The Windsurf
For you ship history buffs - the Windsurf started out her life as the first ship built by Club Med. She was called the Club Med 1. Her sister, the Club Med 2, still sails for the all-inclusive resort company.
The 386-passenger Club Med 1 was built in 1989 and then sold to Windstar Cruises in 1998 at which point she was renamed the Windsurf. Her capacity was reduced to 308 passengers, as all but eight cabins on the third deck were converted into suites. Standard cabins on the Windsurf are 188 square feet. Standard suites are double the size. There are three larger suites. One that was originally the owner's cabin (501) and two "super suites" that were added with the latest refurbishment in 2006. Current capacity is 312 passengers and all accommodations are outside.
As this is a sailing ship, the cabins do not have balconies, but with lots of outdoor deck space, it just doesn't seem to matter. There is always a spot out on deck to enjoy your time at sea.
Windsurf is a wonderful product, especially for a charter. Considering the insane exchange rate (euro to US dollar), this just might be one of the best values in Europe. The ship can visit some of the most sought-after ports of call in the Med and the Caribbean - many places that could not even accommodate 300 passengers in one hotel. In the Med, you can sail the Costa del Sol and the French and Italian Riviera.
The most recent renovation made a huge difference in the interior of Windsurf. Several smaller public rooms were taken out and a large Yacht Club/Library/Coffee Bar/Internet Café was added. It is one of the nicest and most comfortable lounges at sea. Carpet, furniture and soft good replacements were made in all cabins as well as public rooms. Both dining rooms are lovely. The main restaurant which holds 270 passengers serves dinner only in an open seating format with a variety of cuisines. Degrees, the alternative venue has a different theme (Italian, Mediterranean, Indonesian, etc.) each night and can handle up to 100 guests. There is no different in quality between the two restaurants - only menu. Additionally, there is no surcharge to dine in Degrees.
Breakfast and Lunch are self-serve action stations and buffets with a limited grill menu. You dine in the Veranda, outside on deck or in the room that becomes Degrees at night. Outside of meal times, snacks can be found in the Compass Rose lounge, which usually has piped music or live entertainment. On this particular cruise, there was a guitarist and singer. On certain days at sailaway, the Compass Rose serves regional specialties such as tapas, crepe suzette, antipasto, etc. Snacks are also served in the Yacht Club coffee bar. Room service is limited, but is available 24 hours a day. Canapes are served in the main lounge each night prior to dinner. One night, the ship offers a sushi buffet. They also host a huge chocolate extravaganza one evening from 9:00-10:30 pm. In the Med, on the one night that the ship remains late in port - the main lounge is converted into a dining room and hot and cold buffet stations are placed in the landing around the stairwells. The band entertains and the entire evening is fun and upbeat with lots of delicious dinner and dessert choices. Alternatively, in the Caribbean - the ship hosts a huge beach bash barbecue lunch ashore.
Cabins on the Windsurf are very comfortable and roomy with lots of storage space and very well-designed bathrooms. Each cabin is equipped with a flat screen TV, DVD player and BOSE I-pod docking station. True, there are no balconies - but as stated above, you really don't miss them on this ship.
The only change I would like to see happen with the new owners is some exterior ship maintenance. They have paid incredible attention to detail on the interior - and it is time for them to work on the decks and pool areas - where the vessel does show its age a bit.
Overall, this is a terrific incentive product. The staff is friendly and extremely service oriented. The food is wonderful. The destinations are superb. This is one of the best values in the cruise industry.
If you have a smaller group, consider the Windstar and Windspirit - each carrying 148 passengers and sailing in the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Greek Islands.
