Small Cruise Ships: The Better Way to Sail

Small Cruise Ships: The Better Way to Sail

by Windstar Cruises

Visitors to the world-famous Louvre in Paris can often wait in line for more than an hour just to get tickets. Once inside, experiencing the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo can be difficult as seas of people elbow their way through crowded hallways and bottlenecked viewing areas.
Now, imagine touring the museum during non-peak hours, with no lines and the world’s most incredible pieces of art yours to marvel at freely. No crowds to hinder the experience. Small cruise ships are to the travel industry what this relaxing experience is to the Louvre: a chance to enjoy awe-inspiring destinations up close and personal, with no hassles or frustrations.
Here are five reasons why small cruise ships are a better way to see the world:

1. Ease of Travel.
Visit a new port each day and unpack only once! Oftentimes, travel itself is the worst part of seeing multiple destinations. With a small cruise ship, the cruise itself is as desirable as the destination – it becomes your adventure. Each night, you’ll be lulled to sleep by the ocean and awake refreshed, with a brand new view outside your stateroom. And with small ships welcoming between 147 and 311 fellow sailors, you’ll forget you ever had to wait in line before.

Wind Surf Suite

2. Travel in Style.
With larger ships, the crew to passenger ratio can get rather bloated and it’s difficult to get that personal “red carpet” treatment. With small cruise ships, the crew to passenger ratio is often 1:2 (Windstar’s is one of the lowest in the industry at 1:1.6). That means crew members know your name, they know your preferences and they can often anticipate your desires before even you know you want another beverage. Furthermore, bartenders and kitchen staff are catering to a much smaller crowd, ensuring efficiency, quality and attention to detail. And of course, there are the added perks of luxurious amenities (our staterooms all have flat-screen TVs and L’Occitane products).

Dubrovnik, Croatia

3. Unique Ports & Itineraries.
Larger ships have to play it safe – going to bigger ports that can accommodate both the large size of the vessels and the huge crowds that will be touring the city together. Small cruise ships, on the other hand, have an incredible amount of flexibility. Ever thought you could cross the Panama Canal on a cruise ship and then visit the incredible, mostly uninhabited San Blas Islands, where Kuna Indians live today as they did hundreds of years ago? You couldn’t do that on a large ship, but we take you there and allow for an unforgettable cultural experience. You’ll look at the world, and yourself, differently.

4. Affordability.
If you’re thinking small cruise ships aren’t cheap, think again! They really are an affordable alternative. Travelers usually incur a hundred unexpected costs, especially on large cruise ships. But on a smaller vessel, many of the expenses are included up front. Once you’ve planned your trip, you have a really good sense of exactly what you will be spending, and you can budget accordingly. Additionally, you can often find Windstar cruise specials that cut your travel costs in half!

5. Social Convenience.
With fewer guests on board, small cruise ships offer an ideal social experience. It’s easy to make life-long friends, which our alumni often tell us they do. And unlike many large ships, small cruise ships often keep an “open bridge” policy, meaning you can wander up to speak with the captain at your leisure. Small cruise ships provide an element of privacy many guests appreciate, while the small numbers also mean it’s easier than ever to meet new friends and relax over a quiet dinner.
We might have a (small) bias toward small cruise ships, but we truly believe they offer an experience you simply couldn’t have otherwise.
What are your experiences with small ship sailing? Share your perspectives in the comments below!

Greek Cuisine: Regional Dishes of the Greek Isles

Greek Cuisine: Regional Dishes of the Greek Isles

by Windstar Cruises

What comes to mind when you think of Greece? Is it the crisp white buildings with rooftops the color of the sea below, the ancient ruins, or the flavors of lemon, olive oil, and oregano? Greece is a country rich in history and natural beauty, and the cuisine of the Greek Isles is no different.
Windstar’s Greek Island Cruises visit Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, and Athens, and here are a few of the regional dishes and eating traditions you’ll enjoy in each city. If you’re not quite hungry for adventure, mouth-wateringly fresh food, and exquisite wine at this very moment, you will be by the time you finish reading.

Rhodes
Oregano, thyme, spearmint and rosemary. These earthy seasonings are common flavors in traditional Rhodian fare and compliment the region’s fresh vegetables and locally caught fish. Step into one of Rhodes’ tavernas, a classically Greek style restaurant, and sample mezedes (appetizers) like the melizanosalata (eggplant salad), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), and saganaki (baked feta), before your main dish of grilled fish or meat (most tavernas specialize in one or the other). Rhodes is known for its desserts, and the honey drizzled over sheep’s-milk yoghurt is rumored to be the best in all of Greece.

Santorini
A city built on soil rich and fertile from volcanic ash, Santorini is known around the world for the quality of its produce, from the grape plants used to make wine to the eggplants colored white by volcanic soil. Try the chloro cheese, traditionally prepared fresh by local women, the tomatokeftedes (“meat” balls made simply of herbs, tomatoes and butter), or the Fava—an island specialty of yellow peas which are often boiled, pureed, or put into rice dishes and omelets.

Mykonos
Situated right in the heart of the Cyclades islands, Mykonos is known as much for its nightlife as its ultramarine seas and charming white beaches.  Take a break from strolling through the picturesque city and try the renowned local sausage or the kopanisti, a soft and peppery goat cheese. Grilled meat with rice and potatoes is a typical meal, but look for horta (cooked greens), gemista (tomatoes or peppers stuffed with rice), and fasolakia (green beans). Don’t forget to try the retsina (a Greek cousin of wine) and ouzo when you go out at night, either!



Athens
When you get back from your tour of Athens’ ancient ruins, take a walk through the balmy streets and try some of the city’s delicious street food. Souvlaki is a popular dish of grilled beef, lamb, or pork served on a round pita with lettuce, tomato and onions, and then rolled into a cone for you to eat while walking. It’s very common and is often considered the Greek equivalent of a hamburger. You’ll also find countless pastry stands on the streets of Athens, serving tyropitta (cheese pies), koulouri (sesame seed covered donuts), galaktoboureko (flaky, custard-filled pastries), and more. You’ll have no trouble eating a full meal on the street and you’ll save money doing it.



The Greek Isles are each unique in their own ways, and regional dishes of the Greek Isles are just as unique. The common thread is an appreciation for quality ingredients, tradition, and a love of the simple act of dining. A typical dinner can go on for hours in Greece, as families slowly work through multiple appetizers, drinks, and dishes.
You’ll come away from your Greek Island cruises with an appreciation for the area’s centuries-old beauty and a new perspective on even the most routine parts of your day.

Have you ever been to Greece? Which foods are you most intrigued by?

Why Travel? Here are 5 Good Reasons

Why Travel? Here are 5 Good Reasons

by Windstar Cruises

 

It’s easy to get caught up in the busy demands of our everyday lives. To put off our dreams of traveling to faraway places until things “settle down” at work, the kids are off to college, or the economy improves. To focus on the aspects of vacation that annoy us—the busy airports, lost luggage, and language barriers—instead of the reasons why travel intrigues us.
But it is worth prioritizing. And here’s why:

1. Experiences outweigh things. Money can’t buy you happiness—at least, not when you’re spending it on things. A study at Cornell University found that we adapt quickly to material goods, but that experiences endure “in the memories we cherish, the stories we tell and the very sense of who we are.” If you’re looking to make your money count, forget the mall and spend it on a vacation with someone you love instead.



2. You’ll find answers. Getting some distance from our normal surroundings actually seems to help us think more clearly. As Jonah Lehrer observes, taking a trip will “not only make you smarter, but more open-minded and creative.” When we’re exposed to the cultural contrasts and ambiguity of a new place, it’s easier for us to realize that there are different ways to interpret a situation. “When we get home, home is still the same. But something in our mind has been changed, and that changes everything.”

3. You’ll gain perspective. Travel “guides us toward a better balance of wisdom and compassion — of seeing the world clearly, and yet feeling it truly,” says Pico Iyer. Just as getting away helps us approach our own problems more creatively, it also gives us a new perspective on our lifestyle at home and how it compares to the rest of the world. When we dine in France, taking our time to enjoy every bite and the sense of community that comes with it, we rethink the many meals we’ve guzzled down on-the-go back home because we “just didn’t have time.”



4. The sensory experience. See, hear, touch, smell, taste…when is the last time you used all five senses and truly appreciated a moment for all it’s worth? Sure, you’ve seen a hundred pictures of the ruins in Athens, but have you felt the rubble beneath your feet? Have you tasted a true Italian pizza or breathed in the bouquet of a Spanish Tempraníllo? You can listen to music of the Caribbean on the radio at home, but there’s something to be said about hearing it augmented by the sound of crashing waves on the beach.

5. Because we only live once. St. Augustine once said: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” With only one chance to see it all, we ought to make the most of it!

We’re passionate about travel here at Windstar. We plan our trips with care and make sure every shore excursion you take is meaningful, but we also think the journey is as important as the destination. It’s why we strive to make our cruises so personal, so unique and so enjoyable that you come home thinking as much about your voyage as the cities it anchored in.
What are your reasons for traveling and what are some of the most profound experiences you’ve had abroad?
So, what is a reflective essay? Now would be a good point to explore this question in detail and find out how a student should go about writing it. The purpose or objective of writing this essay is to let readers become aware of the writer’s feeling towards the topic which is often a social situation or event. You could even be asked to write a reflective essay about an opinion or any other stuff.

How to tip around the world?

How to tip around the world?

by Windstar Cruises

We get asked about tipping A LOT here at Windstar. How much, and when? Where is it expected, and when is it already included? So we decided to pull together a basic primer, a Tipping 101 shall we say, to help guide you in your travels particularly while dining at local restaurants and traveling on board our yachts.

Tahiti – Tipping in Tahiti is not required or expected, but it’s certainly appreciated when given for great service. In Tahiti, most restaurant menus are all inclusive, meaning that service has been included in the price. Be sure to check your menu/check just in case, as some restaurants deviate from this norm but will alert guests that additional tipping is suggested.

Europe – Typically, tipping 5-10 percent in Europe is normal, across the board! See, that’s not so hard. Again, be sure to check the menu or your check first to see if service is included on the bill, as is often the case. Usually, fixed price menus (such as a tourist prix fixe) already include gratuity.

Caribbean – Here’s another place to check you final bill. Restaurants in the Caribbean can often include the gratuity, which is around 10 percent of the total cost of the meal. If the gratuity isn’t included already, it’s expected to leave roughly 10-15 percent for your server. For drinks at the bar (and we know you might be having a round of Mai Tai’s!), it’s similar to the U.S. to tip a few dollars per round of drinks.

On Board – On Windstar Cruises, a $12 per day gratuity fee is added per guest and placed on the credit card on file to most easily and efficiently allow tipping for all Windstar services; however additional tips for crew are always welcome on an individual basis. It is entirely at the discretion of the guest as to how, when, and how much the guest would like to tip!
 
Due to the small size of the yacht and the close crew to guest ratio, many of our guests grow quite attached to “their” crew. You may develop a special relationship with a certain bartender or their cabin steward, so it’s more than a welcome gesture for additional tips to find their way to these superstars of service. Cash is always appreciated in these instances.

Hope this helps offer some clarity during your travels. Any other tipping stories or tips to share from your travels around the planet? Leave them in the comments!