milepig

On 3/23/2022 at 12:17 PM, Nearpost345 said:

May I just confirm that on embarkation day in Papeete, the complimentary quayside PCR test administered by Windstar, that requires a two hour wait in one’s cabin, is now changed to an antigen test only?

 

That would be good as the results will presumably come back much quicker meaning less time in cabin lock down.

This is what is currently on their website: Updated March 7: https://www.windstarcruises.com/health-safety/overview/

All guests must take a PCR test within three days prior to boarding the yacht (except for Tahiti which requires a COVID-19 (PCR or antigen) test within 24 hours of boarding a flight, https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/covid-19) and a negative result is required. Home test kits will not be accepted.

As an extra precaution, all guests are administered a COVID-19 test at the pier prior to embarkation, at Windstar's expense, and a negative result is needed to embark.

I read this to mean we need to do both?  Seems a little odd. I can tell you that in November it was an Antigen test, administered by WS at embarkation - in our case on the pier which we waited for the results. This was at WS expense.

Very interesting.  Thanks. 

On 3/24/2022 at 1:59 PM, new_cruiser said:

 

I get the plan by being 4-star Yacht Club so haven't looked into current pricing.

This is true and it is also included in the All Inclusive package so we get it twice!  Since we're both YC 4 star we can both access at the same time.

It is devilishly hard to find but there is also an online order form:  https://www.windstarcruises.com/voyage-plan/general-information/#BeveragePackages

Is this how WS does this?

We have an 8 day cruise from Athens to Istanbul followed by 3 nights on shore in Istanbul - booked as the entire advertised cruise.

When I look at my detailed itinerary online I can only see the cruise portion, the trip shows as ending on the last day of the cruise portion, and there is no reference to the land portion anywhere. My TA has billed me for the entire trip, but the cruise and land portions and separated onto two lines.

Oddly, the days on shore are showing as "bookable" on the excursions list for this cruise, even though they are included.

Both WS and my TA say it's all fine but it just seems to be odd that it isn't showing on my details, (but then WS details can indeed BE odd and it turns out fine in the end.)  I'm actually hoping I can snip out the land portion without changing the price or bennies of the cruise portion ($1,000 shipboard credit is a lot!) since the cost of the land portion is a fair bit more than we could do by booking things ourselves (at nicer hotels) and we could do what we want rather than sitting on WS buses for 2.5 days.

22 hours ago, new_cruiser said:

 

I get the plan by being 4-star Yacht Club so haven't looked into current pricing.

This is true and it is also included in the All Inclusive package so we get it twice!  Since we're both YC 4 star we can both access at the same time.

2 hours ago, amunhbuu said:

Thanks!

I forgot to add what's perhaps obvious, when I fly United I earn miles (or can use them!) And get club access on each end, in SFO at the POLARIS lounge, in PPT they share the Air Tahiti Nui lounge.

We've done the United flight from SFO and it was a great option. Good connections into SFO from around the country, and a late afternoon departure gets you in at about Midnight, at least when we did this. The return left late in the evening, getting you into SFO in time to make various connection. This is on a 787.

We've had the "deck BBQ" in the main dining room a couple times, but never not had one at all. This was due to bad weather.

11 hours ago, r&rd said:

My husband’s postcard came on his birthday, too. Coincidence?

Probably not coincidence. The card was addressed to Mrs. Milepig and arrived a few days before her birthday.

We’re on the  legend in September. Also a trip last November between Delta and Omicron. Not a perfectly smooth trip, WS never told us that all of the three advertised highlights were scrubbed, but it was amazing that it happened at all. The world as closing down and we made it home from Lisbon by the skin of our teeth. 

This is a first for us. We got a postcard from the surf reception. Essentially it said that they were thinking of us, missed us, hoped we were well and hoped they’d see us back on board soon. Signed by an individual. Thoughtful 

Take the train.

Hire a limo driver to take you from FCO to the Rome train station if you don't want to deal with the train transfer. The driver will meet you at baggage claim and help with the bags to the car. And then the high speed train to Florence is only 1:30 with departures about every half hour all day. Termini can be a busy and confusing place, I have no idea if there's a service where someone will help you.

Florence SMN station is very central and you'll have had a relaxing journey on the train.

On 3/9/2022 at 12:01 AM, Petoonya said:

When we did it a little over 2 years ago from Wind Spirit, the ferry ran from about 4:30 to 5:15pm and held about 30-40 people. Starts around 6:30. It was a ferry-like transport done up in tiki bar style. The day prior we were notified when out turn was to head to the gangway to be ferried. Plan on being back at least by 4pm. The show is stupendous. Be sure to bring your camera for the trip back to the ship around 9pm. The ship lit up against the night sky is a stunner.

This is similar to our experience.  They didn't use the ship tenders but a special ferry - I don't recall our being decorated. The area is all permanently set up for such events, we had a great buffet of WS chow. Other than a welcome cocktail (IIRC) you pay for your beverages, although the All inclusive plan works on the motu. The show is spectacular - if you're allergic to such things the do the standard "haul people on stage and embarrass them" routine.

We had the misfortune of having a group of WS brass on board who pointed avoided any contact with passengers for the entire trip and then sat alone on the motu at a special table set up away from the rest of us. Sort of embarrassing, actually. Then when we left, we were behind that group while waiting to board the ferry and one of they had the moxie to ask another one "great event, how much did this cost me?" Really shabby.

12 minutes ago, patty1955 said:

I don't know, I've never been on the Star Breeze. If you ask me next month, I'll be able to tell you.

The article said "A new addition to the Star Plus Class ships is the Star Grill, in partnership with the global grill expert Steven Raichlen. This venue is a small grill area located outdoors next to the Star Bar.

Unfortunately, this new casual restaurant was not open during our sailing due to COVID protocols and reduced sailing capacity. It solely served as a late afternoon burger bar from 3 to 4 pm once the Veranda buffet closed.

Windstar Cruises Restaurant and Bar Guide
However, going forward, this restaurant is planned to be open for lunch and dinner most days of the cruise with rotating menu selections. No reservations will be required to dine at the Star Grill.

Here, you can enjoy a variety of grilled and barbecue favorites, including seafood, meats, and vegetables cooked with global flavors and techniques."

Thanks for this - I should have looked at the article before posting!!  On the Legend in November, before Omicron, the Star Grill was open for sort of a lunch buffet along with burgers and similar stuff cooked to order, and then for late afternoon just burgers, etc, no buffet. Dinner would be a nice option as there is nowhere else to really just eat in shorts, etc. A more casual option, both in terms of service and dress, would be welcome. After a long day on shore I'd welcome jut a drink in the Yacht club or on deck and then a very easy dinner.

1 minute ago, minidonuts85 said:

The mini-bar is included with the all in package including the wine. 

But the minibar wine selection is very limited. I think the OP was hoping for other choices. I don't know the answer - we tend to have late afternoon cocktails on deck or in the lounge and wine with meals. The servers know to drop off a nightcap in our cabin while we're at dinner. It just appears.

I thought the star grill was only Lunch and late afternoon burger-like stuff.  It wasn't open at dinner on the Legend, is it different on the Breeze?

We're on the Legend in September, departing Athens on 9/15 and arriving IST on the 23rd, ending with 3 nights in Istanbul as part of the WS itin.

With all the changes because of the situation in Ukraine combined with the continued problems with the Pride it is really hard to keep track of what's happening where. I'm starting to fear that WS might co-opt the Legend to pick up some parts of some of those Pride itins. Should we be worried at this point?

I even wonder if IST will become problematic once again.

WS keeps changing things around, so this may not be completely current, but...

I wonder if they were talking about the "All Inclusive package", which is beverages, gratuities and internet in a package.  If you but the plan beforehand it is $79pp/pd, on board it is $89.  At one time, if you bought just the internet you got one simultaneous connection, but not sure if that's still the case. The package gives you 2, since it is "per person".

4 hours ago, BklynBorn47 said:

My husband has always used laundry service on every cruise line, but I never did until WS in December.  My reasons varied from "nobody is going to mess up (shrink) my clothes" to "I'm not paying $1.85 to wash 5 year old panties that cost $1.00 new.  When our collector cruise included free laundry service I gave it a try and echo your experience.  Everything was perfect!

The reference to panties reminded me. I tend to pack everything that's toward the end of their useful lifeline and throw it away as I go, and come home to all new stuff.

No. But the shipboard laundry service is the bomb. 

On 1/27/2022 at 5:47 PM, fortunatetail said:

On multiple Windstar cruises I have almost always worn a sport coat to dinner. With collared shirt or polo shirt. I just feel better that way. Have seen lots of men in sport coats, but not the majority.  You won’t feel out of place either way. 

I pack one. It comes in handy for a cool evening or maybe when dining at a nice place on shore. Many wear one to receptions, but a nice shirt, even of the untucket type are perfectly fine. 

On 1/23/2022 at 1:54 PM, cdcampione said:

Can my husband wear a nice cowboy hat to any of the evening dining venues. 

 

Can he wear dress shorts to outside venue?

It is never appropriate to wear any hat indoors. 

In my experience, Turkish is pretty hopeless on the ground, but world class in the air. The longer flight times hurt when there are so many options to Barcelona. A big reason we never book with WS, I want what I want, and am frequently booking coach and upgrading with miles. I did have a similar situation with Silversea, travel to Singapore they only offered a convoluted schedule in United when ANA had a significantly shorter route for half the price when compared to United. I would have taken that in a shot, as ANA is an amazing airline, but it wasn’t offered. Now also moot as that cruise was also cancelled. 
 

as an aside, LOT Polish is also a hidden treasure. Nice planes, amazing service, easy airport to transit. Half the price, I often use them for Europe. Awful on the ground, great in the air. 

2 hours ago, BklynBorn47 said:

I think you misunderstood my post.  I was NOT going to disembark in Sochi even when it was part of the itinerary.  By "flexible" I meant that I have no problem with whatever ports they substitute for Sochi. 

Sorry, I missed the word "not".

On 2/8/2022 at 1:00 AM, Stickman1990 said:

Just watch out the connections are actually both at the same airport - I’ve seen JAL flight connections that required movement between Narita and Haneda which could be very difficult in the present environment 

On 3/2/2022 at 6:49 AM, BklynBorn47 said:

We are booked on the Legend in Sept - Athens to Istanbul followed by round trip Ist-Ist Black Sea ports.
We called yesterday to book an additional leg before Athens (Barcelona- Athens) which obviously requires changing our flight & hotel reservations.  
I had already decided pre-invasion not to get off the ship in Sochi.  I was told that WS is working on an alternate itinerary.  I told them I was flexible and would accept whatever alternatives were provided.

It may all be moot - but does WS know of your plan to disembark at Sochi? Sometimes this is possible and sometimes it is not and the last I know WS wasn't allowing any deviations from the schedule. A few years ago we accomplished this in Mumbai, but it involved WS getting permission for the port agent and was by no means a slam dunk. Not all ports have immigration facilities that would even allow this.