Started as Windstar Sail Cruises with the first three ships coming on line in 1987, 1988 and 1989, the company did not make a profitable venture and was entirely taken over by Holland America Line by 1988, both of which subsequently came under the Carnival Corporation banner. Then in 2007, Windstar Cruises, the “Sail” having been dropped years ago, was bought by Ambassadors International, owners of Majestic America Line and also Seattle-based.

Fleet

The original trio, Wind Song, Wind Spirit and Wind Star withsimilar accommodations for 148 passengers, lost one member (Wind Song) in 2003when the Tahiti-based Wind Song had a fire and was scuttled. Prior to that, in1997 Windstar bought the much larger 308-passenger Club Med I and combined someof the original cabins to make suites. Club Med, for the time being, retainsthe sistership. The three Windstar ships are sail-assisted motorships where thesails unfurl by the touch of a button on the bridge.

Itineraries

The seven-day cruises operate mostly to Caribbean and Mediterranean ports with one ship positioned on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. Positioningvoyages provide plenty of sea time under sail, even if the sail are not addingmuch propulsion.

Dining and Decor

The food is a draw and it is often served in an attractiveindoor-outdoor setting on the top deck. One dinner, weather permitting, will takeplace around the pool under the stars. Usually dinner only is served in thedining room, resembling an oversized wood-paneled sailing ship saloon.

Programs

Cruises are largely unstructured, destination-oriented inthe Mediterranean, with more emphasis on watersports and beach activities inthe Caribbean, and nature and wildlife in Costa Rica.

Onboard Experience

People of ages 40 and up who might not otherwise take to bigship cruise will enjoy the outdoor experience, casual dress, the easy sociallife, and the relaxed destinations. Veteran Windstar cruisers also take to thetwo-week transatlantic positioning crossings with day after day alone at sea, averitable floating house party.

Competitors

The Wind Star ships provide a romantic cruise, like SeaCloud and Star Clippers, and offer more comfortable accommodations andconsiderably better food and service than the latter.