My Small Ship Cruise Experience with Windstar
As an avid traveller, I’ve always wanted to experience cruise travel. The large cruise ships with thousands of people never appealed to me, but then I came across small ship cruising. Windstar has a fleet of 6 ships and is known for providing a luxury experience. I was also drawn to Windstar for their Mediterranean Island Mosaic itinerary, which would take me to some Mediterranean islands which would otherwise be difficult to reach, such as the island of Elba. I was on their ship called Wind Spirit, which is a sailing yacht with capacity for 148 guests. The experience completely blew me away and allowed me to experience city exploration and complete relaxation on the same trip.
Service on a Small Ship Cruise
The service with Windstar was personal and impeccable. The staff were quick to remember our names and our preferences. The bar staff knew my wine preferences by heart and were able to make some fantastic recommendations for each meal. When we boarded the ship for the first time, we were greeted by the captain who welcomed us on board. You could almost think you were on your private yacht!
The service didn’t even stop once we got off the ship. On the island of Elba, one staff member offered to loaned us 20 euros when Napoleon’s House would only accept cash for admission. Of course, we paid him back after going to an ATM in town!
Ports of Call
In our itinerary, we had planned to visit Palma in Mallorca, Mahón in Menorca, Bastia and Calvi in Corsica, and Portoferraio on the Italian island of Elba
Porto Cervo, Sardinia
On the day we were supposed to visit Calvi, we had to reroute due to poor weather conditions. In its place, we were able to visit Porto Cervo, which was such a fun and spontaneous day. Porto Cervo is a small town of 400 people on the northern coast of Sardinia, somewhere I would be unlikely to visit if it wasn’t for Windstar. It was full of natural beauty, including crystal clear water, and rugged landscapes with natural rock formations. There is also a luxury mall with high-end Italian brands, including Gucci, Prada, and Brunello Cucinelli. Porto Cervo is part of the Costa Smeralda, a jetsetting destination known for the number of mega yachts docked in its harbour. Although it was unfortunate we couldn’t visit Calvi, I was thankful that the Windstar staff were able to come up with an alternative plan that enabled us to experience another beautiful Mediterranean island. One of the benefits of being on a smaller ship was that we had some flexibility in this situation. Porto Cervo is a small port and likely couldn’t have accommodated a big ship with thousands of people on a day’s notice.
Portoferraio, Elba
My favourite port of call was Portoferraio on the Italian island of Elba. It was perfect to visit here on a cruise, as it would be quite a journey to get here from London, involving a flight, a train and a ferry. It’s a gorgeous place with citrus-tree-lined streets, stunning vistas with views of the sea and scrubby Mediterranean landscapes, as well as a historic port. We also enjoyed visiting the former residence of Napoleon during his exile in Elba, and shopping at Acqua dell’Elba, a fragrance store which makes scents inspired by the island.
One of the concerns I had about cruising was the logistics of getting on and off the boat. This was a seamless process. We never had to wait in line to disembark or embark the ship. We simply had to scan our room key so they knew who was on and off the boat. As we stayed within the EU, we didn’t have to do any passport control. Another benefit of small ship cruising is that we could dock quite close to town in many ports we stopped in.
Food on a Small Ship Cruise
Some of the best meals I ate on the entire trip were on the ship. I was on the Wind Spirit, which has two restaurants, Candles and Amphora. Candles is located on the top deck of the ship, and is where breakfast is served each morning. In the evening, it transforms into an incredible steakhouse.
The bar on the ship is well stocked, and the all-inclusive drinks package makes it a seamless experience. The bartenders were eager to listen to our tastes and make custom cocktails for us.
Amphora is located on the ship’s third deck, where the lunch buffet and a fantastic daily dinner service are served. Amphora also serves the breakfast buffet in case of poor weather conditions, as it has enough space for everyone to be seated inside. The menu at Amphora changes everyday, and they even try to incorporate some of the local flavours from the ports.
We can’t forget that 24/7 room service is included in all of Windstar Cruises. We ordered breakfast in bed during our day at sea and it was epitome of relaxation.
Entertainment on a Small Ship Cruise
There was never a dull moment on the ship! We had two staff that were in charge of our nightly entertainment, including live music, trivia, a staff talent show, and latin dance lessons. There ship also has wifi, which made it easy to stay connected. We were told they had recently made the switch to Starlink, which worked like a charm for me.
There was a library on board with a great selection of books in case you wanted something to read.
The bridge of the ship is also open 24 hours a day for you to visit. This is where the staff of the ship navigate the sails and plot our route. They were able to give us a little navigation lesson and let us use the binoculars. We also came back to the bridge late at night to look at the stars. Being out at sea means you don’t get any of the light pollution!
Our ship also had a pool and hot tub, which we definitely enjoyed during our day at sea.
There is a spa onboard and it’s the perfect thing to relax after a port day or recharge during the day at sea. I’d recommend making a booking soon after getting on the ship, as the most desirable spots can fill up quick!
Staterooms on Small Ship Cruising
Our stateroom was spacious and comfortable. We had room for a seating area to relax and enjoy some of the in-room dining. When we checked in, the room was stocked with fresh fruit and flowers, which was a nice touch! There was ample closet space for us to unpack fully. Robes and slippers were provided for us, which made our stay extra comfortable. The bathroom came stocked with products from L’Occitane.
@buckethalffull My first ever cruise 🛳️ Really looking forward to experiencing this style of travel with Windstar #stateroomtour #windstarcruises #windstar #mediterraneancruise ♬ original sound – summer songs<333
If you’re planning on traveling Europe, check out some of my other blog posts on what to do in the Camargue in the South of France or The Cinque Terre in Italy.
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