Two Ports in Guadeloupe

Day 6 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).

Today the Wind Surf visited two islands of Guadeloupe: Basse Terre and Iles des Saintes. We really enjoyed both ports, but we fell in love with Iles des Saintes!

Guadeloupe is actually two islands – Basse Terre and Grand Terre. They're connected by the strait Riviere Salee and together they form the subtle shape of a butterfly.

For more information on Guadeloupe, click here. For additional details on Les Saintes, visit this website.

At Basse Terre, the Wind Surf was able to dock — a nice change of pace from the use of tenders to shore. We booked a Windstar glass-bottom boat shore excursion to visit Pigeon Island (no relation to Pigeon Island, St. Lucia) and the Cousteau Marine Reserve.

A modern air-conditioned bus picked us up (about 40 Wind Surf guests) from the dock in the morning. Our guide told us about Guadeloupe during the approximately 30-minute drive to Malendure Beach. The ride was well worth it! This is a lovely black sand beach with a scuba rental kiosk for trips to nearby Pigeon Island. There is also a small outdoor market with stalls selling straw hats and bags, clothes, postcards, recipe books, and more.

The glass-bottom boat that tours around Pigeon Island, off Malendure Beach.

Pigeon Island.

This was the perfect tour for me since I'm not the strongest swimmer. While others were able to snorkle off the back of the boat, I stayed on board and watched the fish through the glass floor. Everyone who did snorkled loved the location! Lots of beautiful sea creatures and the opportunity to see locals fishing nearby.


We returned to the Wind Surf that afternoon. A small outdoor market was set up on the dock and the local tourism department was on hand to showcase native costumes and traditional dances.

Traditional Guadeloupe dress.

As we sailed from Basse Terre, we enjoyed a terrific Mexican buffet lunch at Veranda. We then visited the charming island of Iles des Saintes, off the southern coast of Guadeloupe. This is a gorgeous, albeit tiny, enclave – just five square miles housing 1,500 residents.

Postcard from Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe.

You'll tender to the small coastal town of Bourg. Here you'll enjoy shopping the main drag for T-shirts, jewelry, rum, paintings from a local art gallery, etc.. There are several restaurants here, an ice cream parlor, and a few outdoor cafe/bars.

Postcard from Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe.

Our Basse Terre tour guide had raved about Pompierre (Pont Pierre Beach) on Iles des Saintes so we decided to head there first. To that end, we left our cameras on the Wind Surf. Big mistake! To get to Pompierre, you must walk for about 20 minutes along a paved road (some parts are a bit steep). After about five minutes, there's a switchback in the road and you'll have an amazing view of the bay and the Wind Surf. Wow! I wish we had our cameras!

As we walked further, we were greeted by sheep, goats, cows, and roosters. The trek was a bit much in the heat, but it was so worth it when we arrived at Pompierre. This is a spectacular beach with lots of shade trees and several gazebos that are so useful when you want to enjoy a picnic lunch. Be forewarned though...the goats are a bit feisty and will try to nab your snackables!

Postcard from Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe.

Iles des Saintes was spectacular and we can't wait to visit again soon!

Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Beautiful St. Barth's

Day 5 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).

It’s about 4:00 p.m. and the Wind Surf leaves St. Barth’s in its wake in about half an hour. This was another fantastic day.

St. Barth’s is beautiful! It's also an enclave for the rich (make that super-rich) and famous. Just walk along the dock at Gustavia (where the Wind Surf tender drops off visitors) and you'll see mega-yachts from all over the world. This is a French outpost, but most locals also speak English. (Learn more about St. Barthelemy here.)

Yachts moored at Gustavia, St. Barthelemy.

Gustavia is a cute little village with lots of restaurants, duty free boutiques, and specialty shops.

We had originally planned to rent a car, but thankfully changed our minds. The roads are incredibly narrow and steep! The mountainous terrain can be intimidating to drivers, especially the areas that lack guardrails. Here's the type of car you can rent (see below).

Instead of renting a car, we opted to ride the shuttle. For $15 per person, you can hop on and hop off the small minivan and visit different parts of the island. The trip provided a great overview and we were able to get off the van whenever we saw something of interest.

Here's a photo of the airport which is affectionately called "La Torment." I'm so glad we sailed here instead of flying!

The beaches are lovely but a few are tougher to reach than others. For example, you'll need to hike a bit to get to Colombier (but we heard it was worth the effort; we'll head there next time).

Many Wind Surf passengers walked to nearby Shell Beach to enjoy some snorkeling. Others went to La Saline, Gouverneur beach, and Grand Cul de Sac lagoon.

We visited Saint Jean Beach so we could also check out Eden Rock Hotel (below).

The sails should unfurl at any minute, so we’re heading topside to watch. Tomorrow we visit Basse Terre and Ile des Saintes, Guadeloupe.

Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Out of This World Caribbean Buffet

Day 4 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).


Tonight was the Wind Surf’s signature Caribbean Buffet. The crew transformed The Lounge into a dining room and prepared a sumptuous buffet in the area where the art is usually showcased (between The Lounge and the Yacht Club). A gloriously whimsical dessert buffet was also setup in The Restaurant’s lobby.

The meal was simply out of this world and the artistry shown in the décor and desserts was impressive. When I post my full cruise review at LuxuryCruiseBible.com, I’ll include the menu. For now, I’ll just post a few photos.

The beginning of the buffet table.

Proscuitto-wrapped melon.

Shrimp cocktail and crab legs.

Shrimp-stuffed avocados.

Roast suckling pig — delicious!

Cheese course.

The salad bar.

Bread, bread, and more bread!

The dessert table featuring marzipan dolphins!

Carrot cake (check out the cute marzipan bunny!), apple strudel, and strawberry cream swan puffs.

Luscious cheesecake with chocolate mice. Adorable!

Dolphin closeup.

Look at all these desserts! Note the meringue pineapple in the background (left).

A special strawberry cake.

Mmmm!

The table setup in The Lounge for this special Caribbean Buffet.

The crew show followed the buffet and everyone went back to their cabins smiling!

Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Marigot, St. Martin

Day 4 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).

The view of Marigot bay from Fort Louis.

Today was one of those perfect vacation days! We tendered to Marigot on the French side of St. Martin. (To learn more about this island paradise, visit the website for their department of tourism.) Since this is one of the more developed islands that we're visiting on this itinerary, we decided to rent a car. We selected a mid-size, four-door from Xtreme ($35 US). The rental kiosks are right on the pier so it's very easy to rent a car, even if you don't have a reservation. Xtreme provided great service and the car was ready after about two minutes of paperwork.

We immediately headed to nearby Fort Louis (you can walk to the Fort from the pier, by the way). Once you park there is still a very steep staircase that you must climb, but the view is really worth it! From here, you can see just about all of Marigot. This is also the perfect spot to take photos of the Wind Surf.

The gorgeous Wind Surf as seen from Fort Louis. Really, it's worth the hike up here!

From the Fort, we headed to Plantation Mont Vernon. This is a good stop if you enjoy learning a bit about the history of the island and want to take photos (plantation house, coffee bean production area, rum distillery, etc.). There is also a nice gift shop here.

After the Plantation, we headed to Orient Beach…quite lovely but really crowded! If you want to parasail or water ski, this is a great spot. If you want peace and quiet, find a more secluded beach!

Orient Beach – way too crowded for me, but it's a very pretty area.

After looking around for a bit, we moved on to Grand Case and had a delicious lunch at a small French restaurant called Le Soleil. From there we drove around to take in some sights and then ended up back at the pier for some shopping at the Marigot Marketplace (local crafts and souvenirs).

We were getting pretty tired so we headed back to the ship to rest and decided to have dinner there. We are so glad we did! Read the next blog entry to find out why.

Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Wind Surf Changes Her Flag Today

Day 4 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).


Today was a special day for the crew. As you may know, Holland America/Carnival recently sold Windstar Cruises to Ambassadors Line. The ship officially changed flag this afternoon. We sailed from Barbados under the Dutch flag but are now sailing under the flag of the Bahamas.


Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

St. Kitts & Nevis

Day 3 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).

We woke to find that the Wind Surf was not docked at Bassetterre on St. Kitts as originally planned. Evidently, the Jamaican Navy had taken our slip, so Captain Mark Boylin had to anchor in the harbor. Hey, this is the Caribbean. Expect changes in the schedule; they will occur from time to time. This was really no big deal. It just meant taking a quick tender ride to the pier.

St. Kitts and Nevis (our afternoon port) are a two-island federation and are only two miles apart. This is the smallest independent nation you can visit in the western hemisphere. To learn more about St. Kitts, visit the website for their department of tourism.

St. Kitts is quite small and it’s best to take a tour here or rent a taxi and have the driver give you the low down on the island. The local taxi drivers wait at the pier and will show you on a map the places they can take you. Negotiate a price before getting in the car/van. (The drivers are friendly but do give an aggressive sales pitch.)

There is a lot of construction going on in Basseterre and it looks like they're creating a modern duty free shopping mall right off the pier. Not many of the shops were open when we visited, but we're not too interested in shopping anyway!

Elise, the Wind Surf's hostess, suggested the following points of interest on the island:

Beaches: Frigate Bay, Friar's Bay, Banana Bay, Cockleshell Bay, Sand Bank Bay, and White House Bay (all with white sand). White House Bay is a good destination for snorkeling. (Don't forget to bring along your complimentary Windstar-provided snorkle gear!) The best beaches are on the island's southeastern coast.

Points of Interest:

Fort. Most of the islands we visited have at least one fort to explore. On St. Kitts, head to Brimstone Hill. It's about 30 minutes from Basseterre, entry is $8 U.S., and the hours are generally 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Berkeley Memorial Clock at the Circus. This spot is reminiscent of London's Piccadilly Circus.

Independence Square.

The Anglican Church.

Traditional British colonial houses.

Pelican Shopping Mall.

If you don't plan on going to the beach or shopping, it won't take you long to explore St. Kitts. Windstar offered one shore excursion here: a 3.5 hour scenic train ride (with part of the loop via bus). We didn't want to be confined for that long so we did our own thing.

Our main goal for this half-day port was to take some photos. However, the skies were a bit cloudy so we weren’t able to get too many “money” shots. When it began to rain, we headed back to the Wind Surf to get ready for our afternoon sail to nearby Nevis. Again, this is another small island, but the beaches are gorgeous. Some of our fellow passengers headed for the posh Four Seasons resort; others went to the beach for swimming and snorkeling. This is the place to see lots of animals, including monkeys, goats, rosters/chickens, etc.

For further details on Nevis, visit the website for their department of tourism.

Windstar offered tender service to Charlestown, as well as a few excursions. In hindsight, we should have signed up for the 3.5 hour kayaking adventure. That sounded really fun! There was also a biking tour and a trip to the plantation inns of Nevis.

Weather permitting, this is the place to spend time at the beach. We unfortunately had a cloudy, somewhat rainy day so we didn't visit as many places as we originally thought we might. When you go, check out Pinney's Beach, Oualie Beach, the Nisbet Plantation Inn, Montpelier Plantation, The Hermitage, Golden Rock Plantation, the rainforest, and the Botanical Gardens.

After an hour or so on Nevis, we headed back to the ship for a dip in the pool before dinner at The Restaurant. We dined toward the end of dinner service, but the room was still hopping! The meal here was one of the best we’ve had on any cruise ship. In fact, it was one of the best meals I’ve had at a restaurant…period! My starter was a roasted acorn squash timbale while Leonard had a Caesar salad. We both enjoyed French onion soup and then a perfect Maine lobster tail. (We’re from New England and have easy access to Maine lobster, but we both agreed this was the tastiest lobster we’ve had in ages.) For dessert, I went for a caramel pudding and Len couldn’t resist the cheese course. The meal was scrumptious!

After dinner we strolled around the ship and then enjoyed a nightcap before retiring for the evening. Tomorrow we visit St. Martin!

Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Sea Day Aboard the Wind Surf

Day 2 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).

Relaxing by the aft pool.

Today was the only sea day on this Caribbean itinerary and everyone was out in force by the pools and on deck. When the Wind Surf is fully booked (as it is on this cruise), it’s a bit tough to snag chaise lounges since many guests “claim” them early in the morning by leaving a book or beach bag on the chair. If you want a good location on deck or near the pool, you need to do this. We couldn’t get a good spot until about 4:00 p.m. Even so, we had a great day relaxing and chatting while working on our tans.

Once again, we ate dinner at Degrees. Tonight was “Indonesian” night and the crew decorated the restaurant to reflect the theme. A very nice touch!


Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Windstar Provides Info on Sale

Day 1 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).

When we boarded the Wind Surf this afternoon, we received the following letter from Windstar Cruises. It explains the sale of the line to Ambassadors International. Here's the full text:
Dear Guests,

On February 22, 2007 Holland America Line announced that it will sell Windstar Cruises to Ambassadors International, a Newport, California-based cruise, marine, travel, and event company.

Both companies are committed to making the transition seamless and positive for all of Windstar Cruises guests and staff. Ambassadors International is no stranger to the cruise industry and has a successful history of operating luxury cruise ships under its Majestic America Line brand.

Ambassadors plans to operate the Windstar Cruises brand as it exists today, including its itineraries, casually elegant atmosphere, unique culinary experience, and the famed on-board service delivered by its renowned staff. Moreover, Ambassadors will endeavor to improve the value proposition for its guests.

The sale is scheduled to close at the beginning of April. However, Holland America Line/Windstar Cruises will continue to handle reservations and operate the vessels in the near term through a transitional services agreement. Ambassadors also looks forward to welcoming the extraordinary officers, crew, and personnel of Windstar Cruises to its family, which now includes a fleet of 10 ships and approximately 2,200 passenger berths.

We know the officers and crew aboard this ship are looking forward to delivering the renowned service and experience of Windstar Cruises. Please enjoy your cruise vacation.

Sincerely,

Diane Moore, Vice President / Marketing and Sales — Windstar Cruises
David Giersdorf, President — Ambassadors Cruise Group

Boarding the Wind Surf in Barbados

Day 1 aboard Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf (Barbados Northbound).

The Wind Surf docked in Bridgetown, Barbados.

This morning we woke to a beautiful Barbados sunrise. The stress from the previous day of travel had already started to slip away and we were anxious to head to the cruise terminal and board the Windstar Wind Surf at 1:00 p.m.

We walked the beach from our home base at the Coconut Court Beach Resort to the Hilton. The waves at the beach fronting the Hilton are definitely rougher than at CCBR, but there are a few break walls that help slow things down a bit. There is also a surf spot close to the Hilton.

Rough waves near the Hilton, Barbados.

We did not walk in the opposite direction toward the Accra Beach Hotel, but we did see the entrance when we drove to our hotel last night.

After some beach time and a walk-round for snapping pictures, we checked out of Coconut Court and hopped in a cab bound for the Barbados cruise terminal. Since it’s Sunday, all of the shops (save one ceramic boutique) were closed. A Wind Surf crew person checked us in and took our luggage and we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a shuttle bus to transfer us to the ship. (It was close enough to walk but with all of the truck and bus traffic, Windstar required all passengers to transfer via shuttle.)

This was our first trip aboard the Wind Surf and our first impression was, “Wow!” She really is a gorgeous ship — inside and out. We could’t wait to see the sails unfurl!

Check-in was a bit more comprehensive than on other ships we’ve sailed, but it still only took about 20 minutes from start to finish. Upon boarding the Wind Surf, we were ushered to The Lounge on the Main Deck and were handed a rum punch (thank you!). A tray of tea sandwiches was also available.

To check in, we visited three tables: At the first table, we surrendered our passports and showed our boarding passes and immigration cards. A crewman at the next table swiped our credit card and took our photos for security purposes. We then picked up our room keys at the final table and were escorted to our cabin on Deck One. We booked the first cabin on the hallway — all the way forward — near the elevator. We like this location since it’s easy to get to everything on the ship from here. The one downside is being able to clearly hear the ship’s horn (really only an issue in the evening when you're trying to sleep).

I was worried that the cabin — with just two small portholes — would seem cramped, but Windstar really put some thought into the layout of this room. It actually felt spacious due to the strategic use of mirrors and the dual portholes. (More on the cabin categories in my cruise review that I’ll post to LuxuryCruiseBible.com after returning from vacation.)

The ports of call for this cruise include:
Bridgetown, Barbados
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Charlestown, Nevis
Marigot, St. Martin
Gustavia, St. Barthelemy
Basse Terre, Guadeloupe
Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe
Pigeon Island, St. Lucia
Bridgetown, Barbados



Since our luggage was in our room when we arrived, we went ahead and unpacked and freshened up before heading up to the Compass Rose to enjoy a glass of wine and afternoon tea.

Later that evening, we dined at Degrees. You do need to make reservations for this open-seating dining room, but there is no additional surcharge and the food is excellent! I enjoyed a grilled shrimp cocktail, delicious olive foccacia (all of the bread baked on the Wind Surf is excellent), a champagne sorbet palate cleanser, and bacon-wrapped filet mignon with creamed spinach and shoestring French fries. I topped it off with a piece of flourless chocolate cake, accented with pistachio brittle (luscious!).

Our night out at Degrees was fantastic and set our expectations for the rest of the cruise. We can’t wait for breakfast tomorrow! The Wind Surf sails for St. Kitts this evening around midnight. We'll have a full sea day tomorrow. Stay tuned for more information about our Caribbean escape with Windstar.

Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Finally Arrived in Barbados Despite the NYC Snow!

It’s been one of those days. A blast of snow, sleet, and ice hit New Jersey on Friday. My husband was out snowplowing the driveway and walkways at 5:00 a.m. (Sorry to all our neighbors for the excessive morning noise!) The storm had been so bad, our dead end street wasn’t yet plowed by the designated pickup time for our car to the airport. Yes, we had to hump our luggage down the street – across heaps of snow and ice – to get to the main road where our taxi was waiting. Phew! Nice start to the day, but at least we were heading to the Caribbean!

Prior to leaving for the airport, I called American Airlines several times to confirm that our flight would depart from JFK to Barbados. They indicated that not only was the flight leaving, it was on schedule. Terrific! Well, the 1-(800) operators don’t always have the most recent information from the field. We arrived at JFK and waited in the check-in line for 105 minutes. This left us only 20 minutes before takeoff! With no time to stop to grab breakfast, we raced through the terminal and boarded the airplane.

Just as we finished stowing our carry-on items, the flight attendant announced that due to yesterday’s weather, numerous planes were in front of us for de-icing and we wouldn’t take off for at least an hour and a half. Oh boy. Ground crew did escort a few of us off the plane so we could stock up on food. That was a wise move since we eventually sat on the tarmac for FOUR more hours! We didn’t take off until 2:30 p.m. (We should have landed in Barbados by that time!) It was not a fun day, but we made it and we’re now here in beautiful Barbados!

View from our oceanfront room at the Coconut Court Beach Hotel.

Since we booked this cruise at the last minute, the Accra Beach Hotel — Windstar’s preferred resort — was completely booked. Instead, we took a room at the nearby Coconut Court Beach Hotel. The hotel consists of 77 rooms and offers a small pool and Jacuzzi, a restaurant/bar, beach volleyball, table tennis, and pool tables. There are also several activities scheduled throughout the day.

Coconut Court's beach and pool area (see far right).

The room we booked is air-conditioned, clean, and spacious with an oceanfront view. French doors lead to a small balcony overlooking the gorgeous beach. Internet access is included in the room rate (about $180 U.S./night). It's so nice to be able to check e-mail and post to our blog from our room.

We just had a lovely late dinner at The Deck Restaurant (open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.). The food was quite good (grilled king fish) and the service was excellent.

Overall, the hotel is nice for the price, but I wouldn’t stay here for a week. (No room service or in-room minibar and a way too-firm bed led me to this decision.) But, if you’re coming in to Barbados and need a room for the day or one night, this is a solid choice. Coconut Court has a prime beach location – a nice calm stretch of it – and you can easily walk to the Hilton from here.

Tomorrow we board the Windstar Wind Surf!

Photos © Leonard Hospidor. Please do not use without permission.

Silversea Announces New Ship Plans

Wow! This is exciting news! Silversea just announced its plans for a new ship! More news to come. The official press release is below...

Miami — March 13, 2007) Ultra-luxury operator Silversea Cruises has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for one 36,000-GRT, 540-guest, ultra-luxury vessel from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri with delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2009. The line has also signed an option for a sister ship with Fincantieri.

The agreement with Fincantieri is conditional to final contract and financing. However, an irrevocable banking commitment, fully underwritten, has already been obtained and is only subject to the final loan agreement.

"This is a very exciting time for our company as we are now poised to further develop our unique style of luxury travel with a new generation of ship design," said Manfredi Lefebvre, Silversea's chairman. "Fincantieri is the ideal shipbuilder to craft our new luxury vessel that will carry on our tradition of being an innovator and trendsetter in ultra-luxury cruising."

Added Amerigo Perasso, Silversea's president, "This newbuild order shows great confidence in the luxury segment's potential for greater demand. Silversea will be well positioned to fully meet this future demand in North America and our international markets."

Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri's chief executive officer stated, "The agreement with Silversea, the major player in the ultra-luxury segment, marks a further important step in our strategy to consolidate our position as a leading shipbuilder for the upscale cruise and mega-yacht markets."

The newbuild order is the first one for Silversea since 1998 when contracts for Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper were signed. The award-winning vessels entered into service in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

With the newbuild, Silversea's overall fleet capacity grows from 1,356 berths to 1,896 berths, representing a 40% increase.

The purchase price and design details about the new vessel will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.

Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard four intimate vessels, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, and Silver Whisper, all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. For the ninth year, Silversea was named "Number One" small-ship line in the 2005 "Readers' Choice" survey conducted by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. For the sixth time, Silversea was selected "World's Best" small-ship line in the 2004 Travel + Leisure readers' poll.

Windstar Cruise Docs Arrive!

Our cruise documents arrived first thing this morning via DHL. Quite impressive considering we only booked the cruise at the end of last week! Windstar’s customer service has been excellent thus far and we are counting the days until we set sail.

The standard documents arrived in a navy blue canvas pouch with the Windstar logo emblazoned in gold on the front. Basic itinerary information was included, along with four disposable luggage tags.

We only have a few days to research island excursion options, but we’ll probably opt to tour independently at most ports of call.

T minus seven days and the countdown begins!

Last-Minute Windstar Voyage Booked!

It's been a rough winter here on the East Coast so my husband and I decided to book a last-minute Caribbean cruise. As you know, booking a luxury cruise at the spur of the moment can be difficult since most suites were reserved long ago. We just crossed our fingers and hoped for the best.

For this voyage, we want to go somewhere warm and sunny. Our agenda is to sit by the pool and on the beach, and we want to do some snorkeling and island hiking. In short, we want to recharge our batteries.

Windstar's Wind Surf Barbardos Northbound itinerary matched our needs perfectly. And since Windstar offers a more relaxed shipboard environment, we won't have to pack clothes and shoes for any formal nights...a definite plus when you want to travel super light!

Most of Wind Surf's sailings were, in fact, sold out. However, we were able to snag a category B stateroom on her March 18th departure from Bridgetown, Barbados. Here's the itinerary:

Sunday: Barbados
Monday: At Sea
Tuesday: St. Kitts
Tuesday: Charlestown, Nevis
Wednesday: Marigot, St. Martin
Thursday: Gustavia, St. Barthelemy
Friday: Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
Friday: Isle Des Sainte, Guadeloupe
Saturday: Pigeon Island, St. Lucia
Sunday: Bridgetown, Barbados

We booked this cruise a few days ago and should receive our documents at the beginning of next week! We'll be blogging each day of our cruise (as long as Internet access is available). If you've got any questions about Windstar, let me know and I'll try to find the answers while onboard the Wind Surf. I'm anxious to talk with the crew and find out more about the change of ownership from Holland America Line (Carnival) to Ambassadors International. I'm hoping the crew will be kept in-tact and that the only changes for Windstar will be positive ones. For more on the recent sale of Windstar, click here.

Have you cruised the Caribbean lately? If you've got any advice regarding any of the ports listed above, please let me know!

Regent's New Arts Endowment Program

You've got to hand it to Regent Seven Seas Cruises for finding a way for its passengers to support the arts while vacationing in style. Regent's new Art Experience and Endowment Program donates money to specific art museums when cruisers book directly through the museum. The first such partnership is with Miami's Bass Museum of Art. Travelers can book one of 10 European cruises this year and Regent will donate $400 per booking to the museum. Guests will also receive a $200 per suite shipboard credit.

According to Sophie Vlessing, vice president of guest strategy and marketing for the cruise line, "Regent's partnership with the Bass Museum illustrates the beginning of the brand's pioneering commitment to the Regent Art Experience and Endowment Program and its goal to support the arts. The program also gives us the opportunity to offer guest meaningful, often once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to gain private access to art experts, artists, and exhibits through many of our voyages."

Bass Museum executive director and chief curator Diane Camber will lead Art, Design, and Cultures Circles of Interest programs during the following cruises:
July 19, 2007: Barcelona to Monte Carlo
August 11, 2007: Civitavecchia (for Rome) to Monte Carlo
August 18, 2007: Civitavecchio to Venice

Ms. Camber will accompany guests to ancient Roman ruins, to survey Michelangelo's masterpieces throughout Florence, and view the private collection of Billionaire collector Francois Pinault at the Palazzo Grassi in Venice. Onboard, Camber will discuss the works of Gaudi, Miro, Picasso, and Caravaggio.

Seven additional voyages are part of the Regent-Bass initiative and can be booked directly through the Bass Museum of Art, including four Baltic sailings with Russian art and literature expert Vadim Palchun.
July 28, 2007: Stockholm to Copenhagen
August 4, 2007: Copenhagen to Stockholm
August 11, 2007: Stockholm to Copenhagen
August 18, 2007: Copenhagen to Stockholm

Other cruises in this series:
May 14, 2007: Barcelona to Civitavecchia
May 19, 2007: Monte Carlo to Piraeus (for Athens)

For more information and reservations, contact Julia Gerstman at the Bass Museum at (305) 673-7530 Ext. 1015 or via e-mail at jgerstman@bassmuseum.org.

Silversea's 2007 Culinary & Wine Voyages

I admit it: I love great food. My husband and I consider ourselves to be "discerning" (okay, maybe picky) when it comes to dining out. We enjoy trying new things and we cook at home quite a bit. To that end, it's always a learning experience when we can speak with a chef to pick up a few new tips and techniques. With Silversea's culinary and wine voyages, there are plenty of opportunities to meet well-known guest chefs in 2007.

Six culinary sailings are currently slated for the year. On each sailing, a guest chef will be on hand for a series of cooking demonstrations. In addition, these Culinary Arts enrichment voyages included a five-course “grand” gourmet dinner, regional specialties throughout the cruise, special food and wine pairings, and an escorted trip to local markets. During your cruise, the guest chef and Silversea’s own executive chef will be available for informal question and answer sessions.

For travelers who are more interested in wine than food, consider the Wine Series. You’ll visit renown wineries and sample some of the finest vintages available. Special lectures by guest speakers are scheduled, as are a variety of wine tastings.

These special voyages are listed below:

CULINARY ARTS

Silver Whisper's 9-day Famous Fortresses cruise from Nice to Athens, May 28 - June 6, 2007 (Voyage 4718). Guest Chef: Anne Desjardins, L'Eau à La Bouche, Ste-Adèle, Quebec. Silver Sailing fares start at $4,557 per person.

Silver Whisper's 6-day Bon Vivant Collection voyage from Barcelona to Rome, June 30 - July 6, 2007 (Voyage 4722). Guest Chef: Cal Stamenov, Marinus at Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley, California. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $4,330 per person.

Silver Cloud's special 7-day Privileged Passage from Athens to Istanbul, July 13 - 20, 2007 (Voyage 1718). Guest Chef: Paisarn Cheewinsiriwat, Chiva-Som luxury health resort, Thailand. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,350 per person.

Silver Whisper's 7-day Realms of Myth and Legend cruise from Athens to Venice, August 3 - 10, 2007 (Voyage 4727). Guest Chef: Gale Gand, Tru, Chicago, Illinois. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,036 per person.

Silver Whisper's 7-day Timeless Treasures cruise from Venice to Rome, August 10 - 17, 2007 (Voyage 4728). Guest Chef: Renato Piccolotto, Hotel Cipriani, Venice, Italy. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,036 per person.

Silver Shadow's 7-day Realm of the Romanovs IV cruise from Copenhagen to Stockholm, August 11 - 18, 2007 (Voyage 3720). Guest Chef: Jean-Paul Bondoux, La Bourgogne, Punta del Este, Uruguay and Restaurant Jean-Paul Bondoux, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,485 per person.


WINE SERIES

Silver Whisper's 9-day Mediterranean Collection voyage from Athens to Monte Carlo, May 2 - 11, 2007 (Voyage 4713). Hosted by David Elswood, International Head for Christie's Wine Department. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $6,115 per person.

Silver Cloud's 10-day Landscapes and Legacies cruise from Venice to Nice, July 30 - August 9, 2007 (Voyage 1720). Hosted by Bellavista Winery of Franciacorta (Lombardy), Italy. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $7,036 per person.

Silver Whisper's 7-day Prestige and Traditions cruise from Barcelona to Monte Carlo, September 14 - 21, 2007 (Voyage 4733). Hosted by Virginie Coutou, General Manager of Diva Wines, Madrid, Spain. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $4,925 per person.

Silver Wind's 8-day South American Sojourn from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires, November 27 - December 5, 2007 (Voyage 2732). Hosted by Eduardo Pulenta, Jr., Export Manager of Pulenta Estate, Mendoza, Argentina. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $4,670 per person.

Silver Cloud's 11-day African Odyssey from Port Louis to Cape Town, December 11 - 22, 2007 (Voyage 1734). Hosted by Duimpie Bayley, South African wine expert. Silver Sailing fares start at $4,286 per person.

For more information, visit Silversea's website.

Regent's New Art Circles of Interest

If you’re cruising with Regent Seven Seas Cruises this summer and you have an interest in the arts, you may wish to consider booking one of the cruise line’s new Circles of Interest packages. Here are the just-released details, direct from Regent:

Regent has unveiled five new Art, Design and Cultures Circles of Interest for Mediterranean and Baltic cruises this summer aboard the Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Navigator. Circles of Interest offer guests the opportunity to discover a destination through a lens of particular interest, with the insights of an expert guest host and the camaraderie of a smaller community of guests who share similar interests.

Masterpieces of the Mediterranean
As part of the recently launched Regent Art Experience and Endowment Program, a partnership with the Bass Museum of Art on Miami Beach brings executive director and chief curator Diane Camber to Regent, leading guests on four Circles of Interest aboard three Mediterranean sailings this summer. Each of the four Circle of Interest programs includes a private welcome cocktail party, dinner, onboard lecture, and an exclusive shore experience with unique and private access. Participation is limited to only 30 guests. In addition to planned onboard and on shore activities, Ms. Camber will help facilitate smaller community events where possible.

The July 19 and August 11 Mediterranean sailings aboard Seven Seas Navigator both feature two Circle of Interest programs. During the first Circle, "Power, Passion & Glory - Diane Camber's Florence," Circle of Interest guests will join Ms. Camber for visits to the Museum of San Marco; the Medici Chapels and six tombs of the Medici Grand Dukes, adorned with some of Michelangelo's most famous sculptures; the Piazza del Duomo, Baptistery and Cathedral; Brancacci Chapel and a drive through the Piazzale Michelangelo. Guests will also explore the role of the Medici in religion and enjoy a lunch of local flavor. ($315 per guest)

The second Circle of Interest on those sailings is "Les Artistes de la Côte d'Azur," where Ms. Camber will use her curator's eye and personal connections at the Musée Matisse and Musée Nationale Marc Chagall to share her knowledge of the works and provide insights into the lives and times of these two modern French masters. Guests will also witness first-hand the artistic beauty of the French Riviera through a private drive. ($175 per guest)

On board ship, the July 19 voyage's Circle of Interest programs will include a private discussion on Napoleon and art – depictions of him as well as how his conquests enriched what is now considered French artistic patrimony. The August 11 voyage includes a private discussion on Modernity: Gaudí, Miró and Picasso.

The August 18 sailing of Seven Seas Navigator also features two Circles of Interest. The first, "Passione per l'arte – A Personal View with Diane Camber," includes a shore experience where guests will travel by private water taxi to the Palazzo Grassi in Venice , which holds the largest private contemporary art collection and is owned by Francois Pinault, one of the world's richest men. Later, a short ride brings guests to another bastion of contemporary art: the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, housed in her personal villa. ($255 per guest)

The second Circle of Interest on that sailing is "Stabbiano di Castelammare – Dig for History, Art and Local Flavor." A private coach will drive along the Bay of Naples to offer guests a unique look at the lives of the ancient rich and famous, including an opportunity to witness an excavation of the Roman villas of ancient Stabiae. These sea-side homes comprise the largest group of villas built by the rich and powerful Romans in the first centuries BC and AD – a building boom halted by the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius . En route back to Sorrento , guests will stop at a typical farm house to learn how mozzarella is made and enjoy a light lunch of local specialties. ($175 per guest)

On board the August 18 voyage, the Circle of Interest programs will include an exclusive talk on the culture, art and architecture of the Adriatic . Camber will also discuss Caravaggio – the man, his art, and his significance as an innovator and iconoclast.

St. Petersburg's Jewel, The Hermitage Museum
Born and raised in the City of Light, special host and expert on Russian art and literature, Vadim Palchun will lead guests on a discovery of Russia’s famed Hermitage Museum, "From Restoration Rooms to Gallery Walls – The Hermitage from a Personal Perspective." On board Seven Seas Voyager, guests will participate in a welcome cocktail party, an informative talk on the history of The Hermitage art collection, and a private dinner with other Circle of Interest guests. On shore, guests will enjoy exclusive access to one of the museum's Restorations Rooms. These rooms consist of the following: painting workshop; workshop of monumental paintings and sculptures; fabric workshops; and workshops of applied art and porcelain. The day will then continue with a tour of the collection and a visit to Palchun's personal highlights contained in this vast museum. In addition to planned onboard and on shore activities, Mr. Palchun will help facilitate smaller community events where possible.

This program will be offered aboard the following Seven Seas Voyager sailings this summer, each seven nights in length and featuring calls in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Helsinki, Visby (Sweden), and overnights in St. Petersburg: July 14, July 21, July 28, Aug. 4, Aug. 11, Aug. 18, and Aug. 25. Participation is limited to only 30 guests. ($255 per guest)