LAFFNVEGAS

16 minutes ago, richwmn said:

Isaac Newton once famously said, 'If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.'

 

Y’all have said some very nice things about me today, and I am truly honored. But, to be very honest, the Daily would not exist without the foundation provided by @LAFFNVEGASLisa and I believe @luvstotrvl, who provided the information before me.

 

Like those before me, my original intention was just to post the location of the fleet each day, and that lasted, according to @rafinmd Roy’s post, just short of a year. Then the world was thrown into chaos. The ships were all over the place, trying to find a safe harbor. At the time, I was just trying to provide a little content to keep the report interesting. I believe Roy has a list somewhere that chronicles when each feature was added, I’ve written it down a couple of times but never can find it.

 

In addition, this thread would not be what it is without the daily efforts of what is lovingly called ‘the Food and Beverage Department’. That would be @dfish Debi, @cat shepardAnn, and @summer slope Dixie who manage to come up with descriptions of whatever I happen to come up with for a meal, a wine, and a drink of the day. We also have @StLouisCruisers Sandi who does the pictures and descriptions of the ports each day. Again we have Roy who is currently posting the fleet maps, and also started the Care List, currently maintained by @JazzyV Vanessa. We also have @kazu Jacqui who is a constant backup, and each of the people who have taken over for the various prime posters during the times that we are lucky enough to be on a cruise.

 

It would be impossible to thank individually each Cruise Critic member who has ever posted on one of the Daily threads so please accept my thanks for their contribution to these threads.

 

I also thank those who I have met and have been privileged to be on a cruise with.

 

 

Rich, I will further the history a bit. I started the Where’s the Fleet in 2005 or 2006, I had just started doing the Web Cam Wave from the Oosterdam out of San Diego. Because we frequented that ship became good friends with the Hotel Manager James Deering who actually encouraged me to start the Where’s The Fleet, he provided me with a pdf file for the fleet, he and other HAL Officers assisted in getting me this for several years. 
what is nice is that Tom and I are still good friends with James Deering and were able to sail with him last week where he is the Hotel General Manager on Windstar Wind Surf. 
Just over 30% of Officers and Crew on that ship are former HAL employees including the Captain. It really felt like being on HAL 18 years ago. 

On 3/9/2024 at 7:32 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

Thanks for the continuing thread and this last report.

 

(1) Do you find the Barbados airport better organized than SXM?

 

(2) Not to quibble, but I couldn't interpret this:  "MIA airport ... the lines were so long they sent a bunch of us into the main terminal but since had TSA pre check we left caked out not doing it like they normally do.   Normally coming in from an International location you do not get to use your TSA Precheck."

 

Does this mean that you did get to use TSA Pre as an arriving passenger?  We have Global Entry and usually find that facial recognition speeds us straight through the immigration and customs process when returning on an international flight.

 

(3) We are booked on our first Windstar cruise next January (Star Pride).  Looking at their itineraries I see that Wind Surf and Star Pride seem to share the Caribbean.  Have you sailed on Star Pride, and if so how do you compare it to Wind Surf?  [I'm thinking we would need a Suite on Surf, because the Staterooms (188sf) look very cramped.  We are in a Balcony on Pride (277sf)]

Let me try to answer your question, 1. I cannot compare Barbados airport to SXM since I have never flown into Barbados, But over all the St Maarten airport is a bit disorganized I think. We flew American airlines and there were no signs to where the American Airlines check in counter was till about 2 hours prior to checking in and no sign priority but it ended up there was but no signage of having it. 

2. I agree I have never ever been able to use our TSA check in when coming in from another country with the exception of flying in from Canada. Although I have heard you also can do it in Ireland but the MIA airport was crazy busy with lots of delays. After claiming our luggage from the St Maarten to MIA flight we dropped off our luggage to check back in, that was easy but then we have to go through TSA and no there is no TSA Precheck but the lines was so long that it appeared was taking well over an hour and one of the TSA people came up to the people just in front of us and said the rest of you go through this other gate 4 into the main terminal and go through TSA through the main terminal. So we did, we went down to TSA Precheck 1  near all the American Priority check in counters and totally by passed  the very long line of regular TSA. We got very lucky.

3. We have not sailed on Star Pride so I cannot compare but we are suite cruisers, . On Holland America we usually have a Neptune Suite or a Signature Suite, Or we sail NCL in the Haven, for this cruise we were in a category AX forward deck 2. No balcony but oddly we did not miss not having a balcony and the stateroom was actually roomy with so much space we did not use it all. The bathroom also was nicely laid out. The shower was fantastic with instant hot water, great shower head and the most water pressure I have ever felt on a ship. Possibly more than my home shower. We booked again to cruise on Wind Surf for September 2025 for same category.   

Well the cruise has ended and we are traveling home. SXM St Maarten airport was as I expected confusion with little to no signage. Flight did leave on time and we got in on time, but the MIA airport was extra busy and lots of wrong information as to which luggage carousel then the need to recheck bags and long lines of TSA , the lines were so long they sent a bunch of us into the main terminal but since had TSA pre check we left caked out not doing it like they normally do. Normally coming in from an International location you do not get to use your TSA Precheck.

The down side now is our out going flight was to leave at 7:10 it’s now not leaving till 9:10.

Its been a long exhausting day much like how our journey started.

We had a wonderful week on Wind Surf, definitely would do again. We  booked Surf for September 2025 out of Venice while on board . We heard many say they would now only sail small ship, while I love the small ship I still love all cruising and look forward for our next cruise in 5 weeks on the NCL Joy. 
We loved everything about Wind Surf, thought the ship was in great ship for her age, food and service were excellent. 
I think the only flight down side is no sea days on this itinerary and way too much tendering. That was a bit exhausting. But everything thing else was great!!!

A late what’s for dinner but a combination, we ate in Stella with James but could  order off with Amphora or Stella so we had a little of both 
What a great way to end the week. It was so great great to be with James Deering who we have known for over 18 years.

James had the Duck Salad , I had the Roquefort   Salad and Tom had the Caesar Salad, James had Scallops dish , I also had scallops but added on the Lobster from Amphora and Tom had the Prime Rib from Amphora with Lobster , we all had Creme Brulee and a lot of Champagne and wine 😉😁😂
It was an amazing end to a wonderful week on the Windstar Wind Surf.

Got off the ship and tendered into St. Barths, very hot and humid today. Lots of very high end stores. Tom did find a T-shirt he liked but not in his size so we just passed on spending any money they stated the were $39 euros, yes it’s also very expensive here.
Lots and lots of fancy ships and sail boats.

3 hours ago, terrydtx said:

where do you end the cruise?

Sadly we end tomorrow in St Maarten, there is a stateroom we could get last minute to stay on another week but logically will not work especially with the first class air we upgraded to . We cruise in 5 weeks on NCL Joy in the Haven to Bermuda so it not like we do not have a cruise coming soon.

22 minutes ago, HotRoot said:

Where are the lobster tails?  That was always the only thing we ate at the deck BBQ.  Hope they have not stopped serving them.  

Kind of good news bad news story with that, they removed the lobsters totally from both due to the rising cost of lobsters, but there was a big uproar that they were removed so they will be returning just unsure when.

Today we are in St Barthes, I have spa appointments this morning,massage and facial then we will head into town since we are here till 10 but will go to Captains Farewell, then we are having dinner with James.

Just now, terrydtx said:

Wow,I have never seen anything like that on HAL or Celebrity, was the food as good as it looks?

Oh yes definitely way better, I would rate it up there with Wynn or Caesar’s in LasVegas. Very high quality 

9 hours ago, oakridger said:

Oh Lisa.....I want to be there right now!!!  The beautiful orange sky and little tea lights for mood lighting on a ship deck are the perfect setting!  Love it!  Was there any live music during the party?

 

~Nancy

Nancy most definitely, the excellent band was playing then the crew started dancing then they clear away part of the buffet tables to do line dancing. It was another fun party.

No, What’s for Dinner tonight since it was the Deck BBQ and all the restaurants are closed.
The entertainment is about to start but here is some of the beginning part.
 

4 hours ago, kazu said:

 

Great pics of you two.  And such a neat spot, too 👍 

 

Really enjoying your LIVE thread.  For some reason, I thought Windstar was all inclusive.  I was surprised you were charged for drinks.  Are they included with meals or is there a charge at all times, please?  Any other extra charges that you have encountered?  Thanks 🙂 

 

And thanks for this fabulous, interesting thread.

Hi Jacqui. We actually bought the All In package that includes the Beverages, Gratuities and WiFi. We figured 3 drinks may 4 if you drink cheap drinks per day is a break even. For the bottom line we will be break even but it just makes it easier.

Good Morning from Basseterre St Kitts, we are enjoying breakfast at the Veranda, Tom had pancakes and usual breakfast meats, I just had some lighter items from the buffet, in about an hour we will be doing a Sugar Cane train around the island.

Tonight on the Wind Surf was the Crew Show, I honestly do not think I have enjoyed a crew show on a ship better. It was truly one of the funniest and most talented group I have ever seen.
Then I added in our very different pillow candy this evening. One thing nice on Windstar is you still have cabin steward service your stateroom twice a day and evening turn down.

Very good dinner this evening, as well as it was a packed dining room.

Tom and I both ordered the Caesar Salad, me with Anchovies and none for Tom. Then we shared Calamari. Then we both had the Osso Bucco except Tom had them hold the Polenta and got baked Potato. Then Tom had Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate sauce and I had the Blueberry Apple Cobbler. 
Everything was excellent!!

Tomorrow night is the Deck BBQ so all the Restaurants will be closed .

It’s that time of night… What’s for Dinner? What would you order. We are in the Amphora Dining Room.

Had lunch this afternoon at the Veranda restaurant, nice chat with the Captain Coll Ryan we discovered we definitely sailed with him several times we confirmed it with specific things that happen on those Holland America sailings on The older Statendam and the Veendam, those ships are no longer part of the fleet.

I ate the buffet and Tom ordered a Meat Lovers pizza.

The views from the ship have been stunning, Captain has Ben slowly turning the ship so our  dining view has been amazing.

25 minutes ago, LewiLewi said:

We have sailed on the Star Legend pre expansion and loved it. I am thinking about the Wind Surf for a future cruise. Is your cabin quiet? Any noise issues at all?

That is act what Tom and I discussed this morning. Our cabin is extremely quiet, we normally wake coming into port from noise and vibrations, this was so quiet and smooth. We are close to the bow and forward elevator and the ride is smoother than most large ships. It is definitely quiet.

Good morning from Les Saintes Guadeloupe, it’s a very muggy humid overcast day so we may just stay on board the ship. We had not planned a tour today and the tender ride in is a bit longer than most. There are no sea days on this itinerary and we love sea days. 
we are sitting near the Yacht Club but closer to the front desk on port side. We had breakfast up at the Veranda I like having made to order eggs every morning Tom had pancakes this morning and said they were good, he also really likes their bacon. He is now sipping on hot chocolate and I have an iced sugar free vanilla cappuccino with almond milk. I like they have the extra some of us prefer. I am amazed at all the plant based Vegan options they also have. 
For the Wind Surf probably being the oldest ship we have sailed on she really is in great shape. She is going through an extensive Dry Dock in November. 
The stateroom do not feel small and have far more space and drawers than any of the new ships . Closet space and number of hangers are plentiful. I had thought from pictures before we sailed that the bathroom would feel small but it too is actually better than some of our recent cruises on new ships.

We are enjoying the much smaller ship and the sailing yacht feel.

The last picture is the Amphora Dining Room.

3 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Quick question, is it still open bridge except when pilots are on board?

 

Roy

Hi Roy, yes most definitely. They love passengers stopping by. 

Tonight Tom ordered the Cesar Salad, the Sirloin Steak with Baked Potato and Candice cream and chocolate sauce. I had the French Onion Soup, the Seared Tuna which was very good, and the chocolate Cremeux. 
Everything was very good.

When we got back to our cabin besides the Chicopee get every single night there was a little turtle made out of shells as a gift.

25 minutes ago, cccole said:

This is just so much fun. I would love to have the tomato and watermelon salad, seared sesame crusted tuna, and ice cream.  Thank you for inviting us to join you for dinner.

 

The beach bbq looked fabulous.  Nothing like a wonderful beach day with great food.

 

I loved your photos of your HAL cruises and we were on a 3 week cruise in January.  I found the food looked wonderful but did not have much taste, except for the specialty restaurants.  How are you finding presentation and taste on Windstar?  And do you miss having a balcony?  Thank you again for bring us along.  Cherie

Cherie, The food taste has been very good, I have to admit over all better than HAL for most of the items. The one thing HAL has better is Explorations Coffee Bar and coffee in the main dining room. The coffee in the main d r here and breakfast is not good at all real oily acidity, they have a coffee bar like Explorations called Yacht Club but it is kind of hit or miss and the coffee is just slightly better than the other venues. But they do have good bakery items there.

as for missing a balcony, I was concerned we would but actually not at all. No cabins even the few big suites have no balcony. There are plenty of outside deck space areas. 
The one thing Tom and I talked about over dinner was how much bigger the ship feels on the inside. We watched numerous YouTube videos before the cruise and none do this ship justice. It feels a lot bigger. And Amphora Main Dining room is extremely big and actually quite elegant. There are two sides to the main Dining Room.

It’s almost that time of night for What’s for Dinner? What would you order?

We will be heading upstairs to dinner in about 30 minutes.

Had our picture taken out on the Bow Sprit while sailing out of St Lucia also
 Pics of sail away raising the sails video with music was too long to upload.

22 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

Was it better than the horrible BBQ served on Half Moon Cay by HAL?

Definitely much better, the food was excellent.