Jump to content

Should I try cruising again?


bostonbutterfly
 Share

Recommended Posts

Honestly, I never thought I’d be here again. I have been on maybe ten mass market cruises during my 20s through my 40s (Norwegian, RCCL and Disney). Over that time, I came to be more and more disappointed (irritated?) with cruising. There were so many things that bothered me more and more every time we went on a cruise, that after the last one we decided that the cruising “phase”of our life was over and we may never go on one again. Time to do more “grown up” vacations. I thought our tastes had just naturally changed over time as we got older, and cruising just wasn’t for us anymore. What did we come to hate about cruising? The hordes of people, along with the horde mentality. The lines. The buffet (cafeteria like) food. The casinos. The picture taking. The cheesy entertainment. The dance parties. The KIDS! The inability to find a quiet space to relax. The inability to leave your chair to use the restroom because your chair would be gone the second you turn your back. Frankly, I was continually disgusted with how much food many of the passengers wasted……the whole “I paid for this so I can do what I want” mentality. Time after time I’d see people PILE food onto their plates, take two bites and walk away leaving the rest destined for the trash bin (not to mention just leaving the plate there for a worker to clear. I can only imagine what that worker thinks in those situations…..) By the last cruise it just felt to me that cruising was a giant churning business. Get the masses in, extract as much money as possible from them for the least cost, get them out, rinse,repeat. Yuck.

 

Fast forward to now. My spouse and I are discussing what we’d like to do for our 50th birthday trip. (we both turn 50 in the same year). We really want a special vacation, and feel like 50 deserves a WOW! We decided what we really want is a relaxing, pampering vacation. And THEN, we talked to someone who just RAVED about the Windstar Tahiti cruise! (She has done quite a few WS cruises) The more we talked, and the more reading I’ve done, the more this trip, and the cruise line, sounds perfect for us. But then last night I read through some CC discussions about WS changing and some long term faithful customers feeling like it’s just not the same anymore (the “thrifty” discussion, the price discussion, the new 120 day policy discussion). I feel like I’m on a roller coaster. One minute I feel so excited about trying the Windstar Tahiti cruise,and the next minute I’m thinking, “What am I DOING??? Why on earth am I even considering a cruise again??????”

 

So. Should I try cruising again? Is a special 50th trip the wrong time to dip our toes in the water again??? Am I a day late to the party and WS is just not what it used to be anymore?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I will try to help you. We have been on 23 WS trips since 1999 with a 5 year pause between our first and 2nd cruise due to work. We are independent travelers, we love to schlep, curious, passionale for food, art and classical music. I hate buffets, love authentic great food, not food fads. Not big drinkers enjoy wine with dinner. We are fearless travelers, noncomplainers and grateful. We do not need to see what the world sees. We want the authentic. We prefer to be alone or with very small groups. We love the sea and it has always been a huge part of our life but our days of bare boating is over, we simply do not want to work anymore. We love Wind Star Cruises as people know by reading CC and we adored the Tahiti Cruise. Sailing in the laguna glorious, the scenery truly spectacular, WS hardly ever has announcements and people are generally respectful of quiet, impecable service with truly wonderful people. The Tahiti cruise was everything and more that I had dreamed about and read about. Seriously I would have been so disappointed to have been on land the entire time at a resort. The islands were magical but from the water that was the magic.

 

Is WS perfect no, nothing is. Expecting perfection will always lead to disappointment.

Food great 99% of time, tiny buffets, no lines, you can always order off a menu which is what I do. I avoid buffets.

Lovely, spacious cabins on both motor and sail boats, chandeliers in the cabins nope, no balconies on tne sailboats, there should not be. I love the mattresses will everyone, nope.

The Wind Spirit has great deck space for Tahiti, no chair hogs.

I would sum it up simply lovely.

 

 

Yes, on CC there has been discussion about recent pricing I used to reserve right away now I wait. I think the recent European cruises are very high for me that is a wait, Caribbean are still reasonable, I think. Tahiti appears reasonable, again I think, no experience for Asia or Alaska. What you hear on CC about the central office it serms to be improving but continues to need a lot of work. However the difference between the experience on the ships and the experience with central office in Seattle is miles apart and I for one am always thrilled about the ship experiences and that is where it is important, to say the least.

 

 

I wish you a lovely birthday, if you want to go to Tahiti I think sailing on the Wind Spirit is truly the only way. For us it was one of the highlights of our traveling life. We have been grateful to WS because we have had some amazing traveling opportunities, Tahiti was one. Happy Sailing

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Strenz: Your comments are very helpful. Thank you! The Tahiti cruise does seem like it would absolutely magical, and apparently there are many people here who agree. Your point about experiences with the central office being miles apart from the experience on the ship did ease my trepidation about continuing to consider cruising again. I kind of got side tracked with cold feet when I start reading some of those threads, which in hindsight, are mostly about central office. Also, having no prior WS experience, I have nothing to compare to, other than mass market - so I don't see how we could possibly go wrong with the Tahiti cruise! (We do not expect perfection, and I totally agree that doing so will always lead to disappointment. )

 

I'll keep moving forward with my research. I have plenty of time. The big Five Zero isn't for a year and a half. In the past whenever we booked cruises, we booked way in advance. I assumed this type of cruise, being a very small ship, would sell out very far in advance. Apparently, with their new policy, people are electing to wait on booking. Obviously, there is a fine line between waiting for a better price, and not having much choice in cabins, or worse - the sailing of choice fully booked.

 

Thanks again!

 

PS - small world. I live not all that far from you. I live on the south shore......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello fellow New Englander thank you for your kind words. Remember the cabins on the Wind Spirit are all the same. The price difference is where on the ship. In Tahiti it does not matter you will want to be on deck all the time. Also, we like the bottom of the ship because we love the gentle rocking of the ship at night, must be the salt in our veins. Even when I am offered upgrades we do not take them. I am originally from Manchester by the Sea, I live in Orleans on Cape Cod and have for 43 years. I have been in Mass. most of my life with exception when I lived for 5 years in Europe. Love the sea and Europe. Happy Sailing. Let us know what you decide and if you liked it. Need to get crusing again this time on much smaller ships!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Strenz! Will do.

 

I did see that all the cabins are the same. Am I wrong that the least motion will be in the lower middle cabins? (I'm a bonine cruiser!). I was surprised to hear that because you like the motion, you choose the lower deck.

 

I grew up in Weymouth, lived in Braintree for quite a while, and recently moved to Hull. (Trust me.....its changing, LOL!) I'm fortunate to be looking out over the bay. It's our own little paradise. Never lived by the water before, and never imagined I would, but now that I do, I can't imagine ever not living there!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello fellow New Englander thank you for your kind words. Remember the cabins on the Wind Spirit are all the same. The price difference is where on the ship. In Tahiti it does not matter you will want to be on deck all the time. Also, we like the bottom of the ship because we love the gentle rocking of the ship at night, must be the salt in our veins. Even when I am offered upgrades we do not take them. I am originally from Manchester by the Sea, I live in Orleans on Cape Cod and have for 43 years. I have been in Mass. most of my life with exception when I lived for 5 years in Europe. Love the sea and Europe. Happy Sailing. Let us know what you decide and if you liked it. Need to get crusing again this time on much smaller ships!

 

Thanks Strenz! Will do.

 

I did see that all the cabins are the same. Am I wrong that the least motion will be in the lower middle cabins? (I'm a bonine cruiser!). I was surprised to hear that because you like the motion, you choose the lower deck.

 

I grew up in Weymouth, lived in Braintree for quite a while, and recently moved to Hull. (Trust me.....its changing, LOL!) I'm fortunate to be looking out over the bay. It's our own little paradise. Never lived by the water before, and never imagined I would, but now that I do, I can't imagine ever not living there!!!

 

On the lowest deck you will feel a bit more of the normal motion as water passes under the ship. The higher you are and the more toward either the bow or stern the more you'll be impacted in stormy weather.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On the lowest deck you will feel a bit more of the normal motion as water passes under the ship. The higher you are and the more toward either the bow or stern the more you'll be impacted in stormy weather.

 

 

Hmm.. I guess low deck mid ship is where I'll try for! Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Milepig is correct. We love the little rocking motion at night sleeping. If you tend to get queazy on the water you need to be lower ship middle. We are fortunate no problems with seasickness. Hull is beautiful. We used to drive to Saporitos for dinner. If you have any questions ask on. I hope Tahiti and WS cruises will be in your future.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ditto Strenz's comments. We have only been on 3 Windstar cruises, but would not think of cruising on another line. Tahiti is magical. Watch for specials, they frequently have them for Tahiti. Sign up for their emails and you will receive their "seven for seven" specials. There are many more positives than negatives with Windstar.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Bostonbutterfly,

 

Welcome to the world of "sailing with a small group of new friends". All of the earlier feedback has been very good. From my viewpoint, your list of what you want in a cruise experience is exactly what you will likely get on Windstar. My wife could have ghostwritten the opening post for you. We are now to the point that, if we are thinking about a travel destination, her first question is "Does Windstar sail there?"

 

I must say one will often see, on CC and other message boards, the negative stuff float to the top and stay there longer than it is relevant. Personally I think a lot of the most recent negatives about Windstar reflect more on the guests who are never happy, rather than a real issue. A lot of the biggest complainers here seem to be spending all their time unhappy about not getting the "deal" they thought they "deserved" from Seattle.

 

I have not had any problems with Seattle HQ and I am surprised people do. Windstar is a small enough organization that it is easy to find a reservation agent you feel comfortable working with. (Talk with a few, until you are happy with the attitude and information you are getting.) I call the same agent all the time.

 

I am a TA so I work with a lot of cruise lines and will work with whatever cruise product fits the needs and wishes of my clients. But over the past few years (and with a new president) Windstar has gotten better. I honestly feel like I am talking with old friends when I need to call or email Windstar. And since TA's are not allowed to have a high or public profile on CC, I get no benefits out of telling you this. Most of my cruise bookings are across about 4-5 cruise lines. But Windstar is my personal favorite for my clients and myself. With one or two exceptions, you will find all of my CC posts on the Windstar boards.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our first cruise on Windstar was on the Wind Spirit through the Panama Canal and Costa Rica. We LOVED it! After that cruise we were hooked! We sailed on Wind Surf through the Caribbean and we loved it as well although I will say, I almost liked the Wind Spirit a tiny bit better. We are sailing on Wind Surf once again on a back2back2backe for a total of 25 days in the Mediterranean in September. We are very excited to be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and my DH 65th birthday with this cruise. I think celebrating your 50th birthdays is a great idea! And Tahiti is on my bucket list as well so if you do choose Wind Spirit, you'll have to report back!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Boston - I can only echo the sentiments of the rest of the repliers. My wife and I were definitely tiring of the big ship experience and would have given cruising up all together had we not gone on a river boat cruise on the American Queen. With just over 200 passengers, it was a refreshing change from 2000+. It was a much more intimate experience. So I made it my goal to find a similar ocean cruise. When I came across Windstar's offerings, we decide to try a Mediterranean cruise on the Wind Surf. That really hit the sweet spot. I can further rave about how nice the crew was, but I think the real difference was in the other passengers. Just a whole different vibe than the hustle and bustle of the larger ships.

So it wasn't too long after that trip we started planning our Wind Spirit Tahiti trip. Headed out in July so I'll be happy to share my experiences once I return. Also, if you look in the roll calls on the Wind Spirit for the July 12th trip, you'll see some of my pre-planning thoughts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond! I appreciate that. Apparently WS has a very passionate following!

 

I will start to watch prices/sales to get a sense of what is a reasonable price for the Tahiti cruise at the time we'd like to go. I have no sense of what is reasonable. I wish there was an independent website dedicated to people posting prices they've paid (regardless of cruise line). Something like date purchased, cruise line, ship, cabin category(#, deck?), departure date and price paid. There is something similar for hotel booking for Priceline. I realize there are so many factors involved in pricing, but it just feels like there is still that sense of hidden information when it comes to cruise prices. Maybe its just me and I need to dig deeper in my research.

 

Its great to feel excited again about a cruise! Thanks all!

 

Howellmc: I'll check out your post.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...