Windstar Cruises
 

Anyone have an opinon on Windstar cruise line ? How do they compare to Radisson, RCCL, Carnival, etc.

You're trying to compare apples to mangos. Or maybe mini-vans to sports cars.

RCCL's smallest ship, if I'm not mistaken, carries around 2000 passengers, and its largest in excess of 3600. Carnival is in the same category. These are floating resorts.

Radisson ranges from 320 to 700 passengers. I've not been on any Radisson cruises, but they have been tempting.

Windstar, on her sailing vessels, runs from 148 to just over 300 passengers. The sails do go up, you will sail under wind without engines. You cannot compare that to anything on a completely motorized vessel.

Personally, after sailing Windstar, I doubt I will ever get on a ship carrying more than 1000 passengers again, and 300 sounds like too many. But it really depends on what you want out of your vacation. I didn't miss the fact that there was not much to do after dinner on Wind Star but go on deck and watch for shooting stars, but I know that there are others that are really looking forward to the nightlife that you get on a big ship.

My wife and I spent 7 glorious days on the Windstar in Tahiti two years ago and felt like royalty! They no longer sail in Tahiti but I would go criusing with them in a heartbeat!!!

Winstar is wonderful. Spent 7 days in Tahiti 2years ago. Excellent.

I agree that it's insanity to sail on a big ship! We did Windstar to the Greek Islands and it was a lot of fun, though we didn't think the food was good.

We did Windstar Rome to Athens last fall. It was fabulous, and thought the dinner fare was very good. Breakfast was so-so and lunch was just lunch, but felt the dinner courses were quite good. It was wonderful to get right into the ports on the ship, hop off, and walk around. We would do them again in a heartbeat.

Did the windstar (WIndsurf) May 2005 Lisbon to Spain via Morocco and loved it more than I can express. We had a wonderful experince, very attentive, good food but you pay for everyting on ship. Cokes are about $5.00, bottled water is extra and so is wine. The ship itself is outstanding and loved the "yaucht" like atmosphere. Wished it did more actualy sailing but the little that it did was wonderful.

Just returned a few days ago from the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti - another small ship -320 passengers. Fabulous trip as well and our wine was free with dinner (top quality French, California, New Zealand and Australian wines) all soft drinks were free, bottles of water and our cabin refrigerator was stocked everyday with whatever we wanted plus we had a free bottle of vodka so we had our cocktails on our veranda every night. Not much of a bar bill when we concluded the trip. Highly recommend the Regent Paul Gauguin (Name change from Radison - just happened when we were on board)