petenmarion

Lexie31, Can you not sign up for Facebook? If I had your contact info, I would be more than happy to keep you informed... it's not good.

I was actually refused the 5% discount because the rate I found after shopping around was too good. But I did dine with the Hotel Manager once on one night of my back to back... one of the best "Captain's Table" experiences we have ever had (and we usually always get one on whichever cruise line we use... so we have quite a number to compare.

Maybe that is it... I was just on a back to back and at the start of my second week, I finally got a rose for my vase and a beige canvas little bag (in a balcony).

Not a real big deal - but exactly what is the gift for returning cruisers on Windstar? I never thought about it but after 8 segments with them, I've yet to identify what I might have gotten.

Thanks ducklite.... how early were passengers allow to get on board?

Do we all think that it is a definite that Wind Spirit will sail Tahiti in 2018? If anyone has gotten word that they will sail for certain, could yo say where that info came from?

My experience with Tahiti ( over 20 visits ) is that the govt. occasionally will restrict who can and cannot sail during a certain period. It just seems curious that WS has other 2018 itineraries out there but not Tahiti.....

If any recent Tahiti passengers have a moment, could you say when ( time of afternoon ) boarding starts on the day of embarkation and whether the Air Tahiti Nui flights that come in late in the evening (like 10:30 pm) are feasible for the midnight departure of the ship? Just trying to decide on a 5:30 am vs 10:30 pm arrival in PPT.

Thinking about this itinerary for March 2017. Can any past cruisers say whether the volcano is visible from the ship after departure - glowing?

Lois,

You obviously LOVE to cruise! And if you loved AMA Waterways, you will love Windstar - both the sailing ships and the motor yachts. The only diference will be that many WS ports are tendered as the ports are generally smaller. Those who travel on WS are very friendly and the seating for meals is very conducive to meeting people aboard.

The cabins on the motor yachts are very well appointed and larger than most of the Celebrity cabins... Celebrity is also our favorite large cruise line - but you might find it hard to go back once you try WS! But alas, no free Happy Hours like you obviously had on Celeb... not too much of a trade-off for the ambiance.

If you have specific ?s, ask away.

Should be docking in Almeria (Grenada) Spain at 6 am on Oct 30... and finally on Nov 3 will leave Lisbon for 8 days to Santa Cruz de Tenerife - if it is on schedule. After Nov 11 ???? Maybe it will take the Trans-Atlantic empty?

Could check its position in 2 weeks... I don't see anyone trying to sell cabins.

Well our favorite large cruise line is Celebrity (mostly because we have sailed enough times to get Elite status and the extra perks) and we did use them for an Alaska cruise a few years ago and it was terrific. Right now, Windstar is our absolute favorite! But we have been on ships even smaller than WS too... and there is simply just something about the small ship experience that keeps you thinking 'this is my own yacht.'

So I researched the smallest ships doing Alaska next season and came up with this: Silversea, Oceania, Seabourn, Regent, Crystal, and if you can wait a couple of years - rumor has it that Windstar will start doing the region.... and I will be on it for sure!!!

Good luck in your search. A small ship will make the area so much more appealing as you will have so much more time at the port w/o waiting for thousands of people to off-board each port... and how much closer you can get to the glaciers.

sb44 - Great to hear that someone else got wind of the Asia, Alaska, and perhaps Cuba possibilities. Our captain last month also mentioned it and I was starting to think I made it all up.... did you have any further discussion with the Capt. about it or was it just a casual mention at the cocktail party?

Since we were on different ships, it is obviously more reliable info - and info that at least two Capts thought was worth repeating to past WS passengers.

Del Rio - very well put. The ship tour to Taormina was very reasonable and set up to coordinate well with the event. I believe it left the ship very early to give all the most time in Taormina and then get them to the event as quickly as possible... someone does have to be the last to arrive.

I am not sure if those arriving later got the opportunity to do the extended tour of the winery workings or if it may have been cut a bit short for them - but either way, the best choice for those who have never seen Taormina was the ship tour to get in as much as possible, in my opinion. I am going out on a limb to remember the cost of the excursion and seem to believe it may have been $39 p/p, and well worth every cent.

We actually brought 2 bottles back to the ship and had 6 mailed back to So CA - and we too live quite close to the Central Valley wineries in CA. It would have been nice to have gotten a case to take to the ship but we could not determine what the ship would do about that - hoped that we could get the case back to our room at the end of the first leg of the cruise to use on the second leg.... the shipment was delayed until we got home and only took about 5 days from Sicily to CA. Great Wines!!!!

My source for new itineraries in fact was the captain... during the 'past cruisers' cocktail party. I guess, since there were at least 50 people at the event, I am not revealing a source that should be kept confidential... he was very forthcoming with the Oriental/Alaska and received great support on that info. But I suppose his info is based on 'talks' with company reps. and may be no more reliable than any other info when it's just in the talking stages.

Wish I had chased him down to discuss further - but sometimes feel that I might put them on the spot if pushed too hard.

If there were more people on the roll calls, we might get someone to follow up.... I do have a contact on the same ship as I was on when it gets to the Carib... I'll give that one a shot.

We were recently on one of the Star ships and told they would be going to the Orient and Alaska in the future. I cannot remember if they mentioned Cuba as well - but I have been searching high and low for any other mention of those plans anywhere else.

I too would like to see 2018 scheduling.

Giardini Naxos is the port in which the WS motor yachts (Pride, Legend, Breeze) have their special event at the Gambino Winery. You can take the ship's offering tour which will then take you to the event. Otherwise, be sure that you get back to the ship in time to catch the transfer to the event from there. It is simply not to be missed! But then neither is Taormina - if you've not been there before.

Some on our Sep 19th cruise missed the event and were quite dismayed. There was chatter that the bus left a bit early before they got back to the ship... and also some info was given to passengers which included the incorrect departure times...

We did the BTB on Star Pride from Aruba to Costa Rica last year and booked a cat.S2 (233). We were one of the very first onboard and did request an upgrade if available. Later in the afternoon after I had just finished unpacking everything, I was offered an upgrade to a balcony for $500 per person. Knowing that the difference in cabin size is same (except for having a large open window floor to ceiling) - we weighed having to repack and unpack and do it again on the next leg of the trip at perhaps another $1000 - we refused. We loved the location as it turned out - we were the first to know what was going on every day - because we were so close to the recep. desk.

Yes, you do have to ask... and it probably depends on how many WS cruises you have been on. After our last BTB ending a week ago, we are now working on our 8th cruise with WS... I would still rethink moving if I have already unpacked - but maybe the offer gets better?

Just got off the Star Legend. The 220 outlet IS recessed - you can use an adapter to then add a multiple socket - just get a socket that will accommodate what you will plug in (two prong or grounded three prong). Other wise you can just get a multiple plug in for the 110 outlet which is NOT recessed. I did both. There is no real need for a surge protector strip... but I can't see why WS would object - they are very easy going.

Agree wholeheartedly! Dr. Poole is a great adventure. I would suggest reserving the tour in advance as he only has limited seats... and then on the other hand, if he does not have enough - he will not do the tour. I read somewhere that he only does it on Mon and Thurs - but that might be old info. If anyone is truly interested, I will contact someone actually on Moorea to see what the current situation is... the price is probably in excess of $100 now.

Moorea is an ideal place for children - but please give ages. There are better places for very young (3-6) and then 6-9. Also give the duration of the stay and a budget. Since I have been going to Moorea almost every year for the past 30 years, I know most of the properties... and there is one for you!

An overwater with a walkway that is right off the beach sounds appropriate for the 3-6 age bracket - as long as they can be controlled from falling off the balcony where the water might be 6 + feet deep. How fancy do you want it and do you plan to eat out every meal?

We visit almost every year... Taxis are easily found at either the airport or the cruise port.

Hotel Sarah Nui is within walking distance from the port... if you have no mobility issues - but they have no pool and when I was there, no ice either. The room was big and had a little kitchenette. No frills but within walking distance of center of town.

Intercontinental is the primo hotel - expensive and you need a taxi to get anywhere - either from the port or to the airport... which is the case with Le Meridian or most other hotels. Honestly if you get settled there, you probably won't want to leave until it is time to go to catch your flight anyway.

There are quite a few pensions available but they sell out quite quickly... if you say what day/evening you need, I will see what is available as I have many connections there.

I have never stayed at the Airport Hotel myself but I understand it would be OK for what you are describing, I think. If you are staying in PPT before your cruise, you may have better options to ask them if you can come back just for the day after the cruise and get a good deal there..... day rooms are pretty much a thing of the past given the economic crunch there.

Likewise, I have never known there were exceptions made for using the transfer 'to' the ship unless you actually bought the pre-cruise package. But they do offer the transfer 'after' the cruise onboard during the cruise.

Getting a transfer from the airport to Civitavecchia is easy to arrange online - not so easy from a hotel (or at least not very reasonably priced).

Depending on where you want to stay, you need to check out the distance from the sites in Rome and accessibility to them. The Hilton Garden is very close to the airport and may have some type of system to get you into Rome. You could then go back to airport to get a shuttle @ 70 euros.

I am staying at the Hilton Airport (actually connected to airport - but quite expensive) and catching a transport from airport the next day.

We have been on the Wind Song (identical to the Wind Surf) before it caught fire off Bora Bora years ago. They towed it out and sunk it to become a reef. The only rough seas we encountered were between Bora Bora and Papeete the last night of the cruise.

We also went on the Renaissance ship before they went bankrupt - those ships eventually became Princess (the small ships) and some Oceania. Both of the cruises were the absolute best - great food... there was something magical about Wind Star, though - with the sails and exceptional service and the sports platform was great. We even water-skiied in Cooks Bay!

We have been on a Gauguin ship (Tere Moana) in the Med. and it was great too - but never the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti. I hea great things about that as well.

In the past 30 years, we have been to Tahiti (Moorea) at least every other year (probably 20+ times) - usually to Moorea for 2-3 weeks at a time. If you were going over for a land stay, you might try Moorea. It is much less expensive than Bora Bora and just as beautiful.

The cruises that do Athens/Venice or reverse are stopping at either of these ports - but not both, I am sure. The WS brochure says Hydra as do most other travel web-sites. The itinerary on WS website says Napflion. The 'travel planner' I spoke to at WS says it is Napflion. Logistically that doesn't make much sense but I can accept that if it is accurate. Anyone out there know?http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

We were on the Pride a week or two before the 'grounding' at that location. The day on the beach was outstanding! All of the water-toys were taken ashore - kayaks, paddleboards, and the smaller tender inflatables with water skiis, and raft for towing couples around the bay. The beach had plenty of loungers and food was plentiful - even though it was basic bbq fare, it was good. Snorkeling was pretty good around the rocks on one side of the beach and they did provide that equip. Word of caution: do NOT take a camera on the tube ride... wrist strap broke and it took four of us about 45 minutes to find it underwater... but the driver never gave up looking... until it was found.

I do not recall if there was any other excursion offered... it would have been a shame to do anything other than take advantage of the beach picnic.