The contrast in cruise styles is clear as Star Legend arrives in port on the island of Madeira on a gorgeous spring day.
Our small ship can dock along the convenient yacht jetty near the center of the city of Funchal. Meanwhile another cruise ship carrying 10 times more passengers has to tie up at the freight terminal across the harbor. The sounds of regular loudspeaker announcements on the big ship waft across the bay: “Don’t miss the art auction, check out the jackpot bingo and join the poker tournament.”
In contrast to all that noise and prodding, it’s calm and relaxing on Star Legend. Announcements are rarely ever made because guests on Windstar Cruises prefer to set their own schedules. They also like to explore the world with interesting companions on small ships that offer lavish accommodation and attention to details.
Sound like you? Here are symptoms that suggest you may want to check out a Windstar Yacht Class ship for your next cruise:
1) You like it personal
A cruise around Portugal and Spain aboard Windstar’s newly enlarged Star Legend is as close as you can come to the experience of life on a personal yacht. All the accommodations are suites and there are never any more than 312 guests on board, with a crew of 200 officers and crew. The staff get to know you by name and your preferences in the lounges or restaurants. There’s an open bridge policy for would-be mariners to get a peek at the logistics of navigating this sleek ship. And the Captain mingles with the guests and is happy to chat and answer questions.
2) You’re a people person
Whether it’s gathering for the lifeboat drill, having an afternoon cocktail on deck or heading to a restaurant for dinner, my wife and I find ourselves striking up interesting conversations with fellow passengers. The typical Windstar guest is a gregarious well-travelled professional who has interesting stories to tell.
Ask to share a table with another couple at dinner and you could find yourself in the company of a career government official who has been posted around the world or an airline pilot who’s made a career flying jumbo jets across the Pacific. And they’re just as eager to hear about your adventures. It seems as though everyone has already booked another upcoming cruise or is extending this trip with a week exploring Europe.
3). You make your own decisions
On sea days, you can join a Champagne or Cognac tasting, join a trivia team or, on this cruise even join a group reading of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew that featured a woman doing the part of Petruchio. Guests may bring their own pastimes and cross stitching and watercolor painting on deck become group events.
There’s no casino or big production shows, so the evening entertainment comes from a contingent of spirited musical groups with enough technical wizardry in their instruments to be able to turn a small stage into a convert hall. One memorable evening gets all the musicians together to jam “songs we wish we’d written.” And when they play separately as quartets or duos in the lounges they love the challenge of taking requests and are able to pull off credible versions of everything from Abba to Pink Floyd’s The Wall. And not to be missed is a crew show, where some remarkable hidden talents are revealed.
One caveat for those whose prime pastime is streaming on a laptop or phone. The internet speed on the ship is adequate, but it varies widely from hour to hour and port to port, so if you’re planning to binge-watch the new season of Bridgerton you may want to put it off until you get home. There’s a selection of films and TV on tap in the high definition TV in your suite.
4) You love to savor new flavors
Fresh from a compete renovation that included cutting the ships in half and adding extensive new mid sections, the yachts not only have new staterooms but expanded restaurant options. Star Legend and sister yacht class ships Star Breeze and Star Pride now include an al fresco Star Grill on deck and a tucked-away Spanish-themed Cuadro 44 that features an extensive menu of tapas-style small plate fare as well as inventive Iberian entrees.
The main Amphora restaurant was expanded in the ship’s stretch and features more tables for two as well as banquettes. The Veranda with a wraparound view on an upper deck features themed international menus at lunch gets rebranded Candles in the evening, offering the catch of the day along with a wide range of international fare and a choice of indoor and outdoor seating. There’s no extra charge for any of the optional dining choices.
5) You’re not into following the herd
Because there are so few guests on board there’s never any crowding or long waits to head out on tours. There’ will only be one bus going to your attraction, compared to what could be a dozen from a big ship. Booking ahead is always advised, because some tours might end up being cancelled if they don’t get a minimum number of participants. Conversely, if the one bus for a popular destination is full, you could end up on a wait list. But there are always plenty of alternative tours and you can join another tour.
Or an option is to arrange a private car for two or a van to share with up to six guests. If you split the costs, it can end up costing about the same per person as doing a group tour.
6) You yearn to see the world
Windstar’s ships get around. Star Legend winters in the Caribbean and Central America and crosses the Atlantic to summer in the Mediterranean, northern Europe and the Black Sea and Holy Lands. Sister ship Star Breeze is shifting from Tahiti to Alaska and then Asia and Australia and New Zealand. Meanwhile Star Pride’s seasons alternate between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean and then Canada and New England.
And there’s a whole other adventurous trio of intimate Windstar Wind Class sailing yachts that winter in warm climes like Tahiti and the Caribbean and explore the Mediterranean or Australia when those parts of the world are enjoying summer.
Windstar boasts their small ships “go where the big ships can’t and see what they don’t show you.” If that intrigues you, then the diagnosis is confirmed: you really are a Windstar person.
Wallace Immen is Executive Editor of The Cruisington Times
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