Windstar Cruises - Boutique Small Yacht Cruising — Cruise Lowdown (2024)

Windstar Cruises have a very loyal fan-base, predominantly within the United States. However they are a less familiar product to the European cruise market, particularly here in the U.K.

Many of us will have seen their sail ships when in the Caribbean, and gasped at their beauty, but relatively few have had the pleasure of sailing with them. Now, since featuring on prime-time TV show ‘Sailing with Susan Calman’ they are firmly on Brits’ radar, evidenced by a surge of bookings following the programme. The good news is, as well as the more exotic, yet distant options like Tahiti, there is a raft of European itineraries for 2024/2025, making a cruise on Windstar even more accessible.

We were recently invited to sail with Windstar Cruises so that we could experience what they offer discerning guests for ourselves. Here’s what I discovered.

About Windstar

Windstar boast that they are ‘180 degrees from ordinary’ and they certainly turn traditional cruising on its head.

Windstar Cruises operates a fleet of six small sailing ships (accommodating just 148 to 342-guests) and all-suite yachts offering year-round cruises, and have visited approximately 330 ports across Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, Asia, Alaska, Canada, New England, Central America, Mexico, the US West Coast, and Tahiti.

Windstar's fleet, with a total of 1,242 passenger capacity, leads the market in small ship cruising, visiting popular ports and those off-the-beaten-track, in over 60 countries. This boutique cruise line accommodates fewer than 350 passengers on its small ships, offering cruises that diverge significantly from the ordinary. Windstar is known for immersive and authentic experiences, unique, port-intensive itineraries, exceptional award-winning service, and an innovative culinary program as the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation. Another, sometimes overlooked, distinguishing feature of a Windstar Cruise (and a highlight we experienced personally), is the high guest/crew ratio with perhaps the friendliest staff at sea.

Why Choose a Windstar Cruise?

Our experience onboard Star Legend made it clear to us why people choose to sail with Windstar, and return time after time.

Firstly it is a far more intimate environment compared with the majority of cruise lines operating larger ships. You quickly get to know the crew and the crew know you, so your every need is anticipated and catered for. The compact ships are easy to get around and it feels like you are on a private yacht rather than a commercial ship.

The Windstar Cruises itineraries are port-intensive, so you get to see many more destinations, often with overnight stays for a more immersive experience. Operating smaller ships means that the fleet can usually dock in the heart of ports often inaccessible to larger vessels.

Windstar is ideal if you like to dress casually when on holiday as there are no formal nights. The dress code is informal both day and night - although if you want to dress up you can - just leave your tux and stilettos at home.

Above all cruising with Windstar Cruises is a very authentic experience - from bespoke excursions including shopping with the chef, to enjoying local entertainment performers onboard in the various ports.

What is Included on a Windstar Cruise?

Here is what the Windstar Cruises cruise fare includes:

• Your accommodation

• All meals (including in speciality restaurants)

• 24 hour Room Service

• Entertainment on board the ship

• Water, soft drinks, teas and barista coffees

• Fruit bowl in cabin

• Bathrobes and slippers

What Costs Extra on a Windstar Cruise?

Whilst Windstar Cruises include a lot within their cruise fares, they are not an ‘all-inclusive’ cruise line (although you can purchase the ‘All in’ package for $89 pppn) , and the basic fare is also generally based on cruise only, although your travel agent will be able to arrange air travel and transfers if required.

Extras include:

• Flights

• Airport transfers

• Alcoholic beverages

• Mini Bar (apart from soft drinks)

• Excursions

• Gratuities/Service Charge

• Pre/post cruise transfers

Your Fellow Windstar Passengers

Windstar Cruises appeal to the well-travelled, more sophisticated guests who prefer unassuming luxury in an intimate, informal environment. The demographic on Windstar is somewhat younger than on some cruise lines. Most passengers are couples in their late 30s to early 60s, with the average age of around 50. Whilst not adult-only, the brand isn’t best suited to young families as there are no facilities to cater for children onboard.

By far the largest nationality is North American, although on our European sailing there were guests from Australia, Ireland, U.K., Germany and several other countries

Accommodation

The cabin options vary depending on the yachts you choose. The newly refreshed All-suite Star Plus Class (Star Legend, Star Breeze and Star Pride) are, as their name implies, all suite vessels, with a minimum of 277 square feet of space, whilst on the iconic Wind Class sail ships (flagship Wind Surf, Wind Star and Wind Spirit) accommodations are smaller and some may have port holes rather than windows and/or balconies. All are well appointed with luxury linens and all you need for an enjoyable cruise.

Whichever ship you choose, all cabins include:

• Queen Size Bed

• Luxurious Linens

• Waffle Weave Robe and Slippers

• TV with Movies

• Fully Stocked Mini Bar/Refrigerator

• Safe

• L'Occitane Bath Amenities

• Fresh Fruit

• Hair Dryers

• 110/220 outlets

• Wi-Fi (internet cards can be purchased at reception)

• Bathroom with granite countertop and shower

• Granite vanity with magnifying mirror

Dining

Our experience of the food on our recent Windstar voyage was superb, with delicious food wherever we ate.

Windstar Cruises have partnered with the James Beard Foundation, a non-profit culinary arts organisation originating in New York. This partnership provides fabulous menus onboard, curated by top chefs who also feature on special culinary-themed voyages. In fact, Windstar will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of their partnership with the Foundation in 2025, with some special foodie cruises.

Meal times are flexible - you're free to dine when and where you please, and dishes are cooked to order and to your preferences. From BBQs to Fine Dining, guests will find all their gastronomic needs pandered to. Worth noting that even Speciality Restaurants are included in your cruise fare, although reservations need to be made.

*For more images see my related post My Cruise on a Plate.

Entertainment

Don’t expect large production shows - entertainment is low-key on Windstar complementing the laid-back atmosphere onboard. Evenings, when not spent ashore, include socialising abb no enjoying a drink in one of the lounges onboard, with music provided by resident musicians. There may be performances from local artistes such as cultural dancers or music recitals. There are also nightly destination information talks.

Daytime entertainment may include trivia quizzes and dance lessons or a movie in the screening room.

Wellness

There is a pool and whirlpool to enjoy on each Windstar ship plus yoga and fitness classes. In warmer climes guests can make use of the Watersports Platform off the ship’s stern for complimentary swimming, kayaking, and even stand-up paddle-boarding. There is also the WorldSpa by Windstar where guests can indulge in a range of beauty treatments and massages.

In conclusion, we thoroughly enjoyed our Windstar Cruise, and found it to be a unique experience. Small-ship Yacht cruising is definitely for us - perhaps you should give it a try.