| Overview
Because of its five masts of sails, Windstar's Wind Surf is one of the world's most distinctive cruise ships. While the sails perform something of a cosmetic function (though they do supplement the propulsion provided by four engines), they help to establish a casual, free-spirited yacht-like atmosphere.
Otherwise, on our autumn cruise in the Mediterranean, we found that the 14,745-ton, 308-passenger Wind Surf -- very much considered a small ship these days -- offered a hybrid cruise experience. Part upscale yacht, part mega-liner, Wind Surf offers a wonderfully casual ambiance (few structured activities and all-time open seating dining) -- and yet big ship aficionados will feel at home with its art auction, casino, sprawling spa and crew talent show.
In fact, at times, the small- vs. big-ship experience felt a bit schizophrenic. In the former category, the service was personable and often phenomenal. The low key "events" -- fabulous lunch and dinner buffets -- helped create an easy-going camaraderie among passengers, many of whom were Windstar repeaters. Because of the ship's size, we were able to visit less-trafficked ports -- and calls to places like Croatia's Hvar and Greece's Cephalonia were absolute trip highlights. And Wind Surf's water sports platform was fabulous.
But if the small size of the ship leads you to expect a luxury-oriented and sophisticated experience you may be disappointed. Art auction art (complete with opening bid) appallingly graces the walls of the otherwise lovely Lounge. At embarkation (and first impressions really are key) boarding passengers were herded from line to line, required to proffer up that credit card -- right now! -- before snagging a room key. Staterooms, despite the addition of flat-screen televisions and DVD players, were dreary and not conducive to in-cabin relaxation. For most fitness classes passengers paid an $11 charge.
Entertainment
We overheard one group of passengers complain that there wasn't enough to do on Wind Surf. But that's the whole point! One of the nicest things about the ship is its relaxed, laid-back ambiance -- and on sea days, most passengers were content to read a book or chat idly.
The only traditional cruise-style event onboard was an art auction; there is also a casino.
There was live music in both The Lounge (where you could dance) and in the Compass Rose (where you could just listen). Selections were pretty middle-of-the-road pop (and I've honestly never heard so much Neal Diamond in my life).
The ship does have a shore excursions department but we found the offerings to be pretty banal. The few intriguing tours that were available were canceled, every time, due to lack of passenger sign-up.
Public Rooms
Wind Surf's primary socializing venue is The Lounge, a skippily refurbished yacht-like room in the ship's center, with a small stage and dance floor area. Our favorite spot for a quiet cocktail was the cozy Compass Rose, located aft of the ship. Another great hideaway was the tiny-but-cozy evening-only Cigar Bar.
The ship has a gorgeous library -- dark wood with illuminated bookcases and comfy reading chairs and tables -- but what was astounding was the scarcity of books! Just a handful of cases in the spacious room held what appeared to be passenger-donated tomes; others advertised Tommy Bahama merchandise or held the ship's interesting video collection.
The ship's Internet cafe featured 10 workstations, reasonably quick (for a ship) satellite speeds and offered a variety of packages. Beware: cost of printing is 25 cents a page. The ship has a small casino that opens up to The Lounge.
Family
This is not a ship designed for young children (those under two aren't even permitted) -- or those who want traditional cruise ship style kids' entertainment and facilities. However, there's a caveat: There were a couple of families with mature kids (13-plus) who had a marvelous time and were quite doted upon by both passengers and staff.
Fitness and Recreation
For a ship of this size, Wind Surf's fitness facility was outstanding, with a good range of machines. In a separate room, an incredibly enthusiastic instructor led classes in Pilates, yoga and kickboxing (for most of these you'll pay $11 per class).
A major distinction between this ship and its smaller siblings is its spa. Quite expansive, the well-run Steiner-operated facility offered standard treatments -- massages, facials, hair cuts -- but also exotic ones, too. The "body glisten granule rub," a 75-minute treatment that included a massage, was phenomenal.
But here's the best thing: Wind Surf has a fantastic water sports platform off the back and passengers can use, at no charge, equipment ranging from water skis to kayaking.
Gratuity
Windstar's befuddling policy states that gratuities are not expected -- but actually it is considered sporting to tip cabin stewards and special waiters and bar staff (there is no obvious gratuity on drinks) with cash.
Fellow Passengers
Windstar primarily attracts a 50-plus, active crowd; many passengers were formerly Holland America customers. Demographically, in Europe there's a mix of British and European travelers, while the Caribbean tends to be of a more North American bent.
Dress Code
Country club casual was the dress code throughout the cruise.
Cabins
We'll tell you upfront: there are no balconies in any cabin.
Wind Surf offers only two cabin categories: standard porthole accommodations and suites. The standard cabins are decked out in masculine colors of brown, blue and burgundy - features include a desk/vanity table, queen bed that converts to a twin, a mini-fridge (stocked with a la carte beverages though we had no trouble cooling our own sodas) and genuinely roomy closets. A note: While cabins got a bit of a retouch last year (with the addition of flat screen televisions and DVD players -- a nice touch), Windstar has yet to upgrade soft goods -- sheets and towels were well-worn and the bed was covered with a hideous nylon spread.
Bathrooms are shower-only and roomy.
In creating a deck of suites, Wind Surf basically just combined two standard cabins, outfitting one of them with a couch and pretty much leaving the rest as is. These had a cheerier color scheme and better lighting but we also noticed that bedspreads and the like appeared rather worn. Beyond the extra space, suite holders receive no additional amenities -- such as bar set-ups or priority services.
Dining
We loved the La Veranda venue during the daytime. Open for buffet breakfast and lunch (plus, you can order a handful of prepared-to-order entrees), the lovely glass-enclosed space spread out onto the deck, where tables with umbrellas were lined port and starboard. The choices were quite appetizing (lots of great salads and, mornings, a machine furnished fresh squeezed orange juice). Adjacent is The Grill; in the mornings you can order egg dishes, while lunches are for burgers, grilled chicken and the like.
A continental breakfast is served for early and late risers in the Compass Rose, the ship's secondary lounge.
At night there were two choices. The Restaurant was the main dining room; service was generally superb, and the cuisine delicious if unmemorable. The Bistro is the ship's alternative restaurant (no extra charge -- a nice touch). Its menus were more limited but offerings weren't radically different from that of the restaurant. We didn't care for the ambiance of the place -- a particular turn-off as was an open-air counter area where chefs presumably finished plates. Service wasn't as good. A caveat: We may have been in the majority as the place was easily fully booked each night (so reserve ahead).
In both restaurants there were plenty of tables for two.
The ship's buffet extravaganzas really are not to be missed. Our favorite was a Mediterranean-themed event, held in The Lounge -- and the cuisine, coupled with the informal sizzle of the evening, really made it memorable.
One genuinely lovely touch during cocktail hour each night was a selection of hors d'oeuvres -- one night featured an array of quite delicious sushi.
Wind Surf offers 24-hour room service with an adequate selection of items (though in-cabin breakfast options, limited to breads, coffee and juice, were pretty paltry). You can order from the menu at dinner - but why? Friends tried it and were less than impressed; the entire meal (including ice cream), upon delivery, was simply dumped on the bed.
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