Wind Surf Feedback

[Finkwil]

Going on the Wind Surf this summer and was wondering if anyone has been on the ship and could give some feedback as to how they liked the ship, have not been on this kind of cruise before so am wondering what to expect.

[spots25]

we are booked for the windsurf also this coming summer. would love to hear all about the ship and spain excursions!

[rogfam]

Make that three...Aug 13 Barcelona to Rome

[hoptoit]

Just back from the Windsurf. This was our 7th cruise. HAL, Carnival, NCL, Windsurf. Great service. Food was o.k. We were expecting the food to be better. The ship was very warm. The Bistro had some electrical problems and the food was prepared in the dark! Our suite was very nice but we really missed having a balcony. The port holes did not open. Sports platform was working. The average age on this cruise was around 55-60. Our group of 10 said they would not do this ship again. She is a beautiful ship but not worth the extra money.

[lovecruisingtoo]

Just back from the Windsurf. This was our 7th cruise. HAL, Carnival, NCL, Windsurf. Great service. Food was o.k. We were expecting the food to be better. The ship was very warm. The Bistro had some electrical problems and the food was prepared in the dark! Our suite was very nice but we really missed having a balcony. The port holes did not open. Sports platform was working. The average age on this cruise was around 55-60. Our group of 10 said they would not do this ship again. She is a beautiful ship but not worth the extra money.

 

Are you saying that the Bistro food preparation area was dark for the entire cruise? Hard to believe.

[schmidlapp]

when we were on windsurf jan 15-22, they had part of the ceiling torn out in the bistro durring the day, at night they had white paper taped and stapled up there above the tables... i suspect the ship is in need of some

help in its physical plant operation... and yes, it was not only hot in our cabin but in many public areas....

i previously posted a "quick review", i did fail to mention the occasional

smell of sewage when walking inside on the main deck. our cabin did also have toilet trouble the week before we sailed and late in the week we were sailing, it started to make some very unusual "gurgling" sounds after

it was flushed.... although it never failed (thank goodness).

one more plug for the staff, they really were the one very positive part of the cruise, they really tried to make people happy. I hope someone from windstar reads some of the posts regarding the windsurf. windstar is adverising how "upgraded" things are, i'm sorry a flat screen tv and i-pod docks are nice but F I X T H E S H I P!!, F I X T H E F O O D!! these two items should be a priority especially when all the windstar ad's are so promoting the quality of the ship and all the new menu items that are supposed to be so fantastic. i suspect some of the trouble is expectations, windstar really does get expectations up, the problem is

on the windsurf they have failed to deliver....

[hoptoit]

I can't say the Bistro food prep area was dark the entire cruise but I know it was the 2 nights we were there! 1 on the first night of our cruise and 1 in the middle of the cruise. We also had 1 of the toilets that made some funny sounds! These sounds could last up to 4-5 mins.! Kinda funny! The toilet only failed once.

[Finkwil]

With all the negative information regarding the Wind Surf, I sure hope some of what has gone wrong is fixed by the time we are ready to sail, would sure like to hear from someone that has something positive to say about the Surf.

[emilee]

We had a nice time last week despite somewhat rough seas. Service was excellent (best we have had in 9 cruises - first time on Windstar). Food, which is subjective, was for the most part excellent. Ship is older and can use some updating but was very clean. Stateroom space was well laid out and functional. Air conditioning worked fine although it was a bit warm in the common areas such as the lounge. No problem with toilets or waterpressure in the shower. Sports platform was operational on three days out of a possible 4 days. We were under the impression that we would be able to swim and snorkel off the platform but this is not allowed on this ship. We met many nice guests and enjoyed our week. Our only complaints are that it is a little too quiet at night (perhaps this changes from week to week based on entertainment etc.) and they get you off the ship on the final day at 7:30am which makes for a very long travel day. Some of the other lines let you linger until 11:00am. It would be nice if they made arrangements with a hotel for use of their facilities. Other guests suggested a day pass at one of the local hotels which was a nice way to spend the day.

[golfergal]

We were on the Windsurf this past August doing the Nice to Rome itinerary. We absolutely loved the ship and the cruise, so much so we are going back on her this September. Was the ship perfect? Of course, not. Was everything we ate fantastic? Of course not. Was the staff exceptional? Well, actually yes, they were. I've been on 15+ cruises of varying size, lines, and age. I've even been on a 2 week old ship. There is always going to be something going wrong or a funny smell somewhere. The toilet made funny noises for a couple of minutes. Didn't you have something better to do on vacation, than to sit and listen to the toilet? So many travelers have such odd expectations. The portholes didn't open. Did someone tell you they would? They don't and it's to keep the water out. No balcony, yeah, I miss that one too, but I take that into account when picking my ship and itinerary.

 

The ship is not in perfect condition, but these should just be the little things in the whole experience. There is something so special to a small ship. Relaxing on deck, the peace and quiet, the wild nights drinking in the Compass Rose until way too late, the extra special effort from the staff. If you want constant entertainment, this just isn't it. If the days are for activity and nights for relaxing and just enjoying your surroundings, this is a great option. If this is not the experience you want, this is not the ship for you. Please pick something else, so you won't be disappointed.

 

I'm not saying that sometimes really bad things don't happen, they do and that is very unfortunate. But you can't extrapolate that out to the ship in general. With a ship that sails week in and week out, things break and repairs happen in front of passengers.

[Finkwil]

Thank you so much for your input golfergal, I am sure our trip is going to be great, because we usually make our vacations that way no matter what the situation, and I know this one is not going to be any different..Thanks again, appreciate what you had to say.

[rogfam]

Golfergal, well put!

[Leejnd4]

I certainly HOPE the portholes don't open...especially on the B deck, where I've read they are often below water in heavier seas. ;)

 

LeeAnne

[lovecruisingtoo]

Golfergal, we agree completely. We have been on the Windstar ships 3 times and are booked on two more Windstar cruises. Yes things do happen - but they happen to all cruise lines. One time, when we were on Celebrity, our toilet stopped working and there was a major water leak from the ceiling in the hall. Did this make the cruise bad? Of course not. As you said, things happen when a ship is at sea most of the year.

 

As for many of the other complaints, like it was too quiet at night, or you could not swim off the sports platform, are a result of people not investigating the ship and having expectations that are not well founded. If people do the proper investigation, they will know that the portholes don't open, there are no balconies, you can't swim off the platform etc.

 

That said, we have never had a bad Windstar cruise and it is the only cruise line we will book on in the future.

 

Leejnd4: you are soo right. I would hate the thought of someone sleeping at night with the porthole open and the sea pouring in.

[schmidlapp]

I personally would wait until after Novembers drydock. You will have a much better chance of a ship in tip top shape. Its not there right now,

i speak from experience.. Please don't get me wrong, the Windstar concept is great and the service staff is the best out there. With no air conditioning in our cabin it just was not the experience we hoped for. As i stated previously, the air conditioning problem was mostly in the forward 1/4th of the ship and also was prevelant in public areas when there were large groups of people. There were on our voyage some people that had air in their cabins and did not experience this. This air conditioning problem caused in my opinion some of the poor dining experiences. When the dining room was being prepped for the next nights dinner by the crew there were no less than a half dozen large fans brought out to keep the crew "cool" while they were working.

i can only suspect how hot the kitchen may have been! Reception also had fans to hand out to people in cabins that were hot... I guess they were prepared.... We cancelled our two weeks on the Windsurf in the med this spring, and may reschedule for next spring after things get back to the way they should be. Our first experience on the Windsurf in 2003 was fantastic, thats why we re-booked for this year.

[golfergal]

schmidlapp - Thank you for the follow-up post. I didn't mean to belittle your opinion (though I admit I probably did that, at least a little). You have a very valid issue with the heat and I'd hope you follow-up with Windstar. At least get a discount, shipboard credit, or a bottle of wine for your next cruise. I'm glad to hear you'll give her another try after dry dock.

 

Obviously I don't agree with all the comments you made about the Windsurf experience, but I certainly understand how something like being hot can affect your whole outlook.

[jbrains]

Thanks golfergal and schmidlapp for adding some perspective! My husband and I have never been on a cruise and with such limited vacation time, we haven't taken a non-family oriented vacation in several years. In short, we are VERY excited to be booked on the Windsurf 8/13/06 Barcelona-Rome cruise. Not that I want to be sheltered, but when I started reading the primarily negative posts about the Windsurf it really burst my bubble/took the wind out of my sail (sorry, couldn't help that one). I understand that part of the message board objective is to send a message to Windstar (the idea has merit--they would be stupid not to keep up with these posts), but it helps those of us looking for prep info to offer the negative comments in context.

 

Having said that, I look forward to eating most of my great meals in the Mediterranean ports we'll be visiting (I lived in Aix-en-Provence about 20 years ago and still dream about it--DELISH), so the food comments don't phase me much. The A/C however could be sleep inhibiting--not very conducive to adventurous touring during the day. HEY WINDSTAR! WHEN WILL THE A/C REALLY BE FIXED?

 

Other unimportant anticipatory questions...What is the average age of guests on these cruises? Just curious--I thought Windstar attracted guests from all over the world (would be nice since we are traveling)--this board seems to be primarily Americans (not that there's anything wrong with that... ;). What have you found the mix to be? What games do they play in the Windsurf casino? We plan to arrive in Barcelona the night before our cruise leaves and spend the next day rambling around Las Ramblas and the city. Is there a disadvantage (other than not getting an immediate spa appointment) to boarding later rather than earlier (might we need to check out the A/C sitch and get it fixed then)? If the ship leaves at 5pm, what's a good time to board and why? Any other details to help encourage our excitement, or should we lower our expectations and try not to think about it yet? Sounds like there are many cruise mavens out there. Please share your knowledge--good and bad (just try to humor us novices and keep it in perspective). Thanks!

[rogfam]

Jbrains, Welcome Aboard! We will be on the cruise with you this August. Had a posting awhile back seeing who else was cruising, and it died of lonliness.

We have cruised many times before, but never on Windstar. Many of our friends have sailed with them over the years, and have raved about the experience. Like you, am concerned about some of the recent posts.

Last summer we were on the Celebrity Galaxy in the Eastern Med. and the posts also were negative...age of ship, poor physical condition. Fortunately, they were incorrect, and we had a great cruise. Hope this is the case here.

You mention you lived in Aix-enProvence. How far is it from Marseille? Are we better off to hire a guide/driver for the day, or simply take a cab and explore on our own?

Are you staying in Barcelona pre-cruise? We booked an excellent hotel if you need suggestions.

[jbrains]

Ha! I just posted a response to your nearly dead post--it's not dead yet! (bit of Monty Python humor) From my recollection (take it for what it's worth...), Aix is about 1/2 hour by bus from Marseilles. Yes, I said bus. I was a student at the time and landed with a backpack (no roller boards in the olden days) and a small purse (the dollar was much mightier then). For more current, credible info, you might check out the town's tourism website http://www.aixenprovencetourism.com/uk/ or http://www.provencelive.com/practical/travel/gettoaix.html#taxi . The latter site says that a taxi from the Marseilles airport to Aix costs E39 day rate and E50 at night--probably similar costs from the port. Alternately, the bus leaves every ten minutes from the Marseille bus station and costs E4 day rate and E10 night rate (not sure how long it takes, but I'll continue to research). My guess is that sharing a taxi is the best bet, at least on the return trip. Hopefully the Wind Surf crew will have some good suggestions as well. Aix is a very beautiful town. Brush up on your French--with the throngs of demanding tourists (who often forget that they are guests), the locals really appreciate the effort (FYI--French spoken with Aixois dialect sounds more like Italian than French, so try to sing it :). Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for offering Barcelona hotel info. Yes, we are staying in Barcelona just for one night prior to THE cruise and we have a well-situated, safe and economical hotel, the NH Duc de La Victoria--nothing too spiffy, but the comments I've seen on tripadvisor.com have been positive. I think it will meet our needs for such a short stay.

 

Bask in the anticipation! I know that I am! Thanks for your feedback.

[Cleopatra]

Hi JBrains

We cruised on the Wind Surf last May from Nice to Rome. Most passengers were American, from the US with a few from Canada as well. Although we met a couple of Brits, we did not find anyone from the Continent. I believe most Europeans who cruise do so on European lines, eg Costa. The average age was late 40's to mid 50's. The boarding process goes quite smoothly, and I don't see any advantage to boarding earlier rather than later. If the ship is to depart at 5pm, boarding at 3pm should be adequate. Usually you can't board before noon, anyway. If you want to explore Barcelona more that morning, you would be able to do so. I'm not sure about signing up for the spa, but most of the services such as scheduling tour programs do not open until the ship sails, so you won't lose any advantage there.

 

I don't know what your expectations are in regard to this cruise, or what prior experience you have. The Wind Surf is a comfortable ship; the crew is pleasant. We found the food to be good, albeit not gourmet. That said, food wasn't our reason for taking a cruise. We really were interested in the ports, and wanted the ease of not searching for hotels, restaurants and parking places while fighting traffic. We did enjoy our time on land. However, we found the whole experience of the cruise disorienting. We spent our days immersed in cities and towns in France and Italy and our evenings on what seemed to us to be a floating American hotel in the Mediterranean. We had lived in Germany for a total of 5 years in the 70's and have traveled abroad by ourselves by car, extensively. We speak French, Italian and German more or less fluently (less so than we once did, but can make ourselves understood). We also usually explore on our own, so touring in groups was pretty new to us as well. I guess I would say for the sake of efficiency, the cruise was great. For our preference in travel, it was not, and we will not cruise again. However, the problem is not at all with WindStar, but rather us. It is just not our style. I don't know if more research would have helped to make our decision whether or not to take a cruise. I think you are wise to read these boards. I didn't know they existed when we made our plans.

 

The Wind Surf is a smaller more casual ship than many larger cruise ships. Entertainment is pretty much up to your own making. We found fellow passengers to be welcoming, and dinner and chatting in a lounge afterwards filled our evenings. The Compass Rose lounge has music and drinks later at night. We did not experience any airconditioning problems when we sailed, but I have read on these boards of problems. I would think the cruise line has addressed these by now. I hope these comments will be of help for you, and that you will enjoy your travels. Bon Voyage!

[Leejnd4]

I spotted this thread and, even though I'm not scheduled to be on the Wind Surf, I am booked on the Wind Star in Costa Rica, leaving in less than two weeks. This will be my first Windstar cruise, after having cruised RCI, Celebrity, and Radisson Seven Seas.

 

I wanted to pop in and register my ENVY that you lived in Aix! I was there last May, while on a Radisson cruise. Fell in LOVE with the place! It was Mothers Day the day we were there, and we had the most delightful lunch at a restaurant at the very top of the town. The food was exquisite.

 

We also spent a day in Barcelona, which now ranks among my absolute favorite cities in Europe. I could have spent days just exploring Park Guell!

 

But anyway, back to cruising...I can understand how cruising might be a disorienting way of traveling, especially when you are in foreign locales, and are used to land based trips. I personally enjoy both forms of travel -- I see cruising as a way of getting a wonderful taste of a number of different destinations, which can help us to decide where we might want to go for longer land-based trips when we can immerse ourselves in the place. I also usually book decent pre- and post-cruise stays, so that we can get our fill of both types of travel while on our vacation. For me personally, it wasn't a problem that we returned each night to a mainly American ship, primarily because we had made so many friends that it was just so pleasant to go and have dinner with them every night. Another benefit that we had on Voyager, which you won't have on Windstar, is the entertainment -- Radisson often brings on local entertainers to perform in the theatre, which helped us to feel that we were still immersed in the local culture. In Malaga, they brought in a troupe of Flamenco dancers; in Monte Carlo, there was a performance by the Monoco Folkloric Group.

 

As I haven't yet sailed Windstar, I'm eager to see how the experience differs from the larger ships. The smallest ship I've been on so far is Radisson's Voyager, which carries about 700 passengers. I found that to be far preferable to the larger ships, as we made many more friends due to the fact that there were fewer people on board, so we encountered the same people over and over. I expect we'll truly enjoy the quiet evenings chatting with other folks on the Wind Star (which is even smaller than the Wind Surf). We won't have the entertainment as on the larger ships, but then our upcoming Costa Rica cruise is an entirely different type -- it's more a nature and water sports oriented cruise, so I don't think we'll miss the entertainment.

 

In the Med, if we were on Windstar I expect we'd probably spend more time in the ports, and have more dinners there, rather than returning to the ship every night for dinner.

 

JBrains I'll be very interested in reading your impressions upon your return! I do hope you come back and post a review. :)

 

LeeAnne

[jbrains]

Thanks LeeAnne! Will do. Hopefully our stop in Marseille won't get cancelled and I'll get to revisit my old stomping grounds and some friends in Aix. I look forward to reading your post-Costa Rica cruise post soon! (I am so excited about our August trip that I am devouring this stuff! Please let me know if there is another board that has more Windstar-specific stuff!) Have a wonderful trip! JBRAINS