Are they cruise ships with sails or sailing ships designed for cruises? Since 1986, these masted sailing yachts have filled an upscale niche. They often visit ports of call inaccessible to huge, traditional cruise ships and offer a unique perspective of the Caribbean. However, Windstar ships seldom depend on wind alone to sail. Nevertheless, if you're fortunate and conditions are perfect, as they sometimes are, the complete silence of pure sailing is heavenly. Stabilizers and computer-controlled ballast systems ensure no more than a mere few degrees of lean, making the ships reliably stable in heavy sea conditions.

You want a high-end experience, yet prefer to dress casually every night on your vacation.

You love water sports, particularly scuba diving.

You're a romantic: tables for two are plentiful in the dining rooms.

You must have a spacious private balcony; there are none.

You're bored unless surrounded by constant stimulation; activities are purposely low-key.

You have mobility problems.