SailorJM

Cool! Which week? We will be on sister ship Vela week of March 31 for Fleet Week, when all three Island windjammers ships sail together in/out of Grenada.

Yay for you! When are you sailing? We'll be back on Vela on March 31, 2019, ported in St. Kitts.

Just spent a fabulous week on Vela, one of Island Windjammers (IWJ) three sailing tall ships—we sailed out of St. Lucia and visited the French West Indies, in the southern Caribbean. For us, there is nothing better than being on a tall ship, sails up, wind in your hair, beautiful islands, sunny skies—and on this trip, dolphins! So many dolphins on two days, running and leaping alongside Vela's bow as she sliced through the seas, full sails up.

The islands we visited were not impacted by last fall's hurricanes, except for Dominica, which was hit hard, and happy to say, that island is well on its way to being whole once again, six months later. The people are proud, determined and coming back strong. And we on Vela were happy to do our part to help re-start her economy just a wee bit by taking an island tour (including chocolate factory) or a river tour—and enjoying rum drinks at one of the beach bars. We learned that the Caribbean islands that actually were slammed by Irma and Maria last year are coming back, just like Dominica....and that's great news!

Vela is a 150-foot triple-masted sailing ship that can carry 26 passengers. Cabins are everything from cozy singles to larger suites....every cabin with its on A/C and bathroom. Her public spaces are beautiful: lots of woods. Crew of 10. My husband and I are longtime windjammer/tall ship afficionados and love everything about a windjammer-style sailing ship, and Vela certainly fits the bill: totally casual (Vela has sign posted onboard: If you're not barefoot, you're overdressed!), sails up, no lines, three full meals daily (no menus, but really really good and beautifully prepared), totally fun crew, great fellow passengers, small bays and coves that the big ships can't access....a laid back and so relaxing vacation. Most of our fellow passengers this time were escaping the frigid northwest.

A Vela day began with a full breakfast, followed some mornings by a sail from one island to another—or on other days by exploring an island reached during the night. Vela offers a rope swing, paddle boards and snorkle gear at no charge, and her tender goes to shore on a regular basis when Vela is at anchor. Lunch on board, then more opportunities to explore, play in the water or just enjoy a good book....but everyone makes sure to be on board by 5pm for the daily Happy Hour, with the rum drink-of-the-day and sumptuous snacks. Dinner was always on the aft deck, under the stars. Chef Robert was a master not only of meals, but of desserts! Oh wow. Something decadent always, after both lunch and dinner! Evenings under the stars, sometimes under sail. For those who can handle the action of a large sailing ship, this is just too much fun. To find out more about Vela and the other two IWJ ships: islandwindjammers.com.

That is great to hear! That's a cruise we've been thinking on.

Nice memories, altho bittersweet re Fantome.

Many of the old Windjammer Barefoot Cruise (WBC) folks are sailing these days with Island Windjammers

(IWJ, islandwindjammers.com), and the website for chatting is myseashanty.com. You might find someone there who sailed on Flying Cloud. IWJ has three tall ships sailing the Caribbean: Diamant (10 pass), Sagitta (24 pass) and Vela (26 pass). Also Mandalay, the only remaining sailing ship from WBC, is still sailing in the Caribbean, via a company called Sail Windjammer (sailwindjammer.com).

Ok then.......that all suits me just fine! And so an Uncruise is now on our list to to-do's

And to update my above posts on Island Windjammers: they now have three Island Girls:

10-passenger sailing ship Diamant, just out of a major refurb last fall; 24 passenger motorsailer Sagitta, and now the 26-passenger sailing ship Vela (the former Tole Mour). IWJ spent a year refurbing Vela and has been sailing her for the past year. Just today returned from a French West Indies week aboard Vela. Was great fun. Windjamming is alive and well!!

This is an incredibly awesome string, with so much excellent info! We've been to St. Lucia several times, but I have learned so much more about seeing this island here. Especially appreciative of the local point of view;) and patience in answering all the questions. You rock! We'll be back in St. Lucia on March 23 for several days, staying (again) at Marigot Bay Beach Resort, and sailing on Island Windjammer's sailing tall ship Vela for a week, then back to St. Lucia for a few more days (again at Marigot BBR)...and this string has definitely helped!!

When IWJ had their ships based at Rodney Bay (they are now in Marigot Bay), we often stayed at the Bay Gardens Hotel which was wonderful and so tropical! It is part of the Bay Gardens Beach Resort, which has 3 sites, all close together: Bay Gardens Beach Resort, Bay Gardens Hotel (our fav) and the smallest: Bay Gardens Inn. Resort (quite large and on the water) is the priciest, inn has no restaurant (or didn't when last there several years ago) and very quiet. All have pools.

That's an excellent sign: that they took care of you that way! I've been thinking about an Uncruise for some time since everything I've read has been so positive. Your experience, while a bit of a bother, seems to have been dealt with quite well on their end. Looking forward to your report.

1. Santa Catalina, the island of romance, romance, romance......

2. Take Me Home, Country Roads

Sailed Vela last December, a magical Christmas cruise! And just booked her again for March 2017! Beautiful sailing ship!

You're in the wrong port, mate. Your post appears to have nothing to do with Star Clippers.

Airfare: maybe this could help

AARP Magazine, April 2016, says:

"You're likely to get the lowest fare on domestic and international flights if you buy your ticket on a weekend, finds a new report that analyzed some 10 billion ticket transactions. Tuesday follows as best weekday....Friday is usually the most expensive. Book your domestic flight 57 days before departure for the best fare.....for fights to the caribbean, book 77 days prior....."

report was done by Expedia and Airlines Reporting Corp.

Yes, I imagine the sailing ships can seem "basic" to those who enjoy all that the mega cruise ships have to offer. The sailing ships appeal to a certain clientele, and for those of us who love them and the more casual atmosphere and lifestyle, we're so very happy to have them.

A quick note here: I've sailed Wind Surf, Wind Star, Star Clipper and Star Flyer (but not Royal Clipper). I put the Star Clipper ships only a wee step below Windstar. And I'd never call them rustic. Very very nice accommodations, food and crew. Beautiful ships. Star Clipper ships are a mite more casual, but again, pretty much on a par with the Windstar tall ships. I wouldn't call any of them a party ship, and a far cry from the old Windjammer Barefoot cruising days, of which I also am familiar. I can recommend both Windstar or Star Clipper sailing ships. I especially like the fact that with Star Clipper ships, as noted, many passengers come from European countries, Canada and sometimes Australia. Lots of fun! But do note: all onboard expenses are done in euros.

I also sail the tall ship Arabella (almost 200 feet, 40 passengers) and the Island Windjammers tall ships (100-150 feet, 10-26 passengers, depending on the ship), and those, while much smaller, definitely would meet your wishes listed in first post. Heck, you can even dive off their bowsprits, or use their rope swings. Plus snorkle gear and toys on board at no extra cost. And no, these are not rustic ships, either, and not party boats. Just beautiful ships that are smaller and more casual. Passengers range from 20s to 80s, solos, duos, small groups.

It appears you have posted on the wrong board. This is for Star Clippers.....

Pteague, plenty of space on deck, for and aft as well as in the salon area.

The ships are smaller, than Windstar, yes, but there also are far fewer passengers on board (Diamant: 10, Vela: 26, Sagitta: 24)--we've always found them to be a fun group of people of all ages (20s to 80s) with a like mind re sailing, adventure, the laid-back and totally casual style, dislike of crowds, etc.

You can send me an email at jm.walker05@gmail.com

We'll be sailing IWJ's Diamant over TGiving week, out of Grenada. Great time to sail and wonderful islands, most of them not on the big ships' itinerary...we've done sail this 2x before.

Yes, there is: Island Windjammmers has three ships sailing in the Caribbean all year. Smaller ships, but oh so beautiful, and I can recommend them highly. 28-passenger Vela and 12-passenger Diamant are true sailing ships. The 24-passenger Sagitta is a motor-sailer. Casual, lotsa fun, cozy but well-appointed cabins with own A/C controls and bathrooms. Very good food. And an excellent crew. You don't work, you just enjoy. For those with a spirit of adventure and the ability to relax, enjoy water sports, discover nature and some funky beach bars. IWJ ships sail all year, ported in Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Tortola at different times....take your pick.

islandwindjammers.com

Weve done it twice in January, on the Wind Star. No probs off west coast of Costa Rica. For one trip, we couldn't go to Nicaragua due to very high winds that were part of a very unusual arctic blast that came down thru the states from Canada. Capt tried to sail into Nicaragua port, but 90mph winds, so he reveresed course and we returned to CR waters, which were smoother. She IS a sailing ship so of course, she rocks, but nothing that was bothersome to us. (Never did get to Nicaragua: it was abandoned on the earlier trip due to Dengue Fever outbreak at that time)

We fly from San Diego to Caribbean ports a lot. We use American and book via the multi-city option. I have lower back issues and need an o'nite when going to Caribbean, and Miami works best for us re our starting point. Easy to get it all set up doing the "multi-city" option when booking.

We fly from west coast to Florida and then to St. Maartin (you want the Philipsburg airport), and we do so via American. Since coming from left coast, we stay the night in Miami and fly out in the morning. Works very well. We book about 3-4 months out. Don't know if that is better than earlier or later than that, but that seems to work for us. I usually search weeks in advance, on different days of week and times of day til I find something that seems to "feel" good. Travel sites seem to recommend 3-4 months out for international travel.

We stay at least one night in Philipsburg, pre and post cruise. We love the Royal Pasanggrahan hotel, right on the boardwalk, wonderful open-air bar, with great suites and nice rooms (get beachside, not streetside: noisy!). boardwalk is a blast: funky bars, street entertainers, beach toys for rent, lots of shops, restaurants (We like the open-air Greenhouse Restaurant that is at end of the Boardwalk just beyond Pasanggrahan).

We have done St. Maartin on several ships, but not Windstar, so I don't know Windstar's scheduled return time, post cruise. The port area is about 10-minute walk from Pasanggrahan, but take a cab...narrow, twisty street and not full sidewalks; dangerous, especially dragging bags. But the airport is about a 20-minute cab ride from the Pasanggrahan. By post cruise, you'll have found friends you can share that cab with! I think the cab ride is $10/person airport to the hotel, but $15 or $20/person port to airport...but sometimes you can get better rate with more people.

Do whatever keeps you less stressed, for sure! Once your vacation starts, you just have to focus on being on island time. And why ruin you vacation at the end by adding stress??!!

Don't believe I ever saw jeans on a Star Clipper, but that doesn't mean they aren't allowed. I DO know that shoes are required for any meal in the dining room. My guy was in dining room for lunch buffet, wearing shorts, tshirt and barefoot. Maitre 'd approaches him and very quietly so only my guy could hear, asks: Is there something wrong with your feet? When Jeff says no, he is told (again quielty): Well then, put shoes on them.

Words to remember.....and Jeff did. LOL.

I believe you can book in advance. Check the website......

Hey, no problem! I just thought it was easier to redirect than repeat. LOL.