Windstar Cruises

Dining Options

Windstar’s paired with the James Beard Foundation to provide one-of-a-kind culinary experiences on themed cruises, with dishes crafted by celebrity chefs like Jose Mendin and Maxime Bilet. Their everyday cruises also offer plenty of goodies in the onboard restaurants, with impeccably fresh ingredients sourced from onshore markets that day. The dining schedule is open and relaxed, to suit the private yacht atmosphere.

• Daily Dining

Veranda opens up in the morning for a leisurely al fresco breakfast, giving you a choice of full service or buffet-styled options. This relaxed eatery also offers a selection of light lunches at the midday service. In the evenings, you’ll dine in Amphora where you’ll be treated to the daily selection from talented onboard chefs. Expect only the freshest ingredients, with inspiration derived from each region you sail through. All accompanied, naturally, by vintage wines.

• Specialty Options

Individual ships offer specialty restaurants as well – for example, on the Wind Surf you can sample French café cuisine and lush desserts at Stella Bistro or dine in a romantic candlelit atmosphere at Candles. All ships feature an onboard barbecue as well, accompanied by lively entertainment for a memorable evening under the stars.

Drinks Packages

Make a champagne toast at sunset or sip a bold cabernet with dinner. What better way to make the most of your cruise than with an all-inclusive beverage package? Windstar has plenty to choose from:

• Voyager’s Adventure – This beer and wine package includes domestic and imported beers as well as 20 varieties of wine, available by the glass.
• Topmast Discoveries – This upgrades your selection of wine to 32, giving you premium vintages covering appellations in the USA, France and Italy.
• Captain’s Exclusive – This package is head of the class, including all premium wines, beers, cordials, aperitifs, liqueurs, and even craft cocktails. It also includes everything you’ll find in your minibar!

Entertainment

Whether you’re in the mood for a quiet evening of relaxation or dancing well into the evening hours, you have plenty of options to pass the time on a Windstar yacht cruise. Take out a DVD from the library to enjoy back in your suite, test your luck in the glitzy onboard Casino, or visit the Lounge for a night of live music and dancing. Passengers can also gather on the Bridge to learn more about the routes and charts with the Captain and officers. With smaller ships, you get that type of intimate social experience.

The cruise is supplemented with Windstar’s Destination Discovery Events programme, helping you learn more about each locale through interactive experiences and expert lectures. Guest lecturers bring art, culture and history to life. If you love a more active experience, sign up for a Signature Expedition that takes you on an authentic adventure. You might find yourself kayaking through the fjords of Alaska or whale watching on a Zodiac Boat. And of course, due to the partnership with the James Beard Foundation, you could learn how to prepare an amazing lobster risotto from famous chefs.

Amenities and Activities

Days spent on board the yacht offer plenty of activities to help you unwind. Visit the WindSpa for a soothing massage, or the salon for a beauty treatment. Top up your tan on the Sun Deck, or take a dip in the whirlpool after a long day of sightseeing. A shop, photo gallery and library round out the day-to-day facilities.

While larger cruise ships offer onboard fitness activities, the smaller size of a Windstar yacht means you can get right into the water. Each ship features a unique Water Sports Platform off the stern, where you can spend the day splashing with sailboarding, water skiing, kayaking, and swimming all on offer. Water trampolines and paddleboards are also on hand at the platform. There’s a gym with dedicated fitness equipment should you prefer a more traditional workout, of course.

• Cabins and Suites

Your suite comes with plenty of luxurious touches to make you feel at home. Sumptuous leather headboards, crisp Egyptian linens and a marble bathroom with L’Occitane bath products give each cabin the feeling of a premium hotel. Each space is maximised for comfort, so you’ll find a surprising amount of storage on offer along with soothing colours and soft lighting.