Windstar Cruises as a First-Timer

I’m about to set sail on my 120th cruise, but it’s actually a first for me.

At this point in my career, I’ve experienced all the mainstream ocean cruise lines, but Windstar Cruises is a boutique brand that I have yet to cover. I am jazzed to next board the Wind Spirit in Tahiti, itself a new destination for me.

I’ve been on ocean cruise ships ranging in guest capacities from a dozen to over 6,000, and I’ve been on expedition ships and riverboats accommodating two hundred or less. In my mind, I imagine a 148-guest sailing yacht, like the Spirit, to be a hybrid of them all.

I anticipate the comforts of a sizable modern cruise ship, the intimacy of a riverboat and the adventure amenities of an expedition ship.

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Admittedly, I’ve always been more of a motorsports type of guy than the typically athletic, so personal watercraft and towering seagoing cruise ship equivalents have been my speed. However, I’ve also been forever drawn to sailing vessels, the appeal of dropping cloth sheets to catch the wind and taking to the sea naturally.

Windstar Cruises fits that very bill but with the added convenience of engine propulsion.

Add in the fact that the navigation bridge is open for passengers to visit, and you’ve tailored conditions perfect for gearheads like yours truly. Suffice it to say, I can't wait to see the sails unfurl for the first time and, of course, capture it all dramatically on video to soon share the four-masted vessel in all her glory.

Windstar puts a lot of stock in its sails, so much so that its flagship Wind Surf just got 21,570 square feet of new Dacron cloth designed by French sailmaker Incidence Sails. To put the scale and scope in perspective, that’s almost half a football field’s worth to cover the ship’s five sails, which alone can propel the vessel at up to 15.6 knots.

The ship’s watersports platform only adds to the expeditionary nature of the Wind Spirit that my wife and I are looking forward to enjoying. Kayaks, snorkeling equipment and the like will be available directly off the stern as we embark on the line’s 7-day Dreams of Tahiti itinerary.

Those crystal clear picturesque waters couldn't be any easier to access.

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The finer things are also expected onboard, like L’Occitane toiletries and the brand’s affiliation as the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation. That means fine dining will be in full force thanks to recipes from esteemed chefs. Even more great food via Hugh Acheson from “Top Chef” and Renee Erickson from Seattle, as well as Thai cuisine master Andy Ricker and other greats, is set to roll out fleet-wide by the end of the year.

The AmphorA main dining room on the Spirit will surely showcase local poisson cru, and for those looking to try for themselves, Windstar is offering a Dreams of Tahiti sweepstakes along with the culinary foundation for the chance to win passage on the weeklong sailing.

Of course, Tahiti is one of those once-in-a-lifetime destinations, and Windstar promises to be a great way to deliver on paradise. Particularly special is how the itinerary features a coveted overnight stay in both Raiatea and Bora Bora to maximize the romantic beauty of it all during the day and into the evening.

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