LTC Dan

Wouldn't do Antarctica on any of the current builds as they are not ice class A0 or higher ships.

One more little tidbit / observation / etc. Chalk it up to wishful thinking (based on a whole bunch of "if's"), because there's no indication yet that it could possibly be true. Surely it's a pipe dream, but here goes:

For a long time many of us have been fantasizing about how cool it would be if Xanterra purchased Club Med 2 to have a second five-masted beauty in the Windstar fleet. (If anyone wanted my opinion, personally I'd call it "Wind Serenade", an homage to the dearly departed "Wing Song", but that's neither here nor there.)

I can't for the life of me find a complete itinerary for the Club Med 2 for this year (that company's website stinks), but for all we know perhaps Club Med 2 is signed on to be a participant in the regatta that dandee2 wrote about. So IF that were true, and IF there is a top secret deal in the works, then maybe Windstar will announce a Canadian/New England voyage for later this year for their latest expansion move.

Hey, call me a wild-eyed optimist. It could happen. :D

Sorry to get so over-the-top excited, especially since I'm going to have to dump a bucket of cold water all over myself. As much as I'd love Wind Surf or Wind star to participate in this Canadian Regatta in the Summer of 2017, of course it won't happen. Both ships are already locked-in with commitments to sail in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, respectively. I can get so wound up and lose track of reality when I'm hit with a fantasy. :o :) ;)

And guess who's coming to the East Coast of Canada this summer: http://www.rdv2017.com/en/

My God, dandee2, this could be it! If vast numbers of tall ships are going to Quebec City in a grand regatta this Summer, why in the world would Windstar miss this event? The St. Lawrence Seaway is navigable for quite some distance, and from this publicity release its apparent that the tall ships can make it this far. I knew that there were several bridges further on, with limited overhead clearance, so making it to Montreal would be a no-go.

I must say, this would be a dream come true. We were planning on taking a bit to save up for the next cruise. But if Wind Surf makes an appearance for this event, we will be on board for sure.

Howellmc, you are right! It would be fantastic to see Wind Surf sailing on those waters. The current transatlantic repositioning cruises are so straight-shot and over-and-done-with. But to make a gradual arc from Portugal all the way to the Caribbean, in multiple legs, would give lots of renewed interest. Love new itineraries, especially for the Wind Surf. Dream on.

Dandee2, the tea leaves sure seem to support your theory -- new expedition-style ship for Windstar in 2019. If true, the company could then do any number of things with that resource:

1) Do North Atlantic sailings from Dublin to NTC many times a year, with occasional side trips far into the Arctic Circle.

2) Set up home permanently in Canada, Alaska and the Northern Pacific rim, or

3) Go anywhere else that has a lot of ice year-around.

Like you said, that might free up Star Legend to start doing frequent sailings in New England, Montreal, Quebec City, or even further south beyond New York City to Bermuda and Charleston. Makes a lot of sense, especially since the tall-masted vessels like Wind Surf can't navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway all the way to Montreal due to limited overhead clearance at bridges.

I'm starting to get used to the idea that Windstar will enter the New England market with one of the motor yachts. But I want to try out Windsurf for our next cruise, and it surely would be awesome to see Windsurf make a grand appearance in New York City harbor.

Dandee2, the tea leaves sure seem to support your theory -- new expedition-style ship for Windstar in 2019. If true, the company could then do any number of things with that resource:

1) Do North Atlantic sailings from Dublin to NTC many times a year, with occasional side trips far into the Arctic Circle.

2) Set up home permanently in Canada, Alaska and the Northern Pacific rim, or

3) Go anywhere else that has a lot of ice year-around.

Like you said, that might free up Star Legend to start doing frequent sailings in New England, Montreal, Quebec City, or even further south to Bermuda and Charleston. Makes a lot of sense, especially since the tall-masted vessels like Wind Surf can't navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway all the way to Montreal due to limited overhead clearance at bridges.

I'm starting to get used to the idea that Windstar will enter the New England market with one of the motor yachts. But I want to try out Windsurf for our next cruise, and it surely would be awesome to see Windsurf make a grand appearance in New York City harbor.

I would love to see a new build someday, dandee2, but continue to hope for a miracle -- a motor-assisted sailing yacht like Wind Surf, Wind Star, or Wind Spirit. Most people think that kind of vessel would be cost-prohibitive, but I'll stubbornly hope it'll happen. I've heard others like you speculate that we could get a new build designed for cold water sailing excursions (with a heavy hull for ice), and that's less of a stretch. Then one of the motor yachts like the Star Legend could re-deploy to New England. So your idea could work.

Back to my original thought, the North Atlantic leg transit from Dublin to New York City might not be too appealing to some folks. But anything along the east cost would be very appealing and a less-marketed alternative, at least I would think so. So there are many itinerary options that could be pieced together for anything from New Brunswick to the Florida coast.

We'll see what they have in mind. I'm predicting something will be inserted into the overall schedule beginning in 2018.

Time to stoke the rumor mill. :) Last week I was scrolling through the Windstar Facebook site, and I came across a photograph of the Wind Surf in New York City harbor in 1990, apparently on her maiden voyage. I wrote this:

"I would so adore a chance at a New England sailing on Wind Surf. Maybe someday they can assemble a nice trans-Atlantic arc from Lisbon all the way to St. Maarten at the end of the European season. I could imagine three separate segments, Lisbon-Dublin, then Dublin-New York City, and then New York City-St. Maarten. That is, if the weather would be feasible that time of year. I know the New England coast would be gorgeous in the Fall."

Three hours later, Windstar Cruises wrote back as follows: "Stay tuned, Danny! Big news will be coming in Spring :)"

Now I can't claim to be a clairvoyant, but it will be way cool if they do, indeed, come up with transatlantic itineraries starting in Dublin. We have a son that lives in Manhattan, and we've never taken in the Fall seasonal colors of New England. Time for a cruise up north! :D

We really had some special moments on our Windstar cruise, and we'll definitely be back. Here are some closing thoughts that might help:

 

TIP No. 5. Try to link up with your fellow Cruise Critic contributors. At dinner on the first night, as we're reading the Amphora menu, FlyGirl12 (who was seated to my left) politely asked, "are you on Cruise Critic?" What a pleasant surprise. I think she recognized me because my avatar has my photo. We shared lots of tips and observations, and Carla and I loved getting to know Alex and her husband Rich.

 

TIP No. 6. Venice is an absolute delight at dawn (or after dinnertime, for that matter). That's when the crowds vanish. If it gets foggy, it becomes downright mystical. If you brave the crowds at St. Mark's Square or the Rialto Bridge, it's insanely busy in mid-afternoon. I visited both places at dawn, and at St. Mark's Square there were maybe 20 people. When we sailed away from port at 4:00, there were 10,000 -- no exaggeration.

 

TIP No. 7. For heaven's sake, you MUST see Dubrovnik and Kotor. These are absolute, must-see, five-star, glorious destinations everyone should put on their bucket list. At Dubrovnik, walk the ramparted walls surrounding the old town, but do it EARLY before it gets too hot and crowded with tourists. And at Kotor, try to climb to the fortress above the old town for stunning views of the entire Bay of Kotor. The best photograph can be taken on the cobblestone and stepped trail just past the chapel, mid-way up the slope.

 

TIP No. 8. In my opinion, you'll hit the sweet spot on timing if you take this cruise in early to mid-October. The weather should be glorious. And the crowds should be much less hectic because it'll be off-season. If you go in the summertime....oh boy.

Barrycat:

I wrote a message on your thread a little while ago, and gave you some tips about Kotor and Dubrovnik. If you want to see some of my previous photos and trip notes, read the attached thread and see the pictures from our October 1 cruise from Venice to Athens. My little postage-stamp snapshots may not do it justice, but trust me when I say Kotor is a gem. You're apparently doing the "Classic Italy & the Dalmatian Coast" itinerary, but the "Venetian Passageways" trip we took was similar (but unfortunately missed Rovinj and Split). Have a great time, and make sure you post some of your own pictures when you get back.

Hi Barrycat:

I can't speak specifically to excursions, because the DW and I like the individualized, self-exploration on foot mode. And I also can't talk about Rovinj or Split -- we've got those as bucket list places for sometime later. I can speak to what you can expect in Kotor and Dubrovnik, having been there in early October when Star Breeze came to town.

First of all, Kotor. The listed excursions did look cool, but I loved just walking around, and especially LOVED the hike up the winding cobblestone paths to the summit at the fort overlooking the bay. You said that you are able to take on strenuous activities, and this will definitely qualify for a butt-kicking, exhilarating experience. And I mean that in the best way possible. Do yourself a favor and plan to hike at least as far as the cute chapel, halfway up the mountain, and then go on the cobblestone trail about 50-100 yards past that for the best panorama views of the Bay of Kotor. All those stupendous photos you see in the guidebooks? You'll get to snap those pictures yourself, right from that vantage point. Most people go all the way to the fortress at the top, if it's a pretty day, but just know that I did it for bragging rights. The photos aren't as great from the summit.

Wandering through the town is a gift in itself, especially on a pretty day. Not nearly as commercial and jammed with tourists as Dubrovnik, and I found the shops were more to my liking. Gorgeous and quaint in an old world way. I bet you could do an excursion, too, depending on how long your ship will be in port, but I'd advise you to first allow 3 hours for the climb up-and-down and shopping afterwards. You won't be sorry.

Now let's talk about Dubrovnik. I'm sure there are great excursions, and kayaking in the harbor sounds fun. But if you've never been to Dubrovnik, the guidebooks tell you the one "must-do" thing is to hike the rampart walls enclosing the old town, probably going in a counterclockwise direction. The views are really cool, and I enjoyed the exercise and seeing all the old-world architecture from above. There are tons of shops to visit when you're done (if that's your kind of thing), but I thought they tended to be a little too kitschy for my taste. To each his own. The real payoff is just absorbing the ambiance of a preserved UNESCO World Heritage site. I'm told the cable car ride up to the mountaintop overlooking Dubrovnik is also a hoot, but we missed doing that.

The wife and I enjoyed Kotor and Dubrovnik immensely -- as much as, or more than, any other port cities we'd ever visited. As for me, I thought that Kotor came in absolutely in first place, and I say that knowing we didn't spend a dollar for an excursion. (Part of that was the weather, which was absolutely perfect.) For me, Venice is my no. 2 favorite port to visit, and Dubrovnik is no. 3.

About the weather.... Not sure when your trip will be, but both of these places are wonderful to see during the shoulder season (May or October) when the temperatures are ideal and you won't be jostled around by sweaty tourists. Hit the rocky trails above Kotor, and the ramparts of Dubrovnik, EARLY in the day, just as soon as you arrive in port. That way you can avoid getting too soaked in perspiration, and you'll beat most of the crowds, too. Try to do some advance planning research and select an itinerary where none of the big boats will be in town.

Thanks, ducklite, couldn't agree more. You mentioned "critical mass", and yes, all those cruise lines are really piling it on with the mega-ship new builds. They're all fighting over the same mainstream, budget crowd, and economies of scale keep things competitive....until they exhaust the market. That was my original point -- how in the world will they fill up all those cabins? Pudgesmom, don't feel bad about venting. I wouldn't call any of that a rant, you're just noting how mass market conditions may save a few bucks on an airline or a cruise ship, but then the whole experience is rather humdrum. Some people like their lifestyle in bland shades of crème, not too flashy. Others insist on wild designer prints, butler service, Champaign, and caviar. I think Windstar has a great option for us folks in the middle that aren't so ostentatious, but would rather skip the bland and tasteless. Ducklite summed that up beautifully in his last post.

Hope that didn't sound too snobbish. All those market segments are fine, so no judgment. But we've got a good thing going. And our ships are gorgeous. Glad that Windstar isn't selling out.

1. I'm slightly late in talking about this, but I'm jazzed about the new Alaska itineraries for Star Legend in the Summer of 2018. I had been wondering where they would go after the conclusion of the April 24, 2018 "Grand Japan" trip, and now we have our answers. Check out the thread that ricflyer started last evening for details.

2. Also noticed (probably way later than the rest of you) that Windstar's four-mast "Wind Star" will return to Costa Rica late this year. That's a welcome change of pace. It will still do two offerings of "Jewels of the Windward Islands" on November 10th and 18th, 2017 -- that's the tried-and-true (and no doubt wildly popular) Barbados round trip they've concentrated on for a long time during the Caribbean season. But after that the Wind Star will boogie to Colon, Panama for several months of the "Costa Rica and Panama Canal" offering. First one starts on December 2, 2017 and the last one begins on March 31, 2018. We've never been lucky enough to do any of the Costa Rica trips in the past, but a few years ago one of the four-masters (Wind Spirit?) did a handful of trips back and forth between these ports. The reviews were really good, and then POOF that ship sailed, and the only Costa Rican options were on the motorized yachts. I, for one, welcome the romance of the sails down in Costa Rica, because none of the other cruise outfits can match that kind of fun.

Article gives some details on Alaska cruises in 2018:

 

Each cruise will visit Tracy Arm and Misty Fjords, with at least seven to eight other ports.

 

The Star Legend will offer three new itineraries with eight sailing dates, departing May to August, including a 14-day Seward (Anchorage) to Vancouver option; 12-day Vancouver round-trip itinerary, and 11- or 12-day Vancouver to Seward (Anchorage) voyages.

 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/16282-windstar-to-alaska-in-2018.html

Thanks for breaking this exciting news, ricflyer! You beat me to the punch, as I just saw this about 20 minutes ago in CruiseCritic's news blog. Here's an article posted on the Windstar home site: http://blog.windstarcruises.com/2017/01/windstar-cruising-alaska-british-columbia-summer-2018/

It includes a few more nuggets if you read closely. I observed that Legend's last Asian trip was a 24 April 2018 itinerary ("Grand Japan", Osaka to Tokyo, 10 days). They also mention an as-yet-to-be-named trans-Pacific cruise (Tokyo to Seward/Anchorage, 14 days) that will obviously run until early May 2018. And then there are eight total Alaska offerings, varying from 11 to 14 days. Where they will go from there is unclear.

Well done, Windstar! I suspect these will be highly popular. I did a Holland America cruise to Alaska for our 25th anniversary, and it was pretty cool. But a small ship offering to some very unique ports of call will be a game changer.

A lot of them probably for the Asian market.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2016/09/29/cruise-ships-order-guide/90042742/

Thanks, dandee2, you are certainly a wealth of information today. :D That first article, the one on USA Today, is just downright amazing. I started to say "scary", then considered declaring it "awful", and then softened it to "amazing" when I accepted the fact that bigger is great for some people. More options, as in more waterslides, rock walls, Broadway shows, waterside arenas, and vast mall-like canyons for people to mingle in -- all that is repulsive to me when I think of the crowds. And then I envision the madness on shore when these big boats pull into town, especially when there are several big boats at once. And the trend is for massive numbers of more ships.

I'm glad to read that WS is staying true to its formula, and if and when they expand they will probably seek out small refurb opportunities.

My wife and I used to go on the big ships, and then we decided to dial it back and look for less hoopla. That big boat scene is a utopia for many people, and that's okay. I'm grateful I've found an alternative that can keep the vibe low-key and personal.

Check out the headline news article in CruiseCritic: "Carnival Corp. Signs Agreement to Build New Princess and Holland America Cruise Ships".

All these new-builds begs the question --- is there really a market to support all of this? The article says HAL will deliver two Pinnacle Class ships in 2018 and 2021 (2,660 passengers each) on par with Konigsdam. It also says Princess will launch four more Royal class ships in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2022, (3,660 passengers each) similar to the recently launched Royal Princess and Regal Princess.

CruiseCritic had another article some time ago talking about all the new-builds on the horizon by all the other cruise lines. Some of these are truly grotesque monsters. Companies mentioned were Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Viking, Celebrity, Crystal, P&O, Costa, Disney, Star Clipper, a start-up called Virgin Cruises, and the upper-crust stalwarts Seabourn, Silversea, and Regent.

And of course we know the new Windstar President has been making noises about expanding our fleet, too, although he seems to be hinting at taking on "existing hardware" from another company rather than building new.

I love having options, and capitalism is great, but the market is already quite flush with every kind of sailing option one could want. I worry that little old Windstar may have trouble keeping its own niche humming along.

Unfortunately, the Windsurf's masts are too high for it to get to Quebec City as the max clearance of a major 735Kv electrical line going across the St-Lawrence river just downstream from the city is only 150 feet or so (same as all the bridges between Quebec City and Montreal. They would need to use the the motor yachts.

A major electrical cable spans the St. Lawrence? That's a shocking revelation. :D Oh well, so much for Dano's big theory. Well, it will be interesting to see where Windstar decides to branch out. The article does drop a big hint that they've been devoting a lot of resources to Europe and are wondering if there might be better options out there. I'd love to be a strategist for the cruise line.

Thanks, ricflyer. I find these topics fascinating, and it's fun to speculate. I think the new president observed in a recent article that the sailing ships were ideally suited for warm-weather itineraries, whereas the motorized yachts could explore some remote places, some of which are in less warm regions. I'd certainly agree. I think it's a given they will devote plenty of time for exploring the Caribbean from late November to early April. I agree with Strenz, it would be a shame to see them cut back on the European options. I think they'd be wise to continue with at least one ship in the Mediterranean from April through October. And the President is clearly happy with the market for Wind Spirit in Tahiti.

So assuming Wind Spirit will stay put, I guess the big question is what would he want to do with the Wind Surf and the Wind Star in the heat of summer? If not Europe, where would he want to shift his marketing attention?

I love the idea of sending the Wind Surf into New England and Canada. And there is that untapped market for Australia and New Zealand. I think either one would have tremendous potential, maybe in alternating years. In effect, the Wind Surf could become a platform for around-the-world sailing. Any takers?

Lois R, I guess this boils down to the kind of trip you want. Sunny or temperate? Sailing ship, or motorized yacht with a suite? A more secluded, quiet itinerary, or something more energizing? There are so many great choices, and any of them might work out well for a solo traveler. Enjoy!

Just bringing this back up front.....I never did book a Caribbean Cruise

with Windstar but.....I am looking at something else to Europe......

possibly in June/July......my plans are up in the air but there is a good

chance I will have this opportunity......:)

Thoughts from ya'll?

You know, Lois R, it occurs to me that not all people automatically default to the "med" options when one says 'Europe' in a posting. Sorry I jumped to that assumption. Now that I see that you were speaking more generally, I think there are some folks out there that would recommend 'Gaelic Explorers', Dublin to Edinburgh. The one I'd do in a heartbeat would be the June 24th sailing of the five-masted Wind Surf, the fleet's flagship. TALK ABOUT GORGEOUS! And much cooler weather. Could still be crowded, but let the other folks tell you about that. This itinerary is on our bucket list.

Hi Lois R:

I think the most exciting itinerary for the Mediterranean in that timeframe is on July 1st, when the Wind Star sets sail from Athens to Venice for a 12-night journey. There are so many great ports jammed into that trip, with Venice, Dubrovnik, and Kotor being absolute bucket-list destinations you must see before you die. I'm told Rovinj is also exquisite. I'd definitely throw in an extra day or two in Venice to soak up all that gem city has to offer.

(And I say that with one caveat -- we had a bad time in Athens at the tail end of our 30 Sep 16 sailing from Venice to Athens on the Star Breeze. No fault for Windstar. The air traffic controller's union decided to throw a tantrum and had a brief strike that paralyzed all flights to and from Athens, so we were stuck in Athens for an extra day. But Windstar bent over backwards to try to minimize the anxiety. So if you can tolerate the uncertainties of the economy in Athens, then almost everything else about that July 1st trip will be extraordinary. Note: make sure to hit the Dubrovnik ramparts as early in the morning as you can, because it will be really crowded and hot as heck by mid-day. Ditto for climbing the hillside above Kotor.)

If you want something equally fantastic, but jammed into an 8-night package, then consider one of three offerings in July on the Windstar going roundtrip Venice-Venice. The first one is on July 13th, following by two more clone versions thereafter. Again, I'd definitely throw in an extra day or two in Venice on the front end to get over jetlag and see the sights. That itinerary is unbelievable, with six Adriatic ports along the Dalmatian coast. Full disclosure -- since it's mid-Summer, most of the big ports will be buried in tourists (unfortunately, that will include Dubrovnik and Split), but the other tiny towns will be less busy.

I think the other folks will vouch for the wonderful laid-back feeling and nautical vibe on the 4-masted Wind Star. She's a beauty.

Hi Jb-lhr:

I agree with SMNY, as we were on the exact same cruise with them beginning September 30th. We can say for sure that Butrint was on the itinerary back then (we actually sailed into a nearby port city of Sarande). And towards the end of the cruise we made the transit of the Corinth Canal. As for the future offerings, only Windstar can confirm what stops will be made. I've checked the Windstar website and one other travel-related site, and they both seem to confirm what SMNY observed -- Corfu seems to have replaced Sarande / Butrint. Unfortunately, Butrint is way too far from Corfu for Windstar to offer the park as an optional shore excursion.

Personally, the port of Sarande wasn't all that exciting anyway. A quick walk along the waterfront satisfied my curiosity. We were told that the Butrint shore excursion was very nice, although we chose to stay onboard. I can say that transiting the Corinth Canal was really cool. Personally, I think the best part of the whole cruise happened up-front (Venice, Dubrovnik, and Kotor, and to a lesser extent Hvar).

Maybe some other cruise outfit will offer a nearby port stop so that you can see Butrint. Good luck.

Sun's Monterrat Island Tours. We were there before the volcano blew and Sun is a native son of the island. His tour covered what all three ship's tours did combined. http://Www.monterserratislandtours dot com or 664-491-2124. He is lovely young man. They are struggling to get the island back on the tourist map. You will be amazed

Worth the price of the entire cruise. We were astounded at the devastation. His father filmed the multiple eruptions that are shown in their volcano center. Book him now. We had 4 people in his van. Can probably hold 6 but 4 was comfortable. Had lunch in a local spot also interesting. They need our help.

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

sb44, I just wanted to take a second and compliment you on this posting. The other messages in this thread are helpful and fun to read, but this particular entry was highly specific and compelling. When someone goes beyond the plain facts and gives a warm endorsement on behalf of an exceptional tour vendor that needs some help -- well, just say it sold the case. Tugged at the heartstrings, even.

I felt equally grateful and amazed at the guest experience we had in Slovenia in September, and the guy that ran the hotel in Lake Bled was a shining gem of a person, unlike any hospitality industry contact we'd ever met. So it felt quite natural to spread the word, and we wrote about him in glowing terms on Cruise Critic. Thanks for doing the same in recommending "Sun".

We're getting close now! Anyone boarded Windstar in San Juan recently? How's the port? Is getting onboard an easy process?

Hi mnhicks. Hopefully you'll get this reply before your December sailing. I'm sure others will chime in, but I had mixed feelings about San Juan in my trip there a few years ago. San Juan will be a fine place for embarkation & debarkation, and the airport is decent. If you are there for a few days prior (or after), I'd make sure to accomplish two things: 1) visit Old San Juan, because the historic part of the city is charming, and 2) get out in the boonies and really explore the rain forests. The rest of San Juan is highly congested, touristy (in a bad way), and rather blighted. Some others might disagree, but the two destinations I mentioned are good bets for sure.

Enjoy your trip, and post a nice review with pictures. we really liked our cruise on Star Breeze, and it's identical to your Star Legend.

Pure speculation. Possibly a bit of sour grapes?

What an odd thing to say. Not sure what you mean by sour grapes. Everyone has a different tolerance for formality. I know what I like, but the OP stated she had a liking for things low-key. And everyone else has a feeling about it one way or another. And that's good, because they're all just putting in their opinions and trying to help.

:confused: