r&rd

You're right about the classic suite being q premium suite. The new Windstar brochure which outlines the new amenities for premium suites includes deluxe suites but leaves out classic suites. Perhaps they made a major error in the printing of the brochures!

Premium suites are: owners suites, deluxe suites, bridge suites and all suites on the Wind Surf

For the most complete info on the Windstar website go to:

https://www.windstarcruises.com/voyage-plan/general-information/#CommunicationAndMailAtSea

I have been offered upgrades 4-6 weeks before sailings - sometimes for a fee sometimes not. I have also shown up and had an upgrade. But this was all pre-pandemic and who knows what will happen with upcoming cruises. I also suspect the new loyalty program will play a role in who gets offered upgrades.

They do have offers from time to time but the per piece price is fairly reasonable - and sometimes when I actually price all my items it is actually cheaper than the whole bag option.

Mine is still not working - defaults to first cruise

I agree with Avalong. Rather than see Windstar as trying to rip people off see it as trying to survive while sailing at reduced capacity. We don't know what things will be like in 2 or 4 or 6 months but I think Windstar is tiring to do their best given the uncertainty of the situation and the constantly changing regulations.

For Costa Rica insurance is required and must be approved by the Costa Rican government.

in the FAQ section of the Covid Health and Safety page, their answer to "what if I am denied boarding?" is:

Windstar’s partners on site will assist guests in finding a local hotel or in securing transportation to a medical center at the guests’ expense. 

I suppose just as there are some travel agents who are better than others there are also Windstar representatives who are better than others. There are a few from Windstar that I will not try to deal with on complicated issues but call back at a later time. 

I usually have had the same beliefs about using a TA - let them handle problems and perhaps  get some OBC -  but I have had much better luck getting things resolved by going through Windstar directly. I had some issues my TA was not able to get resolved so I asked her to transfer the booking back to me and I was able to resolve a very complicated issue that my TA never would have been able to do. A few times with upgrade offers by the time my TA got back to me and then called Windstar back the opportunity was gone. When I get the email directly and reply right away I have gotten the upgrade. I have not found that a TA was able to get me better pricing very often. I guess with normal bookings a TA would be better but I now have lots of new friends with Windstar direct! Again, the exceptions are not the norm and I still value a TA for most bookings.

3 hours ago, SailMaine said:

RemPuck, we were wondering about the noise of the more forward suites as well. We rebooked our relocated San Juan Star Pride over to a Suite on Wind Surf for the 12/28 trip. Our TA talked with a rep who said they don’t often get noise complaints from those suites located beneath the lounge so we booked #348 and we will see how it goes. Definitely wanted a suite as the two bathrooms sounded wonderful for such a long trip. Thanks for the confirmation, Ski Mom!

We have never experienced noise from above. But then I don't think there was ever any noise IN the lounge. There is no loud music or late night shows and people tend not to congregate in large crowds in the lounge. There might be a duo singing and people having a drink but Windstar passengers are not usually a rowdy bunch!

You can also go to the yacht club on the ship before you leave the ship and ask for sandwiches to go.

Just as a clarification to earlier posts, the July and August sailings have not been cancelled (yet) but have sold out. I called today since I have a Costa Rica cruise which said "call for availability" and we are scheduled to do the crossing to Tahiti in September as well. I was told ships are filling up quickly and several cruises are sold out or close to it. But that "call of availability" status has indeed been a precursor to cancellation in the past year (I have had 12 cancelled cruises). So I am back to feeling hopeful and excited that I may actually be able to cruise!

2 hours ago, TakingFlight said:

That's exactly our situation for French Polynesia. We'll need rapid PCR testing in Papeete or Moorea before boarding the ship. I wonder how they'll handle that. Keeping with a positive frame of mind, perhaps after summer the infection numbers will be so low among vaccinated people that some of the testing requirements will be suspended. One can only hope!

We are also going to Tahiti. The hotel Windstar uses, Tahiti Pearl, says it will arrange for onsite testing and the Tahiti airport arranges for testing as well. As we get closer to sailing, and hopefully numbers go down with fewer people needing testing, I think testing will become easier and faster to get. But as you said, by then we may not need it. I'll hope with you!

The website states that there will be optional PCR tests available for purchase for those guests who would like the convenience of being tested before flying home.

I agree with milepig. I have been to Tahiti 3 times (Wind Song, Wind Star, Wind Spirit). The first was magical - on deck most of the time enjoying the sun and air. The second had heavy rain most of the days and I longed for the motor yachts. I thoroughly enjoy the sails and the outdoor atmosphere of the sailing ships but when I am not on deck the suites and the various indoor spaces of the yachts are far better.

There have been many articles on what is going to be required for proof of vaccination. This article was posted today: 

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/vaccine-documentation-health-passport/

Actually, no vaccine is considered 100% effective so that small 5% can still get infected and then transmit it to others. They probably will not get seriously sick but they can be infected. There are so many unknowns which is why we will have to be careful for a longer time.

An “x” means 3rd berth available and an “”*” means bathtub 

The other option for Papeete to SFO is French Bee - a low cost French airline. But we will be going United!

Hotel Service charges are $14.50 pp per day and Beverage service fees are 15% - so the $23.25 is about right

4 hours ago, amandas friend said:

We are due to go in late September On Star Breeze. I think things will be fine by then but would be concerned about testing negative within 3 days returning to US. I hope either WS or airline would do testing. 

The Tahiti tourism website states that for flights going to the US there is testing at the airport for about $58 with results within 15 minutes beginning January 26.

Who knows what will be required or in place by September.

i am a loyalist to both brands but for different reasons. I have over 300 nights on Windstar and over 100 on Azamara. They both focus on the itinerary, on more time ashore than on the ship, on service, and on happy crew membersI don't find the 600 people too large given the space available on the ship but I go on Azamara for different reasons than I go on Windstar. I hope they don't combine because I wouldn't want either brand diluted.