r&rd

Embarkation is a Breeze (sorry for the pun). Usually starts at 1 pm. If you are there at 1 it might take you ten minutes to get on the ship - after that usually no line. You show them your passport, get on the ship and go the lounge. They will give you a drink, you then go to the stage area where they take your picture, check you in, give you your keys and take you to your stateroom.  There is a muster drill on deck around 5 pm but with new procedures for social distancing they may handle it differently.

I’ve done 40 Windstar cruises. All the ships - including the Spirit - have lins dancing after the Barbecue. You just have to stay up for it - after they clear the tables and food and make room for the dancing!

We have also been cruising since 1999 with over 40 Windstar cruises. I have to say only one of those was disappointing and it had nothing to do with the cabin! If you look at the ship deck plans you will notice that midship is actually where the forward cabins are located. On the other hand, it is important to get the cabin you feel makes you comfortable. I agree with the suggestion to be put on a wait list - right now I think a lot of people are booking cruises at different times in hopes that at least one actually sails! I've had six cancellations so far and have 4 more booked but I'm just holding ny breath.

We actually choose 240 because it is quiet and "out of the way". We have never found the stairs on the other side to be a problem - they are crew only. If you look at your own stateroom listings even though 240 is not mentioned the ones next to it and directly across from it are all listed as "quiet"

3 hours ago, sb44 said:

What was cancelled on the Breeze for January? We are SJU to SJU 1/9/21.

Breeze was originally scheduled to go from Miami to Colon on 1/2/21 before they switched all the itineraries.

We were also booked on the Breeze  going that way twice. But hey, third time's a charm - we booked it and we'll just hope for the best. So far six cancelled cruises. We were even booked on the Breeze for January thinking that should be safe but lo and behold that dreaded "sorry to inform you" email. The agents tell me I really know how to pick them but then everything's been cancelled. 

That was probably the one we were on as well. The yachts won’t be doing anticipated sailings till later. We switched over tho the Wind Star in late January.

I have had 6 cruises cancelled and they still won’t transfer my deposit to a new booking. I have pretty much paid for another cruise in deposits alone which I have yet to see as a refund. But I understand that the financial transactions at this time may be a bit complicated. We have done over 40 Windstar cruises and just hope that they survive these crazy times.

I was booked on the Star Breeze for two cruises in April. That cruise was cancelled so we moved to same cruises in June but those were cancelled, July Alaska also cancelled. Now January Miami to Colon also cancelled. 6 cancellations. My FFC and refunds are so messed up I have no idea what I will ever get. 

My understanding is that if they cancel the cruise you have two years to apply the FFC, if you cancel you get one year from the date of the issue of the credit.

I am scheduled for June 1 and 9 cruises as well as the July 7 cruise on the Breeze. Final payment on the Alaska cruise is due in two weeks but I don’t want to give them full payment for three cruises that may not happen. I ordinarily would wait it out but I may have to cancel the June cruises and apply the FFC to the Alaska cruise. It gets very complicated trying to predict the future!

Called Windstar again today and was told that the May 25 and June 1 sailings are on and that the cancellations were just a rumor. When I said that it was Windstar who had told me and several others that the sailings were cancelled, a supervisor was consulted who said that, yes, they were on and you could book those cruises. I’m not sure what to think. Perhaps things are just so up in the air that information changes daily. I guess I will just wait it out and see what happens. With the new cancellation policy it won’t make much difference.

I am totally bugging them. I have 40 Windstar cruises and not only am I concerned about the 6/1 and 6/9 cruise, I am also scheduled for the 7/11 Star Breeze to Alaska. My TA transferred the bookings back to me because a) she doesn’t like dealing with Windstar and b) I usually can get better information than she can. But this has been crazy - they have my final payment, they know a cruise won’t happen and they are communicating nothing.

I am certainly hoping I get some information soon about the 6/1 cancellation. I am also booked on the Grand Princess out of San Francisco in two weeks and I don’t think that is going to happen either!

The June 1 cruise is cancelled. I was told this morning that the official announcement would be within the next week when offers and compensations are worked out. They still have to get the ship to Alaska so unless there are further delays in Italy my guess is they would rather sail the ship half empty than empty. I have been on Windstar cruises in the past with less than 40 guests onboard.

We are on both the 6/1 and 6/9 sailing (after having the April cruises cancelled). When I noticed the “call for availability” line for the 6/1 cruise I called Windstar. Apparently, the first two sailings of the Breeze are “redeployed” and formal communication should come out soon.

After 7 weeks I emailed Windstar regarding my refund for non-refundable fees. Was told they could not open the file and would I resend it. Would have been nice for them to tell me that in December when I submitted it. 

I have done several Windstar cruises to the Caribbean this time of year and the joke has always been “I wonder where the ship will actually end up tomorrow “. Be flexible and know the ship will always adapt to the winds in order to be able to dock or tender and keep everyone safe.

Absolutely. Have done that cruise 6 times and I always wear white cropped

jeans with a nice top. Actually, sometimes I felt dressier than a lot of the other passengers.

Having been sailing with Windstar since 1997 they were missing 20 cruises and 150 days - but with 4 different owners and lots of changes, I am just happy they are trying to get things in order. It will be interesting to see what they put in place to make it worth all the time and energy everyone has to go through to re create records.

i have done this and the refund was based on the original booking - they aren't going to give you a refund for something you never paid for. 

We booked with a travel agent and received an upgrade 3 months out - but we also have a lot of Windstar sailings so I don't know whether that is also a factor. We have also gotten upgrades at embarkation.

have you considered the Luggage Forward option? they pick it up from you at home and deliver to your stateroom.

It was great. We missed a port due to the mishap with the Pride and weather wasn’t great but it was a basic Canada/New England itinerary.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Not on any of the sailings we have done - just got off the Pride last week. Doesn’t mean you can’t ask.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I also tend to disregard posts by a poster who joins cruise critic the day they post a negative comment. Not that many aren’t legitimate but I give more credibility to someone who has used cruise critic before and has a history of both positive and negative comments.

Sent from my iPad using Forums