Strenz

To put you at ease reminder France is rated one of the top countries in the world for medical care. Outcomes exceed the US. From experience it might be a lot less expensive than you think. Good Luck to you.

Totally agree, 100%+, 14 days cruise or more you get it with cruise fare. About 10 years ago we made a funny rule no cruise shorter than 14 days. The fare clicked in a few years ago with the laundry. Love the laundry, cabin water pressure and really hot water in the showers, in addition to everything else. Happy Sailing.

We also like Amphora. We like the on the smaller side portions, we like " undercooked vegetables" vegetables should have a crunch in the mouth. Not big dessert eaters but would rather have real sugar than fake sugar which we would never eat. If you do not want sugar eat a lovely piece of fruit. My husband loves the soups, I love the lamb, which is from New Zealand. I applaud WS the menus have something delicious for everyone. The Stella Bistro is real " French ", which we adore. They make a real Frisée Salad, real Soup d' Oignon, we used to live in Europe, yummy memories. Of course Candles lamb again! Great memories of our past with WS, have to wait until 2025 to go again. Happy Sailing.

Thank you for your kind words. I do not want to pay for other people's alcohol mostly. If a company goes all inclusive the rates will go up. That is indirectly paying for other's alcohol, WI-FI or tours etc. Given our status, the fact we do not take trips less than 10-14 days, WI-FI and laundry are not the issues but we drink maybe one or two drinks a day, many days my husband does not drink, indirectly we do want to pay higher cruise prices for all inclusive alcohol. We would never want to pay for all inclusive tours either, not fond of bus tours, our interests are completely different than most people's. I am not saying better simply different. I do not want to see what the world sees, I travel to see/ learn what we love. We cruise because we love the water and really do not love driving. Hope this is clear. That is what I meant. For us WS remains reasonable, not wealthy people but love to travel. Enjoy and thanks again.

We stick with one line that happens to be Windstar Cruises for a few simple reasons: love sails, love small, hate big and assorted buffets ( won't eat at them ), like and knowledgeable of foods, love the laundry, love that it is not all inclusive, hate standing in lines, like aloneness and quiet, love that the shower water is hot and water pressure great, love that it goes to small ports, love the bedding, love the crew and service, why would we even think of changing. Our history: 1968 crossed Atlantic to go to study, 1970 crossed again $150 to go back to my university, Atlantic twice with WS and Pacific once with WS, twice taken a supply ship up the St. Lawrence, once the Hurtiguerton as a supply ship up the coast of Norway, once a Viking River Ship 2002. We have loved every experience, (all 28 with WS), all, different. If you love something like we do WS why venture out to things you know you would not like. We like where WS brings us, we like it all. When I write about WS I try to be fair, knowledgeable, " balanced " and to tell people a bit about us because we are well aware our interests are very different. Happy Sailing

Your pictures are glorious. Beautiful part of the world, so happy we went on WS’s Wind Spirit.

Best laundry anywhere. Reason we only do carry on. Happy Sailing.

Perhaps wrong word, the stairs move with the water, for people with gait or balance issues or people who need walking sticks/ canes they can be challenging. The hand rails are firm, the space between stairs going from one to the other is shorter than regular stairs. The platform goes with the water swells, but the crew are obviously well trained, patient and safety first with WS. It all depends on the fickle ocean but in the Carib. and Med. most of the time it is smooth sailing. Enjoy.

We have been sailing on WS since 1999. I recognize that differences in food likes and dislikes are as different as humanity itself. We like the element of surprise knowing after all these years it will different and with always something good. Happy Sailing.

Hi, You are completely correct. Here on CC we have a lovely sumner garden, warm nights for great tomatoes and a wonderful farmers market that adds to the deliciousness of the summer and where folks can use their food stamps. We eat no processed foods with the exception of once or twice a year potato chips. Getting back to WS we can always find fresh, appealing food. I have talked to many a chef that a flash frozen fish can great, I agree. 100% + agree fresh corn is truly the best it is hard to get here but we try. It is all really about where things are grown, example Italy the tomatoes, the olive oils. The beauty of traveling finding that home grown morsel. Enjoy

The stairs going to the tenders are still a bit rickety. The platforms on the motor yachts are a bit more sturdier. Nature of the beast I guess. The crew in assisting boarding the tenders are fantastic. Happy Sailing

When I see lobster I assume, perhaps incorrectly, they mean New England. If indeed they were Caribbean then that is probably the reason they did not taste like NE plus being frozen. I did not think they tasted all that great all this time thought it was because they were frozen. Lobsters like oysters need to be from cold water, that is my opinion, to get that sweet, briny taste.Happy Sailing

For a For a person who only drinks espresso drinks, I think it is great. Yacht Club is open early morning 6/6:30, for us it is dreamy to go out on deck early with our espresso latte. What can be better. Happy Sailing

Going to chime in here. The lobsters: I live in Lobster land, Cape Cod, the lobster we get extends from here North to Maine. I understand not having the frozen lobster tails because lobsters here on Cape Cod about 18.95 per pound, not much cheaper in Maine. I think the reason for this is there are less lobsters and Right Whales now have "right of way", with the new regulations on lobster trap ropes. Lobster fishing is more regulated and if you think the US is strict the regulations in Canada are far stricter. Living here we get it and we are protective of these massive beautiful sea creatures. I love my lobster do not get me wrong. I remember when lobsters went from 25 cents a pound to 50+ cents a pound my mother said she will never eat one again, lasted about 2 weeks. I think that is where the problem is lobsters, due to the warmer waters and regulation regarding the whales, have become far more harder fish for and not as plentiful therefore wildly expensive. Personally a frozen lobster tail is not something I would be thrilled to eat, fresh yes. We love WS dining, love the lamb, we love the salads, my husband thinks the beef has always been great. We are a bit bothered by " plant based " because that can be very processed. We think Stella Bistro is authentic French, Candles has excellent meat and Amphora great choices. We are basically healthy eaters, love food and I am very educated about food. We also realize that food is subjective and people are different. As for service for us has always been perfect. We are also easy, grateful, uncomplaining people who happen to love the WS experience. Happy Sailing

We love the Surf, the rooms are 188 sq feet, very well thought out, storage, easy access, etc. We are neat people who travel lightly, only carry on, so the storage is great for us with left over, even the small but compact bathroom, very well organized. We love the Star Pride too, with the motor yachts we always get a balcony even though they are very small, one person standing. We love the old layout, walk in to bedroom and the living area has the balcony. We love fresh air but not directly on us like when we took her to Greenland. Despite the weather in the afternoon would sit by the balcony with the doors open, glorious. Again lovely bathroom and great storage. A difference in both ships is the tendering easier on the Pride with a more protected platform, than the Surf. If getting on and off in a tender is physically difficult then the Pride but I must say the crew is extremely helpful and safety conscious on both. However, I do think the Caribbean screams sails, our prejudice, the sail aways,dinner outside at Candles under the sails going out of the harbors, the huge decks where can find alone space even when the ship is full, finding shade is easy, we love the deck life. Nothing like it. Have a great first journey and I hope you get hooked, we have been hooked on Wind Star since 1999. Happy Sailing.

We were on the Surf in January. We adore that ship and we are also not fussy. We found the cabins simply fine. The hall floors the carpets in some places a spot or two, our cabin the floor had a spot. On the decks there was a bit of damage but not dangerous and only in some places. That was it. Everything else perfect. I wrote a review. Happy Sailing

Hi, Happy Sailing, on the sailing ships even if the ship is full because the outside deck is so spacious you never feel crowded. If you like lamb highly recommend it they do a great job. Enjoy

WS has both, you can purchase an all inclusive package or pay as you go. We are thrilled WS ( 28 cruises with WS) has pay as you go because we drink so little and why should we pay for other's drinks. We do not need WIFI either getting it on shore for a few minutes is fine with us. Due to our status we get their outstanding laundry service. On WS cruises all special non alcoholic coffees and teas, sodas, bottled water, comes with the cruise fare. The Yacht Club makes great espresso drinks starting at 6:30 am, part of the fare. HappyvSailing

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I simply do not need WIFI on an hourly basis, going ashore does it, we drink no more than 3 glasses of wine/ beer a day sometimes nothing between the 2 of us. Given my status we gratefully get the terrific laundry. Why should I pay for others. I am really glad WS does not have inclusive tours, my interests are different and touring on a bus is simply not for us, sometimes maybe but hardly ever. We hope WS stays the way they are giving people choices on what they pay for. Happy Sailing.

Good way to cruise and diet! I open mindedly tried it on WS, not my cup of tea to say the least. I do not eat processed food felt it was overly processed, each to our own.

Agree, the best of the best food tour we did was a private tour in Croatia organic milk, yogurt and cheeses, truffles grow abundantly in that area they did different aged cheeses with truffles, unbelievable. They build a tasting room, we drank milk in Reidell glasses. It was really fun, plus learned a lot. Happy Sailing

Hi, I wish they did more food tours with the chefs. Once years ago there was a food tour to a fish market, off we went no fish, poor chef, embarrassed, it was very funny. We called it the no fish, fish tour. Hope you are well and sailing haven’t see you on this lately. Happy Sailing

I agree, smaller ship, we went in May the first time WS went back to Tahiti, we crossed the Pacific on the Spirit, sad they took the sailing ship out because we thought the Tahitian Lagoon screamed sails. I think on the WS motor yachts it will be very beautiful. Enjoy.

If you are concerned about sea sickness, middle ship and fresh air helps so room with the balcony, they are not big but the air is helpful. We like the old cabin configuration, bed when you enter the room, sitting area near the balcony, think this would be a much better configuration if you tend to get sea sick. Have a fabulous trip, we did Tahiti on the Spirit, all so beautiful. Happy Sailing

Dear Nearpost, We did your 14+day trip in January we met Misty Morning on board. We have been to the Caribbean on the Surf many, many times and more and I with my father sailing as a young person. When I go I am simply interested in going to the beach for my daily swim. We go to the beach almost everyday in the am, back to the ship by 1, afternoon on ship reading, exercise in the pool, etc. I will concentrate on beaches for you. BVI's Jost we love White Beach, open air vans meet you ashore to take you there 10 minutes 5-10 dollars pp pending on how many people in the van, we love Gertrude's because less crowded, the best conk fritters anywhere. Easy to call a van to return, long walk up a huge hill and down. Virgin Gorda: great beach for the Barbecue, all the toys. Sophers Hole Cab it, lots of good beaches Anguilla:Road Bay the beach is where you land, lots of places to rent chairs and umbrellas. St.Kitts: Carmbola Beach Club, lovely beach, about 15-20 minutes Taxi, about $25, small entrance fee comes with chairs and umbrella Ils des Saints: Terre -De - Haut Lovely island, Plage de Pompierre, about 1 mile from town, sometimes you are walking with goats and cows, up hill going, lovely beach, lots of trees for shade, picnic tables, no chairs to rent lovely bay beach for swimming. In the town on the main street to the right from where you get off, a great crêpe maker, better than Paris, he is grumpy, however he was not there in Jan. but the crêpe was still outstanding, 5 E. St. Barts: walk to Shell Beach , need water shoes, lots of shells, nice bar, St. Barts is so pricey plan on cabs $50 one way, nice walk along the marina and town to beach, good beach for swimming.I French grocery shop there, example chicken bouillon cubes just beware of expiration, seafood bouillon , cheeses ( can't bring in to US nice to eat with a glass of wine on return to ship ) Pigeon Island St. Lucia: nice beach day in park, all the toys are there beach is not huge but good swimming Antiguia Falmouth Harbor: cab it to beaches again nice beaches Dominica: Not great beaches but a fabulous island lots to see in nature, the island to take a tour, terrific, gritty market 1/2 mile from ship, great herbs, I hope this helps. Great 2 weeks, we love every second. Happy Sailing