Senior Officers Are Very Visible
Unlike other ships where you might see the captain at the Welcome Aboard reception only, the Captain and other Senior Officers are visible throughout the ship on a daily basis. The officers regularly dine with guests and attend live events. With the open bridge policy, you can stop by and say hi to the crew while sailing from port to port. When leaving the ship, the Captain was even there to personally bid us farewell. That was a great touch!
Passenger Shipping Pause 2020
Due to the Coronavirus crisis, Windstar canceled all cruises with pre-scheduled departures between March 14, 2020, through June 2021.
Operations resumed in 2021 on June 19 , July 10 , July 15 , August 8 , September 4 . Star Pride ship restarts in 2022 . Star Pride’s Caribbean 2021 program was canceled.
All affected bookings received 125% refunds in FCC with rebooking or cash refund without rebooking. The FCC was transferred to a new booking of any Windstar itinerary departing through December 31, 2021. Rebookings must be made up to 15 days prior departure.
Windstar also changed its cancellation policy to allow cancellations up to 15 days prior departure and receive a full refund in FCC. The FCC can be used on all itineraries through December 31, 2021. The company’s travel agent commission policy was expanded to pay commissions on all FCCs. For travel agencies , on May 18th is reintroduced Windstar’s popular travel agent promotion “Sell 3, Sail Free”. If the agent sells 3 staterooms , the agent sails for free on a Windstar cruise departing by April 30, 2021, paying only taxes, fees, port charges and gratuities.
They Hold Your Passports
Once boarding the ship, the staff will register your passport and hold on to it for the duration of the trip. We found this a bit odd, but it has to do with dealing with immigration on a daily basis per the staff. We recommend having a photocopy of your passport with you, or taking a photo of it on your phone, so you have access to the document at all times whether on the ship or ashore.
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Where To Find Cruise Ships
Youll rarely ever find a cruise ship advertised in your local classified section of the newspaper, even though some companies do advertise cruise ships online. These companies include ShipTraders.com, Appolo Duck Commercial Listings, WorkBoatsInternational.com, Homestead.com, and MegaYachtsOnline.com.
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Why Are There Only 12 Passengers On A Yacht
 The SOLAS convention involves adhering to a comprehensive list of stringent safety restrictions that are very expensive to implement and this is consequently reflected in the chartering cost increase between boats licensed for up to 12 passengers and boats licensed for more than 12 passengers. via
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Is Below Deck Scripted
Jones, a guest on season 6 of Below Deck, told Bravo that all the action that unfolds on-board is unplanned. The show is 100% real, she revealed. Some aspects are fictional, however, the show takes place on a different yacht every season, although sometimes they are renamed to protect the interests of the owners. via
What Windstar Cruises Itinerary Do You Want
Europe is where the star class yachts spend their time from spring to fall.
One Windstar Cruises itinerary between Venice and Athens entices with scenic cruising along the coasts of Croatia and Montenegro and through the Corinth Canal .
Or do you fancy exploring Iceland?
Star Legend circumnavigates Iceland on several summer voyages.
Soak in the famous Blue Lagoon, ride an Icelandic horse, fly over raging waterfalls, see huge puffin colonies and kayak through the West Fjords.
For winter, Costa Rica voyages on Star Breeze immerse you in all thats special about the country volcano tours, spider monkey spotting in national parks, swimming at white sand beaches and rainforest exploration.
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On each cruise, youre treated to a complimentary private signature event.
Examples include an outdoor concert and cocktails among beautiful Roman ruins in Butrint, Albania and an afternoon performance by the acclaimed Odessa National Opera and Ballet Theatre .
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Factors Determining The Cost Of A Cruise Ship Besides Size
Besides size, there are other factors that determine the cost of a cruise ship. Youll also need to take into account the economy when the ship is being built, the shipyard where the ship is being designed and assembled, as well as amenities and features.
The price of materials per ship varies too. Steel is pretty expensive and an ocean liner would need more of it, compared to the amount of steel necessary for a smaller boxer cruise ship. You may also opt to buy a renovated ship, as it can be less expensive than a newly built ship, although some renovations could spike the price of a renovated cruise ship to half a billion.
Food Allergies And Special Dietary Needs
- Here at Windstar we are committed to offering our guests healthy food selections. We offer vegetarian selections and lighter fare options, seeking to provide the freshest, top quality foods handled with the utmost care. If you have food allergies or special dietary needs, there are several ways to notify us prior to boarding the ship.Its important to let us know about your special request when you book your cruise to help us plan and prepare for your meals. Your travel professional will enter this information in Special Requests. It is then noted on your booking and your ship will be notified, although it will not appear on your invoice or in My Windstar.Special Request Dietary Needs include:Alcohol FreeWheat Free Diet
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Health And Safety Protocols On Windstar Cruises
Here at Windstar, the health and safety of everyone on board is a top priority. During this pause in operations Windstar os modifying and, where appropriate, creating new procedures to keep us all safer from illness, including COVID-19. Windstar is connected to industry experts, following guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and will continue to innovate and invest in our small yachts and our people. Windstar wants you to know what they are doing to keep you and our crew safe and healthy while cruising with Windstar.
EMBARKATION + HEALTH SCREENING
Once you arrive at the pier to board a yacht, youll find enhanced embarkation processes with staggered arrivals and departures to observe social distancing rules. During your cruise, Windstar will publish embarkation and disembarkation times at various locations and in the onboard newsletter. A health questionnaire and touchless temperature screenings ensure they are all healthy.
ENHANCED CLEANING + ADDITIONAL MEDICAL STAFF
FLEXIBLE DINING
Our restaurant operation will be further personalized by our crew during every meal and expanded dining times will assist in reducing the number of guests seated at any one time. Windstar offers many restaurant choices within our fleet including outdoor dining on deck at Candles and the Star Grill by Steven Raichlen.
CREW TRAINING AND HEALTH
Review Of Windstar Cruises
One of the industry’s top-luxury ship travel brands, Windstar Cruises is a passenger shipping company operating a fleet of smaller-sized vessels . The largest yachts have max passenger capacity 310 . The company offers exotic itineraries visiting 330+ destinations worldwide, including in the Caribbean, Central America, Asia, South Pacific , Europe . The company is currently run by Andrew Todd .
In May 2014, Windstar added to its fleet of sailing yachts the superyacht Star Pride, which was followed by the sisterships Star Breeze and Star Legend . The additional capacity resulted in new itineraries and allowed Windstar to sail in Tahiti year-round. In 2014, Conde Nast awarded the brand “World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” .
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Go Ahead You Can Relax On The Windstar Cruise Line
The cruising experience is quite relaxed on all Windstar ships, including the star class ships. No annoying public announcements. Just a light schedule of cooking classes and other shipboard activities.
But informative and entertaining guest lectures by an anthropologist with three masters degrees kept our brains in gear.
Interested in a river cruise? See the worlds best river cruises!
What Should You Pack For A Cruise
What to Pack for a Cruise
- Bring activity-appropriate clothing and shoes.
- Bring a Back Pack or Beach Tote.
- Bring Sunscreen and After-Sun Lotion.
- Bring Your Own Toiletries.
- Bring Medications for Upset Stomach and Motion Sickness.
- Bring an Underwater Camera.
- Bring a Portable Back Up Battery Charger.
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Major City Air Program
- Windstar Cruises is pleased to offer air/sea packages featuring round trip economy-class airline transportation between many U.S. and Canadian cities and your cruise. Optional transfers from the airport to ship are available on sailing day and return after the cruise. To take advantage of this package, which is offered at an additional charge to your cruise fare, simply ask your travel professional to request it when you reserve your stateroom or suite. Current add-on costs are available from Windstar Cruises Vacation Planners and are subject to change. All gateways may not be available for each itinerary. Please call for a rate quote and 866-507-9406.
- Windstar Cruises will provide an airline ticket between major cities and the nearest airport to the cruise port using the carriers, routing, and structure of our choice. We reserve the right to utilize commuter and/or charter air service without prior notice. The airfares we use are based on capacity controlled, promotional, and group fares. The cost of the basic add-on quoted does not include confirmation of requests for specific carriers, routing, or en route stopovers. Air schedules are generally available approximately 60 days prior to departure. Windstar Cruises reserves the right to withdraw air/sea availability without prior notice for any product at any time.
The Staff Will Know Your Name
Just like Cheers, everyone will know your name after a few days onboard the ship. Our stateroom attendant, our barista, and the bar servers all knew our names and orders. The staff really do go out of their way to make the experience as personal as possible.
The fellow passengers are equally as friendly. It is easy to blend into the crowds on larger ships, but on Windstar Cruises, you will probably know everyone onboard the ship by the end of the cruise. We regularly bumped into other travelers who were gregarious and had traveled the world, so they were a wealth of knowledge about various destinations and Windstar Cruises in particular.
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How Big Can A Yacht Be Without A Crew
With the appropriate boat licenses, you can typically operate a boat up to 75 feet without a crew. However, most yachts need crew for docking, launching, caring for guests, and watching for danger or other boats. Without a crew, an autopilot feature may be crucial to help with keeping you on course. via
Check And Grab Deals And Offers On Flycoair
When you want to book a cruise, you can get the best cruise deals on flycoair. To know about the upcoming or ongoing deals, you can choose among the following options:
- You can contact the customer service team via call and get all the info about the deals and offers on Cruise bookings.
- Also, you can follow the social media page to get the latest deals and offers.
- You have the option of subscribing the newsletter also. After signup, you will receive notifications on the latest deals.
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Top Reasons To Cruise
Why Cant All Cabins Be Like These Windstar Cruise Line Suites
You may know were cruise fans .
A couple of recent memorable cruises include scuba diving and spotting Komodo dragons on the Alila Purnama sailing yacht in Indonesia and cruising the Baltic on the lovely Viking Star.
On Windstars Star Pride, we especially loved the extra-roomy suites that all passengers get to enjoy.
At 277 square feet in size, they have lots of elbow room.
And theyre all about serenity.
Star Prides suites feature dove grey carpeting and blonde wood cabinetry topped with creamy-colored marble.
Color accents come in blue satin borders on the bed linens and a navy blue leather desk chair.
Curtains, tied back with tassels, separate the bedroom from the living area, which has a love seat and two armchairs around a marble coffee table.
We enjoyed sipping afternoon tea in the privacy of our living room while gazing out our open balcony window.
Other standard in-suite amenities include a minibar stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks, LCD flatscreen TV and DVD player , Euro-top bed mattress, Egyptian cotton towels in the bathroom, waffle-weave robes, slippers, fresh fruit bowl and vase of flowers.
A third of the suites on these Windstar ships also have Juliet balconies with glass railings.
We couldnt sit outside, but throwing open the sliding glass doors to let the sunshine and breeze in from our balcony gave us that same outdoor feeling.
The walk-in closet was a lovely surprise too.
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Determining The Type Of Cruise Ship Youll Need
Pricing is an important factor when deciding on the type of cruise ship you want. However, there are other deciding factors too. One of these is the type of cruise ship thats ideal for your needs.
Ask yourself if a casino ship, plush catamaran, river cruise boat, ocean liner, floating hotel ship, three or five-star cruise ship, or a 1500 or 100-passenger ship suits you best. Ask yourself whether you need a classic cruise liner, a catamaran, or a 140-meter cruise liner to best cater to your business or personal purposes.
Passport And Visa Information
- PASSPORTS
- Guests of Windstar Cruises are required to carry a valid passport. All passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay.
- The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security have announced the official requirements for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to present a valid passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere. A VALID PASSPORT IS REQUIRED FOR ALL TRAVEL INTO OR OUT OF THE U.S.
- For more information, please visit travel.state.govor call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778. Foreign nationals should contact their respective governments to obtain details regarding current passport requirements. Expired passports are not acceptable.
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You Will Have A Wonderful Time
Cruisers will appreciate the intimate feel of the ships and the superior service found on Windstar Cruises. The Windstar experience is a great introduction to small ship, boutique cruising. With a little preparation, your cruise with Windstar will take you to new places, introduce you to new friends, and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Disclaimer: We were guests of Windstar Cruises and Porthole Cruise for the Caribbean Celebrations cruise. All of the opinions expressed in this post are our own.
Travel Protection Options On Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises offers passengers the opportunity to purchase either Windstars TICP Standard or TICP Plus Protection Plan. Both of these plans are optional and must be paid for at time of deposit. Payments are not refundable. The TICP Plus Plan is only available for U.S. and Canadian residents. TICP Standard Plan: Our Standard Cancellation Protection Plan will allow you, for any reason, to provide written cancellation up to 24 hours prior to scheduled cruise or tour departure and receive a refund equal to 80% of the applicable cancellation fee . In addition, Windstar automatically assumes an additional $500 of liability for lost, damaged or delayed baggage of guests who purchase the TICP Standard Plan still subject, however, to the limitations in Windstars baggage policies. For example, Windstar does not cover losses while baggage is in the custody of airlines. The TICP Standard Plan is not insurance it provides no rights other than those explained above. For example, it does not protect double-triple occupancy rates should one or more members of your party cancel, nor does it cover expenses or unused services due to trip interruption.
Termination of the policy will not affect a claim for loss that occurs after premium has been paid.
1) the additional transportation expenses by the most direct route from the point you interrupted your Trip: a) to the next scheduled destination where you can catch up to your Trip or b) to the final destination of your Trip or
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