r&rd

Hard to make comparisons with Princess! We have over 100 days on Princess and over 300 on Windstar but I can't even begin to put them side by side. No one has actually been on the newly remodeled Breeze but I can try to answer some of your questions.

The ship in general is sleek and classic and I can only imagine the new ship will be more so. The pool was extremely small before the stretch so I don't know how much bigger the new pool will be - certainly no where near the size of a large ship pool. The addition of more outdoor space will be a great addition.

There is plenty of indoor space and the suites on the Breeze are bigger than the mini-suites on Princess.

The Yacht Club on the top deck at the front of the ship serves specialty coffees and small bites - actually similar to Princess. It is a very relaxing space with great views and a "library feel".

The vibe onboard is friendly and relaxed. Definitely not a party vibe but people have fun and enjoy being onboard and seeing new things. On the Yachts there are generally two musical groups - duos or small bands that play both on deck and in the Compass Rose. Besides music there is often trivia, Liars Club, and lectures. There is always an amazing deck barbeque one night with the line dancing and crew entertainment. You will not be bored but don't expect Princess type shows - or bingo!

Food is way superior to Princess and with the same amount of variety. Not gourmet Frou-frou but elegant and well prepared. Besides the main dining room there is Candles - an outdoor steak house with other entrees as well.  You have to eat there at least once. The new Breeze will also have a Spanish Tapas restaurant and an outdoor grill. Can't wait to try those. Room service is always available for whatever you want. There is no pizza or ice cream outside of meals but there is certainly enough food! (The Yacht Club serves cupcakes which is my go-to comfort food)

There is so much more to say but Windstar is a unique cruising experience. I'd suggest you don't go looking for things you enjoyed on other ships but go to experience Windstar.

Since the original poster is referring to the Costa Rica to Papeete ocean crossing, getting off the night before would not work. We are also on that sailing and will be staying a few nights, but I would be nervous about a flight that relied on the ship making it into port on time.

I have been reading articles that cruise lines are having lawyers look into whether a cruise line can require vaccinations. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Just had both my April and October Puerto Vallarta to San Diego cruises cancelled. These make cancelled cruises number 8 and 9. 

I have done 40 Windstar cruises and at some point was dropped from the Windstar email lists (Although they do seem to find me when the cruises are cancelled). However when I got my letter regarding the new loyalty program there was a PS line at the end  that read "We don't have your email address. If you would like to receive emails from us about new itineraries, sales and our newsletter, please sign up at WindstarCruises.com/YCM_signup."  I signed up and started receiving emails.

If you read the FAQ segment on the loyalty page it indicates that loyalty awards will be automatically added to existing bookings on November 15. After that you can request a new invoice that will show the benefits applied.

does it apply to existing bookings or only new bookings?

On 10/19/2020 at 6:16 AM, minidonuts85 said:

Is the OBC applicable to bookings made prior to the start of the updated loyalty program?

I called today and while the program is applicable to all booked cabins, you have to call to have the benefits applied to your booking. All future bookings will automatically add the benefits.

FYI - I called because on the new loyalty page there were 3 sailings listed as Yacht Club Member sailings with a 20% discount. As I had already had one booed I called and they applied the additional 15% to my booking. These sailings include: Star Breeze 5/22/21 Black Sea; Star Breeze 10/10/21 Sea of Cortez; and Wind Surf 2/22/22 Greater Antilles

Looks like it applies to all future sailings. Additional points will be awarded for premium staterooms for" sailings on or after October 5, 2020" so I assume that is when the program officially starts - even though the ships aren't actually sailing yet.

I agree that it is not much - which is why I posted originally.  It is better than nothing and I am glad there is at least some recognition of past cruises but I'm not sure discounts mean very much. The other thing that is missing from the past program are the complimentary cabin upgrades.

I don't think it is an additional 5% - just what we were getting before. It also says it applies to all itineraries but doesn't say whether it applies to all fares.  

I am grateful they finally adopted a program more consistent with other cruise lines. I am also grateful they awarded points for sailings before they took ownership. Going back 24 years we have 322 points.I think Windstar is doing a great job holding everything together in spite of difficult times for a fairly small company in comparison to the giants. We have three future cruises booked and hope that we get to be back on board soon.

Summary of new Yacht Club benefits:

Level 1 (1-15 points)   - points are 1 per night

Save 5% on all itineraries

5% discount on laundry, & wifi and Windstar branded merchandise

Customized keycard

Level 2 (16-39 points)

Save 5% on all itineraries/additional 5% booked onboard

$50 OBC per person

5% off beverage package, shore excursions, laundry,  wifi and Windstar branded merchandise

Customized keycard

Level 3 (40-89 points)

Save 5% on all itineraries/additional 5% booked onboard

$75 OBC pp

5% off beverage package

10 % discount on shore excursions, laundry, wifi and merchandice

keycard and dinner with Officer

Level 4 (90 + points)

Save 5% on itineraries/additional 5% booked onboard

$100 OBC pp

10% off beverage package

15% discount on shore excursions and merchandise

Complimentary laundry and wifi

keycard and dinner with an Officer or Captain

I just received my letter explaining the new loyalty program. While I am in the top tier and get OBC, wifi and laundry, I wonder whether those in lower tiers feel that are getting anything.

My only hope is that whatever people feel about masks and shore excursions they follow the rules of the cruise line. What I have always enjoyed about Windstar is that people all seem to respect the other passengers. I personally do not want to be on a cruise where this controversy is played out on the ship.

23 minutes ago, susiesan said:

What the heck is "covid trained"? How would that person be able to stop a tour participant from being exposed to an airborne virus? Saying something like this is just more pandemic theater. r&rd, you may have to stop cruising if you are worried about other people bringing the virus onboard. Even with a vaccine, this virus will never be eradicated. We all have to live with it for the rest of our lives.”

“Pandemic theater” is a rather strong response. No one can predict or prevent against anything. I was just raising questions and pointing out there are risks and benefits to any decision.This will be an area of dilemma for people for a long time. As a health care provider I am constantly assessing risk and yet I have no fear of cruising. I will make the choices that are right for me and I (mostly) trust others to do the same.I would rather not be quarantined on a ship for days at a time - but now I book verandas or suites. I would prefer to get off the ship on my own but Windstar has good excursions and I am also comfortable staying on the ship.

While I love to do this to explore on my own and do private tours, I also would have anxiety about others bringing that pesky virus back on board. I know that many countries are certifying their tour guides as “Covid trained”. I wonder whether cruise lines would allow people to use those guides for private tours or whether the only way you can get off the ship is on a ship excursion.

I completely concur with everything Donna says. We are Elite Plus on Celebrity and have done 37 Windstar cruises - definitely prefer Windstar. We actually are also booked on the April 2022 San Diego to Puerto Vallarta sailing for the same reasons - we live in San Francisco. We did the same itinerary pre-pandemic and enjoyed it so much we are doing it again (hopefully) this coming May and again in October but from Puerto Vallarta to San Diego. Right now, until the pandemic is a distant memory,  the easy flights are much more appealing than the itineraries. 

Another consideration now a day is if you end up getting quarantined on a ship and have to stay in your cabin would you want a balcony door you can open? 

I have several cruises booked for next year understanding that some if not all of them may be cancelled. The first one is Costa Rica on the Wind Star in late January. We very well may opt out before final payment since final payment is due two months before the ship begins sailing. But my biggest fear is not the virus (maybe it should be) but being on a ship with a positive case identified on board and being quarantined in a 188 square foot sailing ship cabin. 

Depends on the itinerary. If it’s port intensive or a cold itinerary probably not. On sea days I enjoy the breeze of opening the door or if there are a lot of things to see it’s nice to step out because you can see up to the front of the ship and towards the back. We’ve been given it as an upgrade several times and enjoyed it. 

You can “step out” onto the 12 inch balcony - but nothing more!

We booked the October crossing but was wondering wether anyone has an opinion on which direction is better or which time of year is better for transpacific crossings? I like the idea of heading into warm weather but if there was a significant difference in seas, storms or weather I might be convinced to change my strategy. 

All of this increases my confidence in Windstar's being proactive. However, I do wonder how this will work in ports that use zodiacs to get everyone ashore. It already takes quite awhile to get the entire ship to the beach barbecue in Costa Rica. If you can only take 5 or 6 people at a time it may not be feasible if the ship is full.  One thing that was not mentioned is whether the ships will operate at full capacity or whether they will limit the number of guests.

I finally got my airfare change fee refund today for my cruise cancelled in December. Several problems at first and then delays when accounting moved to working from home and then more recently accounting was moved to Denver. Hopefully those requesting refunds now have less difficulty getting refunds.