Archive for the 'Windstar Cruises' Category

After rounding the corner on Rue des Iris, walk up the steps directly in front of you or turn right on Rue des Iris to get to the bus stop A La Cremaillere.

Posted from my Blackberry.

Head in the direction of the Casino. I walked left for less than two minutes from the Baer Bus landing and took the public elevators up, exited at street level on Avenue de la Costa, walked uphill (to the left) until in front of Jardins du Casino and turned right on Rue des Iris.

Posted from my Blackberry.

From your ship or tender landing, look for the Bataeu Bus or the “Boat Bus,” which operates between Quai Rainier and Quai des Etats-Unis from 8 a.m. until 7:50 p.m. Cost for what the company advertises as an “unforgettable moment in the harbor” is 1 euro. A day ticket is 3 euros and includes use of local the busses. Kids under 7 free. For more info: http://www.cam.mc

Sailing ship cruises offer an intimate experience that connects you with wind and wave while providing a closer view of marine life and ship operations. It can be an exhilarating experience, feeling the power of the wind as it fuels your voyage. However, it is reassuring to know that these ships also have engines that are quite capable of keeping you on course should the wind not cooperate.

Passengers often participate in some of work that goes into sailing, and many people return from their cruises with new enthusiasm for sailing. There is much less formality aboard sailing ships than on the typical cruise liner as passengers come to know and make friends with the crews, as well as fellow shipmates.  Read more... (264 words, 1 image, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)

Windstar already provides a luxury cruise vacation that is at least partially organic, if you consider the wind power that fills the ships’ sails organic. Now, Windstar has a spa partner providing certified-organic products and treatments.

OnboardSpa Co. is a new partner with Windstar Cruises, providing a full menu of products and services through the spas, salons and fitness centers aboard the Windstar ships.  Read more... (299 words, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)

A special treat awaits guests of Windstar Cruises on Istanbul to Athens sailings this year. When calling at Kudasi, Turkey, Windstar has arranged an evening dinner party in the lovely garden at the ancient Ephesus Museum. The garden, called Arasta, features views of the beautiful historic Turkish Bath constructed in the 16th century and the old religious education school building that dates to the 14th century. Classical music will be provided by a trio from the Aegean Chamber Orchestra, and diners will be treated to savory local cuisine This is a Windstar exclusive, part of an optional evening excursion. For the 2009 season, this dinner in the museum’s garden replaces the optional dinner in the ruins of Ephesus.  Read more... (191 words, 1 image, estimated 46 secs reading time)

Marigot, Saint Marten, 6 a.m. — The engines are quietly rumbling as Wind Surf makes her way into the snug harbor on the French side of St. Martin. Rising from my bed, I pull back the curtains to peer out of the portholes, only a few feet above the waterline. Across the rippling water are sailboats bobbing in the harbor, and behind them, layers of verdant hills and the rosy tint of the morning sky. Morning has broken in Marigot.  Read more... (1231 words, 7 images, estimated 4:55 mins reading time)

I’ve just been looking over a press release about all the good cruise values being offered. There’s two-for-one pricing, kids sail free, early-booking offers — and more.

Personally, I think it’s a great time to latch on to some of the bargains and plan a get-away for the spring or summer. Following is a sampling of the offerings. Check with your cruise consultant. He or she may have even better value offerings.  Read more... (669 words, estimated 2:41 mins reading time)

A familiar face greeted me as I boarded the Wind Surf on a recent sailing from Venice to Malta. Jerry Zape remembered me from five years ago when he worked as a bartender on the Wind Song.

I remembered him too. I had talked with him about his family in the Philippines and about how he supported his wife and three children on the salary and tips he earned at sea. In his early 40s then, he had managed to pay off his home and even buy a small convenience store.

When I met Jerry five years later, life was treating him even better. He told me that two of his children had just finished college and that a third will graduate soon. How Jerry managed his family from afar is a remarkable story, but first let me tell you about Jerry.

Jerry started work with Holland America Line in 1987, five years into his marriage. He and his wife agonized over whether Jerry should go to sea, but they knew they could not make the life they wanted for their family on Filipino wages. “I could earn double on a ship what I could earn at home,” he told me.  Read more... (720 words, 1 image, estimated 2:53 mins reading time)

In 1999, I talked with three Windstar Cruises’ staff members about their dreams and ambitions. Five years later, I caught up with two of those ship staff, Jerry Zape, who put his three kids through university, and Bagus Gunawan. Following is the original story from 1999.  Read more... (413 words, 1 image, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)