Everything You Need To Know Before Sailing The Mediterranean With Windstar Cruises
Have you ever wanted to cruise the Mediterranean? For me, sailing along these famous turquoise waters has been a dream of mine since childhood. When we finally decided to take the plunge, we asked ourselves, “Why not go all out?” When deliberating how we could take our trip to the next level, we stumbled upon the luxury cruise company, Windstar Cruises. Upon reading their website, they seemed too good to be true! I mean, who else can say they booked a YACHT with 24/7 room service to some of the most iconic ports in the Mediterranean? After sailing with Windstar Cruises for seven days, we can honestly say they are just as fabulous as described.
Every Cabin is a Suite
This may come as a shock, but each room that Windstar Cruises offers is a suite. You read that right! No tiny bunk beds, no hopping over your family/friends to reach the toilet and no feeling like a packed sardine.
Our cabin was spacious and even included our own living room/relaxation area. It truly felt more like a miniature apartment than the typical cruise cabin. Don’t even get me started on the walk-in closet or fabulous bathroom!
Favorite Cabin Features: Ample storage, safety deposit box, standing shower, double sinks, television, large viewing window, lounge area with couch, mini bar and much more
Yacht Amenities
On our particular ship, the Star Legend, we were able to enjoy two whirlpools and an infinity pool. Each day, I spent a few hours lounging in the whirlpools and feeling like the queen of the yacht. As our ship only held a maximum of 312 guests, we were able to have the whirlpools to ourselves many times throughout the cruise. Mind-boggling, right? Never in my life did I think I’d be sailing across the Mediterranean and enjoying a whirlpool at the bow of a yacht all by myself (talk about a luxury moment).
Ontop of the fabulous infinity pool and whirlpools, the cruise featured an inclusive sauna area complete with an experience shower. Not sure what that is? It is essentially a shower that has multiple water functions, color-changing lights and music (which are all controlled by the user). It was an experience for sure! Additionally, this area also featured both a cedar and a steam sauna (as well as heated stone relaxation chairs).
The sauna quickly became my favorite area of the yacht. There is always a wonderful essential oil diffusing in the air, delicious water infused with fruit and calming music. Plus, it is connected to the ship’s sauna service area (aka where I received one of the best massages of my life).
Looking to workout? The ship has a trainer onboard and a functioning gym. My favorite part of the gym is the cool towel fridge and rowing machine. Furthermore, I was able to complete a posture analysis for free!
Onboard Offers
As I mentioned previously, the yacht features a Spa. This area is more diverse than you would expect as they offer massages, hair treatments, acupuncture, cupping, and even foot/nail treatments. After receiving a massage myself, I can honestly recommend their services. I felt beyond relaxed and rejuvenated after my ‘spa special’ booking.
24/7 Room Service
Our favorite amenity on the ship to take advantage of was the 24/7 included room service for EVERY room. That’s right, every passenger has access to free/included room service at any time of day. We ordered breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and even drinks to our room. It was the perfect way to start the day, but we also enjoyed utilizing it for nights when we did not feel like eating dinner at a restaurant. One of the ship’s dinner restaurants, Amphora, offered their dinner menu for room service during select hours (which was perfect for nights we wanted to stay in our pajamas).
Is The Drink Package Worth It?
We opted for the drink package and we were very pleased by their drink offers. They had everything from hot butter rum to sangria. My favorite drinks to order were the ship specialties, such as the ‘Cuadro 44’ cocktail. It was also fun to have the drinks package as every day the ship offered a ‘warm drink of the day’ and a ‘cocktail of the day’ – both typically alcoholic and included in the package.
Official James Beard Foundation Cruise Line
One of the main selling points for us with this cruise was that it is the official James Beard Foundation cruise line. We went in with high expectations and were not disappointed! Local cuisine and ingredients were the focus of this cruise – which is what we love as foodies.
On the yacht, there are three main dinner restaurants and one area that serves as both a breakfast as well as a lunch area. Cuadro 44 and Candles require reservations in advance, but Amphore allows walk-ins with ample seating. All offered wonderful service and meals.
Yacht Club
Last, but certainly not least is the famous Windstar Cruises Yacht Club. This is a luxurious area to relax and explore. The walls are filled with travel books and puzzles for guests to enjoy. There is a cafe attached to the Yacht Club which is filled with snacks and a barista for drinks, such as coffee or cocktails. This was a wonderful area to watch the ship dock or just unwind during the day.
Sail More to Save More
Now that we have sailed with Windstar Cruises, we have even more incentives to return (ontop of our fabulous experience). Returning guests earn status points/stars each time they sail. Why is this fun? Each star level comes with new perks, such as exclusive experiences and/or discounts. We enjoyed our experience so much that our new goal is to reach Windstar Cruises’ top tier!
Can I Bring My Kids?
Our ship did have a few kids onboard, but the cruise we sailed is primarily recommended for adults.
Can I Bring My Pets?
No. Pets are not allowed. Only trained service animals with training recognized by the embarkation port and governing body of the departure country can enter the sailing.
What Ports Did We Visit?
During our Mediterranean cruise, we sailed to Civitavecchia (Trains available to Rome), Livorno (Trains available to Florence, Pisa and Lucca), Nice (Trains available to Monaco), Marseille and Barcelona. Our adventure began with two stops in Italy, then two stops in France before finishing our journey in Spain.
Want to know more?
Click Here For: Port Tips Reel
Click Here For: Windstar Cruise Details Reel
Interested in cruise pricing and routes?
Click Here: Enter your First Name, Last Name and Email here.
