RMS Olympic

I’m guessing the zodiac storage area will be used for the two suites with balconies….but for the life of me I can’t figure out where the Star grill will go. There is no space up forward, so could it go over the two new suites and wrap around the funnel? My excitement grows! Whats your guess as to the Seekers start up….Europe or Caribbean? Me, I’d love to see a maiden voyage starting in Miami (home of the new offices for christening ceremonies) and terminate in San Juan as a kick off for a winter season. Come on June!

If Aqua is close to her float out….will the next build be started? I think the plan was another ship for 2026. Viva in January 2025 Aqua in May 2025 Aqua….tbd in October 2025 next build I’m guessing late fall of 2026. Send money…….🤪

The one area that the World Explorer has which WS does not have is the lecture Hall up forward. On an expedition ship….lectures by science/environmentalists makes sense but WS states these vessels will be cruise ships not expedition ships. I hope the first itineraries are in the Caribbean and not on the other side of the pond during the winter months. Come on June!

When NCL decided to build this Prima class I was happy to think NCL was going for a more upscale product with 3000plus passengers. Perhaps targeting Celebrity and not going for the truly mega ships ala Carnival and RCI. Well looks like the decision has been made to follow the pack with these 200k ton ships. With ports restricting the number of passengers into ports of call, I question the decision. Even the new Sun Princess is experiencing tendering issues in the Mediterranean and even dropped Santorini due to port congestion. Me, the smaller the better but-to each his or her own😉

If interested, check out WestSea ship yard images. There are a number of construction photos of this series of ships being built. I hope the WS conversion will be found on line towards the end of the year.

I just watched a YouTube video on an epicurean cruise on the World Explorer. The interior of the ship and the cabins were beautiful and were very Wind Star. I’d even go to say the decor is nicer than the WS yachts….minus the geometric carpeting. Now to find some construction photos of the modifications….especially the bow.

Me, I want a stunning bow, and a stunning rear(transom). So these new ladies will be the Ava Gardener and Sophia Loren of the cruising world. Hey, I’ve great taste in elegante ladies😉

I was thinking the bow needed to be modified to look like the existing motor yachts. So happy this May actually happen. As for the purchase….my thoughts are: ships available as Atlas may be struggling. These two ships are the right size, designed to be environmentally clean and with one still under construction easy to modify. As for not planned for expeditions, the expedition market is full, WS demographics might not support cold itineraries beyond Iceland. This purchase suggests the balance sheet is healthy unlike other cruise lines in debt up to their necks. Then no continuing cut backs😉. I am soooooo happy!

I called WS to see if there was a waitlist for the inaugural/maiden voyage….answer was no. But schedules would come out in June. I’m hoping a late Dec or early Jan cruise will be like the Breeze first sailing in 2021(post stretch)….in the Caribbean. So I will check the web site daily starting in mid May.

Just checked out the interior of the ship…..looks like a perfect fit for WS. Even the dining area aft of the restaurant lends itself to a candle’s venue. Since the ship is being delivered in December…..could she start off in the Caribbean? I’d love to see an embarkation port of St Thomas, but San Juan would be in keeping with their current scheduling. Waiting till June for scheduling……😰😰😰

Fantastic news! Now to figure out how to get on the maiden voyage. I don’t care about the breakin period🤓. Just finished a March cruise on the Spirit…..it was wonderful. She needs her refit, but hey, she’s showing her age just like me😝

A big thank you for all the construction photos! counting the days to Prima in January and then the Aqua in May next year. Thanks again!

all is well. I called WS to ask about documents and was instructed to print out the welcome aboard email and all its attachments. I explained that I never received that email….she looked into the problem and stated that they did not have my phone number so the email was never sent. So she sent the welcome aboard correspondence and I printed it out. I further asked if I was fully checked in with all personal info….she said yes. I asked including my phone number….she said yes. so next week at this time I will be on the Wind Spirit…..having a cocktail with an umbrella in it. Umbrella’s protect your beverage from a stray shower, or low flying seagulls 🤗

Thank you. Everything changes over the years. Long ago There were paper baggage tags, then there were fancy leather identification tags for your bags.

I’m a week and a half from sailing, and have not received any cruise documents of any type. I searched the website (my wind Star) for documents to print…..yet found nothing. I figure I’ll print my email confirmation information, but wondered if anyone has actually received hard copy documents from WS to bring to the embarkation port? Thanks for any info and or guidance. Tom

I’ll post thoughts and photos upon my return. The one thing I won’t talk about is the internet…I go off line for the duration of the cruise.

Hey Strenz……lamb…….delish. I’ll take it over prime rib any day. Im looking forward to the Spirit…..as my first WS cruise was on the WindSong years ago. Tried the Wind Surf , but liked the smaller siblings better. Breeze and Pride…..just wonderful…..

Thank you all for the responses. Two weeks from tonight I will be on the Wind Spirit……can’t wait! Looking at the sailing on the WS web site……looks like the ship may be full……hope they stock up on shrimp🍤, cheese🧀, steak🥩, and white wine🥂. I have needs🤪. oh, almost forgot 🥓🥓🥓🥓

I’m sailing on the Spirit on 21 March out of Barbados🤗 WindStar offers some food tours which would be a different experience as I have visited the ports of call in the past. Can anyone provide thoughts on these type of tours regardless of the island and whether it’s worth a try…. with all the good food served on the ship is the local cuisine, or just the social aspect of the group tour worth a try? Thanks in advance.

I am a solo cruiser who has paid the single surcharge for decades. I have sailed Celebrity for years starting with the Horizon, and I spend money on board, but this new pricing is just plain greed in my book. Yes operating costs are up so an increase in pricing is logical. But then institute cutbacks on top of this to increase revenue…..is another thing. Now charging solos more…..that’s just wrong if not discriminatory. Yes cruise lines are in debt up to their ears and want to generate more income every which way possible….yet they continue to build more ships increasing debt even more. I’ll take my money elsewhere. My next cruise (#95) will be on WindStar. Bye bye Celebrity.

Does anyone know how much was accomplished during her drydock this month? Was it mostly mechanical or was the interior refreshed….decor, carpeting, cabin bedding? Thanks for any info and or photos. And a happy new year to all😎

I booked a 7 night out of Canaveral in May,2025. I was sold as soon as I saw no go carts. My guess as to the elimination of the race track came down to money….maintenance and upkeep not to mention space. Electric carts take a beating and salt air corrodes. I just hope that if the balance sheet for NCL improves enough, big shows return. NCL has always been known for their entertainment…..even back in the ‘70’s… NCL did not learn from their past….cramming too much into a ship. The Dreamward when built was ahead of its time…..but too tight for all the design features she had. Eventually she was lengthened. Perhaps Prima and Viva could stand a midsection add…..and enlarge their pool area. For now, Aqua will will do me fine, as long as the Vibe remains😎

Thank you to all for your kind words. I’ve been cruising since 1978 and have seen how the industry has changed. I do not expect perfection, I’m not for sure. If the phone reps are lacking in training, then management needs to improve. What really put me over was when I asked to speak with a supervisor I was asked why, again expected to explain or justify my request. After being put on hold, I was told the supervisor saw no reason to speak with me since I was cancelling my booking. Princess does not have a monopoly on service issues and cutback....just read cruise critic. Bon voyage to all. May all your cruise experiences be great ones. Ciao for now.

Thank you for your response. Dealing with Princess over the years has always been a joy, the cruise experience started with phone interaction. I just hope others don’t find themselves having to explain themselves when they have issues. Out of my 94 cruise, 26 with Princess...it is sad to say goodbye to my cruise line of choice. If things work out, I’ll have to find another line to sail with. My best wishes to all that continue to cruise.

With 26 Princess cruises under my belt I am so saddened to see how Princess has changed. I called this morning to cancel a cruise for next September and the service was unacceptable in my opinion. I was asked why I was cancelling....I said for personal reasons. The Princess rep said she could not cancel the booking unless I explained why. I told her I was diagnosed with cancer and I might die. Her response....oh let me put you on hold. After being put on hold I finally was told the reservation was cancelled. I In turn asked to speak with a supervisor and was asked why I wanted to speak with a supervisor. I said I wanted to speak with a supervisor...and was put on hold. When the rep came back on lineI was told the supervisor would not speak with me because the reservation was cancelled. I asked for a phone number for customer service and was told they no longer have a Customer service number. This is not the Princess I have known and loved. I still have yet another booking for the maiden voyage of the Star Princess which I thought I would keep just in case I made it through my medical challenges. When I calm down I’ll cancel that booking as well. I am much saddened with this situation.....I hope no one else has to go through this level of customer service.