Chipshot from Michigan

I wonder what it costs to park three ships in St. Maarten.

Our next cruise (not on W*) isn't until next year.  I hope things have calmed down by then.

On 3/15/2020 at 6:23 PM, O2B@Cagain said:

I'm sorry for you. I bet the captain and officers had a lot on their minds during your cruise. They probably had priorities which precluded being able to offer the top notch service you were expecting.

An apologist making excuses for Windstar's officers doesn't help anything.

Windstar sells high standards and should be expected to deliver on them

Otherwise, what a good time for a refit.

On 3/15/2020 at 10:45 AM, Misty Morning said:

Finally back home and now starting self imposed 14 day quarantine as required by government of Canada.  Cruise was great and will be posting a review shortly but there were a few glitches this time around especially with tender service more specifically with bridge staff who control the tender operations. What we have noticed over the years is that our anchorages get further and further away from the the tender docks at the ports and thus the voyages are longer but Windstar does not seem to add a third tender (maybe only at the start of the day) which made for a long wait of over an hour to get back from St Barth.  On our last day in Antigua, last tender was at 4h30. There were approx 12 of us waiting when a tender showed up at 4h15 but did not go back to the ship at 4h30 as there were 12 passengers still on the island.  The Bridge staff did not let the tender back until all passengers were in which did not happen until 5h15.  There were a lot of upset guests with some that had spa appointments they would not be able to meet and get charged on because of this.  Everyone on the dock could not believe the attitude of the Bridge staff (we were told the 2nd officer was on duty).  The Security guard at the dock told the officer ( and some guests also spoke directly to the officer on the walkie talkie) that the guests were pissed and all over him but the officer did not release the tender.  Not only that, the staff knew the 12 would not be there for a while so it would have been so simple to take us back and get the tender to come back to pick up the late guests.  By doing this they accommodated the late guests but got 12 very upset guests. It would have been so simple to get the tender to do one more run. All guests would have been happy.  I tried  to go to the Bridge once we left port, but it was conveniently closed when it was supposed to be accessible, probably because the security guard told us to complain to the Bridge.

 

 Not only that, we discussed this issue with chief engineer (Arnauld from France) who we bumped into as he was having a drink in Compass Rose. Although he is not involved directly in the Tender operations, he was condescending and did not even acknowledge here could have been an issue and would not even apologize.  Complained to reception and they acknowledged my complaint and we tried to speak to Staff Captain but he was not available.  Will vent out my frustration on this issue in our survey. Maybe the Bridge staff needs more training on customer service I am sure if the officer had been on the dock, he would have felt the guest pressure, but up there in the ivory tower, they can wash their hands and say this is for security reasons, what a bunch of baloney!  This did not end the trip on a high note

Sounds consistent with some of our experiences in December.  Step it up, Windstar.

1 hour ago, Second seating said:

"Next stop, French Polynesia?"

 

Yes!  We have done 4 French Polynesia cruises and Windstar was the best!

May I ask when your first was?

We sailed on the Song in 1995.

1 hour ago, Ski Mom 2 said:

The best part of the hotel was Renaissance Island. It is their private island that only guests can get too (although they sell a handful of day passes every morning I guess). It is a 15 minute boat ride over to the island. We splurged and I rented us a cabana on Flamingo Island for the day. It was wonderful and well worth the money. We loved our day on the island. Here I am enjoying our hammock over the water 🙂

Next stop, French Polynesia?

1 hour ago, Misty Morning said:

Straw Hat on Meads Bay, great place.

Yes it is.  Very welcoming.  This is from down the beach a bit, in front of the Four Seasons.  I'm kind of surprised my wife hasn't already made a reservation there.

1 hour ago, Misty Morning said:

We'll be on the same cruise ourselves.  Looking forward to this modified Yachtsman Caribbean itinerary with Anguilla thrown in as an additional port

We enjoyed Anguilla during our December cruise.

29 minutes ago, cruisencrazy said:

There is still much work to be done.  

She is showing the effects of years of use.  I have been on other older ships that displayed patina while not feeling neglected.

While the modern bridge navigation hardware and software were impressive, threadworn carpet and rusty ventilation grates were obvious misses.  I really wish the sails worked as before.  They're a big reason for our choosing Windstar.

On 8/6/2019 at 8:42 PM, dandee2 said:

As for pearl, we just came back from 2 weeks in Tahiti and Moorea (we did the Wind Spirit cruise in 2017). Pearl quality and prices varies but the market is pretty sinilar. Most of the time you can get good and great looking Cat. B and C's.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/activities-and-interests/the-lure-of-the-black-pearl-a-buyers-guide/article22412822/

 

Here is a few prices from around Papeete last week

Is the tax on gold still high?  We purchase raw pearls and had them made into jewelry pieces at home.

Is horseback riding still offered on Huahine?

3 hours ago, minidonuts85 said:

Great pic! When I lived in Panama, this was a familiar sight as we fished for Peacock Bass at the crack of dawn in Gatun. Having a the wake from a freighter rock your little fishing boat is quite the experience!

We rode in an outboard to a nature preserve and were utterly dwarfed by those freighters.  Surprisingly little wake, actually.  Speeds through the canal are probably limited.  Plenty of bird activity.  I would have enjoyed joining you with a camera while you fished.

Morning in Gatun Lake.

The new locks are too expensive for any vessel that doesn't really need them.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caribbean-princess-traverses-panama-canal-as-first-ever-neo-panamax-cruise-ship-to-sail-through-newly-expanded-locks-300552964.html

Colon is interesting because of all the activity (nothing quite like having an enormous container ship pass within feet of your vessel) but not exactly the most charismatic port.  That's the reality of the canal.  I'd like to pass through one of the new locks (no mules) someday.  Tugs are used now.

1 hour ago, new_cruiser said:

We are in Gatun Lake now having completed the transit up.

Will you be overnighting in the lake?  We did that with another line last year, and waking up there was a special experience.

2 hours ago, bgetter said:

Yes, the ship the Wind Star... little concerned about 14 days at sea all that great food, and not way to exercise.  Thanks

 

Eating healthy is possible.

Find out if you can beforehand if it is working.  Only one of the treadmills on the Wind Surf was in December, and there's no one on board to fix them.

Very cool.  Enjoy!

4 hours ago, ahottoddie said:

We are on the Windsurf out of SXM on 2/29...I called Windstar yesterday with the “what if” scenario and they told me that if we were denied boarding because of this they would refund us in full...eases my mind a bit.

Getting that in writing should ease it more.

8 hours ago, jumelle said:

I am truly shocked that they would leave port with all that trash on board.

To Windstar's credit, they didn't rope off the forward decks to prevent guests from seeing the truth.  And weeks of cruising weren't lost, unlike the Surf's unmasted brethren.

26 minutes ago, milepig said:

 

This is what I see, which I believe is correct.

 

I believe it's correct, too.  Reports of the Breeze at PR or BVI are spurious.  Other vessels I have followed have made occasional pings during extended out-of-service periods, which Marine Traffic has detected.  I'm sure Windstar will announce with some fanfare when she again plies the seas.

29 minutes ago, milepig said:

 

I'm not sure why you say that. I've seen nothing to indicate that she's left Palermo??

I say that because I looked at the dates.  How many months ago was October?

Marine Traffic appears to be out-of-date:  https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:374137/mmsi:311083000/vessel:STAR BREEZE