My husband Chris and I have never considered ourselves cruise travelers. That was for older people. I’ve been a travel writer since 1995, but I never considered myself part of that group.
Finally, our first sailing trip was called. Intrigued by the impressive appearance of Windstar’s sailing ship, we booked a cabin on a Mediterranean sailing from Civitavecchia, Italy. The biggest temptation was the beautiful ship. Wind Surf’s five masts supported more than half an acre of bright white sheets, her clean hull cut through the sea with bravery, and her bow looked sharp enough to ward off icebergs. It was a sight to behold.
I was also drawn to the setting for the deck barbecue. Dinner would be held outdoors next to Stromboli, a small volcanic island nicknamed the Lighthouse of the Mediterranean. For more than two hours, the boat was floating hundreds of yards offshore, the violent volcano firing fireworks every 10 to 20 minutes and spewing lava into the sea. We clinked our wine glasses every time we convulsed.
By the end of the seven days, something else had taken hold. The waiters, bartenders, and cabin crew remembered our names and our drink orders, and they always delivered them with a relaxed smile. We began to feel at home. Chris and I won a trivia contest one night, had our photo taken on the bow, and I sat on the bridge, where the officers asked endless questions. And every time the windsurfer filled its sails and pulled out of port, the Greek composer Vangelis’ theme song from the film “1492: The Conquest of Paradise” blasted from the speakers, sending shivers down my spine with the spirit of the voyage.
This was our first Windstar cruise. It was by no means our last. Windstar has continued to provide us with cherished memories. Of course, memories of each other, but also of extended family members from our 20s to our 80s. It has become a part of our lives. We have already been on Windstar five times and are looking forward to the next one.
Connecting Our Moms In the British Isles
![](https://blog.windstarcruises.com/content/uploads/2024/06/Londons-Big-Ben-757x505.jpeg)
In 2015, Chris and I invited our 70-something mothers on a vacation. I figured a small ship cruise would be a warm environment for two elderly ladies from different backgrounds to get to know each other better. I was intrigued by Windstar’s acquisition of three Seabourn yachts, which had the advantage of a suite layout that would give the mothers some breathing room.
Star Legend's British Isles itinerary under the Windstar flag ran from London to Dublin, but instead of departing from Southampton or Dover or any other major shipping port, when I say London, I actually mean London. The Star Legend was slim enough to sail right into the heart of the city. This meant stopping traffic and lifting the magnificent Tower Bridge to allow the ship to glide 40 miles out to sea. This was at a time when East London was about to be taken over by skyscrapers, so we looked out over rooftops at iconic structures one after another. From the Yacht Club, we had privileged, elevated views of the Tower of London, Greenwich and the Thames Barrier.
![](https://blog.windstarcruises.com/content/uploads/2024/06/david-the-moms-688x505.jpg)
Joining us on the cruise was Darren McGrady, former personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II and later Princess Diana, who surprised the mums with a harmless chat and some of his favourite dishes from Buckingham Palace. A private event for Windstar was held at Picton Castle in Wales, where a Welsh choir serenaded us and the gardens enveloped us in colour and fragrance. It was a treat for our green-thumbed mums. Born on opposite coasts and taking different paths in life, they found ways to bond as we hopped from one small port to the next.
Family Cruise
![](https://blog.windstarcruises.com/content/uploads/2024/06/old-san-juan-757x505.jpeg)
Early in 2019, I looked at my calendar and found myself in a difficult situation. Every seven years or so, my husband’s birthday falls on Thanksgiving. Chris jokes that he just puts candles on the turkey. But his birthday usually falls on that weekend, and with family and friends scattered across the country, Chris often gets less money. I called his sisters and made a plan. If they would commit to taking the entire week off, I would organize a cruise and help pay for airfare for my adult nephews and nieces who could join us.
I had one condition: I had to choose the ship and the itinerary, and they agreed. There were over 100 possibilities, many of which could be ruled out based on distance, timing, or cost. But as soon as I found a Caribbean sailing from San Juan—once again aboard the Star Legend—the choice was made. And so it was that nine of us, ages 20 to 80, celebrated Thanksgiving. and Celebrate Chris's birthday with Windstar.
![](https://blog.windstarcruises.com/content/uploads/2024/06/David-whirlpool-688x505.jpg)
Although it would have been easier to sail from South Florida in many ways, I like to sail from San Juan because it allows me to maximize the islands I can visit on a 7-day cruise. For example, Grenada, the Spice Islands. Before arriving, I hired a guide and driver to tour the islands. We stopped at a nutmeg processing plant, a chocolate factory, and even a rum distillery that was powered by a wheel. Instead of a port full of tourists where large ships stop, we experienced life on a rural, agricultural island. It was a far cry from the city life of my hometown.
We continued on to Îles des Saintes, St. Lucia, and St. Maarten, but our favorite was Bequia, a cute little island in the Grenadines. There, we all took a pick-up taxi and settled down on the sandy beach of Lower Bay. Here, we rented old beach chairs and lay in the generous shade of a manchineel tree, while the gentle waves crashed against our feet. One sister made herself at home on a swing, and a stray cat found Chris’s mother and sat on her lap. The bartender told us his name was Laptop.
Unlike the large ships that regularly come out of the shipyards, Star Legend has no water slides, no casinos, and no stage for Broadway-style shows, but it does provide a free and intimate environment ideal for bonding with loved ones. I spoiled them all, and I patted myself on the back.
Let's go back to our time together
![](https://blog.windstarcruises.com/content/uploads/2023/02/Caribbean-beach-fun-sun-blog-Tortola-757x505.jpg)
When COVID-19 arrived, Chris and I were hunkered down at home. More than a year on the road was starting to take its toll. Cruise lines were hinting at a return, and itineraries were finally starting to take shape for the summer of 2021. Which cruise line would we choose when the ocean was ready to welcome us?
You know the answer. In this case, Star Breeze, along with two other ships acquired by Windstar, were refitted to reveal a new 84-foot center section. Each ship received 50 additional cabins and two new restaurants. The spa was given a makeover, and the fitness room was expanded. But despite the 50 percent increase in cabins and crew, Star Breeze didn’t feel any bigger. She was still sleek enough to tuck into small ports for unique exploration.
The sea was ready to welcome us, and so was the lovely crew of the Windstar, but the ports we had thought we would visit were not. As islands closed to cruisers, our planned itinerary was thrown out the window one by one. The British Virgin Islands? No. Anguilla and St. Barts? No, no. And when we arrived at our first port of call, Barbados, our chosen shore excursion (a simple day at the beach) was inside a bubble. We could not explore the coastline beyond the markers on either side of our loungers.
Are there any restrictions? Of course. But after more than a year of lockdown, I wouldn’t trade that week for anything. The ship created its own bubble (4 COVID tests in 8 days!), allowing us to mingle comfortably with strangers. This was something that felt like an eternity. Antigua hosted us for a few days, St Lucia hosted another couple, and it was definitely an unusual Caribbean cruise, but we were happy.
As someone whose wanderlust is almost a pain, I’ve been fortunate enough to visit some of the world’s most remote places. But there are also a lot of places that end up being blank pages in my passport. French Polynesia is one of them, and when Windstar announced that they were putting Star Breeze in Tahiti year-round, I quickly signed up.
Discover French Polynesia
![Fire Dancer of Tahitian](https://blog.windstarcruises.com/content/uploads/2015/09/AE7T5184.jpg)
Ironically, the planned itinerary for one of Windstar’s traditional Society Islands routes, Star Breeze, was rerouted due to a typhoon. The good news was that we arrived in the exotic Marquesas Islands, and even better, we did the unthinkable: we extended our trip by taking advantage of a spare cabin as part of Windstar’s wonderful continuity program. “I’m retired,” Chris said with a smile. I figured I could work while I was at sea.
And once again, with a whole new cast of characters to share in the amazing beauty of Polynesia, we walked slowly at a leisurely pace around Society Island. We cycled around two islands on electric bikes, snorkeled on another island, and went on a diving trip in Bora Bora, where I found a green moray eel staring at me from a crevice. When I turned around, it was crawling out of the rock and sliding down the sandy bottom, its length much longer than mine.
Over the course of five different trips, the Windstar day began and ended much the same: a cappuccino at the yacht club at dawn, a double espresso to go to my husband while he was still sleeping, and as the sun set, Chris ordered us a negroni at Compass Rose before dinner. It was the closest thing to being home.