Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Windstar Cruises Alaska Review: A Luxury Sail through the Inside Passage

windstar alaska cruise

After feeling a bit queasy departing Sitka, I made sure to take Dramamine all day to combat any seasickness I might feel. However, it was nice to take a day of rest to relax in various parts of the ship we enjoyed spending time in as our itinerary began to wind down. Back in Skagway, we had a few hours before our fast ferry back to Haines, so I struck out on my own immediately. If I had managed my time better, I might also have made it out to the old Klondike gold rush cemetery, but it’s probably better as I didn’t as the weather got foul while waiting for the fast ferry. After my excursion, most people went back to the ship, but I knew we had plenty of time for another adventure.

Tongass National Forest

Otters pop their furry heads up for a moment, diving back underwater almost as quickly as they appear. It occurred to me for a brief moment that I could have seen more marine life at my city aquarium. But what set this apart are the majesty of the setting and the unpredictability of nature as it reveals itself like the tease of the humpbacks we could only see at a distance. Kayaking with your spouse (or with any partner for that matter) can be a challenge, but done correctly, you move serenely yet swiftly toward your goal. In the kayak, you can position yourself horizontally under waterfalls and close to the glaciers to see not only the ice but also the mountain goats that impossibly make their home high on the cliffs.

What This Millennial Learned on a Cruise Vacation with Boomer Parents - TravelPulse

What This Millennial Learned on a Cruise Vacation with Boomer Parents.

Posted: Sun, 24 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Vatican & Croatian Coastlines Cruise Tour

windstar alaska cruise

Ports of call would include tiny towns and hidden harbors known only to private yachts and small ships like ours. Schedules would allow for dropping the Watersports Platform in turquoise bays and raising sails on the way to your next island rendezvous. And the laid-back island vibe would continue on board with a mouthwatering Signature Onboard Barbecue by the pool. Best of all, on every cruise there would be one day that was even more special than the rest, when you land on a secluded beach for Windstar’s Signature Beach Party, elaborate buffet and watersports included. Long before Columbus, Vikings crossed the Labrador Sea from Greenland to settle in L’Anse Aux Meadows. Centuries later, Portuguese fishermen, Basque whalers, French trappers, and English pilgrims would follow and discover a Promised Land where nature nurtures both body and soul.

Alaska by Land or Sea - Travel Alaska

Alaska by Land or Sea.

Posted: Wed, 16 Feb 2022 04:01:47 GMT [source]

Day 6: Juneau

(Perhaps Thorskeggfoss, Thor’s Beard?) Join the nation’s passionate ice cream lovers for a licorice-and-chocolate cone. And be inspired by a nation of avid readers who believe you really can have it all. Windstar has several excursions by kayak — one by the high waterfalls of Misty Fjords, a second to Kenai Fjords’ Harding icefield, and another to Tracy Arm-Endicott Arm’s twin glaciers.

This intimacy provides you with the luxuries of time, space, and freedom to immerse yourself in both the journey and the destination - in ways you may never have imagined possible. In Juneau, Alaska’s state capital, we met our pilot for a dogsledding adventure on Mendenhall Glacier. At WindSpa, cruisers can receive treatments ranging from facials and massage to acupuncture. Personal training is available at the fitness center, but several classes are complimentary, including stretch, yoga and Pilates.

The two vessels will join the Windstar fleet in December 2025 and December 2026, respectively, after the addition of several signature Windstar elements to each of them. Windstar is acquiring the two new vessels from Portugal-based Mystic Invest Holdings, the parent company of small-ship operator Atlas Ocean Voyages, Germany-based Nicko Cruises and several other brands. Please contact us, return to the homepage or visit one of the links below. If you are looking for an offer visit our cruise deals page. Each of Windstar Cruises yachts accommodates between 148 to 342 guests.

Cruise Review: Windstar’s Star Legend in Alaska

We then began meeting fellow passengers at the bar, enjoying a cocktail as the world glided by. Some suites will have a third berth option and a few connecting suites will be created. There is a pool and whirlpool to enjoy on each Windstar ship plus yoga and fitness classes.

Kayaking To The Glaciers

Our zodiac tour was led by Simon, the expedition team leader, and we were the first ones to leave the boat. It was a great, brisk ride in the chilly Alaskan morning air; we learned all about glaciers and fjords and admired the rich blues on the river of ice. We also spent time talking about icebergs and the wildlife in fjords, which is perhaps surprisingly limited – though when you realize how little vegetation there is, it makes a lot more sense. Surrounded by wonders like the magnificent Cinque Terre, the culturally transcendent Alhambra, and the Belém Tower monument, it is easy to fall in love with the Mediterranean. With unique cruise itineraries, Windstar brings you closer to this spectacular part of the world.

Windstar Star Breeze Cabins (Peek Inside!)

We enjoyed another great dinner at Amphora before some evening entertainment; our entertainment director Grace Caudle serenaded us with a variety of show tunes before bed.

As we set sail from Sitka, a huge rainbow appeared above town, a good omen for a safe journey onward… I also took it as a sign that maybe our jokes about moving to Sitka should be taken seriously! Once on the open waters beyond Sitka Sound, the waves began to pick up, so we had an easy night of dinner and early bed since I’m so prone to seasickness. Once in Skagway, we all went straight onto a historic city tour, followed by a ride aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. The ride is insanely scenic and one of the best train rides in Alaska (and a bucket list ride for any Railfans). We disembarked and walked around a little bit – plus had our own small food tour visiting some of our favorite spots like Deckhand Dave’s and Tracy’s Crab Shack. Then we made our way back toward the docks, where three huge mega-ships were tied up – it was a busy day in Juneau (as most are during the summer).

Like Ski Mom, I had a fleece and a waterproof shell (though mine were bought separately rather than as a 3 in one). I was there in May 2018 which had pretty rainy cool weather and that was warm enough even then supplemented with a scarf, wool hat and gloves. The waterproof shell is good as a windbreaker even when it isn't raining. A fleece is preferable to down because down loses its insulating quality if it gets wet (unless you really mean a synthetic fill jacket). In Anchorage, I've stayed in the Hilton which is a short walk to the train station and the museum or at the Voyager Inn. The Hilton is fairly typical Hilton and Voyager Inn is a decent hotel for an overnight in Alaska.

More than 10,000 executives from cruise lines, shipyards, suppliers and destinations attend the event. "This is going to allow Windstar not only to grow but to go back to favorite destinations where we have been before and explore new destinations," Prelog told cruise writers at a press conference in Miami Beach, Florida. Windstar President Chris Prelog on Wednesday said the brand would add two new vessels by the end of 2026 — a 33% expansion of its fleet that would end a decadelong drought in new ship additions. Words like moor, loch, and geyser were born in this land, because no existing vocabulary could adequately describe these extraordinary landscapes. These regions could just as easily have coined a term for ambrosial summer evenings at seaside cafés, fairytale palaces, and storybook cities crisscrossed by canals and flower markets, all of which are here in abundance. But as your elegant ship traces its way through enchanting fjords and forgotten archipelagos, you won’t need words.

First there were green mountains, then snow-covered ones, and finally glaciers appearing through almost whiteout conditions. Had the weather worsened, we might have spent the night at the dog camp with the mushers rather than returning to the Star Breeze. When filling out your cruise itinerary, excursions are an important consideration. But all contribute to the depth of experience that you will have.

This partnership provides fabulous menus onboard, curated by top chefs who also feature on special culinary-themed voyages. In fact, Windstar will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of their partnership with the Foundation in 2025, with some special foodie cruises. We were recently invited to sail with Windstar Cruises so that we could experience what they offer discerning guests for ourselves. For example, both of the vessels will get water sports platforms, something that isn't currently part of their design.

Lunch was one of Windstar’s traditional meals, served on the top deck under the open sky. It was followed by line dancing with the crew, another Windstar tradition. For dinner, we ate at the other specialty restaurant aboard the Star Breeze, Candles.

No comments:

Post a Comment

In Photos: Every Three Key Hotel in New York City

Table Of Content Special Guest Related News Playful Pose Soho House Deals in Social and Cultural Capital. But It Trades for Art. Balthazar R...