windstar cruises crew

Windstar Cruises History: Through The Ages

Windstar Cruises is a cruise line that has been providing high-quality cruises since it was founded in 1984. The company started out with just a single ship to its name, but has since grown to include a fleet of six luxury vessels.

Despite its growth, Windstar remains committed to providing an intimate and personalized cruising experience for all of its guests. In this article, we'll be taking a trip through the history of Windstar—from its early years right up to the present day.

Humble Beginnings

Windstar's first ship was the Wind Star—a sleek, 4-masked motor sailing yacht that could accommodate just 148 passengers. The ship was originally launched in 1986, immediately drawing praise from passengers for its intimate size and elegant design.

In the years that followed, Windstar added two more sailing yachts to its fleet: Wind Song (1987) - a now scuttled 4-masted motor sailing yacht with a capacity of 159, and Wind Spirit (1988) - an intimate, 4-masted motor sailing yacht with a capacity of 148.

By now you may have noticed a trend - Windstar's first three ships all had 4 masts. This was a major selling point for the company, and to this day, Windstar is the only cruising line to offer 4-masted sailing yachts.

Turning Heads

By 1988, Windstar Cruises was making a name for itself as a provider of high-end, luxury cruises. The company's vessels were turning heads, and its reputation for providing an intimate and personalized cruising experience was growing.

This reputation caught the eyes of executives at Holland America Line (HAL), who decided to purchase 50% of Windstar. HAL—a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation —is a major player in the cruising industry, and the acquisition gave Windstar the resources it needed to expand its fleet.

With backing from HAL and Carnival Corporation, Windstar Cruises decided it was time to scale up their fleet with the purchase of a massive ship—the Wind Surf .

Coming in at 14,745 tons, Wind Surf may be small when compared with most modern cruise ships. But for Windstar, this ship was almost three times larger than their previous largest vessel. The Wind Surf could accommodate up to 342 passengers and a crew of 210.

This purchase marked a major turning point for Windstar, as the company now had the resources to compete with other luxury cruise lines.

Major Setbacks

It hasn't always been smooth sailing for Windstar. 

In 2002, the Wind Song was anchored in French Polynesia near the island of Tahiti. Suddenly, an electrical fault sparked a fire in the engine room and forced all 127 passengers and 92 crew members to evacuate to lifeboats. Luckily, no one was hurt.

The French Navy eventually put out the fire and towed the ship to Papeete. Inspections revealed that the ship would be so costly to fix that it was not worth repairing. The ship was towed out into the open ocean and scuttled. It now rests at the ocean floor about 10,000 feet below.

In 2007 HAL and Carnival Corporation sold Windstar Cruises.

Modern Renovations

Now under new ownership with the Xanterra Group, in 2014 Windstar announced that it was purchasing three new vessels to join the fleet.

Star Pride (1988) - a 362-foot motor yacht that can accommodate 212 passengers; Star Breeze (1988) - a sister ship to Star Pride ; Star Legend (1990) - a sister ship to both Star Pride and Star Breeze

In 2019 Windstar Cruises announced its Star Plus programme, to renovate the Star Pride, Star Breeze, and Star Legend —as they were originally built in the late 1980s they were starting to show their age.

The renovations included the addition of new suites, staterooms, restaurants, and lounges. After the renovations were complete, the three ships emerged as modern luxury vessels that are on par with any other ship in their class.

Where is Windstar Today?

Windstar Cruises is a luxury cruise line that is known for its intimate sailing experience and elegant vessels. The company currently has three motor sailing yachts— Wind Star, Wind Spirit, and Wind Surf —and three motor yachts— Star Pride, Star Breeze, and Star Legend .

Windstar has continued to grow in popularity in recent years. The company is regularly ranked as one of the best cruise lines in the world by publications like Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure.

Viking Crew have had a long association with Windstar Cruises, and are proud to be their Crewing Partner for almost 30 years.

For further details on an exciting career with Windstar Cruises please visit our dedicated webpage: www.vikingcrew.com/windstar-cruises

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This cruise line will now let you book a cabin in a crew area

Call it the ultimate in behind-the-scenes access.

In what is believed to be a first, Windstar Cruises unveiled a new suite on one of its ships this week that's within a crew-only area.

The new Officer's Suite, found on the line's 342-passenger Wind Surf, is just behind the ship's bridge in a section of the vessel reserved for officer's quarters.

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Labeled " crew only ," the area is home to cabins for the ship's captain, chief officer, hotel manager and chief engineer.

Windstar said it believed the new accommodation was the only one of its kind in the cruise industry. Personally, I don't recall seeing anything like it, either, in my many years writing about cruising. Cruise lines typically are very restrictive about access to crew areas on ships.

Among the perks of the new suite is the ability to walk right into the ship's bridge, which is just steps away. Windstar is one of a handful of major lines that has an open bridge policy. Sea Cloud Cruises, Quark Expeditions, Star Clippers and UnCruise Adventures are among other small ship and expedition lines with similar policies.

Under Windstar's open bridge policy, passengers can visit ship bridges and chat with officers while vessels are underway (access sometimes will be limited when ships are in the midst of tricky maneuvers).

The new Officer's Suite is one of the bigger cabins on Wind Surf at 242 square feet. It has a bedroom, full bath with Jacuzzi tub and living room with a widescreen television.

It also has a bit of a nautical theme, with such maritime decor as a sextant, a Wind Surf print and a model of a sailing ship.

You can also grab a pair of binoculars from the room, in case you want to help the captain scan the horizon for obstacles.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

"We [designed] this very unique suite with more of a nautical theme to reflect its exclusive location, tucked away just behind the bridge," Windstar president John Delaney said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

The addition of the suite came during a recent overhaul of Wind Surf, a five-masted sailing ship . Wind Surf is one of three sailing ships operated by Windstar. The line specializes in small ships and also operates three motor vessels. The Wind Surf overhaul included a revamp of every single cabin and public space on the ship.

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Working at Windstar Cruises

Windstar cruises overview.

Windstar Cruises is a cruise ship line that operates a fleet of small luxury cruise ships.

Founded in 1984, Windstar Cruises is an established company that loves to hire graduates from Coastal Carolina University, with 11.5% of its employees having attended Coastal Carolina University. Want to compare Windstar Cruises to some other great places to work in Seattle, WA? We suggest taking a look at Zippia's list of Best Companies to Work For in Seattle, WA .The average employee at Windstar Cruises makes $36,324 per year. Pay at Windstar Cruises is significantly lower than some of its highest paying competitors, like Virgin Voyages , Oceania Cruises , and Regent Seven Seas Cruises , which pay $112,803, $58,032, and $56,654, respectively.

Windstar Cruises is a small hospitality company based in Seattle, WA with only 58 employees and an annual revenue of $3.0M.

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• The key people at Windstar Cruises is Andrew N Todd .

Windstar Cruises Rankings

Windstar Cruises is ranked #65 on the Best Hospitality Companies to Work For in Washington list. Zippia's Best Places to Work lists provide unbiased, data-based evaluations of companies. Rankings are based on government and proprietary data on salaries, company financial health, and employee diversity.

• #65 in Best Hospitality Companies to Work For in Washington

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• Windstar Cruises

Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Windstar Cruises, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Windstar Cruises. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Windstar Cruises. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Windstar Cruises. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Windstar Cruises and its employees or that of Zippia.

Windstar Cruises may also be known as or be related to Windstar Cruises, Windstar Cruises LLC, Windstar Cruises, LLC and Windstar Transportation.

Windstar Cruises Llc Salary for Crew Member BETA

What is the average salary for a Crew Member at Windstar Cruises Llc in the United States? Based on our data, it appears that the optimal compensation range for a Crew Member at Windstar Cruises Llc is between $26,689 and $33,004, with an average salary of $29,165. Salaries can vary widely depending on the region, the department and many other important factors such as the employee’s level of education, certifications and additional skills.

DISCLAIMER: The salary range presented here is an estimation that has been derived from our proprietary algorithm. It should be noted that this range does not originate from the company's factual payroll records or survey data.

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Windstar Cruises LLC Overview

Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet of small sailing and all-suite ships visiting ports and countries sailing to Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Asia, Alaska and British Columbia, Canada and New England, South Pacific and Tahiti.

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What skills does a person need at windstar cruises llc.

At Windstar Cruises Llc, specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

• food service: The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home.
• Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
• Food Safety: Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
• Commitment: An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
• Guest Service: Guest services is a division of the hospitality industry. The goal of guest services is to provide customers with an enjoyable experience, primarily in the hotel and spa industry, sports facilities, and event venues.

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Windstar Cruises' Newest Ship, Star Seeker Will Sail in Alaska and Japan in 2026

W indstar Cruises will be sending its newest ship, Star Seeker, to Alaska and Japan when it joins the fleet in 2026. With the introduction of Star Seeker, Windstar will be returning to Alaska and Japan for the first time since 2023.

“We are really happy to be able to bring back Alaska and Japan for our guests,” says Christopher Prelog , president of Windstar Cruises. “We know these are popular destinations, and we have many people asking us to return there. We can’t keep this secret any longer.”  

Star Seeker is slated to join the Windstar fleet in December 2025, followed by another new ship, Star Explorer, in December 2026. Both ships will be able to accommodate up to 224 guests in 112 suites with full private verandas and infinity windows.

Starting in May 2026, Star Seeker will offer seven-, 10- and 11-day Alaska cruises departing from either Juneau or Seward, Alaska, and ending in Vancouver, British Columbia. Guests will be able to explore remote wilderness areas, such as Misty Fjords, during hiking, kayaking and skiff expeditions. Expedition leaders will also offer on-board talks about Alaska’s plants, animals and history.

The cruise line will also offer pre- and post-cruise land tours in Denali National Park.

“These immersive, small group expeditions are a key part of our Alaska program and bring our guests closer to the beauty of Alaska,” says Prelog. “Being on the water and seeing the topography from that viewpoint brings the grandeur of Alaska into perspective. It’s also quiet and meditative to be out in these wild places. You never know what wildlife you might see.”

In August, Star Seeker will head toward Japan to offer Windstar ’s popular 10-day Grand Japan cruises sailing between Tokyo and Osaka. The ship will remain in Japan through November.

Bookings will be available starting in early August.

I got tired of big cruise ships so splashed out on a small, 140-passenger cruise. Here's why it was worth the money.

• Rebecca Deurlein booked a cruise annually when her kids were young as an easy family vacation.
• But she began to tire of the busy ships and bland food — so she tried a small-ship experience.
• Deurlein said the incredible service and delicious gourmet meals were well worth the price increase.

When my kids were young, I loved mega-ship cruise vacations. Our family booked yearly cruises trying different lines and ships. I'd make one phone call and one payment, and the vacation was set. 

While perfect at the time, I slowly began to feel "cruise-ship fatigue."  

I was tired of fighting for lounge chairs, standing in buffet lines, and dealing with the crowds. The smoky casinos, hypnotists, and piano players pounding out "Sweet Caroline" no longer appealed. 

Once our kids left for college, my husband and I felt we'd outgrown mega ships . 

So when we started researching a trip to celebrate our anniversary, I proposed a small-ship experience . I'd heard friends talk about the joys of small-ship sailing, and we could finally afford it. 

We had paid as little as $100 a day on mega-ship cruises. For smaller ships, you pay closer to $600 a day per person. A special anniversary was my excuse to splurge. 

I was drawn to Windstar's Wind Spirit : a 140-passenger sailing yacht that would be an easy sell to my sailor husband. We chose a seven-day trip through Tahiti, the South Polynesian Islands, and Bora Bora. The cruise cost $4,299, or about $614 a day per person. 

We traveled on the Windstar this March. Here are the pros and cons of choosing a small-ship experience.

The staff-to-passenger ratio meant the service was incredible

We shared our small ship — which felt more like a rich friend's yacht — with only 100 other passengers.

With 100 staff on board, that meant incredibly personalized service and intimate day trips. 

One day, six of us visited a private island. We were greeted by waiting crew members with flower garlands, tropical beverages, and beach towels. 

When I ordered a coconut-rum and coke from the tiki bar they'd set up, the bartender realized he didn't have that specific liquor. Before I could offer my second choice, he called the ship, reported that one of the passengers would like some coconut rum,  hung up, and smiled. "They will motor it over from the ship," he said. "I'll deliver your drink to you when it arrives."

It felt like your every whim would be catered to. 

We could access destinations that aren't open to mega ships and visit without crowds 

Large ships aren't allowed near some of the islands we traveled to for environmental and logistical reasons. 

Because the Wind Spirit didn't require large docking furniture or canals necessary for larger ships, we easily sailed into coves and dropped anchor. 

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Every time we emerged onto the deck, we were met with scenery like Moorea's green mountains dropping into the blue water or traditional huts tucked into palm-tree alcoves. These views were never blocked by crowded railings. 

The islands we visited were also nearly empty of tourists. There were no more than eight people in our group on all the excursions we booked .  

I was happy to avoid the massive cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers disembarking at the same time and being frog-marched to the same attractions.

Each island felt private; each excursion could be tailored to our wishes. 

The entertainment on board is very pared back and simple 

You won't get Broadway-style entertainment on a small ship. You won't have casinos, rows of shops, or waterslides. 

The experience is closer to yachting, where you soak in the destination rather than follow an activity-packed itinerary. 

We could visit the bridge and talk to the captain, join a mixology class, or sit with local islanders and make traditional crafts. As Calvin Dsouza, a hotel general manager at Windstar Cruises, told me, "This is an opportunity to connect to the actual place, rather than seeking your next thrill."

The boat's water-sports marina, only open when the ship was anchored, was on the deck one floor down from our cabin. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, we jumped off the swim deck,  floated on a tethered platform or trampoline, or grabbed a kayak or paddle board.

It felt surreal to swim straight off the boat into the Pacific Ocean. Occasionally, others joined in, but many times, it was just us.

Feeling like the ship and the destination were ours to explore was my favorite aspect of small-ship cruising.

I was tired of cruise food, but the gourmet small-ship options changed my mind

The food on board was a close-second favorite. I had pretty much sworn off cruises because of the food: eggs that never quite tasted like eggs, slight variations of the same dishes at multiple meals, and menus shaped around how many they could feed rather than creativity. 

The dining experience on a small ship was the opposite. Windstar partners with James Beard and features award-winning cuisine on its nightly menu. 

The food on board far exceeded my expectations. We enjoyed fresh bread out of the oven,  a whole suckling pig, lobster tails, paella, and perfectly cooked steaks. I was delighted by every meal. 

One of my favorite dining experiences was in Bora Bora. We arrived at a private island with views of Mount Otemanu and were served fresh red snapper and generously poured top-shelf drinks, all while chatting with fellow passengers who had become friends. 

It's worth the price if you can entertain yourself

My takeaway is, if you don't need 100 activities on board, small-ship cruising is for you. Small ships don't entertain you all day long — you find and make your entertainment.

The Wind Spirit is more expensive upfront than your average mega ship, but it's worth every penny, and I'll be booking a small-ship cruise vacation again.

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

• Main content

All Suite Ship

Star Pride is large enough to pamper and entertain you, yet small enough to tuck into delightful tiny harbors and hidden coves that others can’t reach. This all-suite yacht completed renovation as part of the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative   to provide more of what our guests love. New public areas, including two new dining venues, a new spa, infinity pool, and fitness area. The yacht also boasts all new bathrooms in every suite and a new category of Star suites, featuring a new layout. With ocean views and at least 277 square feet of comfort, Star Pride is the perfect yacht to watch glaciers and fjords drift by from the serenity of your suite.

Carrying only 312 guests, Star Pride still tucks into small ports like Sanary-sur-Mer and Seville or narrow waterways like the Corinth and Keil Canal. We can’t wait to welcome you on board for your next 180 degree from ordinary adventure!

Learn more  about the newly renovated ship and the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative.

Queen Size Bed with Luxurious Linens Waffle Weave Robe and Slippers Interactive TV Fully Stocked Mini Bar/Refrigerator Safe Direct Dial Phone L'Occitane Bath Amenities Fresh Fruit Hair Dryers and 110/220 outlets Wi-Fi Internet Access(various plans available for purchase) Mirrored closet with ample drawer space Granite vanity with magnifying mirror and chair

• CAPACITY: 312 guests
• OWNER'S SUITES: 4, with private verandas
• CLASSIC SUITES: 2, with private verandas
• DELUXE SUITES: 3, 2 with French-style balconies
• STAR BALCONY SUITES: 22, with French-style balconies
• BALCONY SUITES: 36, with French-style balconies
• STAR OCEAN VIEW SUITES: 21, with picture windows
• OCEAN VIEW SUITES: 58, with picture windows
• STAR PORTHOLE SUITES: 10
• DECKS: 6 guest decks
• CREW: 204 international staff
• SHIP'S REGISTRY: Bahamas
• LENGTH: 522 ft (159 meters)
• DRAFT: 17.7 ft (5.4 meters)
• BEAM: 63 ft (19 meters)
• TONNAGE: 12,995 gross registered tons (grt)
• PROPULSION: Twin propeller, driven by two Wartsila diesel engines
• SPEED:  Cruising speed 15 knots

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Cruise Ships in the World: The Gold List 2024

By CNT Editors

Consider Gold List the answer to the question our editors get asked more than any other: What are your favorite places to stay? Our 30th annual iteration of the world’s greatest hotels and cruises captures nearly a year’s worth of work: This collection represents hundreds of hours of researching, scouting, and impassioned debating by our team of editors in seven cities across the globe. But more than that, it reflects our ongoing love affair with the places where we stay, which often become our gateways to entire destinations. Read on to inspire your next cruise.

See the full Gold List here .

Oceania Cruises' Marina is one of 12 ships chosen by our editors for 2024.

Celebrity Beyond Arrow

Cruise ships often get compared to floating hotels or resorts, but here’s one that feels like a floating Vegas show. Applause, please, for the glittering peacock made from Swarovski crystals and the Magic Carpet platform that shimmies up and down the ship, cantilevered over the water for some of the best seats in the house, while in the Martini Bar, a troupe of bartenders juggle shakers to the sound of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Beyond is one of the largest ships in Celebrity’s Edge class, and all that space is used to maximize the drama. A whole corridor is filled with a glowing installation of bronze sculptures reflected in infinity mirrors; a favorite anchorage was Eden, a beautiful, biophiliac bubble for hiding away in, watching the ship’s wake through triple-height windows and dawdling in swivel chairs that resemble green carnations. As for the cast, there are some stellar performers: Kelly Hoppen designed most of the interiors; Daniel Boulud’s debut signature restaurant at sea, Le Voyage, has an impeccable, globe-trotting menu alighting on Brazilian moqueca and tamarind prawns. But top of the bill is Captain Kate McCue, the first American woman to captain a cruise ship. A captain hasn’t been this synonymous with their ship since the days of Merrill Stubing; follow her social media for a glimpse into the art of ship navigation. During our short, prelaunch cruise, we had an itinerary that involved looping round and round the Isle of Wight—a short trip, but one that was big on sheer spectacle. Three-night sailings from $300 per person. —Rick Jordan

Delfin II Arrow

The Amazon River has the opacity of chocolate milk and is almost deathlike in its stillness—which is wild when you consider how much life thrives there. It was on a nine-day journey through Peru with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic that I learned this, as we spent five of those days exploring the jungle by boat. Our chariot: the Delfin II , a Relais & Châteaux vessel with 14 thoughtfully appointed staterooms.

Most days began with a crack-of-dawn skiff ride soundtracked by the squall of jewel-winged, dusky-headed parakeets. The photographers pulled out their football lenses and the birders gasped from behind their binoculars as naturalists pointed out an elegant snowy egret picking its way through a mudbank, a neotropic cormorant spreading its gothy black wings like a vampire, and the somber Jabiru stork, the largest flying bird in South America, standing like a dour English butler on a naked tree limb. Also flagged were capuchin monkeys, giant river otters, flamboyant bromeliads, and—after dark—scores of caimans and capybaras.

We spent one muggy morning in a Kukama village, where indigenous women wove raffia bowls and cooked catfish, and another morning paddling the river—an outing which culminated with a pod of pink river dolphins leaping from the water mere feet from our kayaks. (Even our seen-it-all naturalist, Sandro, clapped like a schoolgirl.)

This deep in the Amazon jungle, there were no other tourists. When we did see signs of human life, they were usually fishermen or park rangers. And because there was no Wi-Fi on the Delfin II and a near total blackout on cell reception, downtime was spent attending lectures on Amazonian ecology, sampling native fruits (how the aptly named ice cream bean hasn’t been pitched on Shark Tank yet, I’ll never know), and buddying up to the ship bar, where I made fast friends of fellow guests. (Expedition cruises always draw a fascinating lot; my cohort included a microbiologist, metaphysical transcendentalist, and one of the earliest Apple employees.)

The highlight of the trip, however, was hiking through the jungle with a local tracker who showed us a brown-throated three-toed sloth, Goliath bird-eating tarantula, junior anaconda, and a century-old strangler fig. When we finally emerged from the bush, we were treated to a spectacular tangerine-and-charcoal sunset punctured by bolts of lighting. It was surreal and intense, just like everything else in this untouched corner of the world. Eight-day sailings from $5,730 per person. —Ashlea Halpern

Ritz-Carlton Evrima Arrow

Ritz-Carlton’s first foray into cruising, the Evrima is a hotel-at-sea experience that might just be the antidote to all the big ship itineraries. Think ultra-small ship luxury (at half the capacity of the Seabourns and Regents) with plenty of scenery options to choose from—the European Mediterranean (routes from Turkey to the Canary Islands) from spring through fall, and the Caribbean (San Juan to St. Barts) in winter—and a younger crowd than most of the luxury cruise market; mostly culture lovers with a dearth of cruising experience who can't wait to get ashore to the Côte d’Azur village restaurants. The 624-foot ship is the first in a fleet of three emerging over the next few years, and it still feels spacious with 149 suites, two pools, a cigar humidor, six bars (the interior Living Room and top-floor Observation Lounge, The Bar, and bars located at the Marina Terrace, the Pool House, and Mistral), a beauty salon and spa deck, water-level marina terrace with water toys, and a fitness center. The 246 staff range from deck crew to your cabin’s personal concierge, all of whom are dubbed the ship’s Ladies and Gentlemen—but titles feel almost superfluous aboard Evrima , where everyone from the tender drivers to dining leads will pause to actually get to know you and recall your name and story (and even your drink order) to make the entire experience feel organic and warm. It’s almost like you’re spending the night in someone’s home, which just so happens to be a 624-foot mega-yacht. And the Evrima itinerary has plenty of free time and overnight ports of call in its sailings, so you can head ashore for a day, or even an entire evening late into the night—gallivanting, dining, and imbibing with the new friends you'll no doubt meet onboard. Seven-night sailings from $5,800 per person. —Shannon McMahon

Oceania Marina Arrow

Is there any Marina passenger who doesn’t wish—even for a second—to confine himself to his stateroom on debarkation day? Perhaps only the smarty pants who booked their next cruise before this one ends. Otherwise, how can an epicurean cruiser (that’s Marina ’s crowd) not pine for another shot at the new wine list starring 80 highly coveted, hard-to-snag labels, including swoon-worthy Super Tuscans? You’ll long for one more brag-worthy chance to sip The Mascot, a label from Harlan family pedigree (think cult fave Harlan Estate); the Polo Grill’s deft sommelier knows exactly which prime steak pairs best. Despite eight compelling complimentary restaurants (Red Ginger’s signature lobster pad thai is still a must-devour), Marina vibes far more than great meals. Work up a sweat storm playing pickleball on deck 16 or braving core conditioning in the gym. Melt into a marine detox wrap (I love the juniper and lemon scent) at Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, then sink into the spa terrace’s bubbling hot tub. Get down and dirty in the artist loft by painting a Venetian mask and playing Impressionist. In the hands-on culinary center, learn to cure a fish or preserve a lemon. Come May 2024, Marina debuts a splashy redo. Fall in love again with revamped avocado toast—bravo to the taco-spiced shrimp topping—in the new wellness-driven Aquamar kitchen. Where you lie your head hardly matters. An entry 291-square-foot stateroom starring a four-pillow, soft-sheet bed feels mighty spacious and sports Bulgari shampoo. That said, the top-to-bottom penthouse suites’ glam reno is beyond covetable, from the expanded bath to a boatload of enviable perks. Ten-day sailings from $1,999 per person. —Janice Wald Henderson

Trollfjord Arrow

Who better to guide you through Norway’s most remote reaches—including the Svalbard archipelago, the northernmost inhabited islands on the planet—than a Norwegian cruise company that knows the area’s every crag and fjord? Hurtigruten is an Oslo-based line whose ships have traversed these waters since 1893, ferrying freight, mail, and passengers to the communities along the rugged coast. In 2023, to celebrate its 130th anniversary, the company’s flagship, the newly refurbished, 500-passenger MS Trollfjord (named for a fjord in the Vesterålen archipelago) began sailing two hybrids of its original 34-port Norwegian Coastal Express, calling at several of the towns and villages on the original route. From September through April, the North Cape Express (a 13-day, 16-port itinerary) sails from Oslo to the North Cape and then south to Bergen. In the summertime, the Svalbard Express’s eight-day journey begins in Bergen and progresses north, with extended port calls and excursions in seven towns before entering the Arctic Circle and pulling into Longyearbyen, a mining town on Spitsbergen, Svalbard’s main island. On both routes Trollfjord offers its (mostly European) passengers an uncommon way to explore the region, with uniquely Nordic cultural touches to connect them to the country. There’s a pre-boarding spread of Norwegian fare in the ship’s departure lounge, and Trollfjord ’s three restaurants prioritize Scandinavian cuisine (salmon, reindeer, and lingonberries, oh my!) and the food culture of the indigenous Sámi people. The ship’s 277 staterooms and 12 suites (with walk-in closets, corner bathtubs and floor-to-ceiling windows) offer a cozy retreat from the sometimes-harsh weather. And typically Nordic diversions such as aquavit tastings, oceanview saunas and polar plunges leave you in no doubt about where you are and who you’re sailing with. 10-day sailings from $3,082 per person. —Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon

Seven Seas Navigator Arrow

Imagine the most luxurious hotel you’ve ever stayed in. That’s precisely what stepping onboard the Regent Seven Seas Cruises Navigator feels like. And while the opulence and grandeur shine through every square inch of space, it’s worth mentioning that the staff are what make the experience memorable, remembering your name, preferences, likes, and dislikes from the second you step afoot the eight-deck vessel.

The 248 ultraluxe all-suite accommodations feel like your home away from home—despite their capacious interiors—and your personalized steward makes sure of that with thoughtful touches from the moment you check in. Thanks to a revamp in 2019, the ship feels pristine with a new library—complete with a faux fireplace—and sleek state-of-the-art furnishings (including the cruise line’s bespoke mattresses and bed linens) in each of the rooms. However, what makes the Navigator stand out from its counterparts is its intimate size, as it’s the smallest in Regent’s fleet. Everything onboard feels just an arm’s reach away, and you’ll quickly bond with fellow passengers after spending the day together on one of the complimentary shore excursions, such as tours by local guides, cooking classes, and other intimate adventures.

During my Mediterranean voyage, days were spent immersing ourselves in new cities, whereas nights began with a freshly shaken ice-cold martini followed by an exuberant dinner, with a stop in the Seven Seas Lounge for whatever was on tap that night, ranging from cabaret to karaoke. At the end of the journey, I left wanting more and with a suitcase full of clean clothes, thanks to one of the many attentive touches onboard: the included laundry service. 10-night sailings from $3,360 per person. —Rachel Dube

Seabourn Ovation Arrow

“We are not the Rat Pack,” quips Andrew Pedder, the witty Yorkshire-born captain of Seabourn Ovation. He's referring to himself and the other senior officers, for any guests who may have wandered into their impromptu panel session instead of the musical show taking place later that evening. The Q&A—which covers everything from the prettiest ports to the number of Champagne bottles typically consumed during a seven-day voyage—is part of a last-minute program of activities arranged for an unexpected sea day when it’s too windy to dock in the South of France. This is mid-October, on one of the ship’s jaunts around the Mediterranean for the season, and no one seems to mind the change of plan (although when we do explore, all the islands we visit—Menorca, Corsica, Elba—are blissfully tourist-free). It simply means more time for spa treatments, soaks in the outdoor hot tubs, and afternoon tea in the observation bar. Even then, it only feels like there are 60 passengers onboard, rather than 600. The restaurants are excellent, from Sushi, where you can sit at the counter watching the Japanese chefs at work, to poolside Earth & Ocean for Tandoori-style rotisserie chicken and Madras-style white bean cassoulet. Suites are spacious, each one with a balcony. West End–standard entertainment includes a magician and a chart-topping classical singer. But what makes this ultraluxe ship really memorable is the relaxed, on-point service by staff who remember your name and coffee order, or even a familiar face from a sailing five years ago. Seven-day sailings from $2,649 per person. —Emma Love

Silver Endeavour Arrow

Silversea is defined by its far-flung itineraries and exceptional onboard service (think Moët Champagne as you take in an iceberg calving in Antarctica). But the 220-passenger Silver Endeavour, new to the fleet and already a classic, raises every bar. Rooms start at a spacious 356 square feet and have luxury perks like pillow menus and a personalized bar, making them the best in all of Silversea’s array of ships. As far as food goes, premium Ars Italica Osetra caviar is complimentary and around-the-clock, though the Dover sole paired with a label from the rare wine menu at La Dame would have you believing you were in Paris. And the signature Otium spa celebrates pampering as much as it does wellness—don’t skip on the oxygen-boosting Golden Radiance facial. You may find yourself at any given hour glimpsing ice walls through the Drake Passage and remembering that the best part about this ship is the awe-inspiring places it dares to take you. 10-day sailings from $13,150. —Janice Wald Henderson

Scarlet Lady Arrow

Although new to the cruise industry, Virgin Voyages has already begun to set itself apart from its predecessors. When first stepping on the Scarlet Lady, cruisers are met with a rousing, upbeat staff that serve as gurus around the ship and are experts on everything from beauty to juicing. While the Scarlet Lady takes you on a familiar route around the Caribbean, the on-shore excursions available are what make this sail memorable. Take a leap of faith on daring outings such as the Waterfalls of Damajagua in Puerto Plata, where guests make their way down seven of the 27 natural slides and waterfalls. After the exhilarating experience, travelers can sit down with locals and come together over Dominican staples such as pollo guisado, tostones, and mangú. You can always get local delicacies while docked, but while onboard, you must snag a reservation at the Test Kitchen. It’s an experimental dining experience where the menu always evolves. You go in only seeing a small card with ingredients listed for the night’s meal, but everything else is up to the imagination. One might find cucumbers puréed and frozen into ice cream as dessert, or beets formed and prepared like steak. While en route to the next port, the hard reset one does at the Redemption Spa leaves your body feeling anew; it’s impossible to come back from vacation feeling the same as when you departed. On any Virgin Voyages ship, you’ll love the indulgent atmosphere, whether you’re catering to your sweet tooth by narrowing down your favorite gelato of the day, grabbing a drink at one of the five bars that stake claim to having the largest tequila supply on the seven seas, or finally getting that tattoo you’ve been thinking about for ages after visiting the ship’s tattoo parlor, Squid Ink. Seven-day sailings from $2,100 per person. —Paris Wilson

Queen Mary 2 Arrow

Six days sailing from England to New York across the vast Atlantic had the potential to bore me to stupefaction, but it turned out I had nothing to fear. “The ship is the destination,” said an entertainment director for Queen Mary 2 , who oversees a program that makes this cruise liner the undisputed hub of creative and intellectual stimulation on the high seas. Where else can you attend the annual Literature Festival At Sea, meeting top fiction and nonfiction authors like the late PJ O’Rourke, Bernadine Evaristo, and Louis de Bernières? And where else can you visit a planetarium, watch a Royal Shakespeare theater production, or hear guest speakers discuss artwork investments and the history of airport drug mules?

In between spa massages and table tennis rallies, I nourished my mind in the mahogany library before nourishing my body at the Princess Grill and Queens Grill restaurants, scarfing dishes like croquette of suckling pig, paired with excellent vintages and followed by mango panna cotta. On the final stretch of the journey, as dolphins leapt over the horizon and the Statue of Liberty loomed into view, my heart sank a little—New York City awaited, yet I didn’t want to disembark. That’s quite an achievement. Seven-day sailings from $1,389 per person. —Noo Saro-Wiwa

World Navigator Arrow

During my first few hours aboard the Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator, I felt a bit like I had inadvertently crashed a family reunion: Seemingly everyone else aboard this Arctic expedition had just sailed to Antarctica on the Navigator six months before, so several crew members and guests spent much of embarkation day hugging and catching up. With a maximum occupancy of 196, it’s already an intimate ship, but the fact that the relatively young brand, which debuted in 2019, could develop such an impressive number of repeat travelers in such a short spell speaks volumes. Many told me they were drawn to Atlas because of its eco-friendly bona fides (the new-build ship makes use of hybrid engines from Rolls-Royce designed to leave minimal impact), but the creature comforts on board certainly help. While the star attraction of such an expedition voyage is what lies beyond the decks—access to remote Antarctic fjords that larger vessels can’t dream of traversing, or spotting polar bears loping along pearly glaciers in the Arctic—I made the most of my time in between Zodiac expeditions. The multi-jet shower in my stateroom was sublime after damp and rigorous treks, the heated massage beds in the only L’Occitane Spa at sea are a dream, and the Arctic summer’s 24 hours of sunshine made the Dome observation deck a prime perch to cozy up with a book at any time of day or night. There was neither internet nor cell phone connectivity during my entire eight-day journey sailing thanks to the remote latitudes (though Atlas guests now have access to full Starlink satellite coverage), which meant this was the longest I’d been offline since the 1990s—and yet somehow, drifting through the surreal landscape in this cosseting bubble, I didn’t miss scrolling or chatting with the outside world one bit. Seven-night sailings from $4,749 per person. —Sarah Khan

Westerdam Arrow

A passenger who is well below senior age dances the robot to classic rock, to R&B, to country music, and to disco hits as talented singers and a live band perform most nights in the Rolling Stone Lounge, on Holland America Line’s Westerdam . His mechanical movements are a source of amusement and encouragement; if he can take over the dance floor, so can we with our own moves. The 1,916-passenger Westerdam is beloved as a traditional cruise ship, with its smaller-than-mega-ship size, deep blue hull, wraparound outdoor promenade deck, and details such as fresh flowers all around, celebrating the 150-year-old cruise line’s Dutch roots. Tradition does not mean staid. There’s rock and roll. There’s a trendy top-of-ship pickleball court.

On an Alaska cruise, my husband and I start our days with a jolt of caffeine via the baristas at Explorations Central, the ship’s cushy, contemporary, forward-facing observation lounge, before heading off on adventures such as joining other passengers in synchronized paddling a large canoe to see the ancient yet diminishing ice of Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier. Back on the ship, we indulge in excellent burgers, topped with Gouda and applewood-smoked bacon and served in fast-food wrapping from a stand at the covered Lido pool. We enjoy sustainable Alaska seafood—grilled salmon, fennel-crusted halibut, fried cod—in between cocktails made with local gin, served on real glacial ice. From the veranda of our classic aft cabin, mesmerizing views of the ship’s wake, seemingly endless forest, and a distant, blue-tinged glacier clear our brain. We’re ready for more of the dancing man. Seven-day sailings from $379 per person. —Fran Golden

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Windstar Cruises Beverage Guide

This guide contains all of the beverage options available on Windstar Cruises, covering everything from the packages, bar menu, wine list and what’s available in the stateroom minibar. I’ve also included a couple of money saving tips, bottoms up!

Beverage Packages

Windstar signature cocktails, classic cocktails, modern with a twist, the perfect nightcaps, coffee cocktails, zero-proof cocktails, zero-proof spirits, white wines by the glass, windstar minibar price list, windstar cruises drinks faqs.

Windstar also offers two beverage packages which can be excellent value depending on how much you drink whilst on a cruise. They also have an ‘All-in’ package that makes the cruise become all-inclusive and is actually a really good deal as it includes gratuities and Wi-Fi. I highly recommend working out how many drinks you think you will have a day and then seeing if the package makes sense for you. As a lighter drinker I generally use buy drinks individually and find the onboard credit I receive from the Yacht Club loyalty scheme covers most of if not all of my drinks bill.

Top tip: if you are cruising to some EU countries like Italy and Spain Windstar are forced to apply VAT to any beverage packages or drinks purchased if you don’t have a package. The VAT rate is 22% but this can be avoided by purchasing your package at the time of booking or on the Windstar website before the sailing date.

Top tip: The All-in package is $89 per person per day if booked at least 7 days before the cruise starts but $99 per person per day if purchased onboard.

Prices accurate as of March 2024

Windstar Bar Menu with Prices

One of my small Windstar gripes is how limited the beer selection is. Sometimes the bar manager will stock a local beer, for example on our Indonesian cruise there was a wonderful local beer called Bintang but in my opinion the selection is too limited. I come from the UK where we have access to a lot of very interesting craft beers even in big chain establishments. I just wish Windstar would have a more expansive selection, like they do with wines. Also why do they only have one cider and why has it been shoved in with the beers? One cider isn’t good enough either.

Windstar Wine List with Prices

I am a big fan of how the minibar works on Windstar. All soft drinks and bottled water in the bar are complimentary and so are the alcoholic drinks if you are on a beverage package. Your cabin steward will adjust how the minibar is stocked to your preferences. If you don’t drink alcohol they will restock it with the soft drinks or bottled water of your choice. On my recent Mediterranean cruise my wife and I consumed many bottles of San Pellegrino, which were replenished twice a day by our wonderful steward Sunni.

You will also find two jugs of still water which are replenished twice a day, along with an ice bucket and tongs and a variety of quality glassware (not shown in picture) so you can make a cocktail in the room. Room service can also deliver drinks to the cabin , another nice touch.

Prices do not include gratuity, VAT in certain EU destinations and will not necessarily apply if you are on a beverage package.

Prices accurate as of March 2024 .

Is there a service charge on drinks?

Yes, if you are buying alcoholic drinks outside of a beverage package there is an 18% service charge.

Is there a minimum drinking age?

Yes, you have to be at least 21 year old to drink on any Windstar cruise regardless of itinerary.

Is the cabin mini bar complimentary?

Soft drinks and water from the mini bar are complimentary. Alcoholic beverages incur a charge unless you have purchased a beverage package.

When can I buy a beverage package on a Windstar cruise?

Packages can be purchased before the cruise or during the first two days of the cruise.

Do Windstar sell tobacco?

Yes Windstar sell Marlboro Red or Gold from the bars. The price is $8.00 plus service charge.

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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