The cabins (yes cabins) were very small, but we spent little time there. The work out room then was a mostly broken down treadmill in front of a port hole. There was hardly any entertainment. On our particular cruise we had a singer/piano player, so we danced a bit when he sang and played. Half way through the cruise (7 day cruise) he left and there was NOTHING. We were supposed to have a deck BBQ, but it was rained out.

 

First night on the cruise, there were no empty chairs to sit for an evening drink, the deck was always packed with not enough seats for everyone at night.

 

The pool is the size of a whirlpool.

 

Positives: We did make good friends on the cruise, had lovely dinners with newly made friends. Because it was so small, we could go to ports where large ships could not go. The port talks were true information, not sales pitches.

 

 

Among our 10 cruises, this was the only cruise where we got billed for things we did not buy, things from the bar in the middle of the night when we were sleeping, buying 2 beers and being billed for 3 etc etc. it was really annoying. We did get it straightened out, but left me with a bad taste.

 

When we got back to St. Thomas, they could not wait to get rid of us. I overheard the crew discussing how to get us to leave the ship as soon as possible, so they threatened with a HUGE ship is about to come to port, better leave before they get all the taxis.

 

DH also saw a large bug, he luckily did not tell me. There were no elevators of course, and a very small stair case. We tendered most places.

 

Bags were scanned upon returning to the ship, and I had bought a souvenir bottle of liquor in one port. They promptly confiscated it, two days before the end of the cruise. I found that insulting.

 

Those are things that led me not to cruise them again and am happy with Regent. These things happened a few years back. Things might have changed.

 

We sailed Azamara this spring since Regent's Carib cruise was the same as the year before. I LIKED Azamara a lot. It's not Regent Lux, but a lot more Lux than the Windstar cruise we were on.

I'm so sorry you did not enjoy your Windstar cruise.

As I said a few times in my post, most Regent cruisers would not find Windstar luxe enough for them, but I was just trying to give a view to the folks for whom a simply upscale, completely relaxed, no lines, open dining, casual elegance vibe.

As you and I both noted, you really can't bank on their being ANY entertainment on the ship. It's not a priority for me (always happy to read, play cards with shipmates, socialize with shipmates, watch a movie in my staterooom, or simply watch the waves and land go by while sitting on the deck with a post-prandial cocktail or cup of tea/coffee), but if there are folks out there for whom being entertained with shows/music/games is an important part of their cruise, then Windstar is not for them.

I don't doubt that you encountered no spaces available on the deck, but it's not something I've run into. It may be that my personal schedule helps that but a few times I know that the pool area is full enough that I've preferred to lounge on the fly bridge (just above the pool area) which is extremely charming, IMHO. (And you're right, the pool is drastically small. Although I love swimming, I've actually never taken a dip in either Regent's or Windstar's pools -- so not a priority, that I forgot to mention the tiny pool! I'm more likely to snorkel or swim in the sea than swim in a pool when on vacation, and water the sports deck on the Windstar ship is really nice for all sorts of water sports (including snorkel/swimming and other more-equipment-involved water sports) right from the ship.

I commiserate on the billing -- I often wonder if Regent hasn't figured out that paying their wholesale rate for all the included drinks isn't cheaper than all the personnel costs involved in the accounting nightmare of billing everybody and having to correct mistakes. I do wish Windstar would include drinks... that would be a huge plus. I also wonder if someone wasn't giving your stateroom number instead of their own (either on purpose or accidentally), or if was just employee error. Upsetting, regardless. I'm happy to report I haven't run into this.

I'm wondering if you were perhaps on the larger Wind Surf ship, and not one of the smaller ones (Wind Star or Wind Spirit)... I've not been on her, so I don't know if the lack near the pool could be due to the fact that there are 2x the pax on her vs. the other two. And perhaps their rush to get the pax off the ship in St. Thomas? (Though there is no excuse for that -- deplorable. I'm so sorry that happened to you. I thankfully have not run into that on any cruise line, unless you count the usual "it's time for you all to go now... we need to turn the ship... your vacation is OVER" spiel. I've gotten that on all my cruises! :rolleyes: LOL.)

Luckily, we've not run into any insects, or having anything confiscated (even though we have brought hard liquor aboard which, unlike wine/soft drinks, is clearly stated as not being allowed and subject to confiscation... we've just been very lucky on that front!). I will admit I haven't had perfect service on Windstar, but I didn't have perfect service on Regent. About the same, so I consider that to be a wash. Lovely, not perfect.

My parents, whose 2 favorite cruiselines are Windstar and Regent as well have sailed the Wind Surf, but much prefer the intimacy of the smaller ships. Just to show that a Regent customer can enjoy Windstar, my parents have been on probably 20 Windstar cruises and 15-20 Regent ones, going back to Radisson Song of Flower (Gold status). Still love both.

So, I do agree with you, Windstar is definitely not for every Regent cruiser, but it could be an option for some.

I usually make my own air arrangements. We did the Costa Rica trip with Windstar. The cruise was fine, but we flew in to San Jose and then had a 90 minute bus ride to the ship. That was ugly! We later found out we could have flown into an airport much closer.

 

Meanwhile, with a max of 320 people, these ships are not for everyone. But it is a unique style

Am assuming this entry is just to further other people's comments about alternate cruiselines with relaxed atmospheres. My own personal preferences would cause me to highly recommend Windstar, but I know some Regent travelers find it not quite luxe enough for their tastes.

While I love the spaciousness of the Regent cabins, I also have to confess to loving the compact efficiency of the Windstar cabins -- the use of space is incredibly inventive, and I repeat, efficient, and I'm always amazed I have plenty of storage (and in fact always have vacant storage space available... and I'm not a particularly spartan packer). I was initially leary of only having 2 portholes (before being on Windstar, I'd never cruised without a balcony), but since the ship is so small, and it is very much like sailing your own yacht (with a 100+ new-to-you friends), I find I don't miss the balcony (or a full window) at all, since if you want a view of the outside, a sojourn on deck (where it is always easy to find a secluded spot) solves that issue.

I, too, have done the Costa Rica tour -- and I'm a little perplexed at the assertion that one could fly into an airport closer to Puerto Caldera than SJO -- SJO is a small airport already, and Puerto Caldera is a small town in a fairly out-of-the-way place surrounded by other small villages. I tried Googling other airports and came up with naught, but I may have missed something.

The 2.5 hour drive from San Jose to Puerto Caldera on Windstar's transfer bus was made extremely pleasant due to the informative guide (tons of info on the local fauna, flora, peoples, geography, history, culture, etc.).

While andyonli is correct in saying Windstar's ships have a max passenger count of around 320 (Wind Surf's double occupancy capacity is 312, maximum occupancy of 362), the Wind Star is the ship that sails in Costa Rica, and has a double occupancy capacity of 148 (max 152).

So, my two favorite cruiselines are Regent and Windstar, because they both have the relaxed feel -- "Casual Elegance" is what they term their dress code, and it's the same as Regen'ts "Elegant Casual." Regent and Windstar also share the following qualities, IMO: attentive but unobtrusive staff, open dining, no lines, no crowds, wonderful ambiance, the height of relaxation.

What they do not share: Windstar is not all inclusive (unless you get a special promotion, none of the following are included: booze, wine/beer, soft drinks, airfare, hotel, transfers, gratuities, excursions). Windstar lacks the size for all the entertainment, games, shows, etc., though they may bring a "chamber show" of some sort into the lounge during lectures or before/after dinner -- in Costa Rica, for example, they brought folkoric dancers and musicians on, and they were wonderful. While I enjoy the entertainment and games on Regent, I'm perfectly happy entertaining myself or socializing with travel companions or other passengers, so I don't feel that particular loss. Windstar has an open bridge, so except for sailaways, you can wander in at your leisure and ask the captain (or whomever is driving the bus at that moment) any question at all. Windstar does provide an iPod dock in every stateroom. Only a small handful of larger suites exist on Windstar ships, so, for the most part, almost every passenger has exactly the same size cabin. Truly no class system. The Windstar sailaway, with sails unfurled (or unfurling) and the glorious 1492 soundtrack wafting through the breeze is magical. Regent sailaways don't hold a candle.

All that said, though its new owners are pumping a ton of money into re-dos to make the three Windstar ships even more luxurious than they are currently (http://blog.windstarcruises.com/2011/09/windstar-launches-18-million-fleet-refurbishment-plan/), Windstar is not as luxurious as Regent. But it's plenty luxurious for me, in all the ways I value, and its size and casual elegance and sheer comfort are truly delightful. Windstar is not for everyone, but I do think a large number of Regent cruisers would appreciate it.

Now, for me, my next cruise is going to be on Regent -- mainly because we got a steal of a sailing; it's truly a fantastic deal. My other choice for a cruise would have been a Greek sailing with Windstar, but because Windstar is not all-inclusive (particularly considering the airfare from US west coast to Europe, and Regent's included excursions), a Caribbean Regent sailing was actually a better buy this time around. Which illustrates why it's so important to do one's research prior to booking. :cool:

Thanks -- I did learn something new about the word "politics". Had he made it sound as if CC members were polarized in their thinking. . . . it would have been understandable The fact that he followed his "politically polarized" comment with "as so many Americans are now in their politics". . . . just hit a hot button with me.

Completely understand. My own eyes kinda glossed over that aspect, so I can see your "hot button" reaction!

Sadly, I have found many if not I would dare say most cruisers nowadays are as "politically polarized" to their favorite line as so many Americans are now in their politics and that anyone disagreeing with them makes you the "enemy!"

 

Sad!

 

Worldspan

129 cruises strong

IMO, what really needs to be repeated is that they rarely sail full (regardless of single supplements). JHP: as I said previously, I take the term "political polarization" as an insult (to my country -- the last three words are an addition to my previous post). Come on guys, all opinions are welcome on CC. Trying to stop freedom of expression (other than what is against CC policies) is not right -- not on any level.

:o I am so sorry to butt in with an admittedly off topic, and, truthfully, another argumentative post, but I just had to defend Worldspan's use of the word "politics."

The term "politics" can refer to any interaction involving power, influence and/or control among humans, in any situation (hence the terms, "family politics," "office politics," "sexual politics," etc.). Influencing others with regard to cruiseline preferences could be included in that. "Politics" does not necessarily refer to government, nor specifically to US government or US culture.

That is all. :rolleyes:

Lani

B.A., Political Science, University of Oregon

And one real joy is, you step off the ship and straight on to the promenade- no busy port to negotiate. Lovely town; lovely harbour.

Jo.

Agreed! Good point!

Forgot to mention that we also stopped at a restaurant on the main drag called Columbus. Sat outside and people-watched the tourists and local shoppers. Had yum-yum-yummy paella.

Portions were huge -- we ordered two different 2-person paellas and a side of grilled fresh sardines for 6 people and had TONS leftover. The staff was friendly, the food excellent, and the atmosphere was superb. Since we were headed back to the ship, we were sad to leave all the leftovers.

Being on the main drag, it was probably overpriced, but we didn't think it was all that expensive -- for as lovely an experience it was, we thought it was a great value!

Cute little port area... wanna go back! :)

Stopped there briefly at the end of April. We loved touring the Roman theater & museum -- really lovely museum! Fun to see ruins of a Roman theatre (although the theatre in Orange, France is more complete); fascinating.

After that, we walked through the town (lovely architecture), and stopped at Valor (near the theater) for hot chocolate (super-thick & rich, almost like a chocolate sauce!) and churros. I recommend you definitely should get the hot chocolate & churros -- plus it's a generous portion; DH and I shared...

Heard from a fellow cruiser that the Military museum was fantastic as well.

Neat little city -- we really enjoyed it!

I have emailed Aziz about being our guide. He first responded quickly and said he would be our guide, but when I wrote back to ask about a deposit etc. I haven't heard back since.

How long has it been since you emailed about the deposit?

Hi, I'm resurrecting this old thread to see if anyone out there has had any more recent tour experiences in Tangier. I will be there at the end of April with a party of 6-8 and are looking into doing our own tour arrangements instead of doing the ship's tour.

Any suggestions? Is Aziz still a good bet?

Thanks,

You must note that the posters you are referencing, including the one stating they purchased a package for $45 per day that included wine, beer, premium liquor, water and soda, date back to 2008. I have been sailing on Windstar since 1988 and I don't remember ever seeing such a package, but admittedly, don't recall looking for one.

 

I don't believe any such package is currently available, though on the Windstar in July, after the second day or so, there was a sign up in the bar on the aft deck advertising soda packages. It was outrageously high; as I recall over $35 a day, but could have been more, don't remember.

Yup, 6rugrats, I did see that those posts were from 2008, and that's exactly why I'm wondering if anyone has any more current info. $35 for soda IS outrageously high... I can't imagine ANYONE drinking enough juice/soda to make that worthwhile. And the $18 wine-at-dinner & $45/day unlimited drinks packages actually sound high to me as well, but if they were to run a good deal on such things, I might take them up on it!

Having sailed with Regent in May, I can say it WAS really wonderful to never have to sign a bar check or worry about how much my bar bill would be. We didn't really drink that much, and I'm sure the increased cost for the cruise was way more than we drank, but it just felt really luxurious to never have to worry about that. Don't know why that seems like such a big deal, but it was nicer than I could have guessed it would be. We wondered idly if Regent wasn't saving more in reduced bookkeeping/accounting/customer service costs to cover the cost of the drinks! Maybe not, but it sure took that one hassle away from everyone (passengers/servers/bartenders/accountants/front desk people having to deal with incorrect billings, etc.).

Thanks, Serendip & Rugrats.... I do know about the 4-cocktail packages and the gift wines, etc., but at earlier points in this thread, posters have mentioned drink packages (see below posts) and I wanted to know if these are posted anywhere... I haven't seen them in writing from Windstar, either online or in any of their mailings. I'd just like confirmation that thise packages are what's currently available, and that the prices are correct (and whether there are other options/combinations, etc.)

... in the current Foremast brochure they refer to beverage packages. Example: Wine, Beer and Soft Drink package is $38.00 per person per day. ... They do have a package for wine with dinner for $18.00 per day per person. Any thoughts???

We just signed up for the full package. $45 per person per day +15 % gratuity. When you take into consideration they bill you the 15% gratuity upfront, its not a bad deal, includes all bottle water, sodas, minibar, beer, wine, premium liquor. Compare this to Regent which includes this, Windstar's rates even when you add this on are a much better value.

Found out they issue you a card you show the bartender. Seems pretty hassle free.

Thanks for the detailed info, Hampshirelad!

Question: I have seen (mainly in posts here) mention of "Beverage Packages." I cannot find anything about this on Windstar's website (not that it's the most useful website ever).

Can anyone confirm what the current prices/packages are? And/or any update for Spring of 2010?

Many thanks!

Interestingly, my parents tell a story often about how they were on a Windstar cruise (on either the Wind Star or Wind Spirit... they don't prefer the Wind Surf) a few years ago and there was a sign posted at the pool bar that said something like "no outside drinks allowed," meaning, you weren't supposed to pour yourself a drink in your cabin and bring it up to the deck... you were supposed to pay for a drink at the bar.

They report that early in the cruise, a gentleman challenged that "policy," and eventually the sign came down, never to be seen again that cruise.

We traveled on Windstar in September '08 and found their drink prices to be very high but they have a captive crowd. And yes, they charge for the mini-bar. Our tab before leaving the ship was over $500.00 and that included mostly drinks. We sneaked liquor aboard which saved some money but be aware that they x-ray and metal detect each passanger every time you enter the ship. And they are not looking for bombs, just liquor so be careful.

I know this is an old thread, but I just had to ressurect it...

Just a question about the x-raying stuff for liquor.... if this is true, how do you get your own liquor on? We usually like to bring a little of our own booze on (personal preferences & all...); how likely is it that we'll run into a problem with this?

Any tips?

Thanks!