Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cruises
84
Windstar Food & Wine Series
Taking the Yacht for a Spin
Windstar Cruises
Heads turn in every port as Windstar's
ships sail in, with their majestic masts
spreading dazzling white sails, which the
crew furls and unfurls with the push of a
button. Technically, these clever little
hybrid ships are called M.S.Y.'s, or motor-
sail-yachts. Powered by motor and wind,
as suggested by their name, they're not
little sloops; 150 passengers fit comfort-
ably on board—300 if you're on the five-
masted
Wind Spirit
. No one's going to
make you hoist a jib or man the capstan,
though you certainly can visit the open
bridge and watch the sailing officers at
the helm. Still, you cannot deny the
romance of standing on deck with those
immense white sails snapping in the sea
wind above you.
Serving a younger, more outdoorsy
market niche, Seattle-based Windstar vis-
its the standard sun-kissed cruise
regions—the Mediterranean, the Greek
Isles, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, the
Caribbean. But passengers are likely to
spend their shore visits kayaking, sailing,
or exploring the shoreline on an inflat-
able—rather than sightseeing by bus, as
cruise passengers often do onshore. An
on-board naturalist makes Windstar's
Costa Rica cruises particularly appealing
for ecotourists who still want a bit of lux-
ury. With such small ships, Windstar can
visit ports that aren't inundated with
cruise-ship crowds, such as Corsica; Tar-
ragona, Spain; St. Tropez, France; Portfer-
raio, Italy; and Split, Croatia. Except for the
2-week transatlantic itineraries, Windstar
cruises generally last 7 days, a bonus for
cruise passengers with shorter attention
spans, limited vacation time, and less-
than-inexhaustible bank accounts.
This casual, youthful approach carries
through to Windstar's food and beverages
as well. Shipboard dining includes lots of
light cuisine and vegetarian options rather
than standard Continental-style cruise cui-
sine. California superchef Joachim Splichal
developed recipes for the line, showcased
in
Wind Spirit
's specialty restaurant
Degrees. Several cruises have a gourmet
slant—prominent winemakers or chefs
are available throughout the cruise to dis-
cuss the food and wine served—as part of
Windstar's Signature Host series.
The fleet's ships definitely feel like
yachts, with teak decks and fitted wood
interiors; cabins are snug, with porthole
windows (when you wake in the morning,
you'll remember instantly that you're on a
boat). Without big-ship amenities such as
movie theaters or show lounges, Windstar
passengers tend to spend more time on
deck, lounging by the pool or just gazing at
the horizon. Imagine sipping a fine Char-
donnay while you sail into the sunset—
how cool is that?
Windstar Cruises, 2101 Fourth Ave.,
Suite 1150, Seattle, WA 98121 (
&
800/258-
7245;
www.windstarcruises.com).
