Table Of Content
Windstar Cruises is less all-inclusive and pricey than Sea Cloud but still offers a relatively upscale experience. Its dining program is done in partnership with the food-focused James Beard Foundation, which also brings James Beard Award-winning chefs to the ships regularly for food-themed itineraries. Three of the Seattle-based brand's six vessels — Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf — are sailing vessels, and they all offer a similar yacht-like, small-ship experience.
Galileo
The passenger-to-crew ratio is one-to-one; service is excellent. Following a major refurbishment in November 2019, Windstar'sflagship sailing cruise ship Wind Surf re-entered service with crisp new sails. Indeedthe Wind Surf sail project was led by noted designers StéphaneAmiot and Maxime Paul, who sailed for France's Olympic sailing teamin the 1992 Olympics.
Crew & Guides Review
We loved the adjustment’s the captain made to allow us more time to swim and snorkel. We also loved the diversity of the people on the ship and the fact that everyone enjoyed everyone. The fact that this was a small ship allowed us to meet and become friends with everyone on the boat. We wanted to revisit the experience from our honeymoon 21 years earlier. The Galileo has been carefully refurbished since we sailed with her in 1997.
Small Cruise Yachts
The demographic generally skews 50s and above, and many are current or former sailors with a real appreciation for sailing ships. The vessel also attracts a good number of repeat cruisers. On this cruise, more than a few were taking back-to-back sailings. One particularly ardent fan was on his seventh back-to-back cruise on the Royal Clipper in as many years. Royal Clipper is an ideal ship for people who aren't big on cruising, but adore sailing.
Iconic Wind Class
Thirteen Zodiacs and eight kayaks take guests on water adventures and ashore. World Navigator is a deluxe expedition ship sporting a 1B Ice Class-certified hull and the latest technologies, such as a GPS-based dynamic position system to minimize movement and noise. Seabourn's new Seabourn Venture (and upcoming sister Seabourn Pursuit) are on par with Silver Endeavour and Scenic Eclipse when it comes to pairing top-of-the-line luxury and pampering with incredible itineraries.
Sea Cloud Cruises: Sea Cloud I
If you need glitzy production numbers, bingo tournaments and multiple restaurant options to be happy at sea, seek out a bigger ship. If the notion of feeling the gentle rock-a-bye motion of the ocean is in itself enough to lure you to sea, this is the ship for you. Come time to sail away, the hoisting of the sails is cause for ceremony.
Viking Cruises: Viking Octantis
Not just a pretty ship, Seabourn Venture is tough, built to PC6 Polar Class standards for a focus on expedition cruising in the polar regions. The ship carries two submarines, as well as a fleet of double sea kayaks and 24 Zodiacs that can accommodate all guests at once. Scenic Eclipse cruises to nearly every corner of the world, including French Polynesia and the Pacific Islands, Australia, the Indonesian archipelago and Antarctica. An impressively kitted-out expedition ship, Scenic Eclipse has an ice-strengthened hull with a C6 rating suited for polar cruising, including navigating the Northwest Passage.
Fellow Passengers
As for grownups, if you require 24/7 programming and standard big-ship amenities like a casino and theater, you'd be happier on a more conventional cruise. Standout experiences await, from lounging in the bowsprit net suspended high above a roiling sea, to kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding off the marina platform at the rear of the ship. In an industry racing for the next onboard gimmick -- from robot bartenders to ice skating rinks -- Royal Clipper simply races across the sea. This 442-foot ship is proudly lacking in bells and whistles. But you don't have to know the difference between a flying-jib and a topmast staysail to appreciate its majesty.
More than 5,000 islands, reefs and cays make the Caribbean a picture-perfect paradise for sailors at any experience level. You’ll enjoy easy line-of-sight navigation, deep water passages and lively island-hopping from one charming harbor to the next aboard your own monohull or catamaran Caribbean charter. 100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip. This was not an objective but really enjoyed that aspect of it.
Couple in sailboat rescued by Carnival cruise ship - USA TODAY
Couple in sailboat rescued by Carnival cruise ship.
Posted: Tue, 08 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
They have been in business since 1949, and they know what works and what does not work, Greece is a beautiful country with centuries of history. The Greek crew of ensure excellent customer service and insight. Aboard Galileo you’ll arrive early and stay late avoiding the big ship crowds. Optional tours are small and intimate with exceptional local guides. And your cruise director will customize each experience based on conditions and have access to skip the lines museums and archeological sites.
Through early January, the ship will cruise in the Caribbean, calling in at small ship destinations like Bequia, in the Grenadines; Dominica; and the BVI’s Jost Van Dyke. On separate days, hotel manager Elias Stamatopoulos prepared divine ceviche from whole tuna and swordfish sourced from Naples, Italy. Like every bonafide sailing yacht, Sea Cloud Spirit heels (leans) when the sails are up. Powered by two silent diesel electric engines, the only noise is the engine’s generators, which operate intermittently. In one key difference, though, Star Clippers lets passengers harness up and climb into the crow's nest of its vessels — a thrilling experience. Just be prepared for your knees to go a bit wobbly as you get to the top; it's way up there.
Emerald Azzurra features a watersports platform at the stern for convenient access to kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling and riding SEABOBs (electric underwater scooter-like jet skis). L'Austral explores both polar regions and spends time in the Mediterranean, cruising along the coast of Croatia and around the smaller, less touristy Greek Islands like Amorgos, Milos and Delos. Ponant has been busy launching six new ships in its impressive Explorers series. However, L'Austral (with sister ships Le Boreal, Le Soleal and Le Lyrial) is my favorite ship in the fleet.
The food is excellent and served both on the romantic outdoor decks and inside the cozy restaurant. These outside deluxe staterooms with large porthole window are the epitome of nautical luxury on SEA CLOUD II. Located on both sides of the cabin deck, these are exclusive retreats of serenity that have made our sailing yachts famous. Sophisticated style comes in the form of rich wood finishings, Italian marble and golden fixtures. Edwina Lonsdale is Managing Director and together with husband Matthew, owner of Mundy Cruising.
Like any good expedition ship, Ocean Victory has one lounge dedicated to lectures with large flat screens to view presentations. You'll find an ocean-view fitness center, a small spa and an outdoor pool with two hot tubs. The ships also feature a gym, yoga studio, spa, ocean-view saunas, library and two dining venues. Passengers are primarily a mix of North Americans and Europeans (mainly German, French and British as evidenced by the triple translation on most written materials). There was a wide age range -- from 30-year-old honeymooners to longtime retirees -- on our cruise.
Start your experience with Sunsail on land and sign up to receive e-mails from us about yachts, offers and destinations. On a Caribbean sailing vacation you’ll experience your nautical dreams in a unique and thrilling way. Set sail aboard your private charter yacht from one of seven island bases, each with their distinct history, delicious cuisine and culture waiting to be discovered. The view of the harbor was amazing and the experience of the tall ship was one of a kind. The crew was friendly, knowledgeable, and always available to help. Wind Star features wide open, teak decks—quite unusual for small ships.
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