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Magic is afoot aboard Wind Surf. The wizards of Windstar Cruises have clearly employed some sleight-of-hand and fool-the-eye maneuvers when it comes to the line’s new Degrees of Difference—a multimillion dollar initiative unveiled on a Dec. 16 cruise in the Caribbean. The Windstar cruise experience has been notably enhanced from fore to aft. Not to mention port to starboard.
Presumably, Wind Surf still sports the same statistics when it comes to length, width and tonnage. Yet there are areas where you could swear the ship has somehow increased its interior space. Prime example: the new Yacht Club, an airy territory and instant hit as gathering place for passengers. Walls were removed from the former library and suddenly there were wide open spaces, with full book shelves (also DVDs and CDs) plus lounge chairs and comfy sofas for enjoying them; an espresso bar stocked with gourmet coffees and tempting pastries (espresso is $2.10, edibles are on the house) plus tables for sipping and socializing; eight computers for Internet access and e-mail checking; and a large flat-screen TV for taking in special events. Call it a floating coffee house.
The same sort of wand-waving is evident in a pair of new luxury suites on the Bridge deck (upping the ship’s capacity to 312) of 495 sq. ft. each. Generously carved from what used to be a computer room and conference space, the suites feature a living/dining area furnished in caramel leather with a table for two, a separate bedroom with a dream of a walk-in closet, and a big marble bathroom with whirlpool tub and separate shower. With a suite stay comes complimentary laundry and pressing, bottled water, evening appetizers, high tea service, and chilled champagne to kick things off right.
 Earlier last year, the all-outside staterooms had been handsomely updated with new mattresses, luxurious linens, fluffy duvet, flat-panel TV, DVD/CD player, and Bose SoundDock system. (Pre-loaded iPod Nanos are available for complimentary check-out.) And now come the born-again bathrooms. In yet another example of “How to Make a Room Larger,” formerly closed cabinets were converted to open, lighted glass shelves, mirrors were wrapped in new lighting and a magnifying mirror added, gleaming new countertops and sinks were installed, and ta-da!—a lighter, brighter, seemingly bigger bathroom. Even the size and style of amenities has expanded. Picture plump bottles of L’Occitane toiletries you can get a grip on.
On the food front, the former Bistro has a new name—Degrees—and a new concept (but still no charge). Make a reservation ASAP to sample the new steakhouse menu served four nights a week. Other nights spotlight rotating menus from Northern Italy, France and Indonesia. In The Restaurant, vintage wines seem even finer when sipped from the graceful new Reidel stemware. As always, dinner is a single, open seating, sit where you wish, show up when you’re ready. And if you’d rather climb into the stateroom’s robe and slippers and order in dinner from the menu, that’s fine, too.
In short, no matter how many times you may have cruised with Windstar (repeaters often make up 40 percent of the roster), you may need a new map.
Still happily at hand are passenger favorites the likes of breakfast and lunch buffets in the wide-windowed Veranda or on the adjacent deck, tea-time treats in the Terrace Bar, and live music for dancing in The Lounge. Cruisers also relish trolling for jewelry deals and logoed items in the gift shop, splashing and soaking in the pool and hot tubs, and taking chances in the tiny casino. Honeymooners—or any traveling twosomes whose love life could use a charge— should be steered to the spa’s new massage room designed for couples, and urged to try out the new Balinese sun beds on the Star deck.
While the Wind Surf showed off the first Degrees of Difference completion, her smaller sisters in the line’s trio of sleek yachts are not far behind. With some variations based on ship size, most of the new offerings—including the beckoning hammocks-for-two tucked beneath the ships’ signature snowy sails—are slated to debut this spring on Wind Spirit and in the fall aboard Wind Star. As if the fresh bounty aboard Wind Surf was not enough to lure cruise-loving clients, it’s all up and at the ready in the ever-popular Caribbean. And here, again, clients will appreciate the trim proportions of the Windstar fleet. At St. Martin/St. Maarten, for instance—a port of call in the sun-washed voyage that focuses on the French West Indies—the ship can pull in close to the French side of the part- Dutch-part-French island - something the bigger boys can’t do. And it happens that the French side boasts fabulous restaurants, which inspires Wind Surf to linger past midnight to allow for leisurely dining ashore.
Also in the lineup: the sister islands (only two miles apart) and walkable towns of mountainous St. Kitts and Nevis; sophisticated St. Barts, beloved of the glitterati, who pack the harbor with private yachts and prowl the plenitude of uber-chic designer boutiques; and Guadeloupe’s Basse-Terre and Iles des Saintes (called Les Saintes by locals), a pedestrian town whose one main street is lined with candy-colored storefronts. “St. Barts is super for celebrity spotting,” says the ship’s master, Tim Roberts. “Some of them own very expensive villas here, and you can see hundreds of private yachts in the harbor.”
At last-stop St. Lucia, Wind Surf drops anchor at Pigeon Island National Park, where crew and passengers pile off to lay out the ship’s beach barbecue and bask on the sand.
 Not surprisingly, the shore excursion program makes good use of the Caribbean’s famously crystalline waters. Along with island drives and visits to plantation inns come catamaran adventures and outings for snorkeling, sailing and diving. The ship’s scuba program has been expanded to offer some of the Caribbean’s best diving, on reefs that teem with marine life. St. Martin, where divers descend a mooring line to the top of the reef, is known for its reef sharks, nurse sharks, hawksbill turtles, stingrays and occasional dolphins. For beginners, the ship’s Discover Scuba Diving course provides the opportunity to dive with an instructor.
Particularly popular in this watersports paradise are the vessel’s complimentary windsailing, sailboating, waterskiing and snorkeling. The snorkeling comes complete with complimentary equipment. What else is hot? “Back-to-back cruises are becoming more and more popular,” notes Captain Roberts. “With itineraries planned so that there’s no repeating of ports, we’re seeing passengers sign on for as much as four weeks. Also, we’re getting a good response to our introduction of later departures and more overnights. Cruisers like having extra time for the shops, restaurants and nightlife.”
Also new this year is the chance for you to book shore excursions online in advance of their cruise. Full descriptions and tour duration are shown along with pricing. You only need booking number to reserve the tours of choice. Wind Surf is nearing the end of its spring. Contact us for bookings with WindStar
Caribbean dates (March 4 and 18; April 1) of 7-day alternating northbound and southbound French West Indies itineraries, roundtrip from Bridgetown, Barbados. The schedule resumes with sailings Nov. 25 and Dec. 9. Advance Savings Advantage Program fares begin at $1,899 pp.
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