Page 27 - Explore Magazine Winter 2018

Wind Spirit boasts a staff to passenger ratio of 1:5, so
25
there is always someone available to attend to your 25
every need. Our dedicated cabin steward was efficient
yet unobtrusive. The bar and wait staff knew everyone’s
names by day two and they went out of their way to
meet all requests with unfailing cheer. One of the big
drawcards of this cruise is the activities schedule. In this
Pacific paradise, life is meant to be lived outdoors and
many guests (ourselves included) took advantage of the
many onshore excursions that could be booked on board.
Note that all charges for paid activities and alcohol et
cetera are in US dollars – so costs do mount up.
Small ship cruise people have a
desire to meet and chat with you,
which is a bonus if you like to make
new friends while travelling.

Some passengers had planned ahead with pre-booked
activities with local operators in each port, so don’t feel
you have to only do what Windstar Cruises suggests
and plans. You just have to be back on board by the
evening’s sail or the ship may leave without you.
Complimentary water activities that take place off
the stern of the ship include snorkeling, windsailing,
paddle-boarding and even waterskiing. Guests can
also make use of a spa, gym, library and a small pool.
There are yoga/pilates classes, a beauty therapist
and a resident doctor who also dispenses seasickness
medications should you need them.
“Casual elegance” is the designated dress code, and
that idea permeates the on-board vibe. Passengers
leave ties and formalwear at home in favour of smart
casualwear, day and night. Dining options are limited to
three restaurants, but of excellent quality. We enjoyed
a lot of local produce daily in AmphorA, the gourmet,
course-by-course restaurant in the evenings and at
Veranda, which offers casual buffet and full-service
dining for breakfast and lunch. Candles on the aft deck
offers dining under the stars. Plentiful fresh fish, crab,
lobster and a great selection of wines, cocktails and
beers meant no one was hungry or thirsty.
The port itinerary on our seven-night “Dreams of Tahiti”
cruise included Papeete, Moorea, Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora
Bora and Huahine. The joy of a smaller ship is that it can
access ports that big liners just can’t get close to.
Windstar Cruises also incorporates small island (motu)
excursions. We all experienced a wonderful day with a
buffet lunch on a private motu and a few days later at
the highlight dinner of the cruise on another motu that
is leased exclusively by Windstar Cruises. Here we were
entertained with Tahitian dancers and a fire ceremony.
Two of our fellow passengers chose this night to get
hitched and another couple renewed their wedding
vows, making it a night to remember. Being transported
back to our ship, which sat at anchor with its sails and
masts lit up, was a magical finale. We bookended our
cruise at the spectacular Intercontinental Tahiti Resort
and Spa in Papeete, the perfect launch- and end-point
for our Tahiti experience.

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : WINTER EDITION