Thrifty Windstar

Last year we spent 49 total days on Windstar. During our spring b2b, we were given all kinds of goodies including laundry, drink package and WiFi. Not sure why but we took it. On each subsequent booking there havre been less and less freebies, no upgrades, virtually no on shore Special Events etc. Recently they have offered $300to $500 obc on some cruises however.

My question is, although we have always booked directly through Windstar and done well with add ons, should we consider using a travel agent solely for what they may offer in terms of extras beyond the typical bottle of champagne.

Your opinions and experiences would be apppreeciated

I think you are spot on with your assessment and believe that's what we'll be doing. I'm kind of up to my eyeballs with the change of attitude about returning guests and don't feel particularly valued anymore for lots of nickel and dime reasons.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

I book using a TA, but haven’t gotten much for my Windstar bookings using him, but a small OBC and convenience.

And, you’re right; prices are high and many less incentives.

I agree. We are booked on Spanish Serenade. Last year there was a special event on Mallorca this year it was eliminated. Excursions are also very overpriced.

When you have 5 million passenger/year (as is the case with RCL) it is a lot easier to estimate popularity of shorex, etc. Windstar, on the other hand is probably trying a lot of option based on almost nil history. But for WS, changing course is lot easier. But is is a pain to keep up with the different offers.

I really love WS but I am quite shocked at the prices specifically for Europe in 2019. I feel they really shot up. It also concerns me that the 2019 schedules are not complete. I continue to think that the difference between Seattle and the experiences on the ship are night and day. The special events were so great it is sad that they have gone by the way side.

I think the Caribbean still has elements of past nice touches: free laundry on b2b, the barbeque on deck, the beach picnic. Not seeing that on Europe cruises. Caribbean rates seen to be relatively the same. The phone people in Seattle seem to be more informed but seriously basic geography, making sure what they are telling you is totally accurate should be a no brainer. Also, I agree with sb44, they need to revamp the alumni program now that the voyages come in different lengths. It should be based on days spent on board and tiered. WS has a real loyalty base like us going on our 23 th cruise, we need to be appreciated more and acknowledged. We shall continue with WS but truly wish Europe was not so expensive. We use AMEX Platinum to reserve and I really do my homework first but AMEX gives us great SBC and a bottle of French Champagne my great love and a great special treat. We are not big drinkers, no interest in WIFI, WS is my reprieve from the world and I am not a tour person ( we are boring ) but most people enjoy those things so perhaps they should be choices for alumni based on days spent on board, perhaps that would make more people happy, that I guess we can hope for better return guest program in the future and watch the prices like a hawk. Happy Sailing.

Well said Strenz. We are right there with you at 20+ cruises with Windstar. We love Windstar, and have been very loyal. I don't think they even have an alumni program. I know the company is small, and they probably can't duplicate the loyalty programs of the big companies, but some recognition would be great. It does appear that the Special Events on the European cruises are gone. Big loss! They were a highlight of every cruise. Will the deck barbecue be gone as well? Hope not.

As to price. Everything is more expensive. The cruise prices are higher, (even on their weekly "specials") excursions very pricey and more. By the way, there is a cancellation charge now ($50 pp) not much, but indicative of nickel diming, something they did not do in the past.

We are still Windstar fans, and will continue to sail with them, but as you do, will watch the prices carefully. We are hopeful that Windstar will have a better guest return program in the future. They are very special, and we have enjoyed every cruise taken with them.

The only alumni program I know of is a 5% discount on rates, which I did receive.

My travel agent was able to save $30 on a $4,800 fare, so

it doesn't appear that they are much better than going it alone.

I looked into going on WS 2 years ago and was unable to at that time. When I booked now for summer 2019 the price has gone up 40-50%.

After reading this I'm not sure they will have the special dinner

in Turkey.

It will be interesting to compare fares between WS and Star Clippers ships when the Flying Clipper is in operation. It will be about the same size as the Wind Surf.

Just saw the price of a cruise In Nov. on the Star Pride goes from 1505$CA jump to 2500$CA in 24h.

Not happening for us.

We have taken 10 Windstar cruises, most have been a part of B2B cruising.

In each case I have booked directly with Windstar, all I can speak of is my past and current experiences.

For each booking I have made in the past, I track the deals on the website, and when I saw a price drop, I'd call WS and ask for the new deal. I have always received the deal (if it was within the contract period).

For this current booking, I made it in Nov 2017 for July 2018. Since the time of the original booking I have received an additional $3400 in price reductions. Plus they have added free laundry service and ship board credit. Granted none of these came without a phone call, but being a diligent consumer, I don't mind making the calls when I get results.

We have only cruised on one other line, Oceana, and we were not satisfied with the quality of the service, when compared to WS.

Looking ahead at one of the same cruises for next year, 6/22/19 WindSurf Rome/Barcelona 7 days is $3199.

The price of the same cruise for July of this year has varied from $3199 to $2199 between Nov 17/ Mar 18.

What this tells me is that the prices change- watch them. What's currently posted for next year probably will not be the best price you can get.

Tim

Perhaps this forum should be renamed. Penny wise pound foolish. WOW a savings of $30 I would say the TA did not did not do their job! ( perhaps there was a typo) WS does not have to give away the house/ship 99% of passengers know that ( there is always the 1% that will moan ) but ignoring loyal past passengers, elevating the prices 30-50 % over one year, no more special events, penny pinching on OBC, and an outdated alumni program those policies are coming from Seattle and might come back to bite WS. I do think the crew continues to do an extra special job, with Seattle’s policies there might be fewer and few passengers. I for one would be very depressed if WS ceased to exist.

An example of Seattle: I wrote to Mr. Delaney and never received a response. In 2020 the US has a huge celebration the 400 years of the Pilgrims landing,they were contraversal yes but the event was extremely important historically and interesting. WS is cruising New England and I wrote to Mr. Delaney about the celebrations in Provincetown ( where they first landed and stayed for a month, they had to move on due to no fresh water), Plymouth, Boston and all over Cape Cod. I suggested a focused theme cruise because the Mayflower Society has a branch in every state ( perfect marketing) WS goes to Halifax NS where after the revolutionary war many loyalists and descendents went to live and there is a museum there. I wrote this, gave ideas, people/organizations to contact etc. Never even a thank you acknowledging my suggestion. I thought it was a great idea. That unfortunately is Seattle. Needless to say makes me nervous but I still adore WS and the people on the ships and hope to have more great cruises under my belt. Happy Sailing

( I am not a descendent, I am in fact first generation, I love history and have a wild imagination )

As soon-to-be newbies on Windstar, we are taking notes. Thank you.

As soon-to-be newbies on Windstar, we are taking notes. Thank you.

Just about to book the windsurf for September but if they getting close to the other lines we might just pass and do something else.

We just booked thru a TA and besides a small OBC we didn't receive a lot more than we could've done ourselves. On a good note.... only 19 days before we set sail!

Sent from my SM-G935V using Forums mobile app

WOW! Good reading..I lost track of the number of WS cruises ..somewhere over 20 and have been loyal fans. Quite different than 20 years ago huh? But we still go! Although at Xmas we now do Sea Dream and love it..This summer doing Greece in August. Talk about pricey. But thru Amex we did get $600 shipboard credit. Beware folks though. Recently we've found if you leave the ship with WS owing you it can take MONTHS to get credited to your credit card. We had to fight tooth and nail to get action after waiting 90 days. Something about their "accounting system." Wrong answer. But we know so many of the crew and staff and feel at home. Wind Star and Spirit still our favorite ships.:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:

The TA we have been using for years does not even provide us with OBC, just convenience. I do not know what the Cruise Critic restrictions are on naming TAs but I sure would love to find out which TA others are using. Any suggestions on how to get that information?

We were on CR Panama in March when they instituted their new onboard booking "discounts" with an onboard reservations specialist. It was nuts. They say if you book when onboard the deposit is reduced to "as low as $200" and you only lose $50 booking fee. So we were quoted Greece in July 2019 on Surf, in a suite, with discounts, for a little north of 20k. Based on the price the deposit was $2700 instead of the "normal" $3000. We were given a booking contract to read and there was a new twist to this great onboard booking deal. The full deposit, less the $50 each, does not get refunded like a regular booking does. Instead they hold it and you have two years to use it! I asked twice if I was misreading this and told that it was correct since it was a "reduced deposit". There may be a sucker born every minute but not me! We said no thanks and may book if it's ever on sale. Or go to Greece and island hop on small boats. 20k plus plane fare plus excursions plus wifi, etc. and not getting money back if we change out minds before the normal 121 day policy, no way as much as I love the ship and the crew.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

...I do not know what the Cruise Critic restrictions are on naming TAs

Advertising Is Not Allowed

 

Cruise Critic has strict guidelines prohibiting blatant advertising, commercial sales and solicitation posts on all of our message boards.

 

Our Cruise Community is meant to be an exchange of advice and tips where cruisers can talk about their travels -- not a marketplace for advertising and selling services. There are thousands of cruise professionals online and if we didn't insist on a non-solicitation policy the cruise boards would be very quickly overrun with nothing but ads.

 

Cruise Critic defines advertising as an individual or company's attempt to generate business or other commercial enterprise, either directly or indirectly, by using our Cruise Board. Solicitation includes, but is not limited to, requests to be E-mailed, the posting of phone numbers for your business, constantly mentioning that you are in the travel business, and the referring to or posting of one's own Web site address.

 

There shall be no third-party recommendation (whether positive or negative in tone) of travel agencies on any forums within Cruise Critic. General discussions regarding the TYPE of AGENCY to be used to purchase a cruise will be allowed, as long as no recommendations for any source of purchase are posted.

 

Touting of your personal cruise agent or cruise line "personal cruise consultant" (or any other venue by which you purchase a cruise) is not allowed on our message boards. Postings that contain "tell them John sent you" will be removed without notice.

 

This means you should not ask about someone's travel agent, nor should you respond in kind. Offering to email someone your travel agent's name or info is also not allowed, nor is asking members to email you for the information.

 

It also means you cannot post links to travel agencies, no matter what the specific reason.

 

Cruise Critic will remove violations of the "third-party recommendation" rule without warning. Additional posts will result in permanent suspension of your posting privileges.

 

Other Cruise & Travel Sites

 

Cruise Critic reserves the right to approve or deny links which lead directly to or link to cruise-related material or message boards that are not located within Cruise Critic. Additionally, we respectfully request that you do not use our forums to promote or advertise other cruise-related websites.

 

The bottom line is: an ad is an ad. So, please no posting of "looking for roommate" type posts, tour shares (except in ROLL CALL threads), giveaways, ebay links, coupon books, coffee cards, etc. etc.

Sad, really sad. Windstar is our favorite cruise line. I can't imagine cruising on another line. We have bragged to friends about our experiences on this line. The current "special" is so misleading. It states, " up to $500 on board credit" on the actual cruise we are taking, but when you call, it is only $150 and they have raised the price by $200 per person. That is not a special. Hopefully, Windsstar management is monitoring this, especially Strenz's comments. You will not find a more loyal sailor!

Thanks for the clarification, Walt.

Our past few cruises have been essentially full. A couple years ago they were much more lightly booked. That's what's going on, WS is getting better passenger loads so can raise prices and dump the incentives.

Our past few cruises have been essentially full. A couple years ago they were much more lightly booked. That's what's going on, WS is getting better passenger loads so can raise prices and dump the incentives.

Recently received an email from a west coast consolidator offering a Windstar cruise packaged with air, hotel, etc., at very attractive prices. So one of the ways Windstar is filling ships is by dumping unsold cabins after final payment to consolidators. They're not alone in doing this.

We booked a 10-day Panama Canal & Costa Rica 2019 sailing last month. Our agent is providing $700 in OBC. That's in addition to the $300 OBC from Windstar (which may go away if we switch to a lower price special later).

Sent from my Pixel using Forums mobile app