TAKING SMALL SHIP CRUISING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION
Any cruise ship lets you see the world. Windstar brings it close enough so you can fully live it. See, hear, smell, taste and feel what it's like to sail on a lovely ship into a small port, explore a hidden beach, see Moroccan goats standing in trees, taste a spicy Norwegian Bacalao stew and altogether lose yourself in a strange and wondrous culture. Our elegant, 148 - 310-guest cruise ships open up captivating new worlds and leave indelible, lifetime memories.
Windstar's small cruise ships and personalized approach bring you closer to each destination and every port, so you can see the world from new perspectives. Share intimate moments away from the crowds, and immerse yourself in local, exotic cultures, all on a cruise ship where surprise and delight are constant companions.
And of course, part of the Windstar magic is our incredible personal service. Enjoy undivided attention from a crew who delights in remembering your name and preferences. Both gracious hosts and ambassadors, they delight in surprising you in discrete ways - satisfying your sweet tooth with an extra chocolate on your pillow or sharing the location of a favorite seaside cafe.
This is 180 degrees from ordinary, where all your senses are indulged and your sense of wonder is awakened.
The Essence of Small Ship Sailing
Wind Star is a sleek, 4-masted sailing yacht accommodating 148 guests. With four decks and a gross tonnage of 5,703, Wind Star feels like your own private yacht.
Wind Star features wide open, teak decks-quite unusual for small ships. Guests will find hidden nooks for private moments giving them a feeling of being on their own private veranda.
All staterooms have ocean views, queen beds, flat-screen TV with DVD player, and the Owner’s Suite includes a sitting area.
Wind Star offers two primary dining venues. Amphora restaurant offers gourmet, course-by-course cuisine in the evenings and Veranda restaurant offers casual buffet and full-service dining for breakfast and lunch. All dining is open seating. And, for dining under the stars, make a reservation for Candles which features steaks and skewers.
Wind Star amenities include: World Spa by Windstar, Watersports Platform, Lounge, Pool, and Hot Tub.
Windstar has always been known for our iconic sailing ships, and now Wind Star has under her Setting Sails: A Wind Class Refresh. The initiative brings the tight-knit connection of the Windstar community to the forefront through the redesign of public spaces and staterooms. From a revamped lobby to a new pool and larger pool bar, new World Spa by Windstar to a redesigned lounge, this initiative also includes intricate details like new teak decks and decor for a timeless and welcoming experience.
Activities: Other cruise lines have bingo and trivia nights. Windstar has a Watersports Platform that opens directly from the back of our ships and includes complimentary kayaks, paddleboards, water trampolines, and water skis. Spend time in the Lounge regaling your fellow guests about the bears you saw catching fish from the river or simply relax in the Library with an intriguing book. Take some "you" time in the tranquil World Spa by Windstar...enjoy a dip in the pool...work off that decadent dessert in the Fitness Center...and, of course, you are always welcome to visit the Bridge to examine navigation charts with the Captain.
Entertainment: A day on board your Windstar ship is a day of choices, all of them good. Perhaps you’ll begin with a relaxing massage in World Spa by Windstar. Or maybe an invigorating workout in the Fitness Center. Even better, why not both? After a sumptuous lunch in Veranda, make a splash from the Watersports Platform off the ship’s stern. Everything you can think of for fun in the water is there — swimming, kayaking, sail-boarding, even water skiing. And it’s all complimentary, of course. Sun yourself on deck, take a dip in the whirlpool, then catch up on email or order a cheese plate for your stateroom or suite. After dinner, dance to live music in the Lounge. This is your yacht, so of course you’re welcome on the Bridge, where the Captain and officers are delighted to share charts, routes, and vistas with you.
At Windstar, we don't just take you to fascinating destinations, we take you into them, giving you unique access to knowledge and activities that enhance your understanding of the places you visit. Complimentary Destination Discovery Events treat you to iconic experiences that capture the essence of your locale. Guest Lecturers intrigue you with regional topics, adding new dimensions to your voyage. And small group excursions take you to meet locals who are delighted to share their homes, cuisines, and cultures with you.
Guest Lecturers
On select Windstar voyages, satisfy your curiosity and enhance your understanding of the local culture by listening to our onboard lecturers. We’ve curated a group of speakers designed to bring you an insider’s perspective on a multitude of intriguing topics. Listen raptly as your voyage becomes more than just a vacation – and a thought-provoking exploration of enchanting lands.
Windstar Signature Expeditions
Introducing the Windstar Signature Expeditions program. Helmed by a team of on board expedition experts who sail with the cruise the entire time, they'll provide more insight, understanding, and commentary to show you an Alaska you've never seen before. Consisting of naturalists, glaciologists, historians and more, this team of experts will also lead guided tours, sometimes directly from the ship to some of the most remote areas of the Alaskan frontier.
Each once-in-a-lifetime experience will leave you hungry for more of the real flavors of Alaska. Book your Alaska cruise and Signature Expeditions today.
Culinary Shore Excursions
Tantalize your taste buds with a variety of flavorful shore excursions. Choose from wine, brewery and distillery tours as well as hands-on cooking classes with seasoned chefs practiced in the art of perfecting traditional and modern recipes. Ship to shore, we'll intoxicate your senses.
Shore Excursions
Get to the heart of local cultures with Windstar shore excursions.
You don’t want to just dip a toe in local culture, you want to dive into the deep end, and that’s exactly what Windstar shore excursions are designed to do. All of our excursions are created to provide authentic local experience – the kind travelers like you are looking for. And with more than 2,500 excursions to choose from, you can experience your destination in whatever way is most meaningful to you. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a foodie, a history buff or someone who loves to get to know the faces behind the many places we travel.
We make sure the hot springs are hot and the pinot grigio is chilled.
180 degrees Onboard Magazine
Discover Windstar's onboard magazine, 180 degrees. Focused on immersive, vibrant travel experiences, the magazine introduces our most popular destinations, with handy notes after each article noting which itineraries visit the port. Read about the history and culture of our most popular destinations over breakfast al fresco, or by the poolside as you sunbathe. Start planning your next cruise with the included cruise calendar or simply be transported to wondrous lands. 180 degrees is available onboard now and online.
We've upped the onboard dining game with our culinary program, featuring an array of fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from each port along the journey. Each nightly menu is crafted to highlight the spectacular flavors of the regional cuisine.
Dining Choices
Every meal is just what you'd expect on your private yacht - perfect. You're free to dine when, where, and with whomever you please.
Veranda
It's breakfast alfresco, full service or buffet-style, anytime till 9:30 a.m. No need to hurry. Again, the choices are many in Veranda. Choose the sumptuous, seemingly endless buffet. Or, order from the lunch menu between noon and 2:30 p.m.
AmphorA
Here, the dining room manager seats you, but where is your decision. There are no pre-assigned tables or first or second seatings. When you dine and with whom are entirely up to you. Seating usually begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be printed in the ship's daily program. Each delightful dish is prepared exactly to your liking - an exquisite dinner served course-by-course with a fine selection of vintage wines.
Candles
Here's the perfect place for a romantic tete-a-tete under the stars in Candles, Windstar's signature outdoor restaurant transformed by night into a dreamlike paradise. Delectable cuisine, memorable surroundings, inspired wine airings.
Make Your Cruise As Inclusive as You Like
One call. It's that simple. With a single call to a Windstar Vacation Planner you or your travel professional can take care of every aspect of your vacation - air travel, ground transportation, shore excursions, pre- or post-cruise experiences and extensions, the right Optional Travel Protection Plan to secure your peace of mind. It's all as easy as a phone call.
Beverage Packages
While all non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary, you may enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail under the setting sun or a champagne toast at the evening Sail Away with our beverage packages for wine, beer, cocktails and more. Find the perfect wine pairing with your meal and then end the night sipping scotch as you contemplate the stars.Luggage Shipping
Eliminate the hassles of carrying and checking bags or clearing customs with our luggage shipping service. Your bags will be picked up from home and delivered directly aboard your ship and then sent back once you're ready to go home. Thanks to our partnership with Luggage Forward, you just board your flight and meet your bags at your destination.
Personal Onboard Laundry Service
Pack light when you add our convenient 24-hour onboard professional laundry service. Simply leave your laundry outside your stateroom or suite before you retire and it will be waiting for you, crisp and clean, when you return from your day's explorations. It adds the easy to our easy-going style.
Stay Connected
Keep in touch with your loved ones back home and share your cruise experiences during your voyage. Whether you want to check email or post updates to Facebook, we have multiple options to help you stay connected.
Please note: Stateroom images and features are samples only. Actual furniture, fixtures, colors, configurations and window/porthole views may vary.
Caldera provides a gateway from Costa Rica's sunbrowned Pacific coast to the riches of this prosperous Central American republic. Walk in a rainforest, visit the village of Sarchi with its brightly painted woodcrafts, or drive through sugarcane and coffee plantations to San Jose, the charming colonial capital.
Spend an unforgettable day cruising the Panama Canal, a fifty-one-mile waterway through the rainforest that is one of the world's engineering masterpieces. The ship glides down the canal with inches to spare, through locks that raise and lower it like a toy. Along the way it crosses enormous Gatun Lake, and the amazing Gaillard Cut, blasted out of a solid mountainside.