How to Take a Windstar Cruise

Windstar Cruises offer a departure from the traditional cruise liner. The company's fleet of three sailing ships offers a casually elegant cruising experience. The 150 to 300-passenger vessels sail the Mediterranean Sea during the warmer months and throughout the Caribbean and the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the winter. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Enjoy not dressing for dinner. Though the experience is first-class, Windstar maintains a casual chic dress code. You won't have to bring a tuxedo or a formal gown. If you'd like to be even more casual, have a private course-by-course meal served right in your cabin.
2. Make a reservation at "Degrees." "Degrees" is the ship's steakhouse, a more intimate alternative to the main dining room. The eatery features fine china and crystal and offers many tables for two in a quiet, romantic setting.
3. Have fun on the sports deck. Windstar ships are equipped with a unique sports platform that drops into the water when the ship is at anchor. From here, guests can swim, snorkeling, windsurf and enjoy other water sports.
4. Explore small, less traveled ports. The relatively small size of Windstar's ships allows them to call at ports inaccessible to the larger cruise vessels. In addition to seeing less touristy sights, you'll avoid the in-port crowds associated with the mega-liners.
5. Savor the unexpected extras. Windstar offers guests little extras, such as sorbet served in an orange half while you sit by the pool or chilled towels to combat the mid-day sun. They also serve complimentary on-deck hors d'oeuvres at sunset.