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The Essence of Small Ship Sailing
The Wind Spirit is a sleek, 4-masted sailing ship accommodating 148 guests. With four decks and a gross tonnage of 5,736, Wind Spirit feels like your own private small ship.
Wind Spirit 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 Bose SoundDock speakers for Apple iPods. The Owner’s Suite includes a sitting area.
Wind Spirit 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 Spirit amenities include: WindSpa, Watersports Platform, Lounge, Library, Pool, and Hot Tub.
After our positive experience with the Wind Spirit last December in Tahiti we decided to go with them again for this cruise. We were not disappointed. Actually ended up with the same waiter (Sunu) and bartender (Felix) and Table 13 in Amphora . Captain Mark and his team were outstanding. Our room attendant Tuti couldn't do enough to help. All comments on my Tahiti review were the same here. The passengers on this cruise were very laid back and got along well. Just a positive vibe throughout the ship. Captain Mark did a wonderful service Remembrance Day service. We were fine with the shore excursions. Bianca went out of our way to help us. We had a great time. Can't comment on the nightlife as we're over 80 and we're done by 9! I would add that we did have difficulties in the customer service in Miami as they dropped our Barcelona pick up and told us to work it out on the ship. Actually taxi was cheaper and the ship gave us credit,
Background: We've done LOTS of cruises but nothing like Windstar, including Holland America, Carnival, Princess, Celebrity, NCL (Suites and regular), MSC Yacht Club, and most recently Explora. Windstar is our favorite of all! What we liked: 1. The service. Warm. Sincere. But also laidback. Soooo laidback and casual. They don't rub "luxury" in your face all the time the way Explora does. The Captain is everywhere. The officers are everywhere. The hotel manager will sincerely ask you about your day and if if there's anything he can do for you. They respond to feedback (if you have issue, like we did, they deal with it immediately). The open bridge is awesome. Got an issue? Go see the Captain! Staff are experienced (many are older including waiters, stewards, etc.) and the vast majority are AWESOME. They seem happy and well cared for themselves. 2. The food. ALMOST as good as Explora and that's a huge compliment as Explora is the best in the world in the food department (at least until they cut it back which I suspect they will). Fresh, tasty, delicious. No bad meals. Some exceptional ones. Best Eggs Benedict and Pancakes I've had maybe ever... Candles is almost Ruth's Chris quality. Note: the food is simpler than many lines which I like... I like fresh, simple, but tasty and HIGH QUALITY. Windstar does this VERY well. NOTE: We took on fresh food in many of the ports (even on a seven day cruise)! We saw fresh fish delivered multiple times, and even fresh cheese! I've never/rarely seen this on larger ships which load up once a week. 3. The vibe. Hard to put into words. Everyone is so friendly and happy to be aboard. You really do make new friends. 4. Being able to swim off the back of the ship is a HOOT. Can't wait to do that again!!! 5. Old-school but fun entertainment. We loved stargazing with the officers on the bow in the middle of the ocean (PITCH BLACK). Wow. The singers were honestly just OK but they tried hard. The crew show was so fun. 6. The ship. Yes it's old. Yes it needs a renovation (it's getting one soon) but it's so classic and comfortable. Simple. Charming. No it's not an Explora floating hotel/palace but I don't care. I'd take this over Explora any day of the week. The sails are gorgeous too. What was just OK/Didn't like: 1. Ummmm we really liked it all and I can't remember the last time I felt that way about a cruise!! Honestly after the refit this ship will be as close to perfect as I can imagine. It's not bad now. I haven't even mentioned the ports. One got cancelled. So what did Captain do? FOUND US A BETTER PORT! Yes. He is THAT empowered and the replacement port was better the one originally scheduled. You rock, Captain Mark!!!
This was my first time traveling with Windstar and it probably won't be my last. I loved the size of the ship which allowed us to get into smaller ports, but also the small passenger count. Many of the crew members learned our names (especially the bartenders) which really personalized our experience. The ship is set for drydock next year I believe and a refresh is definitely needed just to provide some updates. The rooms are typical of a mid-level cruise, a bit on the small side, but there is plenty of storage. We had an adjoining room with friends which gave us the option to close off the exterior door and leave our individual doors open. Since it is such a small ship with only 2 floors, there are only portholes in the rooms. But we didn't mind because you spend so little time in your room. We did use the fitness center which was small but adequate. The drink package is a must buy! Wifi is very spotty so may not be worth the added cost. We had rain our first few days but had a lovely time playing cards in the private library. The ports were simply amazing and we appreciated being on a small vessel that allowed us to tuck into ports. It rained in Mallorca and Menorca so we didn't venture out too much. The winds were too strong to get into Corsica so the captain surprised us and took us to Porto Cervo in Sardinia and it proved to be the highlight of our trip. Everyone loved this port so much that the captain hopes to make it a regular stop. Portoferraio on Elba was a very welcome surprise. We did a wine tour which took us across the island and the scenery was stunning! We skipped a few of the planned excursions and decided to do our own thing which turned out to be a great, more relaxing, way to see the island.
Just back from another great Windstar cruise (our 13th) from Barcelona to Rome. This was the first time we took Windstar (or any cruise line from that matter) for a European cruise and, also the first time we sailed on the Wind Spirit, our previous 12 cruises having all been in the Caribbean (Wind Surf, Star Pride, Star Legend & Wind Star).We sailed with another couple (their 4th time on Windstar but first time on sailing ship) who also very much enjoyed their sailing. We chose this cruise for several reasons: A) it was off season (April 28-May 5th) and while Mediterranean weather can be a bit of a gamble at that time of year (more on that later as the weather did impact our cruise), we were willing to give it a try; B) it was on one of the smaller sailing ships which our friends wanted to try (we had sailed only once on its twin Wind Star), C) the itinerary was going through island ports (Mallorca, Menorca, Corsica and Elba) and not through busier mainland ports and it also had a sea day (which we like). The bonus was that in each of our stops, we would likely be the only ship in town (even in Palma de Mallorca, our largest port on the cruise); D) the advertised price of the cruise was extremely attractive at US$1,799 when compared to other itineraries and finally E) the ship’s free laundry (we are 4-star Yacht Club members) would allow us to travel on carry-ons only (we were spending 3 days pre and post cruise in Barcelona and Rome). In the end the four of us were extremely happy with the cruise. We flew Montreal to Barcelona 3 days ahead to enjoy this marvelous city for a few days prior to the cruise. Despite being in April, the city was much busier than we expected with big lineups for the 2 Gaudi houses on Passeig de Gracia (Casa Batllo and Casa Milà). Had no issues getting tickets to get into Sagrada Familia which we had not seen in over 22 years. Do not miss it. We stayed at the wonderful Hotel Jazz, a small boutique hotel near Plaça de Catalunya. Central location next to Universitat metro station, extensive breakfast included and there is also a rooftop terrasse bar and pool. Pricing was reasonable for Barcelona. The 4 of us took a 20 Euros cab ride to the World Trade Centre pier closest to town (this is where the ferries dock, the larger cruise ships are further out in the actual cruise terminal). Arrived at around 2PM. No one in line. Check-in was swift. 127 passengers onboard (out of 148 capacity) with roughly half being new to Windstar. We had originally booked room 140, last room forward on deck 1 and got upgraded 3 weeks prior to 234 forward. Would not recommend this room as it is near the port stabilizer and, despite the fact this room was located on deck 2, when swells are above 2 meters like they were on the first night out of Barcelona and stabilizers deployed, the vibration noise coming from it was unbearable. Luckily for us, this only happened on the first night and seas remained calm for the remainder of the cruise. Had it not, we likely would have asked for a stateroom change. Our friends were staying in 219 on the starboard side, not far from us, and never experienced this noise. The room itself was fine with lots of storage. Bathroom is small but well designed with lots of pressure and hot water in the shower. Had to get maintenance to come once to fix toilet vacuum. Itinerary/Weather: Weather was a bit tricky on this cruise. Temperature ranged from 17-18C with cloudy skies and regular rain showers in Palma and Mahon to 22-23C and beautiful sun in Portoferraio and Rome, so come prepared for both (there are large umbrellas in the rooms plus more at gangway). The rain was not a deterrent as we did manage to do a lot of walking in both towns, which were very lively. It was busy in Palma Mallorca despite being only 2 small ships in town (us and the 300 pax Ritz Carlton Evrima). We were docked far from historic town, so a free shuttle was provided to the Cathedral, which was nice. It was much quieter (good) in Mahon (docked downtown) as only the Star Clipper (170 pax) was with us in Menorca’s capital, a much smaller town than Palma. Deck BBQ, which was scheduled outside for this port (10PM departure), was held in Amphora due to the chilliness and probability of showers. Our next stop, after a sea day, in Calvi Corsica, was cancelled due to the strong forecasted Mistral winds blowing hard on the west coast of Corsica (gusts of 40+ knots with 4-meter waves). Captain made a good call by diverting to the sheltered east coast of Sardinia where the weather improved with our port of call moved to the ultra-rich playground of Porto Cervo (lots of mega yachts). A very nice tender port built by the Aga Khan in the 60’s that was a bit quiet when we were there as it was still gearing up for its summer onslaught of stars and VIP’s. Next was Bastia, Corsica, (docked downtown) a very attractive old town with sweeping views of the Mediterranean that is easy to get around (if you don’t mind some hills). We bought some Corsican wine which we brought back onboard and had for dinner. Winds were still gusty, and our ship needed 2 tugs to literally pull us out of port. Our last stop was Portoferraio (docked downtown) on the Italian island of Elba. Nice sunny day on this scenic Tuscan Island with the Club Med 2 (Wind Surf’s sister ship) also in town with us. Large fortress with 360-degree views overlooking the harbour, beaches as well as Napoleon’s city house. Our final stop was Civitavecchia (Rome) where disembarkation was quick and efficient. Took a cab to our hotel in Rome (count at least 150 Euros or more depending on traffic, tolls and time of day). Stayed at IQ Hotel near Termini in front of Opera House. Great central location between Colosseum and Trevi Fountain, extensive breakfast offering included, rooftop terrasse with a large Jacuzzi and very good restaurant on top floor. Booking: No issues with booking. We deal directly with Windstar and have never had an issue with the Reservations Dept (we have been dealing with the same person for our last several cruises). Did not get any OBC’s as the cruise fare was heavily discounted but as 4-star Yacht Club members, we did get the free laundry (which we used every day with no issues) and free internet (very decent speed with Star Link). We did not opt to take any drink package this time as we felt we would be out longer on the islands than we typically would in the Caribbean. However, given that drinks on EU cruises are now subject to an additional 21% VAT (on top of the 18% gratuity already added), it probably makes even more sense to take a drink package ahead of time if you have more than 3 drinks a day as the packages are not subject to the VAT in question. Onboard: First thing we noticed when we came onboard was how good the ship looked. Really a well-maintained vintage sailing yacht with all the old wooden trims. We thought it looked better than the Wind Surf on which we had sailed back in January. Like I mentioned earlier, cabins and bathrooms are clean and partially redone with plenty of storage. Note the Wind Spirit goes into a major refurbishing drydock in 2026. Our sailor friends who came with us really liked the ship. The sails were out 40-50% of time, which was good considering the challenging wind conditions for a portion of the cruise. During our sea day in the Lounge, the Captain came on with power point slides to outline why we were changing course to Porto Cervo. Great decision and a nice alternative port. This itinerary took us from Spain to Sardinia Italy, then to Corsica France and then back to Elba Italy. It seemed we were always confused as to which greetings we were supposed to use when stepping out on shore. lol! Given the weather, Candles was held inside Veranda all week. Food at Candles was good (veal chop and filet mignon we properly cooked), however this is a much better experience when the weather allows it to be held outside as the Veranda interior, while OK during the day, somewhat lacks atmosphere at night. Had dinner at Amphora 5 times (incl. invitation to Captain’s Table which was nice). We always went to dinner after 8PM and only once did we have to wait for a few minutes as Maître D’ Elvis always provided us with a nice table. Food was always delicious and portions adequate. Veranda was a bit crowded in the mornings when weather did not permit outside seating but never had to wait very long. Where we think the quality of the food offering has come down is for breakfast and lunch at Veranda. Breakfast fruits such as grapefruits, sliced oranges, kiwis blueberries, mangos are gone from the buffet. Only pineapple and fresh squeezed OJ survived. Canned peaches and pears and all sorts of melons is all you can find now. A bit sad. The rest of the buffet is fine with bakery and pastry offerings much improved from say 6-7 years ago. No issues with hot items (bacon is still great) although typically we would see different types of waffles or French Toasts on the Menu. This was not the case and the Pure Maple Syrup being advertised with them was not maple syrup at all (we should know as we are from Quebec). The caffe lattes at both the Veranda and Yacht Club (from 6AM) were delicious in the morning. For lunch there should be one or 2 more hot items although I can understand that with only 127 passengers onboard it might not make sense. The carving station is nice, but many times the meats were a bit dry and too cooked. We had souvlaki one lunch and I thought that was a great idea for the carving station. Salads also seemed to be a bit repetitive. Yacht Club sandwiches and treats were all delicious in the afternoon when Veranda was closed. Did not use room service. Bars and Entertainment Entertainment was limited to one musical duo (Ines & Marcelo) who were very good but only really saw outside by the pool once (again due to weather). No entertainment director or trivia/games at cocktail time given small size of ship. Cocktails were taken at pool bar, sometimes with blankets on our legs. After dinner we would walk a few steps to the Lounge. On a few nights, the dance floor was really rocking with great music from the duo. Wine selection was adequate and the wines included in drink packages are decent and varied. We had Provence Rosé, Pouilly Fumé Sauvignon and California Chardonnay, with California Zinfandel, red Bordeaux and Aussie Shiraz. Other: Sail Aways were always well attended and as mentioned earlier, Captain had sails out more often than not. Went to the bridge a few times before going to bed and had interesting conversations with welcoming 3rd officer (forget his name) on duty. Marina was not open once all week. We tendered only once in Porto Cervo (the cancelled port of Calvi was also a tender port). Our room attendant Dedi was very good and responsive. Laundry was typically sent in mid-morning and would be delivered back the following day in the afternoon. We did not take any excursions as we simply walked throughout the different towns where we stopped. A great cruise on the Wind Spirit. The fact we were off season was a big plus (even with the so-so weather) as we could do whatever we wanted in the towns without having to pre-book tickets or visits. The only exception was Rome (and Barcelona to a lesser extent) where our guide told us there is really no longer a low season with visitors now coming in droves year-round. This was clearly noticeable at the most popular attractions (Trevi, St-Peter’s Square, Pantheon and Colosseum) where it can be a challenge to get around. While we mostly stayed in town at each of the ports, there are plenty of other adventures we did not partake in at each stop so it would certainly be worthwhile to do the itinerary again for a deeper dive. Given the ports being visited on this itinerary are small (aside from Palma), it is only available on the smaller Wind Star and Wind Spirit and only at the bookends of the Mediterranean cruising season (twice in October 2024, once in April 2025 and twice again in October 2025).
All Accommodations Feature
Indulge in a fabulous five-star dinner and great bottle of wine in AmphorA or Candles.
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.
Wind Spirit features a range of traditional entertainment amenities, including a library, casino, lounge, shop and bar.
Wind Spirit features a range of traditional health & fitness facilities, including a spa, fitness centre, pool and whirlpool, and a watersports platform.
Please note: the ship does not feature any dedicated children's facilities.
