BOMBER1

Returning suites to individual staterooms will increase passenger capacity.🙄

Is there a plan to renovate the suites and public areas on the Windsurf?

I heard this same rumor on board the Surf in December 2014. It came from a member of staff who would have some reason to know. The Club Med 2, was built as the Wind Saga, and is a sister ship of Club Med 1, which came to WS as the Wind Surf, the originally planned name.

Maybe the Chinese conglomerate has it's eyes on the Surf

Saw an interesting article in the web issue of the Miami Herald.

 

Dandee2

 

"

Last year, Azamara, which had tested the idea of including beer and wine at meals, decided to go all in, with wines, beers and spirits throughout the day. Oceania, which offers one of cruising’s more inclusive products for meals at specialty restaurants, decided to continue to charge for alcohol, saying that passengers who do not drink do not want to pay for those who do.

 

At Windstar, on the inaugural of the newly renovated Star Pride, president Hans Birkholz took the question to a meeting of passengers, all of whom had sailed previously on Windstar ships.

 

Birkholz asked for a show of hands from passengers who would like to see wine and spirits offered without charge on Windstar ships. Quite a majority raised their hands. Then, he asked, “Would you want wine and spirits included if the ship increased the fare by $100?” Fewer hands were raised. “What about $200?” he asked. Fewer still.

 

Aye, that’s the rub.

 

Cruise lines often describe activities, entertainment or meals aboard ship as complimentary, which of course they are not. What they are is included in the cruise rate. Alcohol consumed aboard ship, without a charge, is not a gift from the cruise line. It is included in the fare. If the cruise line is going to include something new, the cruise rate will go up, as the line has no interest in its profits going down.

 

Windstar, for instance, is developing a new cruise rate scale so that the basic fare will include whatever the passenger wants. Birkholz calls it “luxury as you like it.” He could also call it “luxury as you are willing to pay for it.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/living/article1979679.html#storylink=cpy

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/living/article1979679.html

I think the way it is now is just fine. The price of the alcohol package seems to be fair for those who really enjoy their spirits. It does not make sense to have a package or all inclusive for a person like myself who enjoys a cocktail before dinner and maybe a glass of wine or 2 with dinner or for a person who doesn't drink at all. I have been on 10 Windstar voyages in the past 11 years and have found paying as you go for drinks to be a good deal for myself. If it aint broke don't fix it.

Hi Moxeecat I and my wife are also on this cruise. We have committed with 1 other couple to a 3 day tour of St Petersburg with SPB Tours. This is a considerable savings to what Windstar is offering. SPB Tours is a St. Petersburg tour company that is highly regarded by reviewers on Trip Advisor & Cruise Critic. Here's their link http://www.spb-tours.com/st-petersburg/en.

We are open to having up to 6 more people join us for a maximum of 10. The more people the lower the price. Neither myself or the other couple have any connection with SPB. We have a Roll call thread at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1924031.

There is also a Roll call thread for the */8 Best of the Baltic with a group there also contracting with SPB for the St. Petersburg Tour. Please check out the Roll Call thread.