Wonderful Windstar Cruise
 

Just returned from my first Windsurf cruise on the Windstar and I am hooked. It sure beats the bigger cruise ships. I never felt crowded with only but 250 passengers. It was relaxing, elegantly casual, great food, open dining time and the service was impecable. Couldn't believe the size of our state room with a queen size bed, flat screen TV, DVD.CD player, plenty of space to move around, great bathroom and no clutter with all the places to store things and we had the least expensive one!

It was a wonderful experience and the ports of call were very nice - Lisbon Portugal, Casablanca, Safi (Morocco), Cadiz, Marbella and Malaga (Spain) We were up on deck when we went thru the Straits of Gibraltar even though it was midnight and wind was howling. It was impressive to realize that we were between two continents and all the history there.

This was the way to travel. No rock climbing walls, no golf, no skeet shooting, no ice skating, no flaming baked Alaska's, no costume night, no crowds around the pool looking for a deck chair This was just relaxing and yet exciting in the same tone. A great group of people on board. the staff they are amazing. How they can remember your name after the first day is amazing.

Can't wait to go again.

Shar-

I KNEW you would love it..
It is our favorite ship for all the reasons you listed...

Your ports are ones I want to do next..
We did Rome to Nice and had a blast!!!

Which cabin did you all have?

My husband and I are leaving next Saturday to go on the Windsurf that goes from Nice to Rome. We are really excited since this is our first Windstar cruise. Glad to hear such good things about that cruise. We got a suite, so I am looking forward to the trip even more.

Andy..can you tell me what was your favorite stop on the trip? Also..is there a formal night like on the bigger cruises? Do I need an evening gown? Or is it more laid back and casual than that? Just wondering...

Azoria-

NO- you do NOT need a tux NOR a coat and tie NOR an evening dress...

Women normally wear slax and silk shirt to dinner or a sun dress..Men normally wear a Polo shirt and pair of Khakis to dinner..

IF you are going to the GRAND CASINO in Monte Carlo, COAT and TIE is required...and a dress for ladies..THAT is the ONLY time you need anything super remotely dressy...( We had been to that casino before so for our Windsurf cruise, we did not carry any fancy clothes as we were not going into the Main Casino)...

Our favorite stops were Portofino and St Tropez...Portofino has an awesome hotel at the top of the hill called the Splendido- you need reservations for lunch made ahead of time. The purser on the ship can do this for you or you can fax them from your home and get confirmed..OTHERWISE, the only portion of this hotel you are allowed into is the bar...the views from the top are to die for..

In addition, in Portofino, you can also have lunch right by the sea--a specialty of Portofino is FISH baked in an encasment of SEA SALT that they crack in front of you and remove from the fish- I forgot the name of this dish but it keeps the fish super moist and is wonderful...Maybe someone else who has had this dish can remember the name...BRING a Berlitz Italian book with you...Shopping is wonderful in this port!

Also St Tropez is a shoppers paradise--little winding streets, outdoor bistros, art by the sea--MY favorite stop...

In addition, Livorno is the stop to go INTO Florence..If you need a private driver, let me know and I will post one.
We used the ships excursion into Florence JUST for the transportation...but if you do a private car service, you can stop along the way for lunch and take your time in Florence....WE LOVE FLORENCE--it is probably our most favorite city in Italy...

If you want to do any museums in Florence, book your tkts ahead of time or else you will spend most of your time in lines....

When you get onboard the ship, make sure you are up on deck when it begins it's sail--it is awedome with the sails up!!

And make dinner reservations at the Grill as soon as you get on the ship. It is smaller than the regular open seating dining room ( and THAT room is small! LOL!) but you can reserve a table for 4 in case you meet another couple you want to dine with..

For the normal dining room , we always asked to be seated with 2 other couples so we could meet people..but you want switch around and sit 2,4, 6 or 8 depending on who you meet and what you want to do...

In addition, as you enter the main dining room, ask for a table about 3 tables inside the room from the maitre de as this is the most midship and gets NO movement..IF they seat you toward the way front of the ship, change it..as THAT is where you feel the most movement for dinner..

In Portofino a lot of people were doing the water sports off the back of the ship- this is FREE but 1st come 1st serve type thing...kayaking etc....

Clothing is country club casual...and they mean casual but NO JEANS at dinner.

My husband is sooooooooooo sold on this line that he hates to go on a normal cruise as he does not want to dress up anymore..he wants totaly upscale relaxation...and you get it on this ship..

During cocktail hour every nite, they serve hor douerves in the main lounge-it is a great place to meet people...

The casino is VERY small but a NO pressure type place- they don't make their money off the casino...

IF it is raining, they hand out umbrellas to use in Port..

Do NOT bother with any of the excursions except for Livorno ( to get into Florence) as Port Ferraio( where Napoleon's home is located--is a tour) and the ship docks RIGHT ACROSS the street from it! So it is a rip off..You can do an excursion on your own...

Monte Carlo==make sure you tour the old city where the Palace is located..quaint little town..then the main area of Monte Carlo is boutiques and casinos...IF there is a tour to EZE -take that instead..Monte Carlo is mainly a Night Place to play..The harbor is gorgeous..
We were in Monte Carlo right before the main runs of the Gran Prix , so hubs got to see the free qualifying races..They are in May-but I have no idea when you are going..

This is an elegant relaxed laid back cruise--I am soooooooooo jealous!! LOL!
you will have a blast!

Thank you Andy for all the wonderful recommendations. I am going to print this and give it to my husband. We did make reservations at the restaurant at Hotel Splendido. So..we are set for that. Someone told us to do that. Also..we honeymooned in St. Tropez and also in Eze..the really nice hotel at the top of the city there. We did want to go into the main casino..so do women wear cocktail-type dresses? Just want to make sure before I pack.

A private driver would be nice to have to Florence. If you can recommend someone, that would be nice.
Thanks for the tips on what to do on the ship for The Grill, etc. I will definitely take that advice.
When did you go? Also..what was the weather like at that time? I am just wondering if the weather will be very warm...or cool. Guess I need to go on weather.com and check it out...

Azoria-

A little black dress ( you really don't need anything super fancy) and a shawl (think Pashmina!) will do fine for the Monte Carlo casino...

We did the cruise the 3rd week of May and had varied weather- from cool with rain to sunny and gorgeous..

We also did a Med cruise years ago , but that was the last 2 weeks in Sept ( Optimum weather)....

Here are 2 private drivers:
One's name is Allessandro Torso and is with International
Limousine service. email is int [email protected] - fax is 041 5208396 -
phone is 041 5206565.

and :
Paola Migliorni of Florence Tour [email protected] for Livorno

Have a blast for me and do some damage in the shops in St Tropez!

Thank you SO much for all the information! :-) We leave this Saturday and I am SO ready for a break from work!

Azioria-
Just got a postcard that Windsurf is having a sale on their Caribbean sailing in Jan- Mar of 2006!!

Trying to talk my hubs into it...

Have a blast!!

Andy: Sorry it took me so long to answer. I've been off line for a bit.
We were in cabin 128 on the Windsurf almost the center of the ship. It was wonderful. I was amazed at how large the room was and how very comfortable.

We were hoping to do it again in Tahiti next year but Windstar isn't sailing there for a while. Too bad but we are considering the Paul Gauguin. It too is a smalls hip 300 passengers.