Past Windstar cruisers: What other cruises do you recommend?

[22Mermaid]

We enjoy Windstar, but would like to try a different cruise experience that is even better than Windstar's. Can you compare your positive Windstar experiences to other small to mid-size ships you've sailed?

 

As a past Windstar cruiser, you understand the attractiveness of the smaller ships where there are fewer people at the buffet, an absence of frequent up-selling of drinks and ship products, and a pool that is not taken over by kiddies. We don't need big entertainment, but would like the talent to be worth seeing.

 

Quality food would be appreciated. A quieter but richer presentation of all services and facilities is appealing. Windstar's sports deck is fabulous in warm water destinations, and their open bridge policy is terrific. The relaxed atmosphere and smaller passenger list are also what we appreciate.

 

So to you Windstar cruisers, what other cruises (and specific ships) can you recommend? Thanks in advance for tackling this nuanced query.

Edited March 9, 2014 by 22Mermaid

[CruiserBruce]

Perhaps some research on the Windstar board:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=159

[22Mermaid]

Thanks, CruiserBruce. Your comment encouraged me to go back into Windstar's board to scour it again for info. Although most comments are exclusively about Windstar, I did find just a few comparisons to other cruise lines/ships. There was one great review I read about Windstar vs. Oceania, which was particularly helpful.

 

I am getting the sense that once people cruise on Windstar and like it, they tend to stick with Windstar. If true, I understand!

[Lerin]

Star Clippers.

It is said Windstar has cruise ships with sails.

Star Clippers has sailing ships that cruise. :cool:

[22Mermaid]

Thanks, Lerin, for suggesting Star Clipper. I just read the reviews, and there many that are extremely undesirable to Star Clipper. They seem to have a challenge with product and service consistency. It was worth a look, though!

[LHT28]

You might look at Club Med II cruises the Le Ponant

They are sailing ships

 

I do not think you can compare a cruise ship to a sailing vessel ;)

 

Lyn

Edited March 11, 2014 by LHT28

[jcl410]

RE The negative Star Clippers reviews...

 

Most of the bad ones here on CC are related to expecting the ships to be something they are not....

 

For example, compared to Windstar -

 

The Clipper ships have no elevator. You will need to be mobile enough to go up and down 3 decks ..

 

There is no casino nor showroom on the SC. The entertainments consists of a piano/guitar duo in the Tropic Bar.

 

Now, I *love* the Star Clipper ships; I've been on the Royal Clipper 4 times - including a 16 day Transatlantic crossing.

 

I love the fact that the ship[ is sailed using *mostly* traditional rigging. (The square sails use hydraulic roller furling, and electric winches for sail control.)

 

I also like the fact that there are at most 227 passengers on board. Oh, and relaxing in the netting of the bow-sprit while underway is just fabulous!

 

Aloha,

 

John

[22Mermaid]

Thanks, Lyn. I will look into Le Ponant. I agree that it's impossible to compare cruising to sailing, so that's why I'm looking for cruisers (sailors?) who've done both. I'd like to know what cruise lines/ships were at least as good as Windstar's in terms of the overall, albeit it different, experience.

[22Mermaid]

Thanks, John, for the details about Star Clipper. I, too, noted and dismissed the comments from passengers with unrealistic expectations. What I did note of concern were several comments that criticized the food, cleanliness, attitude of the crew, and stopping at no-name places that were only near the advertised ports of call, with no way to actually get to them.

 

There were enough of these comments that indicated that these were not one-off situations, so I'm glad to hear that you have had only great cruises with Star Clipper. We've sailed enough to appreciate your observations about the sails, rigging, and bow-sprit netting. Very cool!!

Edited March 11, 2014 by 22Mermaid

[marco]

We've done one Windstar cruise. I think the experience is quite different from a "traditional" cruise. I wouldn't compare the two to each other. It's kind of like comparing an "ocean liner" cruise to a European river cruise.

Edited March 11, 2014 by marco

[22Mermaid]

Thanks, Marco. I agree about the comparison. If you liked the 'ocean liner' cruise and the European river cruises, would you cruise them again to a new destination? Or would you choose Windstar the next time?

[jmf123]

While Windstar remains on my wish list, I highly recommend checking out the Paul Gauguin. (pgcruises dot com). We have sailed r.t. from Tahiti twice, and it is amazing! Only 332 guests, loved the service and cuisine (and stunning itinerary!), overnighting for two days each at our favorites- Bora Bora and Moorea.

 

Btw, the cruiseline is currently offering 50% off plus air included from Los Angeles, on all 2014 & 2015 sailings. There is also a 2 week sale going on, book by March 15. See the Paul Gauguin Cruises forum here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=627.

 

Regarding LePonant, I can share that my well traveled aunt and uncle loved their small ship cruising (booked via Tauck), probably ten or so years ago. LePonant's capacity is only around 65 or so guests, and I believe is a three masted ship.

[22Mermaid]

Good info, jmf123. I'll check out Paul Gaugin. We did cruise Tahiti on Windstar a long time ago. Le Ponant is definitely appealing, so I appreciate knowing of cruisers who loved it

[Lerin]

Thanks, Lerin, for suggesting Star Clipper. I just read the reviews, and there many that are extremely undesirable to Star Clipper. They seem to have a challenge with product and service consistency. It was worth a look, though!

May I kindly suggest you look in other places besides CC reviews?

Star Clippers has around 70% of their guests return each trip. Higher than most any cruise line.

I haven't even looked at the reviews, and come to think of it, never wrote one. To my knowledge none of the passengers we met were cc members, but we'd all have glowing reviews if we took the time to write one.

Something like 1% of cruisers also post on cc, based on our Star Clipper sailing, I'd estimate about .001% of their passengers post here.

[22Mermaid]

Good reminder, Lerin, that this is a cc-only world and should not be conclusive. I would hope that it would be representative of a greater 'sample,' but it's actually only those who are aware of cc and motivated to submit comments. As you point out, that's a very small number.

[LHT28]

Oceania has a 50-75% return rate on most cruises though not a sailing ship it does have a good following

 

Thier smallest ships are still more passengers than the sailing vessels at 684 pax & 1250 pax but not as big as some other cruise ships

 

If you want smaller number of passengers some of the luxury lines may work even though they are cruising ships ;)

 

Enjoy whatever cruise you choose

 

Lyn

Still trying to convince DH to do Windstar

Edited March 12, 2014 by LHT28

[22Mermaid]

Lyn, am I reading your post correctly that you've been on 9 Oceania cruises?! Oceania is one line that I thought might be a possibility for us. Do you prefer the smaller or larger Oceania ships?

[LHT28]

Lyn, am I reading your post correctly that you've been on 9 Oceania cruises?! Oceania is one line that I thought might be a possibility for us. Do you prefer the smaller or larger Oceania ships?

 

Yes correct

We like both ships for different reasons ..we go with itinerary

The larger ships never feel crowded & their smaller ship are more intimate

People love the food on the ships ..we are not foodies so as long as it tastes good & I am not cooking it works for me ;)

 

Lyn

Edited March 12, 2014 by LHT28

[22Mermaid]

Thanks again, Lyn. That's very helpful info.

 

Maybe I can return the favor of good info. Regarding your DH and Windstar...I recommend it to cruisers who like 'quiet' quality. It is a rich experience that is more subtle. And I wouldn't rave (or complain) about the food, so it might suit you fine, as it did us! The sports deck is fabulous, and if you have any interest in the bridge, it is usually open. The whole experience is relaxing, and you should be fairly agile for using the tenders or if the ship is under sail with a modest 'tilt.' You can meet everyone aboard, if you like, or just stay to yourselves. It's smart casual and you'll meet interesting pax. I hope I've offered some new info for you here.

[LHT28]

Thanks again, Lyn. That's very helpful info.

 

Maybe I can return the favor of good info. Regarding your DH and Windstar...I recommend it to cruisers who like 'quiet' quality. It is a rich experience that is more subtle. And I wouldn't rave (or complain) about the food, so it might suit you fine, as it did us! The sports deck is fabulous, and if you have any interest in the bridge, it is usually open. The whole experience is relaxing, and you should be fairly agile for using the tenders or if the ship is under sail with a modest 'tilt.' You can meet everyone aboard, if you like, or just stay to yourselves. It's smart casual and you'll meet interesting pax. I hope I've offered some new info for you here.

 

Thanks Mermaid

We do like the smart casual dress of Oceania so I am sure Windstar would suit also

We are not as agile as we used to be :)

 

When in Barbados this Jan we saw the Royal & the Windsurf & I asked if he would go on one

We did have our own sailboat for a time so we do enjoy the sailing aspect

 

Thanks again for your comments

 

Lyn

Edited March 12, 2014 by LHT28

[jcl410]

Thanks, John, for the details about Star Clipper. I, too, noted and dismissed the comments from passengers with unrealistic expectations. What I did note of concern were several comments that criticized the food, cleanliness, attitude of the crew, and stopping at no-name places that were only near the advertised ports of call, with no way to actually get to them.

 

 

I have found the food to be equivalent or better than RCI. I've never seen any problem with dirty areas, nor crew attitude. I have seen a large retention of many crew members over the years.

 

In the Caribbean, there have been cabs available at all the stops; maybe it's different in the Med?

 

At many of the stops in the Caribbean, there has been a Windstar ship anchored nearby! So I guess the iteneraires are similar.

 

ps: after I recover from my foot surgery, I will go back down to my basement and finish editing my video of my last Royal Clipper cruise and post in on you tube...

 

Aloha,

 

John

[marco]

Thanks, Marco. I agree about the comparison. If you liked the 'ocean liner' cruise and the European river cruises, would you cruise them again to a new destination? Or would you choose Windstar the next time?

 

All 3 types are different experience from the others. We enjoy them ALL! We prefer the HAL, Princess, Celebrity type for a winter getaway to the Caribbean. The river cruises in Europe if you REALLY want to see the places you're stopping at and we liked Windstar most for the Mediterranean itinerary. Where we are going determines which type of cruise we take. All are good, but all are somewhat different from each other.