Mediterranean
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Windstar Cruises
Wind Surf
A five-masted sailing ship for 340 guests: compact cabins, open decks and ports the motor ships cannot reach.
Overview
Wind Surf is Windstar's largest ship and the one with the most sail area. Cabins are compact with portholes, the decks are the point, and the itineraries string together small Mediterranean and Caribbean harbors.
Built in 1990 as Club Med 1 and with Windstar since 1998, Wind Surf is a real sailing ship: five masts, computer-controlled sails that go up most evenings as the ship leaves port, and a water sports platform at the stern. She carries around 340 guests, which is large for a sailing ship and small for a cruise ship.
We propose her to couples and adult groups who want atmosphere over amenities. The cabins are around 17 square meters with two portholes, bathrooms are small, and the food is good rather than fine. None of that matters much when the sails go up off Santorini.
At a glance
- Line
- Windstar Cruises
- Size
- Small ship, around 340 guests
- Entered service
- 1990 (approximate)
- Our pick
- An Ocean View Suite on deck 3.
Thinking about Wind Surf?
We will say whether Wind Surf is right for your party, which suite we would book and which sailing, or name the ship we would choose instead.
Best for
- Couples who want a sailing ship
- Adult groups who want casual decks and small ports
- Travelers on an upper-premium budget
Not for
- Families with children
- Guests who want a veranda
- Anyone who needs step-free access everywhere
Price
What Wind Surf costs
Planning figure around $400 to $700 per person per night in an Ocean View Stateroom, with drinks and excursions extra unless you add the all-inclusive package. Not a quote.
Have a budget in mind?
Tell us what you are looking for and the figure you have in mind. We will say what it buys on each line, and where the same money goes further.
On board
Suites, cabins, dining and evenings on Wind Surf
In our words, from the questions we are asked most. Suite names are the line's; which one we would book is ours.
- Suites
- Ocean View Staterooms of around 17 square meters with two portholes and a queen or twin beds; Ocean View Suites of around 35 square meters join two staterooms; two Bridge Suites sit forward with the best views.
- Cabins we would book
- For a couple we would book an Ocean View Suite on deck 3 for the extra bathroom and closet; staterooms midships on deck 2 move least under sail.
- Dining
- Amphora is the main restaurant, Stella Bistro serves French by reservation, Candles grills on deck under the sails, and the Veranda does buffet breakfast and lunch. Food is good for the fare, with a strong deck barbecue night.
- Entertainment
- A small lounge with a duo or trio, a casino, a sail-away each evening with music, and the water sports platform; there is no theater and that is the point.
Want the right suite on Wind Surf?
Tell us who is traveling and we will name the deck and the suite numbers we would hold, and the ones we would avoid.
Children, grandparents, mobility
Wind Surf for the whole family
Three honest notes: what the ship does for children, what it does for grandparents, and what it asks of anyone with limited mobility.
- Children
- No children's facilities or program and small cabins. Teenagers who swim and sail enjoy the platform; younger children find little to do, and we say so.
- Grandparents
- Fit, active grandparents enjoy her; those with mobility limits do not. Stairs are steep, there is one elevator covering some decks, and tender landings are frequent.
- Accessibility
- Not a ship we propose for wheelchair users: no fully accessible cabins, high thresholds and tender ports throughout. Windstar's official site lists the detail.
Planning for the whole family?
Connecting suites, different activity levels, dining that works for everyone, and transfers that suit grandparents and toddlers alike. The best family suites go first, so start early.
Where it sails
Where Wind Surf goes
The regions this ship sails as far as we know; the itinerary confirms the ports and the season.
Greek Islands
Small ships, island overnights, and a late season that runs into October.
Adriatic & Croatia
Venice, Dubrovnik and Kotor in a week, on ships small enough for the old harbors.
Caribbean
Winter sun for the whole family, on ships that make Christmas and half-term easy.
Sample itineraries
Sailings on Wind Surf
We have not written up a sample sailing on Wind Surf yet. Windstar Cruises publishes the current itineraries; tell us the season you have in mind and we will send the two or three we would consider, with planning figures.
Not sure where to go?
Give us the month, who is traveling and how far you will fly. A specialist will name the two or three regions and ships we would choose.
Deck plans and photographs
Deck plans and pictures of Wind Surf
Deck plans are on Windstar's official site; we link rather than copy them.
Windstar's Star Breeze alongside at Lyttelton, New ZealandPhoto: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · Public domain
Our promise
We will say no.
We do not recommend a cruise because it is expensive, and we do not put people on the wrong ship. If Wind Surf is not right for your party, we will tell you and suggest the one that is, even if it costs less or is sold by someone else. We are an advisor, not a booking engine.
Speak to a specialistGood to know
Wind Surf FAQs
Does Wind Surf really sail?
Yes, the sails are set most evenings on leaving port and whenever the wind allows, although engines do most of the work on a schedule. It is the experience of a sailing ship rather than a passage under sail alone.
Same line
Other Windstar Cruises ships we have written up
Star Breeze
An all-suite motor yacht, lengthened in 2020, with Windstar's casual style and a few real balconies.
Plan your Wind Surf cruise with Blackbury Travel.
Our pick: An Ocean View Suite on deck 3.. Tell us who is traveling and when, and we will say which sailing and which suite, or whether another ship would suit you better.